The Arran Banner
Encyclopedia
'The Arran Banner' is a local newspaper on the Isle of Arran
. It has been published weekly since being established in 1974.
For many years it was under the ownership and editorship of John Miller, an island resident. The paper attracted subscribers from around the world for its often unique and witty writing style. The newspaper is renowned for often controversial and heated discussion in its letter pages. Recently this has included debates on climate change, the state of Arran's roads and the proposed new ferry service to the island.
The newspaper is also famous for a very high readership among the local population. In 1984 it received a Guinness World Record recognising this fact. The entry reads: "The Arran Banner, founded in 1974, has a readership of more than 97 per cent in Britain’s seventh largest off-shore island".
group, who continue to publish the newspaper today. Soon after its sale, the newspaper converted to a tabloid, colour format, from the previous A4 format. It is also now printed off the island, being printed on Thursday afternoons before arriving on the island each Friday morning. Former editor John Miller continued to write weekly Banner leader columns until 2008.
The current staff members include reporter Howard Driver, who has been with The Arran Banner for more than 25 years, and reporter Jennifer Lyon who was appointed in May 2007.
As well as continuing to produce the weekly edition of the newspaper the company are also responsible for a small lifestyle magazine called Arran Life and the annual Holiday Arran magazine.
Isle of Arran
Arran or the Isle of Arran is the largest island in the Firth of Clyde, Scotland, and with an area of is the seventh largest Scottish island. It is in the unitary council area of North Ayrshire and the 2001 census had a resident population of 5,058...
. It has been published weekly since being established in 1974.
For many years it was under the ownership and editorship of John Miller, an island resident. The paper attracted subscribers from around the world for its often unique and witty writing style. The newspaper is renowned for often controversial and heated discussion in its letter pages. Recently this has included debates on climate change, the state of Arran's roads and the proposed new ferry service to the island.
The newspaper is also famous for a very high readership among the local population. In 1984 it received a Guinness World Record recognising this fact. The entry reads: "The Arran Banner, founded in 1974, has a readership of more than 97 per cent in Britain’s seventh largest off-shore island".
Sale to the Oban Times group
In 2003, the Arran Banner was purchased by the Oban TimesOban Times
The Oban Times is a local newspaper, based/published in Oban, Argyll and Bute and covering the West Highlands and Islands of Scotland and reporting on issues from the Mull of Kintyre to Kyle of Lochalsh on the mainland, to the Inner and Outer Hebridean Islands with Argyll, and Lochaber as its...
group, who continue to publish the newspaper today. Soon after its sale, the newspaper converted to a tabloid, colour format, from the previous A4 format. It is also now printed off the island, being printed on Thursday afternoons before arriving on the island each Friday morning. Former editor John Miller continued to write weekly Banner leader columns until 2008.
The current staff members include reporter Howard Driver, who has been with The Arran Banner for more than 25 years, and reporter Jennifer Lyon who was appointed in May 2007.
As well as continuing to produce the weekly edition of the newspaper the company are also responsible for a small lifestyle magazine called Arran Life and the annual Holiday Arran magazine.