Reach plc

Reach plc is one of the United Kingdom's largest newspaper and digital publishing groups. The company publishes national newspapers, regional and local news brands, magazines, websites and digital products. Its portfolio includes the Daily Mirror, Sunday Mirror, Sunday People, Daily Express, Sunday Express, Daily Star, Scottish Daily Record, Sunday Mail and OK! magazine, alongside regional brands such as the Manchester Evening News, Liverpool Echo, BirminghamLive, Nottingham Post, WalesOnline, BelfastLive and Edinburgh Live. The group's historical roots extend to the Daily Mirror, launched in 1903 by Alfred Harmsworth, later the first Viscount Northcliffe. The Mirror business was listed on the London Stock Exchange in 1953 and subsequently passed through several ownership structures. International Publishing Company acquired Mirror Group Newspapers in 1958, Reed International took over IPC in 1970, and Robert Maxwell's Pergamon Holdings acquired the Daily Mirror from Reed in 1984. The company was relisted as Mirror Group in 1991. Expansion beyond the national Mirror titles accelerated during the 1990s. The business acquired Scottish & Universal Newspapers in 1992 and the Birmingham Post and Mail group in 1997. In 1999, Mirror Group merged with Trinity International Holdings, owner of the Liverpool Echo and related regional titles, creating Trinity Mirror. The new group combined national newspaper publishing with a substantial regional newspaper network. During the 2000s and 2010s, Reach and its predecessor increasingly reorganised around the structural decline of print advertising and circulation. It sold or transferred selected titles, consolidated printing operations and invested in websites, mobile publishing and data-led content. In 2010 it acquired regional newspaper divisions from Guardian Media Group, including the Manchester Evening News and Reading Evening Post. In 2015 it bought Local World from Daily Mail and General Trust for approximately £220 million, adding a large portfolio of local titles and increasing Trinity Mirror's regional circulation by roughly half. A major transformation came in 2018, when Trinity Mirror completed its acquisition of Northern & Shell's publishing assets. The transaction added the Express & Star newspaper group and OK! magazine. Following the acquisition, the company adopted the Reach name. The Competition and Markets Authority required Express Newspapers to remain operationally separate while the transaction was reviewed. Reach operates both editorial and commercial publishing activities. Its printing division prints and distributes major newspapers at press sites in the United Kingdom, including titles owned by Reach and contract publications. Its digital portfolio includes national and regional news websites, audience-focused verticals, sports sites, entertainment properties and experimental formats. It has also developed ecommerce and subscription activity, including OK! Beauty Box and the Yimbly online retail platform. The company has faced continuing financial and operational pressure from falling print advertising, changing consumer habits and reductions in demand during the COVID-19 period. In 2020 it announced 550 job cuts, equivalent to about 12 percent of its workforce. At the same time, Reach has pursued audience growth outside the United Kingdom. In the early 2020s it developed United States operations for the Mirror, Express and Irish Star brands, building a dedicated team serving American audiences. In 2024 it created a Studio division combining editorial and commercial multimedia production, and in 2025 introduced additional standalone digital brands focused on gaming, rugby league and football. Reach remains an active, publicly listed publisher whose strategy combines national newspaper brands, a broad local-news network, digital audience development, advertising, print production, ecommerce and selected international expansion.

Reach plc's history is rooted in the British newspaper industry and particularly in the Daily Mirror. Alfred Harmsworth launched the Daily Mirror in 1903. The newspaper became the foundation of a publishing business that entered the London Stock Exchange in 1953. Mirror Group Newspapers was acquired by International Publishing Company in 1958, while IPC was later taken over by Reed International in 1970. In 1984, Robert Maxwell's Pergamon Holdings acquired the Daily Mirror from Reed. The business was relisted as Mirror Group in 1991. That period also saw a major software-licensing dispute: an investigation initiated through an Anton Piller order found extensive use of allegedly unlicensed software within the company. The action had been delayed following Maxwell's death and resumed in 1992. The group expanded its regional presence in the 1990s. It bought Scottish & Universal Newspapers in 1992 and the Birmingham Post and Mail group in 1997. In 1999, Mirror Group merged with Trinity International Holdings, whose assets included the Liverpool Echo, creating Trinity Mirror. The merger established the combined company's long-term identity as both a national newspaper publisher and a regional-news operator. During the 2000s, Trinity Mirror responded to declining print economics through spending controls, title disposals, production changes and portfolio rationalisation. It sold the Reading Chronicle, transferred a number of regional titles and completed the sale of the Racing Post in 2007. In 2008 it announced the closure of its Liverpool printing plant after more than a century and a half of printing in the city, with work transferred to Oldham. In 2010, Trinity Mirror acquired the M.E.N. Media and S&B Media divisions of Guardian Media Group. The transaction added 22 local titles across Northern England, Surrey and Berkshire, including the Manchester Evening News and Reading Evening Post. The company subsequently expanded its digital presence. Experimental websites UsVsTh3m and Ampp3d were launched in 2013 and closed in 2015. Trinity Mirror also acquired Communicator Corp, a digital communications specialist, in 2012 and entered a partnership with whocanfixmycar.com in 2013. In 2014 it moved its online bingo software from Dragonfish to Playtech's Virtue Fusion platform. A further regional consolidation occurred in 2015, when Trinity Mirror acquired Local World from Daily Mail and General Trust. Local World controlled a substantial portfolio of local titles, and the deal increased Trinity Mirror's local circulation by approximately 50 percent. The transaction was valued at about £220 million. In February 2018, Trinity Mirror completed its acquisition of Northern & Shell's publishing assets, including the Daily Express, Sunday Express, Daily Star and OK! magazine. After the deal, the company rebranded as Reach plc. Regulatory review required Express Newspapers to be maintained as a standalone entity during the competition investigation. Reach's recent history has been defined by digital transformation, cost pressure and diversification. In 2020 it announced 550 job cuts amid reduced advertising demand. In the early 2020s it developed United States operations for the Mirror, Express and Irish Star, while creating international digital products such as Liverpool.com for American sports audiences. In 2024 it launched a Studio division combining editorial and commercial multimedia work. In 2025 it added digital brands including All Out Gaming, All Out Rugby League and All Out Football, while also continuing ecommerce initiatives such as OK! Beauty Box and Yimbly.

• 2024

  Reach Studio launched

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  The company created a Studio division for editorial and commercial multimedia content.

• 2020

  Workforce reduction announced

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  Reach announced 550 job cuts during a period of falling advertising income and reduced demand.

• 2018

  Company renamed Reach plc

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  After acquiring Northern & Shell publishing assets, Trinity Mirror adopted the Reach name.

• 2015

  Local World acquired

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  The acquisition expanded Trinity Mirror's regional newspaper portfolio and increased local circulation by approximately half.

• 2010

  Guardian Media Group regional titles acquired

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  Trinity Mirror acquired the M.E.N. Media and S&B Media divisions, including the Manchester Evening News.

• 1999

  Trinity Mirror formed

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  Mirror Group merged with Trinity International Holdings, creating Trinity Mirror.

• 1992

  Scottish & Universal Newspapers acquired

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  Mirror Group expanded its regional newspaper operations through the acquisition of Scottish & Universal Newspapers.

• 1953

  First London Stock Exchange listing

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  The company first listed on the London Stock Exchange on 2 December.

• 1903

  Daily Mirror launched

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  Alfred Harmsworth launched the Daily Mirror, the newspaper at the historical core of Reach's national publishing business.

A large-scale British multi-platform publisher combining mass-market national newspapers, regional journalism, celebrity and lifestyle media, digital advertising and audience-focused online brands.

• National daily newspaper · 1903

  Daily Mirror

  A mass-market British daily newspaper and Reach's principal national news brand. It covers politics, current affairs, sport, entertainment and consumer topics, and operates across print and digital channels.

• National daily newspaper

  Daily Express

  A national British daily newspaper acquired by Trinity Mirror from Northern & Shell in 2018 and subsequently operated within Reach's national publishing portfolio.

• National daily newspaper

  Daily Star

  A national tabloid newspaper covering news, sport, entertainment and popular culture. It joined Reach through the 2018 Northern & Shell acquisition.

• Regional news brand

  Manchester Evening News

  A major regional news brand serving Greater Manchester through print and digital journalism. Reach acquired it in 2010 as part of the Guardian Media Group regional publishing transaction.

• Regional news brand

  Liverpool Echo

  A Liverpool-focused regional newspaper and digital publisher that came into the group through the 1999 merger between Mirror Group and Trinity International Holdings.

• Celebrity and lifestyle magazine

  OK!

  A celebrity and lifestyle magazine brand acquired with Northern & Shell's publishing assets in 2018. The brand also supports digital content and consumer products such as OK! Beauty Box.

• 2023

  Prince Harry unlawful-information-gathering judgment

  The High Court awarded Prince Harry £140,600 in damages after determining that 15 of 33 sample articles in his claim against Mirror Group Newspapers were the product of phone hacking or other unlawful information gathering.

  Source

• 2015

  High Court damages in Mirror Group phone-hacking cases

  The High Court awarded damages totalling nearly £1.25 million to eight people, including Sadie Frost, Paul Gascoigne, Shane Richie, Shobna Gulati and Lucy Benjamin. The company increased the amount allocated to handle phone-hacking claims.

  Source

• 2014

  Phone-hacking admissions and compensation claims

  Trinity Mirror admitted liability for phone hacking by some journalists and agreed to compensate and apologise to claimants. Earlier settlements involved public figures including Sven-Göran Eriksson, Garry Flitcroft and Christopher Eccleston. Further claims followed, leading to continuing litigation and compensation provision.

  Source

Read more

• 2024

  Reach Studio createdStrategy

  Background

  Reach continued to broaden its digital and commercial publishing capabilities.

  Action taken

  It launched a Studio division combining editorial and commercial multimedia content for audiences and advertising partners.

  Aftermath

  The division formed part of Reach's effort to diversify beyond conventional newspaper production.

  Source

• 2023

  United States audience expansionStrategy

  Background

  Reach sought additional digital audiences and commercial opportunities outside its established United Kingdom market.

  Action taken

  The company announced United States operations for the Mirror, Express and Irish Star, building on digital properties including Liverpool.com.

  Aftermath

  The group developed a dedicated United States operation of approximately 70 people for these brands.

  Source

• 2020

  Workforce and cost restructuringStrategy

  Background

  Advertising income and demand for the group's titles weakened, particularly during the COVID-19 period.

  Action taken

  Reach announced 550 job cuts, representing approximately 12 percent of its workforce.

  Aftermath

  The decision reflected the group's continuing shift toward digital publishing and lower-cost operating structures.

  Source

• 2018

  Acquisition of Northern & Shell publishing assetsM&A

  Background

  Trinity Mirror pursued a major expansion of its national newspaper and magazine portfolio.

  Action taken

  The company acquired the publishing assets containing the Daily Express, Sunday Express, Daily Star and OK! brands, then announced its rebranding as Reach plc.

  Aftermath

  The Competition and Markets Authority opened a preliminary investigation and required Express Newspapers to remain a standalone entity during the review.

  Source

• 2015

  Acquisition of Local WorldM&A

  Background

  Trinity Mirror sought to consolidate its regional newspaper network and strengthen its local advertising and publishing footprint.

  Action taken

  The company acquired Local World from Daily Mail and General Trust. The transaction added 115 titles and increased local circulation by approximately 50 percent.

  Aftermath

  The acquisition materially expanded the group's regional portfolio before its later national expansion through the Northern & Shell transaction.

  Transaction value. Approximately £220 million (2015)

  Source

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