{{Short description|British news publishing company}} {{Use dmy dates|date=May 2025}} {{Infobox company | name = National World | image = No 1 Leeds.jpg | image_caption = Leeds head office of National World | former_name = {{Ubl | Carno Capital Limited (May–July 2019)<ref name="CompaniesHouse" /> | National World Limited (30 July 2019)<ref name="CompaniesHouse" /> }} | type = Public company | founded = {{Start date and age|2019|05|29|df=y}}<ref name="CompaniesHouse" /> | predecessor = | hq_location = Leeds, England<ref name="CompaniesHouse" /> | area_served = Worldwide | key_people = Malcolm Denmark | industry = Digital Media | products = | revenue = £84.1M (2022) | operating_income = £9.7M (2022) | net_income = | num_employees = | parent = Media Concierge | subsidiaries = Full list | website = {{URL|https://nationalworldplc.com}} }} '''National World''' ('''NW''')<ref name="CompaniesHouse">{{Cite web |date=2019-05-29 |title=National World plc overview - Find and update company information - Gov.uk |url=https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/company/12021298 |access-date=2025-03-23 |website=Companies House |language=en}}</ref> is a British multimedia company based in Leeds, England.
Founded and listed on the London Stock Exchange (LSE) in September 2019 as a media takeover vehicle, it acquired JPIMedia for £10.2 million two years later.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Casci|first1=Mark|date=31 December 2020|title=Yorkshire Post owner JPIMedia sold to National World for £10.2m|language=en|work=The Yorkshire Post|url=https://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/business/yorkshire-post-owner-jpimedia-sold-national-world-ps102m-3082645|access-date=1 January 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last1=Ponsford|first1=Dominic|date=31 December 2020|title=Monty's back: JPI Media sold to David Montgomery's National World Plc for £10.2m|work=Press Gazette|url=https://www.pressgazette.co.uk/montys-back-jpi-media-sold-to-david-montgomerys-local-world-plc-for-10-2m/|access-date=1 January 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last1=Sharman|first1=David|date=31 December 2020|title=JPIMedia unveils National World as new owner|work=Hold the Front Page|url=https://www.holdthefrontpage.co.uk/2020/news/jpimedia-unveils-national-world-as-new-owner/|access-date=1 January 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last1=Symon|first1=Ken|date=31 December 2020|title=The Scotsman publisher sold to veteran industry player's group|language=en|work=Scottish Business Insider|url=https://www.insider.co.uk/deals-and-dealmakers/scotsman-publisher-sold-veteran-industry-23244905|access-date=1 January 2021}}</ref> In April 2022, JPIMedia was rebranded to National World.<ref name="Sharman">{{cite web |last1=Sharman |first1=David |title=JPIMedia renamed National World in 'major rebranding exercise' |url=https://www.holdthefrontpage.co.uk/2022/news/jpimedia-gets-new-name-in-major-rebranding-exercise/ |website=HoldtheFrontPage |access-date=17 November 2022 |date=26 April 2022}}</ref>
Since purchasing JPIMedia, NW has launched sixteen new titles and made a further seven acquisitions,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Reports, presentations and publications |url=https://pressgazette.co.uk/the-wire/media-mergers-news-tracker/national-world-buys-rotherham-advertiser-and-insider-media/ |access-date=2023-04-28 |website=National World |language=en}}</ref> notably Insider Media.<ref name="auto">{{Cite web |title=Acquisitions of Insider & Rotherham Advertiser |url=https://otp.tools.investis.com/clients/uk/national_world1/rns/regulatory-story.aspx?cid=2501&newsid=1684735 |access-date=2023-05-02 |website=otp.tools.investis.com}}</ref> With ''The Scotsman'', ''The Yorkshire Post'', and Belfast's ''The News Letter'' among its flagship titles, it operates over 100 newspapers and websites around the United Kingdom.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/business/2018/nov/16/owner-of-the-scotsman-and-i-newspapers-enters-administration|title=Owner of the Scotsman and i newspapers enters administration|last=Sweney|first=Mark|date=2018-11-16|work=The Guardian|access-date=2018-12-14|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181210210014/https://www.theguardian.com/business/2018/nov/16/owner-of-the-scotsman-and-i-newspapers-enters-administration|archive-date=2018-12-10|url-status=live|language=en-GB|issn=0261-3077}}</ref>
The company reported 2022 revenues of £84.1M and adjusted EBITDA of £9.7M.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Tobitt |first=Charlotte |date=2023-03-16 |title=National World cuts costs, increases profit as CEO says: 'Think local, act national, be global' |url=https://pressgazette.co.uk/media_business/david-montgomery-sets-out-mantra-for-national-world/ |access-date=2023-05-06 |website=Press Gazette |language=en-US}}</ref> In May 2025, Media Concierge, owner of Iconic Newspapers, acquired National World for £65.1 million.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Maher |first=Bron |date=2024-12-18 |title=Media Concierge to take over National World, promising to invest in local news |url=https://pressgazette.co.uk/news/media-concierge-acquires-national-world-local-news-malcolm-denmark/ |access-date=2024-12-19 |website=Press Gazette |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://pressgazette.co.uk/news/national-world-takeover-media-concierge/|title=New National World owner promises staff ‘longer-term view’ after takeover|work=Press Gazette|access-date=2025-10-28|language=en}}</ref>
==Acquisition by Media Concierge== In May 2025, National World plc was acquired by Media Concierge (MC), a London-based media company led by its CEO Malcolm Denmark. Valued at £65.1 million, the transaction involved Media Concierge buying the remaining 72.2% of shares it did not already own for 23p per share.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Tobitt |first=Charlotte |date=2025-05-27 |title=New National World owner promises staff 'longer-term view' after takeover |url=https://pressgazette.co.uk/news/national-world-takeover-media-concierge/ |access-date=2025-11-11 |website=Press Gazette |language=en-US}}</ref>
On May 27, five days after being approved by the High Court in London,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Halpin |first=Danny |last2=Walker |first2=Peter A. |date=2025-05-23 |title=National World takeover approved at High Court |url=https://www.insider.co.uk/news/national-world-takeover-approved-high-35274747 |access-date=2025-11-11 |website=businessInsider |language=en}}</ref> the transaction became effective. Subsequently, NW was delisted from the LSE, transitioning into a privately owned company belonging to a subsidiary of MC, Neo Media Publishing.
Media Concierge has expressed a commitment to supporting the existing operations of the acquired firm, emphasising a long-term investment approach focused on sustaining and enhancing local journalism. Its CEO stated that his company aims to provide National World with the resources and autonomy necessary to continue serving its communities effectively, without immediate structural changes .
The acquisition positions Media Concierge as the third-largest regional news publisher in the UK, expanding its portfolio to include over 100 regional titles such as ''The Scotsman'', ''Yorkshire Post'', and ''The News Letter''.
==Acquisitions==
===JPI Media=== On 31 December 2020, it was announced that JPIMedia Publishing Ltd (formerly Johnston Press<ref>{{Cite web |title=Acquisition of Johnston Press Group by JPI Media |url=https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/acquisition-of-johnston-press-group-by-jpi-media |access-date=2023-04-27 |website=GOV.UK |language=en}}</ref>) and its subsidiaries were being sold to National World PLC on 2 January 2021. The new company was set up by the media executive David Montgomery.<ref name="nw-sale-1">{{cite news |last1=Symon |first1=Ken |title=The Scotsman publisher sold to veteran industry player's group |url=https://www.insider.co.uk/deals-and-dealmakers/scotsman-publisher-sold-veteran-industry-23244905 |access-date=31 December 2020 |work=Business Insider |date=31 December 2020 |language=en}}</ref><ref name="nw-sale-2">{{cite news |title=Yorkshire Post owner JPIMedia sold to National World |last=Casci |first=Mark |date=31 December 2020 |url=https://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/business/yorkshire-post-owner-jpimedia-sold-national-world-3082645 |access-date=31 December 2020 |work=The Yorkshire Post |language=en}}</ref>
On 29 April 2022, JPIMedia Publishing Ltd rebranded to National World Publishing Ltd, otherwise known as National World.<ref name="Sharman" />
===Midland News Association=== In September 2023, it was announced that the Graham family-owned Claverley Group had sold its subsidiary Midland News Association to National World PLC. The £11m sale included the regional daily newspapers ''Shropshire Star'' and ''Express & Star'', and a number of weekly titles, along with Press Computer Systems, which supplies publishing platforms for both MNA and other major publishers including Newsquest and DC Thomson. The sale marked Claverley Group's exit from regional newspaper publishing.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Tobitt |first=Charlotte |date=2023-09-29 |title=David Montgomery's National World buys Midland News Association |url=https://pressgazette.co.uk/the-wire/media-mergers-news-tracker/national-world-midland-news-association/ |access-date=2023-10-01 |website=Press Gazette |language=en-US}}</ref>
==Operations== {{Portal|Journalism}} Since the acquisition of JPI Media, National World Plc has made further launches and acquisitions.<ref name="Wright">{{cite web |last1=Wright |first1=Greg |title=National World Plc announces the expansion of footprint into all major metropolitan centres in UK |url=https://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/business/national-world-plc-announces-the-expansion-of-footprint-into-all-major-metropolitan-centres-in-uk-3332741 |website=The Yorkshire Post |access-date=17 November 2022 |language=en |date=3 August 2021}}</ref>
In March 2021, nationalworld.com was launched as a national news website with an editorial team across the UK.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-04-11 |title=JPI's National World reaches 20m monthly page views a year after launch |url=https://pressgazette.co.uk/national-world-page-views/ |access-date=2022-11-17 |website=Press Gazette |language=en-US |archive-date=2022-11-17 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221117152504/https://pressgazette.co.uk/national-world-page-views/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> This was followed by the launch of city websites in Manchester, Liverpool, Newcastle, Glasgow, London,<ref>{{cite web |last1=Sharman |first1=David |title=Mayor Sadiq Khan backs London World's launch |url=https://www.holdthefrontpage.co.uk/2021/news/sadiq-khan-backs-london-news-sites-launch-and-praises-vital-local-titles/ |website=HoldtheFrontPage |access-date=17 November 2022 |date=2 September 2021}}</ref> Birmingham and Bristol.<ref name="Wright"/> Further sites were launched for Northern Ireland, Sussex, Lincolnshire and Warwickshire.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Sharman |first=David |date=5 January 2022 |title=JPIMedia boss makes 'nationhood' plea as 12 weeklies merge online |url=https://www.holdthefrontpage.co.uk/2022/news/jpimedia-boss-makes-nationhood-plea-as-a-dozen-weeklies-merge-online/ |access-date=2023-04-28 |website=HoldtheFrontPage |language=en-GB}}</ref>
Subsequent launches were made in 2023 into Nottingham<ref>{{Cite web |last=Sharman |first=David |date=17 March 2023 |title=Nottingham Post journalist poached to edit Nottingham World |url=https://www.holdthefrontpage.co.uk/2023/news/regional-daily-journalist-poached-to-edit-new-rival-title/ |access-date=2023-04-27 |website=HoldtheFrontPage |language=en-GB}}</ref> and Derby,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Sharman |first=David |date=20 April 2023 |title=Michael Broomhead to launch Derby World after taking VR from Reach |url=https://www.holdthefrontpage.co.uk/2023/news/journalist-to-launch-new-title-after-taking-redundancy-from-rival-publisher/ |access-date=2023-04-27 |website=HoldtheFrontPage |language=en-GB}}</ref> and further national sites were launched, peopleworld.co.uk<ref>{{Cite web |last=Sharman |first=David |date=4 November 2022 |title=More jobs created as National World launches People World |url=https://www.holdthefrontpage.co.uk/2022/news/more-jobs-created-as-publisher-launches-second-new-title-in-a-week/ |access-date=2023-04-27 |website=HoldtheFrontPage |language=en-GB}}</ref> and 3addedminutes.com.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Sharman |first=David |title=More jobs created as National World launches People World - Journalism News from HoldtheFrontPage |url=https://www.holdthefrontpage.co.uk/2022/news/more-jobs-created-as-publisher-launches-second-new-title-in-a-week/ |access-date=2023-04-28 |website=HoldtheFrontPage |language=en-GB}}</ref> National World also acquired the assets of football website publisher Scoopdragon and video content aggregator Newschain,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Sharman |first=David |date=6 January 2023 |title=National World buys ScoopDragon and NewsChain |url=https://www.holdthefrontpage.co.uk/2023/news/regional-publisher-announces-purchase-of-new-titles/ |access-date=2023-04-27 |website=HoldtheFrontPage |language=en-GB}}</ref> and news titles such as N''ewry Reporter'',<ref>{{Cite web |last=Linford |first=Paul |date=20 January 2023 |title=Ten jobs saved as National World buys Newry Reporter |url=https://www.holdthefrontpage.co.uk/2023/news/ten-jobs-saved-as-national-world-buys-closure-threatened-title/ |access-date=2023-04-27 |website=HoldtheFrontPage |language=en-GB}}</ref> Farm Week<ref>{{Cite web |last=McMurray |first=Roderick |date=2023-03-15 |title=Farm Week publication acquired by National World, owner of the News Letter |url=https://www.newsletter.co.uk/business/farm-week-acquired-by-national-world-owner-of-the-news-letter-4066166 |access-date=2023-04-27 |website=Belfast News Letter |language=en}}</ref> and ''Banbridge Chronicle''.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Sharman |first=David |date=8 February 2023 |title=Banbridge Chronicle and Galloway Gazette change hands in swap deal |url=https://www.holdthefrontpage.co.uk/2023/news/two-weeklies-change-hands-in-publishers-swap-deal/ |access-date=2023-04-27 |website=HoldtheFrontPage |language=en-GB}}</ref>
On 2 May 2023 the company announced the acquisitions of business media provider Insider Media as well as Yorkshire publisher the ''Rotherham Advertiser''.<ref name="auto"/>
[[File:ScotsmanSign.jpg|thumb|NationalWorld owns one of Scotland's national titles, ''The Scotsman'']]
===Media brands in Great Britain=== The following is a partial list of British websites, magazines and newspapers owned by the company:<ref name="newsbrands">{{cite web |title=News Brands |url=https://www.jpimedia.co.uk/newsbrands/ |website=JPIMedia |publisher=JPIMedia Ltd |access-date=20 February 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220111121506/https://www.jpimedia.co.uk/newsbrands/|archive-date=2022-01-11}}</ref>
{{div col begin}} *''Arbroath Herald'' *''Banbury Guardian'' *''Batley & Birstall News'' *''Bellshill Speaker'' *''Berwick Advertiser'' *''Biggleswade Chronicle'' *''BirminghamWorld'' *''Blackpool Gazette'' *''Bognor Regis Observer'' *''Boston Standard'' *''The Brechiner'' *''Bridlington Free Press'' *''Brighton & Hove Independent'' *''Bristol World'' *''Buckingham Advertiser'' *''Bucks Herald'' *''Burnley Express'' *''Buxton Advertiser'' *''Carrick Gazette'' *''Chichester Observer'' *''Chorley Guardian'' *''Crawley Observer'' *''Cumbernauld News'' *''Daventry Express'' *''Dearne Valley Weekender'' *''Derbyshire Times'' *''Derby World'' *''Dewsbury Reporter'' *''Diss Express'' *''Dinnington Guardian'' *''Doncaster Free Press'' *''Edinburgh Evening News'' *''Edinburgh Herald and Post'' *''Eastbourne Herald'' *''East Grinstead Gazette'' *''Ellon Times'' *''Farming Life'' *''Falkirk Herald'' *''Fife Free Press'' *''Fife Herald & Post'' *''Fife Leader'' *''Filey Mercury'' *''Fleetwood Weekly News'' *''Forfar Dispatch'' *''Galloway Gazette'' *''Gainsborough Standard'' *''Glasgow South and Eastwood Extra'' *''GlasgowWorld'' *''Green Un'' (Sheffield) *''Halifax Courier'' *''Hastings Observer'' *''Harborough Mail'' *''Hartlepool Mail'' *''Harrogate Advertiser'' *''Hemel Hempstead Gazette'' *''Hemsworth and South Elmsall Express'' *''Horncastle News'' *''Kilsyth Chronicle'' *''Kirriemuir Herald'' *''Lanark Gazette'' *''Lancashire Evening Post'' *''Lancaster Guardian'' *''Lancaster Visitor'' *''Lancing Herald'' *''Leyland Guardian'' *''Leamington Courier'' *''Leighton Buzzard Observer'' *''Littlehampton Gazette'' *''LincolnshireWorld'' *''LiverpoolWorld'' *''LondonWorld'' *''Louth Leader'' *''Luton News'' *''Lytham St Annes Express'' *''Market Rasen Mail'' *''Malton & Pickering Mercury'' *''ManchesterWorld'' *''Mansfield Chad'' *''Mid Sussex Times'' *''Midlands Business Insider'' *''Mirfield Reporter'' *''Milngavie and Bearsden Herald''<ref>[http://www.johnstonpress.co.uk/jpplc/ourbusiness/publishingdivision/division.jsp?ref=1 Our Business: Johnston (Falkirk) Ltd], Johnston Press plc {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110717015910/http://www.johnstonpress.co.uk/jpplc/ourbusiness/publishingdivision/division.jsp?ref=1 |date=17 July 2011 }}</ref> *''Milton Keynes Citizen'' *''Montrose Review'' *''Morpeth Herald'' *''Motherwell Times'' *''NationalWorld.com'' *''NewcastleWorld'' *''News Guardian'' *''News Post Leader'' *''The News'' (Portsmouth) *''North East Business Insider'' *''North West Business Insider'' *''Northern Ireland World'' *''Northamptonshire Evening Telegraph'' *''Northampton Chronicle & Echo'' *''Northumberland Gazette'' *''NottinghamWorld'' *''Paisley and Renfrewshire Extra'' (now defunct)<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.britishpapers.co.uk/scotland/paisley-renfrewshire-extra/|title=Paisley & Renfrewshire Extra (defunct) | British Newspapers Online|date=15 April 2011}}</ref> *''Perth Herald & Post'' *''People World'' *''Peterborough Evening Telegraph'' *''Pocklington Post'' *''Retford Guardian'' *''Ripon Gazette'' *''Rotherham Advertiser'' *''Rugby Advertiser'' *''Scarborough News'' *''Scotland on Sunday'' *''The Scotsman'' *''Sheffield Star'' *''Sheffield Telegraph'' *''Shields Gazette'' *''Shoreham Herald'' *''Shots!'' (Freeview streaming channel and website) *''Skegness Standard'' *''Sleaford Standard'' *''Southern Reporter'' *''South East Business Insider'' *''South West Business Insider'' *''Spilsby Standard'' *''Stornoway Gazette'' *''Sunderland Echo'' *''Sussex Express'' *''Sussex World'' *''Times & Citizen'' (Bedford) *''Todmorden News'' *''The Visitor'' (Morecambe, Lancs) *''Wales Business Insider'' *''Westend Extra'' (Glasgow) *''West Lothian Herald & Post'' *''West Sussex County Times'' *''West Sussex Gazette'' *''Wetherby News'' *''Whitby Gazette'' *''Wigan Evening Post'' *''Worksop Guardian'' *''Worthing Herald'' *''Yorkshire Evening Post'' *''Yorkshire Post'' *''Yorkshire Business Insider'' *''3AddedMinutes'' {{div col end}}
===Newspapers in Northern Ireland=== National World Publishing Ltd publishes a total of 22 titles in Northern Ireland through two holding companies, JPIMedia NI and Derry Journal Newspapers. The geographic readership of some titles extends across the Irish border into the Republic of Ireland, such as the ''Derry Journal'' which also covers County Donegal. Former JPIMedia titles published in the Republic of Ireland now belong to Iconic Newspapers.<ref name="newsbrands"/><ref name="irishtimes">{{cite web |last=Slattery |first=Laura |last2=Raleigh |first2=David |date=1 April 2024 |title=Johnston Press sells its 14 titles in the Republic |url=http://www.irishtimes.com/business/sectors/media-and-marketing/johnston-press-sells-its-14-titles-in-the-republic-1.1745888 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140409053957/http://www.irishtimes.com/business/sectors/media-and-marketing/johnston-press-sells-its-14-titles-in-the-republic-1.1745888 |archive-date=9 April 2014 |access-date=22 August 2014 |work=Irish Times}}</ref>
{{col-begin |width=95%}} {{col-3}}
====Johnston Publishing (NI)====
=====Daily===== * ''The News Letter''
=====Local (NI)===== * ''Ballymena Times'' * ''Ballymoney and Moyle Times'' * ''Banbridge Chronicle'' * ''Carrick Times'' (Carrickfergus) * ''Coleraine Times'' * ''Dromore Leader'' * ''Larne Times'' * ''Londonderry Sentinel'' * ''Lurgan Mail'' * ''Mid Ulster Mail'' * ''Portadown Times'' * ''Newtownabbey Times'' * ''Tyrone Times'' * ''Ulster Star'' * ''The Newry Reporter''
=====Free titles (NI)===== * ''Banbridge & District Weekender'' * ''Belfast News'' * ''Craigavon Echo'' * ''East Antrim Advertiser'' * ''Lisburn Echo'' * ''Mid Ulster Echo'' * ''North West Echo'' {{col-3}}
====''Derry Journal'' newspapers====
=====Local (Derry Journal)===== * ''Derry Journal'' * ''Sunday Journal''
=====Free titles (Derry Journal)===== * ''City News'' * ''Foyle News'' {{col-end}}
==Shots!== On 7 August 2023<ref>{{cite web |last=Newbould |first=Chris |date=7 August 2023 |title=National World launches Shots! TV channel |url=https://www.prolificnorth.co.uk/news/national-world-launches-shots-tv-channel/ |access-date=18 December 2024 |website=Prolific North}}</ref> National World launched Shots!, a website devoted to football chat, true crime shows<ref>{{Cite web| title=National World launches Shots! | url=https://corporate.nationalworld.com/sites/national-world/files/pdf/Company%20News/2023/20230807%20National%20World%20launches%20Shots!.pdf | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240108162339/https://corporate.nationalworld.com/sites/national-world/files/pdf/Company%20News/2023/20230807%20National%20World%20launches%20Shots!.pdf | archive-date=2024-01-08}}</ref> and real life stories. National World also acquired a streaming slot for Shots! on Freeview channel 276, where it runs 24 hours a day and features shows such as ''The Heritage Chart Show with Mike Read'', ''Walks Around Britain''<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.shotstv.com/watch/vod/51952368/walks-around-britain-series-4-episode-6 | title=Shots! : Walks Around Britain | Series 4 Episode 6 }}</ref> and ''Exceptional Homes'',<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.shotstv.com/watch/vod/51952383/exceptional-homes-episode-11 | title=Shots! : Exceptional Homes | Episode 11 }}</ref> along with reports such as ''I Was in Byker Grove''.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.shotstv.com/watch/vod/52288542/i-was-in-byker-grove | title=Shots! : I Was in Byker Grove }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Ponsford |first=Dominic |date=7 August 2023 |title=National World launches video news TV channel 'Shots!' on Freeview |url=https://pressgazette.co.uk/publishers/national-world-launches-shots-video-news-tv-channel-on-freeview/ |access-date=18 December 2024 |website=Press Gazette}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://submit.nationalworld.com/our-publications/ | title=Our publications | YourWorld | date=29 June 2022 }}</ref>
==References== {{Reflist}}
{{Media in the United Kingdom}} Category:2018 establishments in England Category:British companies established in 2018 Category:Johnston Press Category:Mass media companies established in 2018 Category:Newspaper companies of the United Kingdom Category:2021 mergers and acquisitions Category:2025 mergers and acquisitions