Stornoway Gazette

The Stornoway Gazette is a local newspaper focused on the Outer Hebrides, with particular relevance to Stornoway and the Isle of Lewis. It was founded on 5 January 1917 by William Grant, an Inverness-based correspondent for the Highland News. The paper emerged from a dispute concerning the publication of a First World War roll of honour for people from Lewis who were serving in the conflict. That origin placed the Gazette close to the civic, social and community concerns of the island from the beginning. Grant served as the publication's editor-in-chief until his death in 1932. His son, James Shaw Grant, subsequently became editor and later resigned from that position in 1963 when he became chairman of the Crofters Commission. He continued to serve as a director, linking the newspaper's management with wider public and rural affairs in the Highlands and Islands. The title has operated in a relatively small and distinctive local-news market. In July 1979, it was acquired by The Galloway Gazette. In 2004, the Stornoway Gazette faced direct competition from The Hebridean for approximately nine months. After The Hebridean ceased publication, the Gazette acquired that title and its publication rights. The same year, ownership passed to Johnston Press after that Edinburgh-based newspaper group acquired Score Press, the division of Scottish Radio Holdings associated with the newspaper. In 2013, during its 96th year, the Gazette was relaunched in compact format. The change reflected the continuing adaptation of a long-established regional newspaper to contemporary production and reading habits while retaining its local editorial role. That year it also received the Newspaper of the Year award at the Highlands and Islands Media Awards. The brand's editorial proposition is rooted in place-based reporting rather than national mass-market coverage. Its subject matter centres on local public affairs, community life, island institutions, regional developments and issues affecting residents of the Outer Hebrides. The newspaper also maintains an online presence through its official website, extending the Gazette's local-news service beyond its print edition. Current ownership and corporate-group details are not established by the supplied reference material.

The Stornoway Gazette was established on 5 January 1917 by William Grant, who worked as a correspondent for the Highland News from Inverness. Its creation followed a dispute over the publication of a roll of honour listing people from the Isle of Lewis who were serving in the First World War. The circumstances of its foundation gave the newspaper an immediate connection with island identity, public recognition and local community affairs. Grant remained editor-in-chief until his death in 1932. His son, James Shaw Grant, succeeded him as editor. In 1963, James Shaw Grant resigned from the editorship after becoming chairman of the Crofters Commission, although he continued as a director of the publication. This transition connected the newspaper's leadership with the institutional and rural concerns that shaped public life in the Highlands and Islands. The Gazette changed ownership in 1979. The Galloway Gazette acquired the title in July of that year, with the sale having been announced several months earlier. The newspaper later encountered direct competition in its local market from The Hebridean. That contest lasted approximately nine months and ended in 2004 when The Hebridean ceased publication. The Stornoway Gazette then acquired The Hebridean's title and publication rights, consolidating the local newspaper market described in the available historical account. Also in 2004, Johnston Press, an Edinburgh-based newspaper group, became the owner of the Gazette after acquiring Score Press, a division of Scottish Radio Holdings. The transaction placed the island newspaper within a larger Scottish and regional newspaper structure while preserving its local title and editorial identity. In 2013, as the publication approached its centenary and entered its 96th year, the Gazette was relaunched in compact format. The redesign represented a significant print-product decision for a newspaper with a long broadsheet-era history, adapting its physical presentation to changing newspaper consumption patterns. In the same year, the title was recognised as Newspaper of the Year at the Highlands and Islands Media Awards. The newspaper's continuing role is as a place-based news service for Stornoway, Lewis and the Outer Hebrides. Its coverage is oriented toward local issues, community events, public bodies, island development and matters affecting residents of the region. The brand now combines its established newspaper identity with an official online presence. The supplied reference material does not identify a current owner, parent company, editor or other current executive, so those fields remain unspecified.

• 2013

  Compact-format relaunch

  [1]Stornoway Gazetteen.wikipedia.org

  The newspaper was relaunched in compact format during its 96th year.

• 2013

  Highlands and Islands Media Award

  [1]Stornoway Gazetteen.wikipedia.org

  The Gazette won Newspaper of the Year at the Highlands and Islands Media Awards.

• 2004

  The Hebridean publication rights acquired

  [1]Stornoway Gazetteen.wikipedia.org

  After The Hebridean ceased publication following a period of competition, the Gazette acquired its title and publication rights.

• 2004

  Johnston Press ownership begins

  [1]Stornoway Gazetteen.wikipedia.org

  Johnston Press became the owner through its purchase of Score Press from Scottish Radio Holdings.

• 1979

  Acquisition by The Galloway Gazette

  [1]Stornoway Gazetteen.wikipedia.org

  The Stornoway Gazette was acquired by The Galloway Gazette in July.

• 1963

  James Shaw Grant leaves the editorship

  [1]Stornoway Gazetteen.wikipedia.org

  James Shaw Grant resigned as editor after becoming chairman of the Crofters Commission while remaining a director of the publication.

• 1932

  Founding editor dies

  [1]Stornoway Gazetteen.wikipedia.org

  William Grant died after serving as editor-in-chief from the newspaper's foundation.

• 1917

  Newspaper founded

  [1]Stornoway Gazetteen.wikipedia.org

  William Grant established the Stornoway Gazette on 5 January after a dispute concerning a First World War roll of honour for people from Lewis.

A long-established island newspaper positioned as a local information and community-news source for Stornoway, Lewis and the wider Outer Hebrides.

• Local newspaper · 1917

  Stornoway Gazette print edition

  The core newspaper product reports on Stornoway, Lewis and the wider Outer Hebrides. Its editorial remit is local and community-oriented, covering issues and events relevant to island residents. The print edition was relaunched in compact format in 2013.

• Digital news

  Stornoway Gazette online service

  The Gazette's official website provides a digital extension of the newspaper brand and its local-news role. The supplied materials establish the website's existence but do not provide a detailed account of its launch, subscription model or current editorial structure.

• Acquired newspaper property

  The Hebridean title and publication rights

  In 2004, after The Hebridean ceased publication following a period of competition with the Stornoway Gazette, the Gazette acquired the rival title and its publication rights. The available material does not specify whether the title continued as a separate product.

• 2013

  Relaunch in compact formatGeneration change

  Background

  The newspaper reached its 96th year while operating in a changing print-news environment.

  Action taken

  The Gazette changed its print presentation and relaunched as a compact-format newspaper.

  Aftermath

  The title continued operating under the Stornoway Gazette brand and was named Newspaper of the Year at the Highlands and Islands Media Awards in the same year.

  Source

• 2004

  Acquisition of The Hebridean title and publication rightsM&A

  Background

  The Hebridean ceased publication after approximately nine months of direct competition with the Stornoway Gazette.

  Action taken

  The Gazette acquired The Hebridean title and publication rights.

  Aftermath

  The acquisition consolidated the local newspaper properties described in the available historical account.

  Source

1. 1Stornoway Gazetteen.wikipedia.org
2. 2Stornoway Gazette official websitestornowaygazette.co.uk