The Group introduces a series of online advertising offerings in key areas, including recruitment, business directory, daily deals and property as well as launching mobile websites for all its news titles and its first iPad apps.
History
Johnston Press is the only quoted UK newspaper and media group concentrated solely on local and regional newspapers offerings. Originally founded in Falkirk in 1767, the company owns over 200 local newspapers and websites, most of which hold the number one position in their many different and diverse markets across the UK and the Republic of Ireland. To see where we publish click here.
After listing on the London Stock Exchange in 1988 the Group grew through acquisition throughout the 1990s and early years of the 21st century. The recent recessions in the UK and Republic of Ireland have hit advertising revenues hard across all sectors of the media and the regional press has had to adjust accordingly. Johnston Press has undertaken an ongoing series of programmes of significant cost savings and is working with new technology and solutions to continue to deliver quality newspapers, news websites and new, related products in an efficient way.
The Group has also developed innovative new online products including an online jobs offering; the Find it business directory in partnership with Qype; DealMonster, its growing daily deals business in markets across the UK, and a powerful online property portal in conjunction with market leaders Zoopla.
Some of the significant landmarks in the growth of Johnston Press have been:
2009-2012
2005-2006
Further growth, including three acquisitions which made the Group the largest publisher of local newspapers in the Republic of Ireland. It also purchased The Scotsman Publications Limited, giving the Group arguably its highest profile titles.
2002
The acquisition of Regional Independent Media Holdings raises Johnston’s portfolio to well over 200 titles, many of them market leaders, cementing its position as a leading UK regional publisher.
1999
Johnston Press acquires Portsmouth & Sunderland Newspapers plc, increasing its daily newspaper titles to nine and establishing it as the UK’s fourth largest regional newspaper publisher.
1996
The purchase of the newspaper interests of EMAP plc promotes Johnston Press to the fifth largest regional newspaper publisher in the UK.
1994
The purchase of The Halifax Evening Courier represents Johnston’s first acquisition of a daily newspaper.
1988
Johnston Press obtains a full listing on the London Stock Exchange.
1988
The acquisition of West Sussex County Times Ltd marks the Group’s expansion into the South of England.
1970-1985
The expansion of the Group from its historic base, first through local acquisition and then beyond its Scottish base. Purchases included Wilfred Edmunds Ltd in Chesterfield in 1978 and the Wakefield-based Yorkshire Weekly Newspaper Group Ltd in 1985.