The Yorkshire Post is a daily broadsheet newspaper published in Leeds, West Yorkshire, England. It covers the whole of Yorkshire as well as parts of Derbyshire, Lincolnshire and Teesside. As of 2022, it has a circulation of around 15,000 copies.
History
The Yorkshire Post was founded in 1754 as the Leeds Intelligencer, making it one of the oldest newspapers in England. It was a weekly publication when it first started. In 1866, the Leeds Intelligencer merged with the Leeds Mercury to form the Yorkshire Post and Leeds Intelligencer. At this point, it became a daily morning paper.
The newspaper originally focused on local Leeds issues and news but gradually expanded its coverage to the wider Yorkshire region. By the early 20th century, the Yorkshire Post had established itself as Yorkshire’s leading newspaper. It campaigned strongly for the creation of a Yorkshire parliament and helped foster a distinctive regional identity in the county.
20th Century Ownership
In 1921, the Yorkshire Post was acquired by the Alliance Newspapers group, which later became Alliance Publishing. This placed the Post under the same ownership as other regional papers like the Manchester Evening News and the Bristol Evening Post. Alliance Publishing was in turn acquired by DMGT (Daily Mail and General Trust) in 1931.
The Yorkshire Post remained under the ownership of DMGT and its Northcliffe regional arm for over 80 years. During this time, it consolidated its position as Yorkshire’s top-selling morning paper. The Yorkshire Evening Post newspaper, which focused more on Leeds itself, was founded in 1890 and also came under DMGT ownership.
Johnston Press Takeover
In 2012, DMGT announced it was selling off its regional newspaper arm Northcliffe Media to the publishing group Johnston Press. This included both The Yorkshire Post and the Yorkshire Evening Post. The sale was reportedly worth over £150 million.
Johnston Press was at the time one of the largest regional newspaper publishers in the UK with over 200 titles under its ownership. However, the company struggled with declining print circulation and revenue. It went into administration in 2018.
JPI Media Era
Johnston Press was immediately sold out of administration to its bondholders and became JPI Media. Therefore from 2018 to 2020, the owner of The Yorkshire Post was JPI Media.
In 2020, JPI Media was acquired by National World PLC, a newly formed newspaper publisher headed by David Montgomery. This made National World the new owner of The Yorkshire Post as well as dozens of other regional papers previously owned by JPI.
National World Ownership
National World PLC remains the current owner of The Yorkshire Post as of 2022. The company owns around 150 newspaper brands across the UK and Ireland, including The Scotsman, the News Letter, and the South Wales Echo. It is based in Edinburgh but has offices across the UK.
National World is a publicly listed company traded on the London Stock Exchange. Its largest shareholder is Alexander Solovyev, a Russian businessman who owns just under 30% of the company.
Yorkshire Post Circulation
| Year | Circulation |
|---|---|
| 2007 | 58,731 |
| 2012 | 51,264 |
| 2017 | 24,726 |
| 2022 | 15,161 |
Like most regional and national newspapers, The Yorkshire Post has seen a steady decline in its print circulation over the past 15 years. From a peak of almost 60,000 copies in 2007, latest figures show the newspaper sells around 15,000 print copies a day.
However, it has grown its online readership significantly, with over 5 million unique monthly visitors to its website as of 2021. The Yorkshire Post sees its digital presence as a key part of its future strategy.
Yorkshire Post Editors
Here are some of the key editors who have headed the Yorkshire Post over its history:
- Edward Baines (1861–1890)
- Arthur Mann (1890–1926)
- George Warde Norman (1926–1934)
- Arthur Mann (1934–1939)
- Kenneth Richardson (1939–1953)
- Dennis Lawson (1953–1968)
- Clive Nicholson (1968–1980)
- Paul Thorogood (1980–1984)
- Keith Waterhouse (1984–1986)
- David Dinsmore (2001–2005)
- Mark Douglas-Home (2009-2015)
- James Mitchinson (2015 to present)
Some famous former editors include novelist Keith Waterhouse and current Al Jazeera English editor-in-chief David Dinsmore.
The current editor is James Mitchinson, who was previously deputy editor at the newspaper.
Political Stance
The Yorkshire Post has traditionally been seen as a centrist publication but with a small-c conservative leaning. In British elections it has tended to back the Conservative Party. However, it did support Labour in 1945, 1966 and 1997 when big swings occurred.
The newspaper opposed Brexit prior to the 2016 referendum. It has expressed concerns over the impact leaving the EU could have on Yorkshire’s economy and prosperity. However, it now acknowledges the result and aims to “speak up for the region” to get the best possible post-Brexit deal.
Awards
The Yorkshire Post has won numerous awards for its journalism over the years. Some of its most notable accolades include:
- Regional Newspaper of the Year at the EDF Media Awards in 2005, 2011 and 2014
- Weekly Newspaper of the Year at the Regional Press Awards in 2009 and 2018
- Daily/Sunday Newspaper of the Year at Society of Editors Press Awards in 2018
- Campaign of the Year at Regional Press Awards for coverage of the Yorkshire Ripper murders in 2006
It was named National Newspaper of the Year in 2018 at the UK’s Regional Press Awards for its coverage of issues in Yorkshire. Judges praised its “courageous and compelling journalism”.
Conclusion
The Yorkshire Post has a long and rich heritage as Yorkshire’s leading daily newspaper. After over 150 years serving the region, it continues to be an important voice for the county. Following a turbulent period of ownership changes in the 2010s, it is now part of National World PLC’s stable of regional titles.
Despite declining print circulation, it reaches more readers than ever online. Its editorial stance remains broadly centrist whilst advocating for Yorkshire’s interests. With over two centuries of journalism behind it, the Post will likely continue as the county’s flagship title for many years to come.