Newbury: Iliffe acquires his local newspaper

The chief executive of regional publisher Iliffe Media has bought the publisher of his local newspaper in west Berkshire. Edward Iliffe, who lives in Yattendon has taken over the family-owned Newbury News as part of a joint venture with publisher Peter Fowler.

The 152-year-old Newbury Weekly News has been purchased by a joint venture (JV) company, Newbury News and Media, which has been formed by Edward Iliffe and Peter Fowler.

The family-owned Newbury Weekly News has served its community since 1867 and incorporates the award-winning website newburytoday, free weekly newspaper The Newbury and Thatcham Advertiser and quality quarterly magazine Out & About.

The Newbury Weekly News has been owned by the same family since its early beginnings and moved its printing to Iliffe Print Cambridge last year after it made the difficult decision to close its own press in Newbury.

The purchase is a joint venture between Edward Iliffe and experienced publisher Peter Fowler under the umbrella of the newly-formed Newbury News and Media. It is intended to integrate the JV within Iliffe Media Group’s operations.

Iliffe Media Group was formed in September 2016 with the launch of the Cambridge Independent and over the past three years has completed a number of acquisitions including 13 titles from Johnston Press, the KM Media Group, and most recently the Newark Advertiser.

Newbury News chief executive James Gurney said: "The Newbury Weekly News is a successful and much-loved title and Edward Iliffe lives right here in Yattendon, in the heart of West Berkshire. I am delighted that the paper will remain independent.

"Over the past 10 years the industry has become increasingly challenging for smaller independently-owned local newspaper publishers."