A buyer has emerged for The Newry Reporter, one of Northern Ireland’s oldest newspapers, as it was preparing its last edition.
National World Publishing, a media investment company formed in 2020 by publishing David Montgomery in order to buy the former Johnston Press assets, has bought the 155-year-old title, a move which will save the jobs of its 10 staff.
The eleventh-hour swoop on the newspaper business – for an undisclosed sum - sees it change hands from the Edward Hodgett Group, the family-owned company which has owned the title for 96 years and which last week announced plans to close the paper after next week’s edition was published on January 25.
"Last week it grieved us to announce the profoundly sad news to our readership and further afield, that we would be producing our last edition at the end of January 2023,” the company said in a statement. “However, we never gave up striving to find a more positive outcome for both our wonderful staff and one of Ireland’s most historic newspapers."
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National World Publishing also owns The Belfast Newsletter, The Derry Journal and a raft of other weekly local titles and said the acquisition will help grow the company’s presence in the Newry, Mourne, South Down and South Armagh region which The Newry Reporter covers. In particular, it hinted at a possible collaboration with the Newsletter’s weekly supplement Farming Life, which it said already has strong readership in the area.
Mr Montgomery said he would protect the newspaper’s independence.
“The Reporter has a proud history and National World is committed to uphold and foster its heritage,” he said. "It is important that its independent editorial voice is protected and plays a part in promoting Newry and the wider region.
“We are proud to take on that role and support all The Reporter’s staff and contributors in that mission.”
The move follows a run of acquisitions for the National World Publishing which also owns titles across Great Britain.
Lowry Hodgett, Managing Director of Edward Hodgett Ltd, the title's owners, said The Newry Reporter’s future is secured.
"National World has done its utmost to save jobs, share our values of service and strongly support The Newry Reporter’s independent editorial ethos. The title now has a bright future.”
