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October 8, 2015updated 13 Oct 2015 2:50pm

Johnston Press closures mean more than 300 UK local newspapers have gone in last ten years

By William Turvill

More than 300 local newspapers have been closed in the past ten years, according to Press Gazette research.

Johnston Press yesterday announced it had closed 11 free newspapers across the UK, meaning it has axed 22 titles since 2012.

Among them was free weekly the Northampton Mercury, which was 295 years old and claims to be the oldest UK newspaper with a proven record of continuous publication.

The closures come at a time when the UK regional press continues to be hit with widespread redundancies.

Before the financial crash of 2008 the Newspaper Society estimated there were 13,000 journalists employed in the regional press. The trade body (now called the News Media Association) no longer keeps figures, but Press Gazette's preliminary research of Companies House figures kept by individual companies suggest that the current total may be half that figure.

Previous Press Gazette research found that 242 regional and local newspapers were closed between 2005 and 2011.

And at least 60 have been closed since 2012 – including 23 so far in 2015.

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In the same period, Press Gazette has found just over 100 new newspapers launched. This year, for instance, Newsquest has launched four new newspapers or newspaper editions, and Tindle has launched five titles in London.

In contrast Trinity Mirror has closed more newspapers – 12 – than Johnston Press. It has also closed at least 22 since 2012.

According to the News Media Association there are 1,100 local newspaper titles in the UK.

Closed newspapers since 2012 (Press Gazette research)

Title Owner Paid-for or free? Month closure announced

Enfield Gazette
Tindle Newspapers Paid Jan-12

Cambridge First
Archant Paid Mar-12

Falkirk & Grangemouth Advertiser
Johnston Press Free Jun-12

Fife Leader
Johnston Press Free Jun-12

Leeds Weekly News
Johnston Press Free Jun-12

Pudsey Times
Johnston Press Free Jun-12

West Lothian Herald & Post
Johnston Press Free Jun-12

Chesterfield Advertiser
Johnston Press Free Aug-12

Doncaster Advertiser
Johnston Press Free Aug-12

Mansfield and Ashfield Observer
Johnston Press Free Aug-12

Worksop Trader
Johnston Press Free Aug-12

Thanet Times
Local World Paid Aug-12

Kidderminster Chronicle
Midland News Association Free Aug-12

Portsmouth Journal
Johnston Press Free Oct-12

Streatham Guardian
Newsquest Free Nov-12

Bedford Midweek
Local World Free Jun-13

Oxford Star
Newsquest Free Jun-13

Lambeth Post
Tindle Newspapers Free Jul-13

The Liverpool Post
Trinity Mirror Paid Dec-13

Ballyclare Gazette
Alpha Newspaper Group Free Jan-14

Carrickfergus Advertiser
Alpha Newspaper Group Paid Jan-14

Fulham and Hammersmith Chronicle
Trinity Mirror Free Apr-14

Elmbridge Guardian
Newsquest Paid May-14

Nuneaton & Bedworth Post
Independent Paid Jul-14

Huntingdon/ St Ives & St Neots News & Crier
Local World Free Aug-14

Royston Weekly News
Local World Free Aug-14

Saffron Walden Weekly News
Local World Free Aug-14

The Resident
Johnston Press Free Oct-14

Burnley Citizen
Newsquest Free Nov-14

Harrow Observer
Trinity Mirror Paid Nov-14

Surrey Herald
Trinity Mirror Paid Nov-14

Surrey Times
Trinity Mirror Free Nov-14

The Bracknell Times
Trinity Mirror Paid Nov-14

Wokingham and Bracknell Times
Trinity Mirror Paid Nov-14

Woking Informer
Trinity Mirror Free Nov-14

Reading Post
Trinity Mirror Paid Nov-14

GetReading
Trinity Mirror Free Nov-14

Formby Times
Trinity Mirror Free Feb-15

Crosby Herald
Trinity Mirror Paid Feb-15

Stockport Times East
Trinity Mirror Free Feb-15

Stockport Times West
Trinity Mirror Free Feb-15

Tameside Advertiser
Trinity Mirror Free Feb-15

Glossop Advertiser
Trinity Mirror Free Feb-15

Oldham Advertiser
Trinity Mirror Free Feb-15

Salford Advertiser 
Trinity Mirror Free Feb-15

Advertiser Series 
Trinity Mirror Free Feb-15

Wilmslow Express
Trinity Mirror Free Feb-15

Coventry Times
Trinity Mirror Free Apr-15

Nuneaton Tribune
Trinity Mirror Free Sep-15

Peterborough Citizen
Johnston Press Free Oct-15

Norfolk Citizen
Johnston Press Free Oct-15

Rugby Review
Johnston Press Free Oct-15

Northampton Mercury
Johnston Press Free Oct-15

Dronfield Advertiser 
Johnston Press Free Oct-15

Eckington Leader 
Johnston Press Free Oct-15

Peak Courier
Johnston Press Free Oct-15

Sheffield Gazette
Johnston Press Free Oct-15

South Elms Gazette
Johnston Press Free Oct-15

South Bognor View 
Johnston Press Free Oct-15

Lutterworth Mail
Johnston Press Free Oct-15

 

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