Newry Reporter newspaper to close after 155 years in business with loss of ten jobs

In a note on social media, it said: "It is with the utmost regret that the Newry Reporter has to announce that after serving our local community for 155 years, the title will cease publication at the end of this month.

"The last edition will be published on Wednesday, January 25, 2023. Our immense gratitude to our wonderful staff, present and past, readers, advertisers, contributors and suppliers is undiminished."

There was an outpouring of sadness on social media, with the phrase "the end of an era" repeated many times.

It is understood the paper employed 10 staff.

The company is owned by Edward Hodgett Ltd which also owned the Banbridge Chronicle. Last year that paper was due to close but was later bought out by Scottish newspaper company Bann Media Ltd.

There was much sadness on social media about the Newry news.

Nolene Mc Loughlin said: "That is very sad. Local newspapers play such a vital role".

Jim McGuigan added: "So sorry to read this. The Newry Reporter has been essential reading all my life. Sad news for staff and owners."

Peter McCamley branded it "A very sad loss to the community!" while Brian Cleland similarly said it was "A terrible blow to the community" and that he was "So very sorry to hear this sad news".

Martin Brown said it had been "Essential Thursday reading in our house over the years" while Rose Sloan said her late father had worked there for many years "and said they were the best employers".

Local photographer Noel Moan added that "met some wonderful work colleagues" through the paper over the years.

The news comes on the same day that the Daily Mirror and Express publisher, Reach, announced that it is to axe 200 jobs as part of major cost-cutting following a slump in advertising revenue.

Shares in Reach, which also publishes Daily Star, plummeted by a quarter on Wednesday morning after a downbeat update from bosses.

The company told staff that it is cutting further roles across all parts of the business as it seeks to secure £30 million in cost savings this year.

In an internal email, it said: “Under the proposals we’re announcing today we anticipate that, regrettably, around 200 roles of current employees will be made redundant.”

Reach said it will slash costs through the “simplification of central support functions, supply chain efficiencies in print and distribution, and accelerated removal of editorial duplication”.

The publisher saw hundreds of journalists take part in strike action in August last year during a dispute over pay. Further action was halted after workers accepted an improved pay deal.

It came as the newspaper group said advertising revenues were “lower than expected” over the last three months of 2022 as clients pulled back their spending around Black Friday and Christmas.

Reach added that continued uncertainty in the economy has weighed further on “market demand” for advertising and campaigns.

Print advertising tumbled by more than a fifth while digital revenues dropped by 5.9% over the three months to December 25.

The firm highlighted that circulation revenue improved by 1.8% as a result of price increases, but revenues were lower than expected due to the advertising slump.