River Media
Encyclopedia
River Media is a media group based mainly in the Republic of Ireland
and Northern Ireland
. Operating a chain of 6 weekly newspapers and six radio stations, the firm also owns Strawberry Media, an in-house advertising agency
specializing in graphic design
, public relations
and website development. Founded in 2005 by the Irish News
and media veterans Padraig O'Dwyer, Tim Collins and Jim Fitzpatrick, River Media is based in Letterkenny
, Donegal
.
The papers purchased or founded by the company are all full-colour tabloid format targeting the 20-50 age bracket. The company's titles were Cavan Post, County Derry Post, Derry News
, Donegal Post
, Finn Valley Post
, Inish Times
, Kildare Post, Letterkenny Post
, Meath Post, Monaghan Post, Sligo Post
and Wicklow News.
The Leitrim Post, a previously published title, ceased publication in 2009 due to poor sales figures.
The Meath Post, The Cavan Post and The Sligo Post, ceased publication in 2010 due to poor advertising sales, with the company saying that it was going to invest its resources in its remaining six newspapers. 20 jobs were lost with the closure of those loss making titles.
River Media's 2008 accounts, filed in August 2010, revealed a loss of €3.3 million in 2008. The accounts also revealed the company owed creditors €6.9 million on current assets of €6.5 million.
Its 2009 accounts showed losses of €8.2 million with the company's auditors casting doubt on the group's ability to continue as a going concern.
Staff numbers also fell from 200 to around 70, and the accounts reveal accumulated losses of more than €5 million and a deficit in reserves of €3.5 million.
On Friday 9th September 2011 River Newspapers Holdings, which owns River Media, filed for receivership. , Companies Registry Ireland
and Kfm
in the Republic of Ireland.
River Media are also stakeholders in several Northern Irish stations through the Northern Media Group
(a consortium that includes The Irish News and the Alpha Newspaper Group
), who own Five FM
, Six FM
, Seven FM
, Q97.2
, Q101.2
and Q102.9
.
Republic of Ireland
Ireland , described as the Republic of Ireland , is a sovereign state in Europe occupying approximately five-sixths of the island of the same name. Its capital is Dublin. Ireland, which had a population of 4.58 million in 2011, is a constitutional republic governed as a parliamentary democracy,...
and Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west...
. Operating a chain of 6 weekly newspapers and six radio stations, the firm also owns Strawberry Media, an in-house advertising agency
Advertising agency
An advertising agency or ad agency is a service business dedicated to creating, planning and handling advertising for its clients. An ad agency is independent from the client and provides an outside point of view to the effort of selling the client's products or services...
specializing in graphic design
Graphic design
Graphic design is a creative process – most often involving a client and a designer and usually completed in conjunction with producers of form – undertaken in order to convey a specific message to a targeted audience...
, public relations
Public relations
Public relations is the actions of a corporation, store, government, individual, etc., in promoting goodwill between itself and the public, the community, employees, customers, etc....
and website development. Founded in 2005 by the Irish News
The Irish News
The Irish News is a compact-sized daily newspaper based in Belfast, Northern Ireland. It is perceived as being broadly Irish nationalist in outlook...
and media veterans Padraig O'Dwyer, Tim Collins and Jim Fitzpatrick, River Media is based in Letterkenny
Letterkenny
Letterkenny , with a population of 17,568, is the largest town in County Donegal, part of the Province of Ulster in Ireland. The town is located on the River Swilly...
, Donegal
County Donegal
County Donegal is a county in Ireland. It is part of the Border Region and is also located in the province of Ulster. It is named after the town of Donegal. Donegal County Council is the local authority for the county...
.
Newspapers
From its formation, the group expanded rapidly and at its peak operated 12 local newspaper titles, most of which are in the northwest of Ireland. However, the group has since contracted and it now publishes 6 titles.The papers purchased or founded by the company are all full-colour tabloid format targeting the 20-50 age bracket. The company's titles were Cavan Post, County Derry Post, Derry News
Derry News
The Derry News is a newspaper based and published in Derry, Northern Ireland. It was first published in February 2001. The newspaper changed hands in the summer of 2006, when a consortium including River Media and the Irish News acquired the title from the McCarroll family. The newspaper was...
, Donegal Post
Donegal Post
The Donegal Post is a local weekly regional newspaper published in County Donegal, Ulster, Ireland. When the paper was first launched by River Media in June 2006, it served the area of south Donegal, west Fermanagh, north Leitrim and north Sligo....
, Finn Valley Post
Finn Valley Post
The Finn Valley Post is a local newspaper in County Donegal, Ireland, based in the town of Ballybofey. The paper was first published on 18 July 2007 by the River Media group, which produces other local titles such as the Donegal Post and Letterkenny Post...
, Inish Times
Inish Times
The Inish Times is a local Irish newspaper based in Buncrana in Donegal's Inishowen peninsula. It serves the Inishowen area and is also sold in nearby areas such as Derry and Letterkenny...
, Kildare Post, Letterkenny Post
Letterkenny Post
The Letterkenny Post is a freesheet newspaper published by River Media in Letterkenny, County Donegal. It was the first paper from River Media. The newspaper specialises in property, motoring, entertainment, farming and fashion. Its offices are located at the Dry Arch Business Park, Bonagee...
, Meath Post, Monaghan Post, Sligo Post
Sligo Post
The Sligo Post was a free tabloid newspaper published in Sligo, County Sligo, Ireland. The newspaper specialised in local news and sport, as well as sections such as: property, motoring, entertainment, farming and fashion....
and Wicklow News.
The Leitrim Post, a previously published title, ceased publication in 2009 due to poor sales figures.
The Meath Post, The Cavan Post and The Sligo Post, ceased publication in 2010 due to poor advertising sales, with the company saying that it was going to invest its resources in its remaining six newspapers. 20 jobs were lost with the closure of those loss making titles.
River Media's 2008 accounts, filed in August 2010, revealed a loss of €3.3 million in 2008. The accounts also revealed the company owed creditors €6.9 million on current assets of €6.5 million.
Its 2009 accounts showed losses of €8.2 million with the company's auditors casting doubt on the group's ability to continue as a going concern.
Staff numbers also fell from 200 to around 70, and the accounts reveal accumulated losses of more than €5 million and a deficit in reserves of €3.5 million.
On Friday 9th September 2011 River Newspapers Holdings, which owns River Media, filed for receivership. , Companies Registry Ireland
Radio
The group has also expanded into the broadcast sector of the media industry and own the local radio stations Ocean FMOcean FM (Ireland)
Ocean FM is a local radio station that broadcasts to parts of the northwest of Ireland. The station covers the area of south County Donegal, north County Leitrim and most of County Sligo and it broadcasts into parts of south-west County Fermanagh. It started broadcasting on 1 October 2004,...
and Kfm
KFM
KFM may refer to:* Kearny Fallout Meter, an expedient radiation meter, that can be made from household items* The Kentucky Fried Movie, an American comedy film, released in 1977 and directed by John Landis...
in the Republic of Ireland.
River Media are also stakeholders in several Northern Irish stations through the Northern Media Group
Northern Media Group
The Northern Media Group is the largest local radio group in Northern Ireland, owning six stations. The company was formed from a consortium which included The Irish News, River Media and the Alpha Newspaper Group and is based in Cookstown and Ballymena....
(a consortium that includes The Irish News and the Alpha Newspaper Group
Alpha Newspaper Group
Alpha Newspaper Group is a media group, primarily involved in local newspaper publishing and radio broadcasting, in Northern Ireland. The group has a significant share in the Northern Ireland media market.-Ownership:...
), who own Five FM
Five FM
Five FM is a radio station based in Newry, County Down. It broadcasts on FM 100.5/101.1FM to Newry City and the surrounding areas of Northern Ireland. The station broadcasts a mix of news, sport, music and community information for the area...
, Six FM
Six FM
Six FM is a radio station based in Cookstown, County Tyrone. It broadcasts on 106 & 107.2 FM to the Mid Ulster region of Northern Ireland plus other areas, or more specifically East Tyrone, South Londonderry and North Armagh. The station broadcasts a mix of news, sport, music and community...
, Seven FM
Seven FM
Seven FM is a radio station based in Ballymena, County Antrim, Ulster. It broadcasts on FM 107 to the north east of Northern Ireland. The station is located just outside of Ballymena. Seven FM broadcasts a mix of news, sport, music and community information for the area...
, Q97.2
Q97.2
Q97.2 "Causeway Coast Radio" is a radio station based in Coleraine, County Londonderry. It broadcasts on FM 97.2 to the north coast. Part of the Q Radio network which also owns a number of other stations in Northern Ireland. Q97.2FM broadcast from a building located on the Cloyfin Road in Coleraine...
, Q101.2
Q101.2
Q101.2 FM West is a radio station based in Market Street, Omagh, County Tyrone and in Belmore Mews Enniskillen, County Fermanagh.It broadcasts on the FM frequency on 101.2 to Counties Fermanagh, Tyrone and the surrounding counties....
and Q102.9
Q102.9
Q102.9 "Northwest's Best Music" is a radio station based in Derry, County Londonderry. It broadcasts on FM 102.9 to the north west of Northern Ireland, Q102 also broadcasts via DAB throughout Northern Ireland via the Score NI multiplex. It is part of the Q Radio Network, which also owns a number...
.