Iconic Newspapers
Company type | Private limited company |
---|---|
Industry | Media |
Founded | 29 November 2013 |
Headquarters | 30 Hatch Lane, Dublin / 47 Great Marlborough Street, London |
Key people | Malcolm Denmark[1] |
Products | Publishing of Newspapers and online media. |
Website | mediaforcegroup |
Iconic Newspapersis a British-owned newspaper company that publishes over 20 regional newspapers in Ireland. Iconic Newspapers are owned by Mediaforce who are majority owned by British businessman Malcolm Denmark. Iconic Newspapers hold their newspaper assets in a subsidiary called Formpress Publishing.[2]
In 2014, Iconic Newspapers acquired Johnston Press Ireland.[3]Johnston PressIreland was formed in 2005 following the purchase ofScottish Radio Holdings's newspapers known as Score Press byJohnston Pressin 2005 for £155 million.[4]In the same year, Johnston Press Ireland also purchased the Leinster Leader Group (just after Leinster Leader Group had purchased Tallaght Publishing Ltd), who published six titles, for €138.6 million.[5]
The company is based inNaas,County Kildare.
History
[edit]In May 2017, it was reported that Iconic Newspapers may bid to acquire someLandmark Media Investmentsregional titles. Iconic Newspapers did not proceed with this acquisition.
In September 2017, it was reported that Iconic Newspapers managing director, Joe Flaherty, had been selected to run forFianna Fáilin Longford-Westmeath.[6]
In November 2017, it was reported that Iconic Newspapers were making staff redundant at theDonegal Democrat.[7]
In January 2018, the 2017 accounts were published. Revenues at Formpress Publishing Ltd declined by 2pc from €13m to €12.6m. Numbers employed by the company last year reduced from 165 to 161 with staff costs declining from €6.84m to €6.59m.[8]
In November 2018, it was announced that Iconic Newspapers had acquired 7 titles fromRiver Media.[9]
In November 2018,Fine GaelSenatorPaudie Coffeysued Iconic Newspapers over an article written in theKilkenny People.[10]
In January 2019, the accounts up to March 2018 were published. Revenues at Formpress Publishing Ltd. declined by 3pc, from €12.6m to €12.2m. Numbers employed by the company last year increased from 161 to 163. Profits declined 6%.[11]
In March 2019, Iconic Newspapers settled a defamation action from an ex-minister over an article in theTipperary Star.[12][13]
In April 2019, Iconic Newspapers acquired two newspaper titles fromAlpha Newspaper Group.The acquisition was subject to Competition Authority approval.[14]In October 2019, the Competition Authority approved the transaction subject to conditions. The Irish Government needed to approve the acquisition next.[15]
In August 2019, Fine Gael Senator Paudie Coffey settled hisHigh Courtaction with Iconic Newspapers.[16]
In October 2019, it was reported that Ionic Newspapers were in advance talks to acquireThe Munster Express.[17]
In March 2020, the accounts up to 31 March 2019 were published. The results were affected by the acquisitions. Numbers employed by the company reduced from 153 to 149.[18]
In March 2020, Iconic Newspapers let staff go due to lack of newspaper advertising due to the coronavirus pandemic.[19][20][21][22]TheNational Union of Journalists(NUJ) said that Iconic Newspapers "has laid off dozens of journalists, made a number of staff compulsorily redundant and temporarily shut two newspapers".[23]
In December 2020, it was announced that Iconic Newspapers' owners Mediaforce was subscribing £6 million in loan notes towards the sale of JPI Media Publishing Limited to National World plc. JPIMediais the third largest publisher of regional newspapers and websites in theUnited Kingdom,with over 100 newspapers including 13 daily newspapers.[24]
In January 2021, further staff cuts occurred at Iconic Newspapers publications such as theTipperary Star.[25]
In October 2021, it was announced that David Fordham had taken up a directorship role with National World, plc, at the request of Mediaforce, which is the owner of Iconic Newspapers. It was revealed in the same report that Mediaforce owns 26pc of National World.[26]
In September 2022, it was announced Iconic Media Group will purchaseThe Mayo News.[27]
Current Irish newspaper titles
[edit]As of 2024, the company's titles included:
- Derry News(acquired fromRiver Media)[9]
- County Derry Post(acquired fromRiver Media)[9]
- Donegal Democrat(acquired fromJohnston Press)[3]
- Donegal People's Press(acquired fromJohnston Press)[3]
- Donegal Post(acquired fromRiver Media)[9]
- Dundalk Democrat(acquired fromJohnston Press)[3]
- Finn Valley Post(acquired fromRiver Media)[9]
- Inish Times(acquired fromRiver Media)[9]
- Kildare Post(acquired fromRiver Media)[9]
- Kilkenny People(acquired fromJohnston Press)[3]
- The Kilkenny Reporter(launched by Iconic Newspapers, not connected to closed title calledKilkenny Reporter)[28]
- Leinster Express(acquired fromJohnston Press)[3]
- Leinster Leader(acquired fromJohnston Press)[3]
- Leitrim Observer(acquired fromJohnston Press)[3]
- Letterkenny People(acquired fromJohnston Press)[3]
- Letterkenny Post(acquired fromRiver Media)[9]
- The Limerick Chronicle(acquired fromJohnston Press)[3]
- Limerick Leader(acquired fromJohnston Press)[3]
- Longford Leader(acquired fromJohnston Press)[3]
- Mayo News(acquired from Dermot Berry)[29]
- Midland Tribune(acquired fromAlpha Newspaper Group)[14]
- The Nationalist(Tipperary)(acquired fromJohnston Press)[3]
- Tipperary Star(acquired fromJohnston Press[3]
- Tullamore Tribune(acquired fromAlpha Newspaper Group)[14]
Former newspaper titles
[edit]- Limerick Chronicle(now a supplement in theLimerick Leader,not a standalone title)
- Offaly Express
Websites
[edit]- Carlow Live[30]
- Cork Live[30]
- Offaly Express(former newspaper title)
- Derry Now[31]
- Donegal Live[31](involves the news teams of theDonegal Democrat,Donegal Post,Donegal People's PressandInish Times)[32]
- ÉireBheo[33]
- Kildare Now[31]
- Tipperary Live[34](The Nationalistand theTipperary Star)
- Waterford Live[30]
Iconic Newspapers run 23 websites in total,[35]which are mainly websites linked to their newspaper titles.
References
[edit]- ^Burns, John."How Malcolm Denmark has invaded Ireland's locals".
- ^"Formpress Publishing reports €1.2m pretax profit".Irishtimes.com.Retrieved17 November2018.
- ^abcdefghijklmn"Johnston Press sells 14 Irish titles to Iconic Newspapers".Independent.ie.2 April 2014.
- ^"Press Release on Purchase of Score Press".Archived fromthe originalon 8 August 2007.
- ^"Press Release on Purchase of Leinster Leader Group".Archived fromthe originalon 8 August 2007.
- ^"FF newspaper boss won't use titles to win vote".Independent.ie.24 September 2017.Retrieved17 November2018.
- ^"NUJ calls on Iconic Newspapers to halt redundancies at Donegal Democrat - Highland Radio - Latest Donegal News and Sport".Highlandradio.com.16 November 2017.Retrieved17 November2018.
- ^"Profits at publisher Formpress drop 12pc".Independent.ie.10 January 2018.Retrieved17 November2018.
- ^abcdefghMcDonald, Gary (17 November 2018)."Seven weekly newspapers within the River Media stable have been sold to Iconic Newspapers".The Irish News.
- ^"FG senator: article called me a 'robber' and cost me my Dáil seat".Independent.ie.21 November 2018.
- ^Deegan, Gordon."Profits at 'Limerick Leader' publisher fall 6%".The Irish Times.
- ^O’Loughlin, Ann (19 March 2019)."Ex-Minister settles action against local newspaper publisher".Irish Examiner.
- ^O'Faolain, Aodhan."Defamation action involving ex-FF minister Michael Smith settled".The Irish Times.
- ^abc"Former top Unionist to sell newspaper business south of the Border".Independent.ie.19 April 2019.
- ^Hamilton, Peter."Limerick Leader owner cleared to acquire two more titles".The Irish Times.
- ^"Paudie Coffey settles High Court defamation action with newspaper".The Irish Times.
- ^Paul, Mark."Iconic Newspapers in talks to acquire Munster Express".The Irish Times.
- ^Deegan, Gordon."Pre-tax profits surge by 29% to €1.13m at Limerick Leader owner".The Irish Times.
- ^Mullooly, Ciaran (25 March 2020)."Job losses at local newspapers as ad revenue collapses".Rte.ie.
- ^Slattery, Laura."Local newspapers urged to halt layoffs and avail of subsidies".The Irish Times.
- ^"Iconic Newspapers Group Asked To Reconsider Temporary Layoffs In Midlands".Midlands 103.
- ^Early, Ronan."Coronavirus: staff at Irish local newspaper group to be stood down for six weeks".Thetimes.co.uk.
- ^"Sorry..."Thetimes.co.uk.
- ^"Acquisition of JPI Group and Directorate Change - 13:00:08 31 Dec 2020 - NWOR News article | London Stock Exchange".Londonstockexchange.com.
- ^Brophy, Michael (27 January 2021)."Staffing cuts at Iconic owned newspapers in Tipperary criticised in the Seanad".Tippfm.com.
- ^Sharman, David."David Fordham joins board of JPIMedia owner National World - Journalism News from HoldtheFrontPage".HoldtheFrontPage.Retrieved5 October2021.
- ^McGrath, Pat (27 September 2022)."The Mayo News newspaper acquired by Iconic Media Group".
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(help) - ^Whyte, Barry J. (12 May 2019)."Papering over the cracks?".Business Post.
- ^"Iconic Media Group Notifies CCPC of Mayo News Acquisition".22 November 2022.Retrieved13 February2024.
- ^abc"Whois Lookup & IP | Whois.net".Whois.net.Archived fromthe originalon 18 April 2020.Retrieved18 April2020.
- ^abc"DETERMINATION OF MERGER NOTIFICATION M/18/092 – FORMPRESS PUBLISHING (ICONIC) / ASSETS OF RIVER MEDIA"(PDF).Ccpc.ie.Retrieved2 November2021.
- ^"The latest Donegal News, Business and Sport".Donegallive.ie.
- ^"Éire Bheo - Baile".www.eirebheo.ie(in Galician).Retrieved8 September2023.
- ^"About TipperaryLive.ie".Tipperarylive.ie.
- ^"We are hiring! Iconic Newspapers hiring advertising assistant in Midlands".Limerickleader.ie.29 April 2019.