Press Gazette’s Battle For Survival Ends

Trade press publication the Press Gazette has closed down after more than 40 years, due to its failure to find a new investor in the title.

The Press Gazette‘s 20 staff were told late on Friday that they would be made redundant, after its financial future could not be secured.

A statement on the title’s website read: “Press Gazette‘s editorial team would like to thank all of its readers over the past 41 years, and all of those who have given us support in the recent difficult weeks.”

The announcement follows editor Ian Reeves’ call for the title to be acquired by the industry to protect its future. Reeves had called for the establishment of a Press Gazette Trust, inviting industry execs to become founding members of the publication, but the proposals were met with a cool response.

The title went into administration earlier this month, but trouble began for it when the title was acquired from Quantum Publishing in June 2005 by Morgan and Freud, who were heavily criticised by some industry figures for being “inappropriate administrators” of the title.

The criticism led to Associated Newspapers, Express Newspapers and The Telegraph Group boycotting the Press Gazette’s principal money earner in 2005, the British Press Awards.

The title’s circulation has steadily declined over the past five years.

Press Gazette: www.pressgazette.co.uk