Cambrian News
 | |
| Type | Weekly newspaper |
|---|---|
| Format | Tabloid |
| Owner(s) | Tindle Newspaper Group |
| Editor | Beverly Thomas |
| Founded | 1860 |
| Political alignment | centrist |
| Language | predominantly English and Welsh |
| Headquarters | Aberystwyth |
| Circulation | 24,800 (February 2006) |
| Website | www.cambrian-news.co.uk |
The Cambrian News is a weekly newspaper distributed in Wales. It was founded in 1860 and is based in Cefn Llan Science Park, Aberystwyth. Cambrian News Ltd was bought by media entrepreneur Sir Ray Tindle in 1998.[1]
History
The paper was first published in Bala in October 1860, as a four-page supplement, The Merioneth Herald, in The Oswestry Advertiser. Having subsequently become a distinct paper printed in Oswestry, England, in 1864 it became the Merionethshire Standard and Mid-Wales Herald[2] and, in 1869, was renamed The Cambrian News and Merionethshire Standard.[2][3] In 1870 it was bought by Sir John Gibson, who moved the headquarters to Aberystwyth in 1873, but kept printing in Oswestry[4] [3] under the masthead of The Cambrian News, Merionethshire Standard, and Aberystwyth Times.[5]
Politically, it was a Liberal-leaning newspaper, and supported the election of the first Liberal M.P. for Merionethshire in 1868.[3]
In May 1880, the company integrated editorial and printing in a former malthouse in Mill Street, Aberystwyth. The paper was then named The Cambrian News, Merionethshire Standard, and Welsh Farmers' Gazette.[6] Later Gibson built a printing office and stationer's shop in Terrace Road where the paper was printed for over 60 years—well into the 20th century—before moving to Queen Street and Grays Inn Road by 1980.[3]
In 1915 the business was sold to a new company chaired by A. E. Harrison of Cardiff as managing director and Lord Rhondda as one of its directors. In 1916 Robert Read, from the South Wales Echo was hired as managing editor. The same year it produced a unique Eisteddfod Review souvenir of the Welsh National Eisteddfod that was held in Aberystwyth. In 1917 the paper opened a successful London office which was followed by the appointment of representatives in Liverpool, Manchester and Cardiff.[7]
In 1926, Henry Read, Robert's father, bought the paper and became managing director. In the 1930s, Robert Read became the major shareholder, managing director and managing editor. Robert was succeeded, after his death in 1946, by his son—another Henry Read—as managing director and as managing editor by D. C. Wright.[7]
It was under his direction that, after 113 years, printing was contracted out. This enabled the move of editorial staff to the new open-plan offices on the Science Park at Llanbadarn Fawr. On the death of Henry Read, the paper was purchased by Sir Ray Tindle, whose Tindle Newspaper Group owns more than 200 weekly newspapers in Britain[4] as of 2015.
After 146 years as a broadsheet, the paper transformed to a tabloid format in 2006.[4]
Today
Today, the Cambrian News is Wales' biggest-selling weekly newspaper with the second largest circulation newspaper in Wales, with 24,000 copies in sixth regional editorial versions, read by 60,000 weekly readers. The circulation area of mid, west and north Wales covers 3,000 square miles (7,800 km2).[4]
The paper publishes editions in several locations across north Wales and mid-Wales including Bala, Criccieth, Dolgellau, Machynlleth, Porthmadog, Pwllheli, Tywyn, the entirety of Ceredigion and parts of north Carmarthenshire and Pembrokeshire. It maintains offices in Aberystwyth and Porthmadog, closing its Lampeter office in October 2008. The Aberystwyth head office was originally based in Bridge Street, before moving to Terrace Road, and Gray's Inn Road. It is now produced from a unit in the town's Science Park.
In April 2010, all the weekly editions of Cambrian News became available to view as an online digital newspaper on a subscription basis.[8]
Cambrian News Ltd also publishes the Welsh language weekly newspaper Y Cymro, the Pembrokeshire weekly paper The County Echo, the Welsh weekly Y Dydd and the seasonal Holidaymaker magazine.
References
- ↑ "Media - 1998". ukbusinesspark. 15 October 1998.
- 1 2 The Cambrian News and Merionethshire Standard at Welsh Newspapers Online, National Library of Wales
- 1 2 3 4 Lewis, W. J. (1980). Born on a Perilous Rock, Aberystwyth Past and Present. Cambrian News Ltd. p. 115. ISBN 0-900439-04-1.
- 1 2 3 4 "150 year celebration". Cambrian News. 2010-01-08. Archived from the original on 2011-01-31. Retrieved 2010-05-31.
- ↑ The Cambrian News, Merionethshire Standard, and Aberystwyth Times, 2 July 1870
- ↑ The Cambrian News, Merionethshire Standard, and Welsh Farmers' Gazette, 28 May 1880, at Welsh Newspapers Online, National Library of Wales
- 1 2 Born on a Perilous Rock, Aberytstwyth Past and Present. p. 118.
- ↑ Your Cambrian News Online Archived 31 January 2011 at WebCite