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SLG
Born Again..........and still Scottish!
Joined: 16 Sep 2005
Posts: 5515
Location: Dùn Eideann
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 Posted: Mon Dec 19, 2005 12:50 pm Post subject: Scotsman newspapers sold |
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About time too! Hopefully without the Barclay Brothers and Andrew Neil in charge the Scotsman will be able to return to a more pro-Scottish and less London-centric agenda. I might even consider buying it again!
| Quote: | Scotsman newspapers change hands
The Barclay brothers have agreed to sell The Scotsman newspaper and other titles to Johnston Press in a deal worth £160m.
The sale includes the Edinburgh Evening News, Scotland on Sunday and the free Edinburgh Herald & Post.
Twins David and Frederick Barclay also own the Telegraph Group through their Press Holdings Group, which in turn owns The Scotsman Publications Ltd.
Johnston Press has agreed to acquire its entire issued share capital.
The company is the fourth largest publisher of local and regional newspapers in the UK.
Scotsman Publications has a total weekly paid-for circulation of 840,000 and a weekly free distribution of 254,000.
Its website, scotsman.com, registered more than three million unique users and more than 20 million page impressions in its most recent ABC audit.
In the last financial year ended 31 December 2004, Scotsman Publications reported profit before interest and tax of £7.7m on turnover of £63.5m.
Johnston chief executive Tim Bowdler said: "Scotsman Publications comprises one of Scotland's highest quality newspaper portfolios and The Scotsman and its website Scotsman.com are amongst Scotland's best known newspaper and internet brands.
'Scottish heritage'
"With its Scottish heritage, Johnston Press is particularly pleased to have reached agreement to acquire Scotsman Publications."
Andrew Neil, publisher of the Press Holdings Group, owners of The Scotsman Publications Limited (TSPL), said: "It has been a privilege to own and run a prestigious flagship title like The Scotsman, along with its successful associated titles, these past 10 years.
"But we are delighted to have reached an agreement with Johnston Press which not only recognises the value and improvements we have added to the titles over the decade but secures their long-term future.
"The Scotsman and its sister papers will now have the advantage of being part of a larger Edinburgh-based group."
Johnston expansion
The Barclay Brothers bought the company eight years ago for £87m but The Scotsman has been losing circulation in recent years with a daily sale of 59,000 last month.
The acquisition will add The Scotsman to a growing list of newspaper titles owned by Johnstone Press.
Earlier this year, Johnston Press spent £155m on Scottish Radio Holdings' newspaper arm, Score Press. |
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/4541732.stm
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azzuri
'Our Scotland' Fossil
Joined: 12 Sep 2005
Posts: 3797
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| Posted: Mon Dec 19, 2005 1:36 pm Post subject: |
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dunno whether this is a good or a bad thing to be honest - don't suppose they could get any more anti-independence so it may be a good thing, or it might not matter.
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"Every single person on this planet is unique. Just like everyone else..." - Random Guy in Edinburgh Pub
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azzuri
'Our Scotland' Fossil
Joined: 12 Sep 2005
Posts: 3797
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| Posted: Mon Dec 19, 2005 1:41 pm Post subject: |
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from this page -
http://www.johnstonpress.co.uk/Company_Directory.aspx
it seems Johnstone Press own a huge amount of regional papers - this is one of the only cross regional ones - will be interesting to see how they progress with this. I'd imagine it will be their Scottish Branch that manage the content of the paper so if the content changes from being less hostile to the SNP, SSP etc. - we'll know we are going in the right direction!
Wonder who they'll hire as editor?
This is only a small step however - now all we need is someone to come in and buy the Daily Record - that'll be when the biggest change in attitudes comes.
_________________
"Every single person on this planet is unique. Just like everyone else..." - Random Guy in Edinburgh Pub
Possibly the funniest site in the world, 'The Daily Mash' - http://www.thedailymash.co.uk/ |
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SLG
Born Again..........and still Scottish!
Joined: 16 Sep 2005
Posts: 5515
Location: Dùn Eideann
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| Posted: Mon Dec 19, 2005 1:44 pm Post subject: |
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| rs_azzuri wrote: | | dunno whether this is a good or a bad thing to be honest - don't suppose they could get any more anti-independence so it may be a good thing, or it might not matter. |
I'm sure it won't become pro-independence over night. However the Barclay Bros had a very didstinct political agenda and the Scotsman has suffered because of that. Sales have fallen and even last week they were laying off more folk. Staff have also made clear there displeasure at the editorial stance being imposed from above. At the very least, the Johnston Press will only care about sales, so that should mean a much more even-handed approach. If they ever want to attract back readers like me who have been reading the Herald for the last few years, they will need to change. |
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