Western Morning News
Encyclopedia
The Western Morning News is a politically independent daily regional
newspaper
founded in 1860 and covering Devon
and Cornwall
and parts of Somerset
and Dorset
.
and it has journalists based in offices in Truro
, Penzance
,and Plymouth
. It also has a London editor based in Westminster
. Alan Qualtrough is editor of the Western Morning News, while Philip Bowern is deputy editor, Steve Grant is news editor and Scott Harrison is deputy news editor.
and Edward Spender, father of Sir Wilfrid Spender
, on 3 January 1860. It has been published continuously since 1860, including throughout the 1926 General Strike
and the Plymouth Blitz
. By 1920, however, the Devon newspaper market was getting cramped, with all papers running into financial difficulties. In the same year, Sir Leicester Harmsworth acquired the Western Morning News; from 1 February 1921, the Western Daily Mercury and Western Evening Herald were also taken over, with the papers continuing to be published from the old Mercury offices in Frankfort Street. Shortly before World War II
, new offices were constructed on the same site after the demolition of the previous premises; the modern construction allowed the offices to survive the Blitz and publishing continued there until the move to Derriford.
On 8 February 1997, the Morning News followed most local newspapers in the UK and changed format from broadsheet
to tabloid.
. The paper also prides itself on the supplements it provides, which cover a vast range of topics, including:
It also operates a 24-hour news service through its website http://www.thisiswesternmorningnews.co.uk.
Régional
Régional Compagnie Aérienne Européenne, or Régional for short, is a subsidiary airline wholly owned by Air France which connects hubs at Paris, Lyon, Clermont-Ferrand, and Bordeaux to 49 airports in Europe. The airline operates in Air France livery, retaining its name in small titles and logo on...
newspaper
Newspaper
A newspaper is a scheduled publication containing news of current events, informative articles, diverse features and advertising. It usually is printed on relatively inexpensive, low-grade paper such as newsprint. By 2007, there were 6580 daily newspapers in the world selling 395 million copies a...
founded in 1860 and covering Devon
Devon
Devon is a large county in southwestern England. The county is sometimes referred to as Devonshire, although the term is rarely used inside the county itself as the county has never been officially "shired", it often indicates a traditional or historical context.The county shares borders with...
and Cornwall
Cornwall
Cornwall is a unitary authority and ceremonial county of England, within the United Kingdom. It is bordered to the north and west by the Celtic Sea, to the south by the English Channel, and to the east by the county of Devon, over the River Tamar. Cornwall has a population of , and covers an area of...
and parts of Somerset
Somerset
The ceremonial and non-metropolitan county of Somerset in South West England borders Bristol and Gloucestershire to the north, Wiltshire to the east, Dorset to the south-east, and Devon to the south-west. It is partly bounded to the north and west by the Bristol Channel and the estuary of the...
and Dorset
Dorset
Dorset , is a county in South West England on the English Channel coast. The county town is Dorchester which is situated in the south. The Hampshire towns of Bournemouth and Christchurch joined the county with the reorganisation of local government in 1974...
.
Organisation
The Western Morning News is published by South West Media Group (formerly known as Westcountry Publications), a division of the Northcliffe Newspapers Group. Its main office is based in PlymouthPlymouth
Plymouth is a city and unitary authority area on the coast of Devon, England, about south-west of London. It is built between the mouths of the rivers Plym to the east and Tamar to the west, where they join Plymouth Sound...
and it has journalists based in offices in Truro
Truro
Truro is a city and civil parish in Cornwall, England, United Kingdom. The city is the centre for administration, leisure and retail in Cornwall, with a population recorded in the 2001 census of 17,431. Truro urban statistical area, which includes parts of surrounding parishes, has a 2001 census...
, Penzance
Penzance
Penzance is a town, civil parish, and port in Cornwall, England, in the United Kingdom. It is the most westerly major town in Cornwall and is approximately 75 miles west of Plymouth and 300 miles west-southwest of London...
,and Plymouth
Plymouth
Plymouth is a city and unitary authority area on the coast of Devon, England, about south-west of London. It is built between the mouths of the rivers Plym to the east and Tamar to the west, where they join Plymouth Sound...
. It also has a London editor based in Westminster
Westminster
Westminster is an area of central London, within the City of Westminster, England. It lies on the north bank of the River Thames, southwest of the City of London and southwest of Charing Cross...
. Alan Qualtrough is editor of the Western Morning News, while Philip Bowern is deputy editor, Steve Grant is news editor and Scott Harrison is deputy news editor.
History
The Western Morning News was founded by William SaundersWilliam Saunders (politician)
William Saunders was a British newspaper publisher and Liberal Party politician who sat in the House of Commons between 1885 and 1895....
and Edward Spender, father of Sir Wilfrid Spender
Wilfrid Spender
Sir Wilfrid Bliss Spender, KCB, DSO, MC was an army officer, colonial administrator and civil servant - being responsible for laying the foundations for the civil service of Northern Ireland. He served as Secretary to the Northern Ireland Cabinet, 1921-1925, Permanent Secretary to the Ministry of...
, on 3 January 1860. It has been published continuously since 1860, including throughout the 1926 General Strike
1926 United Kingdom general strike
The 1926 general strike in the United Kingdom was a general strike that lasted nine days, from 4 May 1926 to 13 May 1926. It was called by the general council of the Trades Union Congress in an unsuccessful attempt to force the British government to act to prevent wage reduction and worsening...
and the Plymouth Blitz
Plymouth Blitz
The Plymouth Blitz was a series of bombing raids carried out by the Nazi German Luftwaffe on the English city of Plymouth in the Second World War. The bombings launched on numerous British cities were known as the Blitz....
. By 1920, however, the Devon newspaper market was getting cramped, with all papers running into financial difficulties. In the same year, Sir Leicester Harmsworth acquired the Western Morning News; from 1 February 1921, the Western Daily Mercury and Western Evening Herald were also taken over, with the papers continuing to be published from the old Mercury offices in Frankfort Street. Shortly before World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, new offices were constructed on the same site after the demolition of the previous premises; the modern construction allowed the offices to survive the Blitz and publishing continued there until the move to Derriford.
On 8 February 1997, the Morning News followed most local newspapers in the UK and changed format from broadsheet
Broadsheet
Broadsheet is the largest of the various newspaper formats and is characterized by long vertical pages . The term derives from types of popular prints usually just of a single sheet, sold on the streets and containing various types of material, from ballads to political satire. The first broadsheet...
to tabloid.
Readership and website
The Western Morning News is published six days a week, Monday to Saturday, and it aims to provide readers with all the regional, national and international news they need, with a consistent editorial standpointConservative Party (UK)
The Conservative Party, formally the Conservative and Unionist Party, is a centre-right political party in the United Kingdom that adheres to the philosophies of conservatism and British unionism. It is the largest political party in the UK, and is currently the largest single party in the House...
. The paper also prides itself on the supplements it provides, which cover a vast range of topics, including:
- Western Morning Views (Tuesday)
- Living Cornwall (Tuesday)
- Westcountry Farming (Wednesday)
- WoMaN (Wednesday)
- Westcountry Business (Thursday)
- Westcountry Motoring (Friday)
- Westcountry Horses (Friday)
- Out & About (Friday)
- Westcountry Antiques (Saturday)
- Westcountry Property (Saturday)
- Westcountry Weekend (Saturday)
It also operates a 24-hour news service through its website http://www.thisiswesternmorningnews.co.uk.