View all newsletters
Sign up for our free email newsletters

Fighting for quality news media in the digital age.

  1. Comment
August 25, 2015

Falling print circulation means closure of Belfast Telegraph’s historic town centre printing plant

By Dominic Ponsford

Falling print circulations and the loss of a contract are leading the Belfast Telegraph to close its historic printing site on Royal Avenue in Belfast.

The move will lead to the loss of 89 printing jobs, the paper itself reports, as printing of the Telegraph, Sunday Life and Sunday World is moved out to Newry.

The Belfast Telegraph’s editorial operation is also set to leave Royal Avenue and move elsewhere in the city.

Publisher Independent News and Media said in a statement: "Independent News & Media PLC today announced the planned closure of its printing operation in Belfast. INM also confirmed that it remains committed to its Belfast publishing business which will continue as normal. The print closure, which is expected to be implemented by no later than June 2016, is expected to entail a reduction of up to 89 employees, and reflects the industry wide trend of reducing print volumes as consumption of news via digital channels increases, together with the ending of a key contract with a UK publisher in Belfast."

Print sales of the Belfast Telegraph have more than halved from over 90,000 a day tens years ago to just over 44,000 a day in the first half of this year.

Content from our partners
How PA Media is helping newspapers make the digital transition
Publishing on the open web is broken, how generative AI could help fix it
Impress: Regulation, arbitration and complaints resolution

Topics in this article :

Email pged@pressgazette.co.uk to point out mistakes, provide story tips or send in a letter for publication on our "Letters Page" blog

Select and enter your email address Weekly insight into the big strategic issues affecting the future of the news industry. Essential reading for media leaders every Thursday. Your morning brew of news about the world of news from Press Gazette and elsewhere in the media. Sent at around 10am UK time. Our weekly does of strategic insight about the future of news media aimed at US readers. A fortnightly update from the front-line of news and advertising. Aimed at marketers and those involved in the advertising industry.
  • Business owner/co-owner
  • CEO
  • COO
  • CFO
  • CTO
  • Chairperson
  • Non-Exec Director
  • Other C-Suite
  • Managing Director
  • President/Partner
  • Senior Executive/SVP or Corporate VP or equivalent
  • Director or equivalent
  • Group or Senior Manager
  • Head of Department/Function
  • Manager
  • Non-manager
  • Retired
  • Other
Visit our privacy Policy for more information about our services, how New Statesman Media Group may use, process and share your personal data, including information on your rights in respect of your personal data and how you can unsubscribe from future marketing communications.
Thank you

Thanks for subscribing.

Websites in our network