Local newspaper industry in Ireland has suffered a crisis falls during the last ten years. It has struggled to create sustainable business models for the digital era, explains Anthony Cawley of Liverpool Hope University in his new research article.

The study focuses on Johnston Press media group, which faced significant financial difficulties during recent years. The research analyses Johnston Press’ annual reports from 2005 to 2014. The paper offers insight into corporate views on Ireland’s local newspaper industry and the commercial underpinnings of local news provision.

The paper draws on the case study to portray wider phenomenon of corporatisation of local news provision and the sustainability of local news industries.

The study “Johnston Press and the crisis in Ireland’s local newspaper industry, 2005–2014” was recently published in Journalism and is available online (free abstract).

Picture: After the flood by Bobby McKay, license CC BY-ND 2.0