Blog

Iliffe Media is set to acquire the Newark Advertiser and its associated website and publications, including the Newark Trader, based in Newark, Nottinghamshire. The deal is expected to complete by Monday, June 18, 2018.

It is intended to operate the Advertiser as part of Iliffe Media Midlands, along with other Iliffe titles including the Grantham Journal, Rutland and Stamford Mercury, Lincs Free Press, Spalding Guardian and Lynn News.

It is planned for the printing of these titles to transfer to the Iliffe Print centre in Cambridge in due course.

Iliffe Media Midlands managing director, Richard Parkinson, said: “The Newark Advertiser is a strong local newspaper, at the heart of its community. As well as being a great geographical fit with Iliffe Media’s Midlands titles, this is a really strong cultural fit. Like the Advertiser, Iliffe Media believes in putting the interests of its readers and advertisers first, with locally-based teams.”

Edward Iliffe, chief executive of Iliffe Media, said “We are delighted to be acquiring such a well-respected local newspaper as the Newark Advertiser. At a time when trust in local media is soaring, Iliffe Media, with its long heritage as an independent, family-run media business, is committed to a long-term investment in local newspaper publishing, across all platforms.”

The deal was handled by Iliffe Media board member and media industry adviser, David Fordham. David has worked on all of the group’s previous acquisitions.

Iliffe Media, which publishes the award-winning Cambridge Independent, acquired 13 titles from Johnston Press in January 2017, and subsequently acquired the KM Media Group in April 2017. The Bishop’s Stortford Independent was launched in October 2017.

Iliffe Media is delighted to confirm that it has today completed the acquisition of 13 newspaper titles and their associated websites and editions from Johnston Press.

The deal was subject to Johnston Press shareholders’ approval, which has now been granted.

The purchase comprises the following titles: Lynn News, Fenland Citizen, Diss Express, Bury Free Press, Haverhill Echo, Newmarket Journal, Suffolk Free Press, Stamford Mercury, Rutland Times, Bourne Local, Grantham Journal, Spalding Guardian, Lincs Free Press and their associated editions and websites.

The printing of these titles will transfer to Iliffe Print Cambridge from the week commencing January 23, 2017.

Ricky Allan, currently Managing Director of the Cambridge Independent, will take responsibility for the titles in Bury, Newmarket, Diss, Haverhill and Sudbury. Richard Parkinson will be the Managing Director for the acquired titles in King’s Lynn, Wisbech, Spalding, Grantham, Stamford and Rutland.

Edward Iliffe, Chief Executive of Iliffe Media, said: “We are delighted to have concluded the acquisition of these well-respected local newspapers.

“Iliffe Media, with its long heritage as an independent family-run media business, firmly believes in the future of local newspaper publishing across all platforms and we now look forward to working in a positive way with our new colleagues and the communities they serve.”

A full list of the acquired titles can be found on the Iliffe Media website: www.iliffemedia.co.uk.

Iliffe Media was established in 2016 and began publishing the Cambridge Independent – an exciting weekly newspaper for the Cambridge region – in September. The paper has received excellent feedback for its positive approach to the community, its fresh content and high-quality design. The paper is supported by a website – cambridgeindependent.co.uk – and an app for iOS and Android platforms.

Priced at £1, the Cambridge Independent is available to subscribers for 70p a week, for which they also get free access to the app and membership of the Gourmet Society with its associated money-saving benefits.

The Iliffe family’s publishing heritage dates back to 1879.

All enquiries: Edward.iliffe@iliffemedia.co.uk