Midsomer Norton, Radstock & District Journal
Encyclopedia
The Midsomer Norton, Radstock and District Journal is a free weekly newspaper circulated in the towns of Midsomer Norton
, Radstock
, Westfield
, and surrounding villages in Somerset.
, the Surrey-based publisher that owns many local UK titles.
. It is printed on an industrial estate in Shaftesbury
and circulated door to door via local newsagents and to petrol filling station, pubs, supermarkets and other shops.
In August 2003, Northcliffe Newspapers (now Northcliffe Media
, owned by the Daily Mail
), attempted to acquire the title. However, the circulation figures for titles owned by Northcliffe meant that written consent of the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry was required.
However, in October 2003 it was reported that the then Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the Department of Trade and Industry with responsibility for Competition, Gerry Sutcliffe
had declined to consent to the transfer of ownership of Northcliffe because of the strength of Northcliffe's titles in the Bristol and Bath area.
As a result, within hours Tindle Newspaper Group
led by Sir Ray Tindle acquired the Journal instead, with Donkin continuing to run the Journal part of the company after the takeover. Tindle Newspaper Group
own the title to this day, with Donkin currently the General Manager.
Midsomer Norton
Midsomer Norton is a town near the Mendip Hills in Somerset, England, south-west of Bath, north-east of Wells, north-west of Frome, and south-east of Bristol. It has a population of 10,458. Along with Radstock and Westfield it used to be part of the conurbation and large civil parish of Norton...
, Radstock
Radstock
Radstock is a town in Somerset, England, south west of Bath, and north west of Frome. It is within the unitary authority of Bath and North East Somerset and had a population of 5,275 according to the 2001 Census...
, Westfield
Westfield, Somerset
Westfield is a settlement lying on the Fosse Way between Radstock and Midsomer Norton in Somerset, England. In 2011 it was raised to the status of a civil parish....
, and surrounding villages in Somerset.
Ownership
The newspaper is owned by Midsomer Norton & Radstock Journal Ltd, part of Tindle Newspaper GroupTindle Newspaper Group
Tindle Newspapers Group publish over 200 local newspapers in the UK. Some of these titles are over 100 years old. They are based in Farnham, Surrey, and the Chief Executive, as at 2007, was Mr Brian Doel. The owner and managing director is Sir Ray Tindle...
, the Surrey-based publisher that owns many local UK titles.
Format and publication
The newspaper consists of 28/32 pages published in colour in A4 format. The editorial offices are in Midsomer NortonMidsomer Norton
Midsomer Norton is a town near the Mendip Hills in Somerset, England, south-west of Bath, north-east of Wells, north-west of Frome, and south-east of Bristol. It has a population of 10,458. Along with Radstock and Westfield it used to be part of the conurbation and large civil parish of Norton...
. It is printed on an industrial estate in Shaftesbury
Shaftesbury
Shaftesbury is a town in Dorset, England, situated on the A30 road near the Wiltshire border 20 miles west of Salisbury. The town is built 718 feet above sea level on the side of a chalk and greensand hill, which is part of Cranborne Chase, the only significant hilltop settlement in Dorset...
and circulated door to door via local newsagents and to petrol filling station, pubs, supermarkets and other shops.
History
It was first published on June 26, 1980. It was founded by Steve Shipley. George Donkin later became Steve's partner in the newspaper.In August 2003, Northcliffe Newspapers (now Northcliffe Media
Northcliffe Media
Northcliffe Media Ltd. is a large regional newspaper publisher in the UK and Central and Eastern Europe, owned by the Daily Mail and General Trust. The company's name was changed to Northcliffe Media from Northcliffe Newspaper Group in 2007.It operates from over 30 publishing centres, and also...
, owned by the Daily Mail
Daily Mail
The Daily Mail is a British daily middle-market tabloid newspaper owned by the Daily Mail and General Trust. First published in 1896 by Lord Northcliffe, it is the United Kingdom's second biggest-selling daily newspaper after The Sun. Its sister paper The Mail on Sunday was launched in 1982...
), attempted to acquire the title. However, the circulation figures for titles owned by Northcliffe meant that written consent of the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry was required.
However, in October 2003 it was reported that the then Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the Department of Trade and Industry with responsibility for Competition, Gerry Sutcliffe
Gerry Sutcliffe
Gerard "Gerry" Sutcliffe is a British Labour Party politician who has been the Member of Parliament for Bradford South since 1994, and was the Minister for Sport and Tourism in the Brown Government.- Biography :...
had declined to consent to the transfer of ownership of Northcliffe because of the strength of Northcliffe's titles in the Bristol and Bath area.
As a result, within hours Tindle Newspaper Group
Tindle Newspaper Group
Tindle Newspapers Group publish over 200 local newspapers in the UK. Some of these titles are over 100 years old. They are based in Farnham, Surrey, and the Chief Executive, as at 2007, was Mr Brian Doel. The owner and managing director is Sir Ray Tindle...
led by Sir Ray Tindle acquired the Journal instead, with Donkin continuing to run the Journal part of the company after the takeover. Tindle Newspaper Group
Tindle Newspaper Group
Tindle Newspapers Group publish over 200 local newspapers in the UK. Some of these titles are over 100 years old. They are based in Farnham, Surrey, and the Chief Executive, as at 2007, was Mr Brian Doel. The owner and managing director is Sir Ray Tindle...
own the title to this day, with Donkin currently the General Manager.