Dunfermline Press Explained

Dunfermline Press
Type:Weekly newspaper
Format:Tabloid
Owners:Newsquest
Headquarters:Dunfermline, Fife, Scotland
Circulation:5,408
Circulation Date:2023
Circulation Ref:[1]

The Dunfermline Press and West of Fife Advertiser (commonly known as the Dunfermline Press in Scotland and simply The Press in the Dunfermline area) is a weekly Scottish tabloid newspaper, based in Dunfermline, Fife.

History

The Dunfermline Press was founded in 1859 by the Romanes family. The family owned several other local newspapers, including the Border Telegraph and Stirling News and increased their portfolio by 14 when taking over Berkshire Regional Newspapers from Trinity Mirror.[2] In 2005 the group acquired its first company without newspapers when it bought Your Radio FM.

With average sales of 21,852[3] the newspaper was read by more people in the Dunfermline area than any other quality newspapers combined. When included with the other local newspapers owned and published by the Dunfermine Press Group, such as the Central Fife Times and the Fife and Kinross Extra, the Dunfermline Press Group claimed to reach over 100,000 readers in East Central Scotland.[4]

Dunfermline Press went into receivership after the death of owner Deirdre Romanes and were acquired by management and Lloyds Bank under the name Romanes Media in 2012.[5] Newsquest acquired Romanes Media in 2015.[6] [7]

Historical copies of the Dunfermline Press, dating back to 1859, are available to search and view in digitised form at the British Newspaper Archive.[8]

Content

Being a local newspaper, the Dunfermline Press focuses on local issues (such as the removal of tolls at the Forth Road Bridge and the fortunes of local sports teams, mainly Dunfermline Athletic Football Club). One page is normally devoted to letters to the editor, while readers also air their views in small "viewpoints" across several pages. Gossip with a humorous slant is provided by an anonymous contributor known as "Observer". The crossword that used to be on the back page, underneath the Sports headlines was removed in early 2010, which proved unpopular with readers.

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Dunfermline Press & West of Fife Advertiser . . 21 February 2024 . 2 March 2024.
  2. News: Trinity Mirror sells Berkshire regionals for £10m . Chris . Tryhorn . . 19 July 2007 . 16 June 2024.
  3. http://abcpdfcerts.abc.org.uk/pdf/certificates/14367881.pdf ABC Circulation figures
  4. http://www.cfpress.net/images/dfpress.pdf Dunfermline Press Group press pack
  5. News: Management buyout saves Dunfermline Press group . Erikka . Askeland . . 24 April 2012 . 16 June 2024.
  6. News: Newsquest acquires 29 more newspapers as it buys Greenock Telegraph publisher Romanes . Dominic . Ponsford . . 26 May 2015 . 16 June 2024.
  7. News: Cost-cutting Newsquest/Gannett goes on the acquisition trail . Roy . Greenslade . The Guardian . 26 May 2015 . 16 June 2024.
  8. Web site: Digitised copies of the Dunfermline Press . . 16 June 2024.