| Company type | Private limited company |
|---|---|
| Industry | Media |
| Founded | 29 November 2013 |
| Headquarters | 30 Hatch Lane, Dublin / 47 Great Marlborough Street, London |
Key people | Malcolm Denmark[1] |
| Products | Publishing of Newspapers and online media. |
| Website | mediaforcegroup |
Iconic Newspapers is a British-owned newspaper company that publishes over 20 regional newspapers in Ireland. Iconic Newspapers are owned by Mediaforce who are majority owned by British businessman Malcolm Denmark. Iconic Newspapers hold their newspaper assets in a subsidiary called Formpress Publishing.[2]
Mediaforce acts as an intermediary for the vast majority of Irish newspapers and advertising agencies. If agencies want to place ads for their national clients in newspapers, they mostly go through Mediaforce.[3]
In 2014, Iconic Newspapers acquired Johnston Press Ireland.[4]Johnston Press Ireland was formed in 2005 following the purchase ofScottish Radio Holdings's newspapers known as Score Press byJohnston Press in 2005 for £155 million.[5] In the same year, Johnston Press Ireland also purchased the Leinster Leader Group (just after Leinster Leader Group had purchased Tallaght Publishing Ltd), who published six titles, for €138.6 million.[6]
The company is based inNaas,County Kildare.
In May 2017, it was reported that Iconic Newspapers may bid to acquire someLandmark Media Investments regional titles. Iconic Newspapers did not proceed with this acquisition.
In September 2017, it was reported that Iconic Newspapers managing director, Joe Flaherty, had been selected to run forFianna Fáil in Longford-Westmeath.[7]
In November 2017, it was reported that Iconic Newspapers were making staff redundant at theDonegal Democrat.[8]
In January 2018, the 2017 accounts were published. Revenues at Formpress Publishing Ltd declined by 2pc from €13m to €12.6m. Numbers employed by the company last year reduced from 165 to 161 with staff costs declining from €6.84m to €6.59m.[9]
In November 2018, it was announced that Iconic Newspapers had acquired 7 titles fromRiver Media.[10]
In November 2018,Fine Gael SenatorPaudie Coffey sued Iconic Newspapers over an article written in theKilkenny People.[11]
In January 2019, the accounts up to March 2018 were published. Revenues at Formpress Publishing Ltd. declined by 3pc, from €12.6m to €12.2m. Numbers employed by the company last year increased from 161 to 163. Profits declined 6%.[12]
In March 2019, Iconic Newspapers settled a defamation action from an ex-minister over an article in theTipperary Star.[13][14]
In April 2019, Iconic Newspapers acquired two newspaper titles fromAlpha Newspaper Group. The acquisition was subject to Competition Authority approval.[15] In October 2019, the Competition Authority approved the transaction subject to conditions. The Irish Government needed to approve the acquisition next.[16]
In August 2019, Fine Gael Senator Paudie Coffey settled hisHigh Court action with Iconic Newspapers.[17]
In October 2019, it was reported that Ionic Newspapers were in advance talks to acquireThe Munster Express.[18]
In March 2020, the accounts up to 31 March 2019 were published. The results were affected by the acquisitions. Numbers employed by the company reduced from 153 to 149.[19]
In March 2020, Iconic Newspapers let staff go due to lack of newspaper advertising due to the coronavirus pandemic.[20][21][22][23] TheNational Union of Journalists (NUJ) said that Iconic Newspapers "has laid off dozens of journalists, made a number of staff compulsorily redundant and temporarily shut two newspapers".[24]
In December 2020, it was announced that Iconic Newspapers' owners Mediaforce was subscribing £6 million in loan notes towards the sale of JPI Media Publishing Limited to National World plc.JPIMedia is the third largest publisher of regional newspapers and websites in theUnited Kingdom, with over 100 newspapers including 13 daily newspapers.[25]
In January 2021, further staff cuts occurred at Iconic Newspapers publications such as theTipperary Star.[26]
In October 2021, it was announced that David Fordham had taken up a directorship role with National World, plc, at the request of Mediaforce, which is the owner of Iconic Newspapers. It was revealed in the same report that Mediaforce owns 26pc of National World.[27]
In September 2022, it was announced Iconic Media Group will purchaseThe Mayo News.[28]
In December 2024, it was reported that Iconic Media Group are leading the race to acquire the Connacht Tribune.[3]
As of 2024, the company's titles included:
Iconic Newspapers run 23 websites in total,[36] which are mainly websites linked to their newspaper titles.
