The Courier
The Courier is a Scottish regional newspaper published in Dundee by DC Thomson, serving communities across eastern and central Scotland in print and digital formats.
Last updated August 31, 2026
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Overview
The Courier is a regional Scottish newspaper based in Dundee and published by D. C. Thomson & Co. Ltd, the family-owned media company also associated with a range of newspaper, magazine, book and digital properties. The title traces its origins to 1801, when it was established as the Dundee Courier & Argus. Its long history places it among Scotland's established local newspaper brands, with editorial coverage focused on Dundee and surrounding communities as well as wider regional affairs. The newspaper's identity has changed over time. In 1809 it was acquired by Robert Rintoul, who used the publication to advocate political reform and to criticize local political figures. During the General Strike in 1926, the paper was merged with The Advertiser and became known as The Courier & Advertiser, a name it retained until 2012. The title's traditional presentation was notably distinctive: for many years its entire front page was devoted to classified advertising, reflecting an older regional-newspaper model in which local announcements, notices and commercial listings were central to the product. The Courier later moved toward a more conventional news-led presentation. In 1992 it ended the long-running front-page classified format. On 21 January 2012, it changed from broadsheet to compact format. The change was presented by editor Richard Neville as part of a broader investment in new sections, expanded content and editorial resources. A digital edition followed in 2013, extending the title beyond its printed editions and allowing the brand to publish continuously online. At different points the print product operated through multiple regional editions. In 2013 these included Dundee; Angus and The Mearns; Fife; West Fife; Perthshire; and Stirlingshire. By 2020, the edition structure had been reduced to three principal regional groupings: Perth and Perthshire; Angus and Dundee; and Fife. The regional model allows the newspaper to combine shared national and Scottish coverage with local reporting, community news, sport, business, public affairs, features, notices and advertising. The Courier marked its bicentenary in 2016 and was named UK Regional Newspaper of the Year that year. In 2022, its website received the Scottish Press Awards' News Website of the Year award, reflecting the continuing importance of digital journalism to the brand. Historical copies dating back to 1844 have also been digitized and made searchable through the British Newspaper Archive. The title remains active as a print and digital regional news brand. Its circulation has declined substantially in line with the broader movement from paid print newspapers toward online news: the reference material reports average daily circulation of 30,179 copies in December 2019, 15,737 in December 2024 and 14,836 in August 2025. These figures describe the print edition and do not by themselves measure the newspaper's total digital audience.
History
The Courier originated in Dundee in 1801 under the name Dundee Courier & Argus. It developed within the tradition of Scottish regional newspapers, serving a local readership with news, notices, advertisements and commentary. In 1809, Robert Rintoul took over the paper. During his ownership, the publication supported political reform and criticized local political figures, including Alexander Riddoch, giving the newspaper an identifiable role in local public debate. For much of its early and modern history, the newspaper followed a distinctive classified-led format. Its entire front page was used for classified advertisements, a presentation style that remained associated with the title for many years. This approach reflected the importance of local commercial information, employment notices, property listings, public announcements and other forms of community advertising to regional newspapers. The title retained this format until 1992, when it moved to a more conventional news-oriented front page. A significant institutional change came during the General Strike in 1926, when The Courier was merged with The Advertiser. From 1926 until 2012, it was known as The Courier & Advertiser. Between 10 and 28 May 1926, the paper temporarily used the headline-news format associated with The Advertiser before returning to its earlier presentation. The subsequent decades saw the newspaper operate as a major regional title under the ownership of DC Thomson. On 21 January 2012, The Courier changed from broadsheet to compact format. The then editor, Richard Neville, described the move as the beginning of a new period for the title and linked it to investment in new sections, increased content and additional resources. The change represented an effort to modernize the physical newspaper while maintaining its regional editorial identity. The historic Courier & Advertiser name was also replaced by The Courier in 2012. The newspaper expanded its digital presence with the launch of a digital version in 2013. Its print operation used a regional-edition structure covering Dundee, Angus and The Mearns, Fife, West Fife, Perthshire and Stirlingshire. By 2020, this had been consolidated into three regional groupings: Perth and Perthshire; Angus and Dundee; and Fife. The regional structure allows the brand to tailor local coverage while sharing wider editorial material across its editions. In 2016, the year of its 200th anniversary, The Courier was named UK Regional Newspaper of the Year. The award recognized the continuing importance of the title within the British regional press. Its digital operation received further recognition in 2022, when The Courier was named Scotland's news website of the year at the Scottish Press Awards. The Courier's historical record is also available through digitization. Copies of the Dundee Courier dating from 1844 onward can be searched and viewed through the British Newspaper Archive. In the twenty-first century, the brand has faced the structural pressures affecting paid regional newspapers generally, particularly declining print circulation and the migration of news consumption to digital platforms. Reported circulation fell from 30,179 copies in December 2019 to 15,737 in December 2024 and 14,836 in August 2025. Despite this decline in print volume, the newspaper continues to operate as a print and online news brand serving Dundee and other parts of eastern and central Scotland.
- 2022
Scottish Press Awards recognition
[1]The Courier was named Scotland's news website of the year.
- 2016
Bicentenary and national regional-newspaper award
[1]The Courier marked 200 years and was named UK Regional Newspaper of the Year.
- 2013
Digital version introduced
[1]A digital edition expanded the newspaper's publishing offer beyond the printed product.
- 2012
Broadsheet-to-compact redesign
[1]The newspaper adopted a compact format and returned to the shorter The Courier name after decades as The Courier & Advertiser.
- 1992
Front-page classified format ends
[1]The title ended its long-running practice of placing classified advertisements across the entire front page.
- 1926
Merger with The Advertiser
[1]During the General Strike, the newspaper merged with The Advertiser and subsequently operated under the Courier & Advertiser name.
- 1809
Robert Rintoul takes over the paper
[1]Robert Rintoul became associated with the newspaper and used it to support political reform and criticize local political figures.
- 1801
Newspaper established in Dundee
[1]The publication began as the Dundee Courier & Argus, establishing the foundation of the later Courier brand.
Products and positioning
A long-established Scottish regional newspaper combining local reporting and community coverage with broader Scottish, UK and international news, distributed through print editions and a digital news platform.
Regional newspaper · 1801
The Courier print newspaper
The core printed newspaper provides local and regional reporting for communities in and around Dundee, Angus, Fife and Perthshire, alongside Scottish, UK and international coverage. It also carries sport, business, features, public notices, classified advertising and other community-oriented material. The product moved from broadsheet to compact format in 2012.
Digital news · 2013
The Courier digital service
The digital operation extends The Courier's reporting through an online news service and a digital version of the newspaper. It supports more immediate publishing than the print cycle and provides a platform for the title's regional journalism, while retaining the Courier brand and local geographic focus.
Newspaper editions · 2013
Regional editions
The Courier has used regional editions to tailor the printed product to different communities. Editions reported in 2013 covered Dundee, Angus and The Mearns, Fife, West Fife, Perthshire and Stirlingshire. By 2020, the structure had been reduced to three groupings covering Perth and Perthshire, Angus and Dundee, and Fife.
Newspaper archive
Dundee Courier historical archive
Digitized historical copies of the Dundee Courier dating from 1844 are available through the British Newspaper Archive. The archive provides searchable access to historical issues and preserves part of the newspaper's long record of local and regional journalism.
Brand decisions
2013
Digital version launchProduct launchBackground
Changing news-consumption habits and the increasing importance of online publishing created a need to extend the newspaper beyond its print editions.
Action taken
The Courier launched a digital version of the newspaper.
Aftermath
The brand continued as a combined print and digital regional news operation.
2012
Compact-format redesign and name changeGeneration changeBackground
The Courier had been published in broadsheet form and had used the Courier & Advertiser name since the 1926 merger with The Advertiser.
Action taken
On 21 January 2012, the newspaper adopted a compact format and returned to the shorter The Courier name. The redesign was accompanied by stated investment in new sections, expanded content and editorial resources.
Aftermath
The redesign established the visual and naming basis for the contemporary print brand and was followed by the launch of a digital version in 2013.
1992
End of the full-front-page classified formatStrategyBackground
The newspaper had traditionally devoted its entire front page to classified advertisements, a format that was unusual by contemporary news-paper standards.
Action taken
The Courier replaced the long-standing classified-led front page with a more conventional news presentation.
Aftermath
The change marked an important step in the title's transition toward a modern news-led regional newspaper.
Recent events
- 2025
Reported print circulation falls to 14,836[1]
Other
Reported average daily circulation stood at 14,836 in August 2025, down from 15,737 in December 2024 and 30,179 in December 2019.
- 2022
The Courier website named Scottish news website of the year[1]
Other
The Courier's website was recognized as Scotland's news website of the year at the Scottish Press Awards.
- 2016
The Courier wins UK Regional Newspaper of the Year[1]
Other
The title received the UK Regional Newspaper of the Year award during its bicentenary year.
- 2013
Digital edition launched[1]
Product launch
The Courier expanded its publishing operation with a digital version of the newspaper approximately a year after its print-format change.
- 2012
The Courier adopts compact format[1]
Other
The newspaper changed from broadsheet to compact format as part of a redesign and wider investment in editorial content and resources.
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