Iconic Newspapers is an Irish newspaper company that publishes over 20 regional newspapers. Iconic Newspapers are owned by Mediaforce who are majority owned by Malcolm Denmark. Iconic Newspapers hold their newspaper assets in a subsidiary called Formpress Publishing.. In 2014, Iconic Newspapers acquired Johnson Press Ireland. Johnston Press Ireland was formed in 2005 following the purchase of Scottish Radio Holdings's newspapers known as Score Press by Johnston Press in 2005 for £155 million. In the same year, Johnson Press Ireland also purchased the Leinster Leader Group, who published six titles, for €138.6 million. The company is based in Naas, County Kildare.
History
In May 2017, it was report that Iconic Newspapers may bid to acquire some Landmark Media Investments regional titles. Iconic Newspapers did not proceed with this acquisition. In September 2017, it was reported that Iconic Newspapers managing directorJoe Flaherty, was selected to run for Fianna Fail in Longford-Westmeath. In November 2017, it was reported that Iconic Newspapers were making staff redundant at the Donegal Democrat. In January 2018, the 2017 accounts were published. Revenues at Formpress Publishing Ltd declined by 2pc from €13m to €12.6m. Numbers employed by the company last year reduced from 165 to 161 with staff costs declining from €6.84m to €6.59m. In November 2018, it was announced that Iconic Newspapers had acquired 7 titles from River Media. In November 2018, Fine Gael Senator Paudie Coffey sued Iconic Newspapers over an article written in the Kilkenny People. In January 2019, the accounts up to March 2018 were published. Revenues at Formpress Publishing Ltd declined by 3pc from €12.6m to €12.2m. Numbers employed by the company last year increased from 161 to 163. Profits declined 6%. In March 2019, Iconic Newspapers settled a defamation action from an ex-minister over an article in the Tipperary Star. In April 2019, Iconic Newspapers acquired two newspaper titles from Alpha Newspaper Group. The acquisition is subject to competition authority approval. In October 2019, the competition authority approved the transaction subject to conditions. The Irish government need to approve the acquisition next. In August 2019, Fine Gael Senator Paudie Coffey has settled his High Court action with Iconic Newspapers. In October 2019, it was reported that Ionic Newspapers were in advance talks to acquire The Munster Express. In March 2020, the accounts up to 31 March 2019 were published. The results were affected by the acquisitions. Numbers employed by the company reduced from 153 to 149. In March 2020, Iconic Newspapers let staff go due to lack of newspaper advertising due to the coronavirus pandemic. The National Union of Journalists said that Iconic Newspapers “has laid off dozens of journalists, made a number of staff compulsorily redundant and temporarily shut two newspapers”.
