Mission Statement

A Community Media Company

Our aim is to serve local communities by meeting their needs for local news, information and advertising services through a range of media including print and digital channels which together achieve unparalleled levels of market reach.

History

Overview

Originally founded in Falkirk in 1767, Johnston Press is the only quoted UK newspaper group concentrated solely on local and regional press. The company owns over 300 local newspapers, most of which hold the number one position in their many different and diverse markets across the UK.

The Group’s publishing philosophy is based on the simple but inescapable fact that life is local, and the overriding focus of Johnston Press is to provide quality local news and content and a first-rate advertising medium for the local communities that it serves.

It is this approach coupled to strong management that has been the bedrock of the Group’s success, delivering consistently strong growth in turnover, operating profit and operating margins since it listed on the London Stock Exchange in 1988.

Johnston Press is well positioned to continue to improve profitability and shareholder value. Its core strategy is the ongoing development of quality local newspapers whilst maintaining prudent cost controls.

In recent years, the Company has made significant inroads in creating modern, state of the art printing capabilities with extensive colour capacity. With over 300 local web sites, it has already built a formidable Internet presence.

Since its flotation, Johnston Press has been one of the principal consolidators in the regional newspaper industry and has built substantial value for its shareholders, increasing its market capitalization from £29 million in 1998 to close to a £1 billion today.

2006 Johnston Press adds The Scotsman Publications Ltd to its portfolio to become the second largest regional publisher in the UK with over 300 publications every week.
			2005 A year of 6 acquisitions, 3 relatively small - Thorne Gazette, Best Asian Media Ltd and Ashwell Associates Ltd - and 3 large deals - Score Press Ltd, Local Press Ltd and Leinster Leader Ltd. Total cost excluding fees of £309 million.
2002 The acquisition of Regional Independent Media Holdings raises Johnston’s portfolio to 244 titles, many of them market leaders, cementing its position as a leading UK regional publisher.
			1999 Johnston Press acquires Portsmouth and 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 newspapers interests of EMAP plc promotes Johnston Press to the fifth largest regional newspaper publisher in the UK.
			1994 ‘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 The acquisition of West Sussex County Times Ltd marks the Group’s first purchase in the South of England.
			1978 Johnston Press succeeds in expanding South of the Border with the purchase of Wilfred Edmunds Ltd in Chesterfield, followed by the Wakefield based Yorkshire Weekly Newspaper Group Ltd. in 1985
1970 Purchase of Strachan & Livingston Ltd, the highlight in a period of expansion by acquisition in Scotland.