Derry Journal

The Derry Journal is the second oldest newspaper still in circulation in Ireland, the oldest is the Belfast Newsletter. Launched in Derry on Wednesday, June 3rd 1772 as the London-Derry Journal and General Advertiser, it was a hand-set, hand-printed four-page tabloid published twice weekly, costing one penny. Since 1772 the Journal has appeared without significant interruption although publication arrangements have varied considerably. It has been a weekly, a tri-weekly and, for a brief period, a daily. As early as October 1772, the first change was made - from Wednesday and Saturday publication to Tuesday and Friday. The daily experiment in 1877 lasted only three months until publication on Monday, Wednesday and Friday was introduced. This continued for over 80 years until January, 1958 when it was decided to revert to Tuesday and Friday publication. A Conservative, Protestant paper with allegiance to Queen and Constitution clearly indicated on the masthead, the Londonderry Journal adopted a more liberal policy in 1829 supporting Catholic Emancipation. The editor, William Wallen, objected and left to help found the Londonderry Sentinel and General Advertiser. In 1925 the paper was acquired by the McCarroll family. The Journal Extra was launched in 1992 and in January 1995, the Derry Journal Group acquired both the Donegal Democrat - Donegal's largest newspaper and the Donegal People's Press. In October 1998 the company was acquired by Mirror Group Newspapers and ownership changed once again following the merger of Mirror with Trinity in 1999 forming Trinity Mirror. In October 2000 the Letterkenny Listener was launched (renamed the Letterkenny People Sep'05). In February 2001 the Journal Extra was relaunched as City News and the Foyle News was launched in May 2001. Whilst the editorial policy of the Derry Journal is still moderate nationalism, the newspaper maintains a policy of giving the same treatment in its news reports to all sections of the community. The highly competitive newspaper industry has seen many changes over the years. In the past ten years the whole industry has basically been through several technological revolutions. In 1992 the Derry Journal produced two newspapers, the Tuesday and Friday editions of the title. The story, in the intervening years has been one of ongoing growth, development and major expansion. The acquisition of the Derry Journal Group by the Mirror Group resulted in major investment in the printing press, enabling the production of larger paginations and more colour. The production, editorial, advertising, circulation and marketing, finance, IT and new media departments also received major investment resulting in the newspapers being at the front of the leading technology in the industry. In January 2004, after 6 years of ownership, Trinity Mirror confirmed the sale of the Derry Journal Group to a newly formed company, Local Press Ltd. March 2004 was an exciting time for the Derry Journal Group as it heralded the launch of Ireland's only local Sunday newspaper: Sunday Journal incorporating Donegal on Sunday. Since March 2004, the paper has been one of the fastest growing titles throughout Ireland. Today, the Derry Journal Group is now part of Johnston Press PLC which is one of the biggest and most successful newspaper groups in Europe. Johnston Press is the largest newspaper publisher in Ireland and acquired the Derry Journal Group in September 2005. The Derry Journal Group now publishes eight paid for titles: Derry Journal (Tuesday); Derry Journal (Friday); Sunday Journal; Donegal on Sunday; Foyle News (Wednesday); Donegal Democrat (Thursday); Donegal Democrat (Tuesday); Donegal Peoples Press (Tuesday). The combined circulation's of the paid-for titles now stands at 76,114 (ABC: Jul - Dec 2006) copies, which have been audited by the industry watchdog the Audit Bureau of Circulations.