The Press and Journal
A daily regional newspaper serving Aberdeen, the Highlands and northern Scotland, with roots dating to 1747.
Last updated August 31, 2026
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Overview
The Press and Journal is a Scottish regional daily newspaper focused on Aberdeen, Aberdeenshire, the Highlands and other parts of northern Scotland. Its origins reach back to 29 December 1747, when it first appeared as a weekly publication under the name Aberdeen's Journal. The title changed to Aberdeen Journal in 1748 and remained weekly for more than a century before becoming a daily newspaper in August 1876. This long publication history makes it Scotland's oldest daily newspaper and places it among the world's longest-running newspaper titles. During the nineteenth century, the newspaper was associated with the Chalmers family, who owned it for much of the period and supplied several of its editors. Its editorial position was historically Conservative. William Forsyth became editor in 1849 and held the role until 1878, helping guide the paper during its transition into a more modern daily publication. The newspaper's history also includes the work of pioneering women journalists. Ethel Simpson became the title's first female junior reporter and was among its earliest female chief reporters, while Caroline Phillips was associated with the Aberdeen branch of the Women's Social and Political Union. The current identity was created through a merger. In 1922, the paper's parent company joined forces with the Free Press, a newspaper that had been published since 1853. The combined title was renamed The Aberdeen Press and Journal, and its first edition under that name appeared on 1 December 1922. The word Aberdeen was subsequently dropped from the commonly used title, leaving The Press and Journal. The newspaper is published six days a week and has traditionally operated through multiple geographic editions serving different parts of northern Scotland. Its editorial model gives substantial prominence to local government, business, community affairs, rural issues, energy, transport, sport and regional identity. The paper has sometimes been criticised for giving comparatively limited space to international news in favour of local coverage. It has defended that approach through branding and advertising centred on the idea of being strongly rooted in the region. The title moved from broadsheet to compact format in 2012, reflecting changes in newspaper presentation and reader habits. The Press and Journal is published by Aberdeen Journals, alongside titles including the Evening Express and Scot-Ads. Aberdeen Journals became part of the Dundee-based D. C. Thomson group after its acquisition from Daily Mail and General Trust in 2006. Printing of the Aberdeen Journals titles moved from Aberdeen to Dundee in 2013. The newspaper maintains its editorial base in Aberdeen, with reporting and regional operations extending across the north of Scotland. The title has also become associated with its forceful editorial support for the proposed Trump International Golf Links development at Menie Estate in Balmedie, Aberdeenshire. The resort was controversial because of opposition from local residents and concerns about its location on land designated as a Site of Special Scientific Interest. Critics argued that the Press and Journal and its sister newspaper the Evening Express provided unusually favourable coverage of the development. The controversy remains one of the most prominent examples of the paper's editorial stance becoming part of a wider public debate.
History
The Press and Journal traces its history to Aberdeen's Journal, first published weekly on 29 December 1747. The title changed to Aberdeen Journal the following year and developed as a newspaper serving the city of Aberdeen and the surrounding north-eastern Scottish region. It remained a weekly for 128 years, an unusually long period for a publication that would later become one of Scotland's leading regional dailies. In August 1876, the newspaper began daily publication. The change reflected the expanding importance of the daily press and the growth of Aberdeen as a commercial and industrial centre. For much of the nineteenth century the paper was owned by the Chalmers family. Members of that family were also involved in editorial management until 1849, when William Forsyth became editor. Forsyth remained in the position until 1878. The paper's politics during this era were Conservative, although its principal long-term identity was its regional role and its connection with Aberdeen readers. The publication's institutional form changed in 1922. Its parent firm combined with the Free Press, a title that had been published since 1853. The merged newspaper was called The Aberdeen Press and Journal, with the first edition appearing on 1 December 1922. The combined title consolidated two established local newspaper traditions and created the newspaper that later became generally known as The Press and Journal. The paper's reporting history includes several notable journalists. Ethel Simpson was the first woman junior reporter at the newspaper and later became one of its first female chief reporters. Caroline Phillips was an early figure connected with the Aberdeen branch of the Women's Social and Political Union. In the twentieth and early twenty-first centuries, journalists and columnists associated with the title included Jack Webster and Bruce Taylor. Taylor was the first reporter to reach the Piper Alpha disaster in 1988, an event that became one of the defining industrial tragedies in the history of the North Sea oil industry. In its modern form, The Press and Journal is a six-day regional newspaper with multiple geographic editions. Its coverage centres on Aberdeen, Aberdeenshire, the Highlands and neighbouring parts of northern Scotland. Local government, business, energy, rural affairs, transport, sport and community news are central to its editorial mix. The paper has periodically faced criticism for its strong regional emphasis, particularly when international events receive less space than local stories. Following the September 11 attacks in 2001, for example, critics pointed to the limited size of the paper's world-news section. The publication has defended its focus through the recurring message that it is proud to be local. The newspaper was historically produced in broadsheet format, but moved to compact size in 2012. Its headquarters were previously at Mastrick in Aberdeen and later moved to the city centre. The title is published by Aberdeen Journals, which also publishes the Evening Express and other local products. Aberdeen Journals was acquired by D. C. Thomson from Daily Mail and General Trust in 2006. Printing of the Aberdeen Journals titles was transferred from Aberdeen to Dundee in 2013, while editorial operations continued to be associated with Aberdeen and the wider north of Scotland. One of the most contested episodes in the paper's recent history concerns its coverage of Donald Trump's proposed golf resort at Menie Estate near Balmedie. The development faced opposition from residents and environmental concerns because the site included land designated as a Site of Special Scientific Interest. Critics argued that the Press and Journal and the Evening Express consistently presented the development in a favourable manner. The debate intensified after the sister paper published a prominent attack on councillors who voted against the planning application, and after the Press and Journal said it would not report statements from the protest group Tripping Up Trump. Damian Bates, then editor, later married Sarah Malone, an executive associated with the Trump project, adding another layer to public scrutiny of the newspaper's coverage. The Press and Journal remains an active regional newspaper brand whose historical continuity, local reporting network and strong sense of place distinguish it within the Scottish press.
- 2013
Printing transferred to Dundee
[1]Production of the Aberdeen Journals titles moved from Aberdeen to printing facilities in Dundee.
- 2012
Compact format introduced
[1]The newspaper moved from broadsheet presentation to a compact format.
- 2006
Aberdeen Journals acquired by D. C. Thomson
[1]D. C. Thomson acquired Aberdeen Journals from Daily Mail and General Trust.
- 1922
Merger creates The Aberdeen Press and Journal
[1]The Aberdeen Journal's parent firm merged with the Free Press, producing the combined title.
- 1876
Conversion to daily publication
[1]After 128 years as a weekly, the newspaper began appearing daily in August.
- 1748
Title becomes Aberdeen Journal
[1]The publication adopted the name Aberdeen Journal.
- 1747
First publication as Aberdeen's Journal
[1]The newspaper was first published weekly in Aberdeen on 29 December 1747.
Products and positioning
A strongly regional Scottish newspaper positioned around local news, community identity and practical coverage of life in Aberdeen, the Highlands and northern Scotland. Its editorial proposition prioritises proximity and regional relevance over comprehensive international coverage.
Regional newspaper · 1747
The Press and Journal
The core product is a six-day printed regional newspaper serving Aberdeen, Aberdeenshire, the Highlands and other parts of northern Scotland. It publishes local and regional reporting across public affairs, business, energy, rural life, transport, sport and community news, with several geographic editions designed for different parts of its circulation area.
Digital news service
The Press and Journal online
The brand's website extends its regional reporting into digital publishing. It provides news and information focused on Aberdeen and northern Scotland, complementing the print newspaper and allowing stories to be distributed beyond the daily print cycle.
Controversies
2013
Editor’s relationship with Trump project executive draws scrutiny
Editor Damian Bates married Sarah Malone, an executive vice president and press spokeswoman for the Trump International project. The relationship attracted attention in the context of the newspaper's strongly supportive coverage of the development.
2009
Refusal to report protest group statements
The Press and Journal said it would not report statements from the campaign group Tripping Up Trump, describing it as not bona fide. Opponents argued that the decision illustrated a lack of balance in the paper's reporting of the golf-resort project.
2007
Controversial coverage of councillors opposing Trump golf resort
During the controversy over the proposed Trump International Golf Links development, the sister newspaper Aberdeen Evening Express published photographs of councillors who voted against the planning application under the headline "You Traitors." The episode formed part of wider criticism directed at the Aberdeen newspaper group, including The Press and Journal, for its favourable treatment of the development.
Marketing campaigns
- Proud to be local
northern Scotland
A recurring positioning and advertising theme emphasising the newspaper's commitment to local and regional coverage rather than presenting itself as a general national or international newspaper.
Outcome. The theme reinforced the title's regional identity and helped explain its editorial prioritisation of northern Scottish stories.
Brand decisions
2013
Transfer printing operations to DundeeStrategyBackground
The Aberdeen Journals group had operated its own presses in Aberdeen.
Action taken
Printing of The Press and Journal and associated titles was moved to Dundee.
Aftermath
Editorial activity remained associated with Aberdeen and northern Scotland while physical production was consolidated elsewhere in the D. C. Thomson group.
2012
Move to compact newspaper formatGeneration changeBackground
The newspaper had historically been published as a broadsheet.
Action taken
It adopted a compact physical format.
Aftermath
The redesign aligned the print edition with changing newspaper presentation and reading habits.
1922
Merge with the Free PressM&ABackground
The parent firm behind Aberdeen Journal joined with the Free Press, which had been published since 1853.
Action taken
The combined newspaper launched as The Aberdeen Press and Journal on 1 December 1922.
Aftermath
The merger created the title that evolved into the present-day Press and Journal.
1876
Adopt daily publicationStrategyBackground
The newspaper had appeared weekly for 128 years as Aberdeen Journal.
Action taken
It began publishing daily in August 1876.
Aftermath
The change established the publication as a daily regional newspaper and laid the foundation for its modern identity.
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