Press Gazette, formerly known as UK Press Gazette (UKPG), is a British media trade magazine dedicated to journalism and the press. It was first published in 1965, and currently has a circulation of about 2,500[1], although it had enjoyed higher circulations earlier in its history. Published with the motto Journalism Today, it contains news from the worlds of newspapers, magazines, TV, radio and online, dealing with launches, closures, moves, legislation and technological advances affecting journalists.
Commercially, it is funded by subscriptions and by publication of recruitment and classified advertising, as well as occasional display advertising.
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History
Press Gazette was launched in November 1965 by Colin Valdar, his wife Jill, and his brother Stewart. Upon the Valdars' retirement in 1983, the magazine was sold to Timothy Benn, who sold it on, in 1990, to the Canadian publishing company Maclean Hunter.
In 1994, the magazine was sold again, this time to EMAP. Three years later, the magazine along with MediaWeek and 12 other titles, was sold again, to Quantum Business Media for £14.1 million. [2]
High-profile owners and closure
Rupert Murdoch's son-in-law Matthew Freud became the new owner of Press Gazette in May 2005, in partnership with the former Daily Mirror editor Piers Morgan to raise around £600,000 to buy the title. The purchase was part of the break-up of Quantum Business Media by its owners, the venture-capital group ABN Amro Capital.
On 19 October 2006, Freud announced that the magazine was for sale, citing as a reason indifference in the newspaper industry to the British Press Awards.
The company owned by Freud and Morgan, Press Gazette Limited, subsequently entered administrative receivership.
Initially, the receivers were unable to find another buyer for the magazine, and on 24 November 2006 it closed.
Acquisition and relaunch
After the publication missed one issue, Wilmington Group plc (LSE: WIL) announced on 5 December 2006 that it had acquired the title. Wilmington Media editorial director Tony Loynes, a former Press Gazette editor, led the take-over. He named news editor Dominic Ponsford as editor and the magazine moved from Fleet Street to Wilmington Media's Old Street headquarters.[3]
Both the magazine and its website PressGazette.co.uk underwent a redesign in May 2007, including a new masthead and body font. The magazine switched from weekly to monthly publication in August 2008[4].
On 6 April 2009, Wilmington Group announced the May 2009 issue would be the last[5], but the magazine was purchased on 22 April 2009 by Mike Danson of the Progressive Media Group, shortly after he attained full control of the New Statesman, in April 2009.[1] The Wilmington Group retained the British Press Awards.
References
- ^ Roy Greenslade "Press Gazette saved by new owner", Greenslade blog, The Guardian website, 22 April 2009.
External links
- Press Gazette website
- The British Press Awards website
- Piers Morgan's Official Website
- Press Gazette publisher looks for buyers The Guardian, 9 December 2004
- Piers Morgan turns proprietor with purchase of Press Gazette The Guardian, 28 May 2005
- And the Press Gazette title goes to ... Piers Morgan The Guardian, 10 June 2005
- Press Gazette honours journalists with Hall of Fame exhibition Brand Republic, 22 November 2005
- Big titles boycott 'Morgan's organ' press awards The Telegraph, 24 January 2006
- Single sponsor for Press Awards The Guardian, 3 March 2006
- Digital Edition of Press Gazette
- Roy Greenslade, Press Gazette 1965-2006
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