Johnston Publishing (NI)
Encyclopedia
Johnston Publishing is a large newspaper group in Northern Ireland consisting of Mortons Newspapers and the News Letter, and is a holding company of Johnston Press. The company was formed following Johnston Press
's purchase of Century Newspapers (publishers of the daily newspaper, the News Letter) from Trinity Mirror
, and Scottish Radio Holdings
' 45 weekly newspapers (Score Press) following their take over by EMAP
.
The company is one of the three main holding companies for Johnston Press on the island of Ireland, the other two being Derry Journal Newspapers
in the northwest and Johnston Press Ireland
in the Republic. Johnston Publishing (NI) has its headquarters in Portadown
, County Armagh
.
title. It slowly expanded over the next eight decades purchasing the Portadown Times
in 1949, the Londonderry Sentinel
in 1953 and the Ballymena Times in 1986 amongst others. It also launched several newspapers including the Ulster Star
in 1957 and FarmWeek in 1959.
In December 1995, the sale of the company by the Morton family to Scottish Radio Holding's was completed for £11.2m, and became part of Score Press. Ten years later in 2005, Scottish Radio Holding's 45 titles (sixteen in Scotland
, twenty-four in Northern Ireland and five in the Republic of Ireland), including Morton Newspapers, were bought by Johnston Press for £155m and became known as Johnston Publishing (NI). Mortons Newspapers is now a subsidiary of Johnston Publishing (NI), and is used to differentiate between the local newspapers (Mortons) and the daily title, the News Letter
The cragavon echo has been pulled - stopped printing last week fist week June 2010
bought a 90% stake in the company for £15m and in 2004 it sold the company along with the Derry Journal Group to the 3i
holding company Local Press Ltd for £46.3m. Local Press was then purchased by Johnston Press a year later in November 2005 for a reported £65m. After the purchase of Local Press Ltd, the Century was reorganised with the News Letter becoming part of Johnston Publishing (NI) and the rest held by a holding company called Derry Journal Newspapers
.
Johnston Press
Johnston Press plc is a newspaper publishing company headquartered in Edinburgh, Scotland. Its flagship titles are The Scotsman and the Yorkshire Post; it also operates many other newspapers around the United Kingdom, the Republic of Ireland and the Isle of Man. It is the second-largest publisher...
's purchase of Century Newspapers (publishers of the daily newspaper, the News Letter) from Trinity Mirror
Trinity Mirror
Trinity Mirror plc is a large British newspaper and magazine publisher. It is Britain's biggest newspaper group, publishing 240 regional papers as well as the national Daily Mirror, Sunday Mirror and People, and the Scottish Sunday Mail and Daily Record. Its headquarters are at Canary Wharf in...
, and Scottish Radio Holdings
Scottish Radio Holdings
Scottish Radio Holdings was a Scottish media company which owned 22 radio stations, and around 30 local newspapers in the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland.-History:...
' 45 weekly newspapers (Score Press) following their take over by EMAP
EMAP
Emap Limited is a British media company, specialising in the production of business-to-business magazines, and the organisation of business events and conferences...
.
The company is one of the three main holding companies for Johnston Press on the island of Ireland, the other two being Derry Journal Newspapers
Derry Journal Newspapers
Derry Journal Newspapers is a holding company of Johnston Press that operates several local newspapers in Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. Its key titles include the second oldest newspaper still in existence in Ireland, the Derry Journal and the Donegal Democrat both of whom are the...
in the northwest and Johnston Press Ireland
Johnston Press Ireland
Johnston Press Ireland is one of three main holding companies of Johnston Press on the island of Ireland and publishes papers such as the Dundalk Democrat, The Echo and Leitrim Observer...
in the Republic. Johnston Publishing (NI) has its headquarters in Portadown
Portadown
Portadown is a town in County Armagh, Northern Ireland. The town sits on the River Bann in the north of the county, about 23 miles south-west of Belfast...
, County Armagh
County Armagh
-History:Ancient Armagh was the territory of the Ulaid before the fourth century AD. It was ruled by the Red Branch, whose capital was Emain Macha near Armagh. The site, and subsequently the city, were named after the goddess Macha...
.
Morton Newspapers/Score Press
Morton Newspapers was set up by John Morton in 1936, when he purchased the Lurgan MailLurgan Mail
The Lurgan Mail is a tabloid weekly newspaper based in Lurgan, County Armagh in Northern Ireland. It is published on Wednesday evenings, though each edition always bears the Thursday date. and reports not only news in Lurgan, but also in nearby towns such as Waringstown and others in the Craigavon...
title. It slowly expanded over the next eight decades purchasing the Portadown Times
Portadown Times
The Portadown Times is a newspaper based in Portadown, County Armagh, Northern Ireland. It is published by Johnston Publishing , part of Johnston Press who own thirty-seven papers across Ireland....
in 1949, the Londonderry Sentinel
Londonderry Sentinel
The Londonderry Sentinel is a newspaper based in Derry, Northern Ireland. It is published by Johnston Publishing , a holding company of Johnston Press and William Allen is the current editor...
in 1953 and the Ballymena Times in 1986 amongst others. It also launched several newspapers including the Ulster Star
Ulster Star
The Ulster Star is a newspaper based in Lisburn, County Antrim, Northern Ireland. It is published by a holding company entitled Johnston Publishing , part of Johnston Press.-External links:*...
in 1957 and FarmWeek in 1959.
In December 1995, the sale of the company by the Morton family to Scottish Radio Holding's was completed for £11.2m, and became part of Score Press. Ten years later in 2005, Scottish Radio Holding's 45 titles (sixteen in Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
, twenty-four in Northern Ireland and five in the Republic of Ireland), including Morton Newspapers, were bought by Johnston Press for £155m and became known as Johnston Publishing (NI). Mortons Newspapers is now a subsidiary of Johnston Publishing (NI), and is used to differentiate between the local newspapers (Mortons) and the daily title, the News Letter
The cragavon echo has been pulled - stopped printing last week fist week June 2010
Century Press/Belfast News Letter
Century Press and Publishing's main title was the News Letter a leading daily in Northern Ireland. In 1996, what became Trinity MirrorTrinity Mirror
Trinity Mirror plc is a large British newspaper and magazine publisher. It is Britain's biggest newspaper group, publishing 240 regional papers as well as the national Daily Mirror, Sunday Mirror and People, and the Scottish Sunday Mail and Daily Record. Its headquarters are at Canary Wharf in...
bought a 90% stake in the company for £15m and in 2004 it sold the company along with the Derry Journal Group to the 3i
3i
3i Group plc is a multinational private equity and venture capital company headquartered in London, United Kingdom. It has offices in 13 countries across Asia, Europe and the Americas and had total assets under management of £12.7 billion as at 31 March 2011...
holding company Local Press Ltd for £46.3m. Local Press was then purchased by Johnston Press a year later in November 2005 for a reported £65m. After the purchase of Local Press Ltd, the Century was reorganised with the News Letter becoming part of Johnston Publishing (NI) and the rest held by a holding company called Derry Journal Newspapers
Derry Journal Newspapers
Derry Journal Newspapers is a holding company of Johnston Press that operates several local newspapers in Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. Its key titles include the second oldest newspaper still in existence in Ireland, the Derry Journal and the Donegal Democrat both of whom are the...
.
Local
- Ballymena Times
- Ballymoney and Moyle TimesBallymoney and Moyle TimesThe Ballymoney and Moyle Times is a regional newspaper covering the north-east area of Northern Ireland. The paper is owned by the holding company Johnston Publishing , who took it over in 2005....
- Coleraine TimesColeraine TimesThe Coleraine Times is a newspaper based in Coleraine, County Londonderry, Northern Ireland. The paper was taken over by Johnston Press in 2005 and is now part of Johnston Publishing ....
- Dromore Leader
- Larne TimesLarne TimesThe Larne Times is a newspaper based in Larne, County Antrim, Northern Ireland. The paper was taken over by Johnston Press in 2005 from Scottish Radio Holdings and is now operated by the holding company, Johnston Publishing ....
- Londonderry SentinelLondonderry SentinelThe Londonderry Sentinel is a newspaper based in Derry, Northern Ireland. It is published by Johnston Publishing , a holding company of Johnston Press and William Allen is the current editor...
- Lurgan MailLurgan MailThe Lurgan Mail is a tabloid weekly newspaper based in Lurgan, County Armagh in Northern Ireland. It is published on Wednesday evenings, though each edition always bears the Thursday date. and reports not only news in Lurgan, but also in nearby towns such as Waringstown and others in the Craigavon...
- Mid Ulster MailMid Ulster MailThe Mid-Ulster Mail is a newspaper based in Cookstown, County Tyrone, Northern Ireland. As well as serving Tyrone, it also covers Magherafelt, County Londonderry. It is published by Johnston Publishing , part of Johnston Press who own thirty-seven papers across Ireland....
- Portadown TimesPortadown TimesThe Portadown Times is a newspaper based in Portadown, County Armagh, Northern Ireland. It is published by Johnston Publishing , part of Johnston Press who own thirty-seven papers across Ireland....
- Tyrone TimesTyrone TimesThe Tyrone Times, more correctly known as the Tyrone Times and Dungannon Gazette, is a newspaper based in Dungannon, County Tyrone, Northern Ireland. It is published by Johnston Publishing , part of Johnston Press....
- Ulster StarUlster StarThe Ulster Star is a newspaper based in Lisburn, County Antrim, Northern Ireland. It is published by a holding company entitled Johnston Publishing , part of Johnston Press.-External links:*...
Free Titles
- Banbridge & District Weekender
- Belfast NewsBelfast NewsThe Belfast News is a weekly free-sheet spin-off from the Belfast News Letter. It is published by Johnston Publishing , a holding company for Johnston Press who own thirty-seven titles across Ireland....
- Craigavon Echo
- East Antrim Advertiser
- Lisburn Echo
- Mid Ulster Echo
- North West Echo