Montgomery's new world hits an old local difficulty
The former Mirror Group boss looked to have created a devolved and hopeful future for the regional press in Local World: but discord and centralisation are rearing their heads againOne man more than...
View ArticleMontgomery's vision of local journalism's future: 'skimming online content'
Local World's chairman, David Montgomery, has revealed his vision of the future role for journalists employed by his regional newspaper group.According to a Press Gazette report based on a sight of...
View ArticleDavid Montgomery's Local World plan reveals his contempt for regional papers
Monty's manifesto shows no understanding of the true value of local reporting – and shows his scorn for his own professionWhen Local World took over the media assets of Northcliffe and Iliffe, some...
View ArticleMonty's vision for local newspapers is not as bad as critics suggest
I can hardly believe I'm writing this, but I want to speak up for David Montgomery. On re-reading that sentence I realise that people will think I've taken leave of my senses. So be it.Several critics,...
View ArticleSteve Auckland expected to return to Metro
Steve Auckland is expected to return to Metro after his recent departure as chief executive of Local World.According to a MediaWeek story, he will resume the helm at Metro following yesterday's...
View ArticleMonty's reverse ferret - journalists will be 'masters' rather than 'skimmers'
David Montgomery has, to use a phrase familiar to Sun journalists in the 1980s (such as him), performed a reverse ferret.The Local World chairman and chief executive wrote a controversial 2,000-word...
View ArticleMedia Talk podcast: Alan Rusbridger faces MPs, Radio Academy awards
John Plunkett and guests discuss the Guardian editor's appearance in front of the select committee, Paul Robinson reveals new categories at the former Sony radio awards and we find out which newspaper...
View ArticleThe Independent seeks buyer
The Independent is up for sale. The paper's founder, and current chairman of its publishing company, Andreas Whittam Smith, has been authorised to seek out a buyer.The owners, Alexander Lebedev and his...
View ArticleMetro's Steve Auckland: 'There's a lot of money to be made out of print'
Freesheet's managing director on why he puts print first, wooing the urbanites – and the power of repositioned dump binsA beaming Steve Auckland eases himself into the restaurant seat opposite me and...
View ArticleNewspaper ill-advised to let police post their own online story
A newspaper that allowed its local police force to publish an article directly on to its website should be wary of celebrating the initiative.Torbay police posted a "story" on the site of the Torquay...
View ArticleFrank Thorne retires - who would ever have imagined that possible?
Many journalists who have already departed this earth would be amazed to know that Frank Thorne managed to reach the age of 65.The award-winning reporter, who has announced his retirement, was...
View ArticleLocal World posts adjusted profits of £38.9m
David Montgomery’s local newspaper publisher earns DMGT and Trinity Mirror shared payout of more than £22mDavid Montgomery’s Local World made adjusted profits of £38.9m last year, providing...
View ArticleHow to save local journalism (and democracy) with a new funding initiative
It is hardly a secret that local newspapers are in crisis. I have written about it endlessly. Over the past decade, and longer, Press Gazette has detailed the gloomy drip-drip-drip of problems: the...
View ArticleLocal news website editor defends his 'shameless' clickbait content
The lead item yesterday on the Maidstone & Medway News website told readers that Katie Price was coming to town.There was an obligatory picture of the "glamour model" with a somewhat partial...
View ArticleNewspaper launch in Grantham heralds old-fashioned circulation war
Here's a back-to-the-future moment - a large regional newspaper publisher is planning to launch a newsprint title in a town where another large regional newspaper publisher has long held sway. It looks...
View ArticleArchant joins forces with the Exeter Daily in Local World's territory
Marc Astley’s start-up agrees partnership magazine deal with regional publisher An independent online news outlet in Exeter has gone into partnership with the regional newspaper and magazine publisher,...
View ArticleLocal World isn’t so local any more
The regional press chain is up for sale in a deal valued at a healthy £200m. But it’s now far from the devolved, grassroots insurgent its founders intended it to beFirst question: what have Birmingham,...
View ArticleWhy Trinity Mirror's acquisition of Local World makes sense
Expanded regional publishing group will be able to increase digital investment and also present digital advertisers with a larger audience across the UKSo Trinity Mirror has become the UK’s biggest...
View ArticleNational World eyes bid for ailing UK regional newspaper titles
David Montgomery’s firm could take over Yorkshire Post and Scotsman owner JPI MediaSome of the UK’s best-known regional newspapers, including the Yorkshire Post and the Scotsman, could be sold to a new...
View ArticleNational World plots takeover of Mirror and Express owner Reach
David Montgomery says the publisher is in the early stages of a potential offerThe owner of the Scotsman and Yorkshire Post has revealed it is plotting a surprise takeover of much larger rival Reach,...
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