Belfast Telegraph publisher reaches 100,000 digital subscribers: ‘Mediahuis firmly believes in the future of journalism'
The Belfast Telegraph website began placing its journalism behind a paywall in May 2020 as part of a new digital strategy.
Over the past five years, the digital offering has grown with the development of audio and video departments as well as a renewed focus on local news.
Along with subscribers, Mediahuis – which also published the Irish Independent - reaches over one million readers across the island of Ireland every week through a mix of print products, podcasts and free digital news.
From politics to business, crime to sport, our journalists are among the most-respected in the business
The 100,000 subscribers figure was announced by Mediahuis Ireland CEO Peter Vandermeersch at a meeting of staff.
'I am extremely happy and proud of this achievement,' he said. 'It shows that our journalism, be it in the Belfast Telegraph or the Irish Independent, is being valued by readers all over the island of Ireland.
'In a world where fake news is omnipresent, it is crucial to be a trusted source. Mediahuis firmly believes in further building the future of journalism in Ireland.'
The paywall was launched just before the Covid-19 pandemic, which forced the Belfast Telegraph's journalists to work remotely for two years.
Editor-in-chief, Belfast Telegraph and Sunday Life, Eoin Brannigan said: 'In the five years since we started asking people to pay for online news, we have lived through a pandemic, historic elections, disorder on the streets, but also experienced unbridled joy such as 2024's precedented Olympic glory - and even an Oscar for a film called Belfast.
'From politics to business, crime to sport, our journalists are among the most-respected in the business, working to ensure our readers get the story behind the story.
'It is down to their hard work online, in print, behind the cameras and microphones, that people come back for reliable and relatable content. Our subscribers are now giving us their trust and their financial support, which is a huge vote of confidence and encourages us to do even more.'
In recent times, the Belfast Telegraph has launched a number of new journalistic projects, including the award-winning podcast, The BelTel, and more recently a dedicated BelTel Football podcast. The Belfast Telegraph and Sunday Life website has also recently been crowned News Website of the Year for the third successive year at the 2025 UK Regional Press Awards.
There has also been significant investment in hiring specialist journalists, most recently adding a dedicated court journalist to enhance our coverage of the Northern Irish justice system.
The Belfast Telegraph offers two digital subscription tiers: Premium, which gives full access to online articles and app content, and Premium+, which includes digital replicas of the print editions, complete with offline reading, archives, and puzzles.
Sheena Peirse, chief customer officer, said: 'With 100,000 paying digital subscribers and a weekly readership that spans more than a million across print and digital, Mediahuis Ireland's news brands are not only trusted, they are essential. Our titles lead the way in reach and relevance, reflecting the enduring value of independent Irish journalism.'
Alongside the Belfast Telegraph, Mediahuis also publishes the Irish Independent, the Sunday Independent, Sunday World, The Herald and several regional titles, including The Kerryman, Wexford People, Wicklow People, Drogheda Independent and Sligo Champion.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Wales Online
an hour ago
- Wales Online
There were supposed to be 800 homes, shops and a school off this M4 junction but there's nothing
There were supposed to be 800 homes, shops and a school off this M4 junction but there's nothing An outline planning application was submitted for the village of Pentre Felindre in 2018 - there's still nothing there The Parc Felindre site It was meant to be the ideal location - right next to the M4 with superb links east and west. Eight hundred homes were expected to be built there. But, seven years on, it's still just an empty space, albeit with its own junction off the motorway. Plans for what had been dubbed Pentre Felindre sit firmly on the drawing board with no confirmed date when anything might happen. The site, next to a business park north of the M4 near Felindre and Tircoed, was identified as one of several "strategic development areas" for growth in Swansea Council's local development plan (LDP). Never miss a Swansea story by signing up to our newsletter here The LDP, which took years to develop before being approved by the Welsh Government and adopted in February, 2019, included the Welsh Government's outline planning application for Pentre Felindre submitted in the summer of 2018. Along with 800 homes, the proposed village was set to feature a primary school, two shops, a village hall, recreational spaces, and road improvements. Additionally, 20% of the housing units were intended to be affordable. The grand plan for Pentre Felindre was to create a "vibrant and sustainable new village with a strong sense of community, where people would choose to live, work and spend their leisure time, and which would complement the plans for the adjoining strategic employment site". Article continues below The original timeline envisaged that the massive development of 800 homes would commence around 2020-21, with completion by 2028-29. However, Parc Felindre, the neighbouring employment area, has fallen short of expectations in drawing businesses despite significant marketing efforts, apart from the relocation of delivery firm DPD to the site. Issues like areas prone to flooding, a high-pressure water main, electricity pylons and proximity to noise from the M4 were noted by planning experts, yet these types of challenges are not unheard of in the process of developing housing projects on previously untouched land. The site of Felindre's former tinplate works, north of the M4, pictured in 2014 (Image: Copyright unknown ) The disruptions caused by the Covid pandemic in 2020 and 2021 put a pause on numerous developments, including this one. In December, 2021, the Welsh Government revealed that it was actively working alongside the council to hash out a masterplan for Pentre Felindre, while also commissioning fresh reports to reassess the impediments pertaining to the site. Pentre Felindre could see enhanced transport links with the M4, and there remains a possibility for local inhabitants to access a proposed railway station on the Swansea District Line at Felindre. This prospective development was put forward in 2019 by the then Secretary of State for Wales, Alun Cairns. At that time, Swansea Council leader Rob Stewart expressed conditional support for the £20 million station scheme, insisting it must not affect High Street station's service frequency in Swansea and should come as part of extensive transport improvements throughout the vicinity. Enthusiasm is building in favour of a new train station in Felindre, along with additional proposed stations north of the county on the cargo-conveying Swansea District Line. In 2023 a Transport for Wales representative informed councillors that launching new stations on this line represented the "top unfunded" rail initiative in Wales from his perspective. This ambition is integrated into a broader vision known as the Swansea Bay and West Wales Metro, which would rely heavily on central Government financial backing. The Local Democracy Reporting Service sought an update from the Welsh Government concerning Pentre Felindre. A Welsh Government spokesman said: "Swansea Council consulted on their replacement LDP Preferred Strategy which closed 18 April this year. As part of that process this site was submitted as a candidate. "It will now be for the council to determine whether the site is/is not allocated in the Deposit LDP later this year/early 2026, setting out clear reasons to support a decision either way. We asked if there was something about this site in Felindre which was proving problematic, for example pylons/sustainable transport links? The spokesman added: "Work assessing the site's development constraints and opportunities has now completed. Taking these assessments into consideration, together with our Joint Venture partners Swansea Council, we are currently considering potential delivery models for the site, and hope to be able to make a decision on its future shortly. Article continues below We also questioned would this new development in Felindre be more viable if there was a train station on the Swansea District Line at Felindre? The spokesman said: "The availability of good public transport, including a potential Metro station, all improve the site's connectivity by different modes of transport."
South Wales Argus
5 hours ago
- South Wales Argus
Newport shoppers suggest stores to replace Debenhams unit
This comes after the Argus had recently revealed the new 'disappointing' Home Store, which opened in May and is currently in place is only a temporary solution. The Debenhams unit, which became been after the national department store chain's collapse four years ago, was used as a vaccination centre during Covid. In April, the unit showed no signs of life, but last month, it was announced the Home Store would be taking over the space in Friars Walk, Newport. A spokesperson for Friars Walk said: "Home Store opened its doors in May as a temporary let whilst we continue to look for a more permanent tenant to fill the space; in the meantime, the doors are open, the lights are on, and it's an additional offer for customers in the city." Despite this, some shoppers say they are left unsatisfied and have shared their thoughts on what they would like to see as a more permanent replacement. Amy-Lee Jackson expressed her desire for an IKEA to take over the space, while John Phillips said: "Marks and Spencer's would be good! Better than the one in Spytty." Xannia Jade Williams said: "TK Maxx, huge Primark? Could even have a few little shops in there." Carol da Rosa suggested a ground floor general market like before, with individual shops upstairs. Marie Mar Mite Harris also suggested a Primark, TK Maxx, or a proper market downstairs with shops upstairs. Others suggested using the space for entertainment or leisure. Yana Blake-Walker said: "Please open a roller rink." Rebecca Lucy Smith was in favour of an ice skating rink. Jon Thomson Pierce would like to see an H&M, while Tina Champion said: "IKEA." Ben Chick suggested a big M&S, with a food hall on the bottom floor next to the bus station. Margaret Richards said: "Some nice clothes shops would be nice, but not Primark." Clare Gray said Dunelm, The Range, or Matalan would be perfect in that unit, as there's already cafe space and toilets in there. Christopher Thomas suggested a budget-friendly store like Home Bargains, B&M, or Primark would work well. Rachel Sutton was in favour of a "little IKEA" as she said it would be within most people's budget for kitchen and bathroom essentials. She said: "The problem is they bring the expensive shops that don't last due to the demographic area, and then we have loads of empty shops. "Look at the high street and see what shops have lasted such as Primark." Matthew Moyle suggested a John Lewis, and Geraint Leach said they should "multi-use the building". He said: "It's a shame you couldn't multi-use the building's top floor to be an indoor market, middle floor be something like Costco. "I would say as it's such a big space that they would be better off trying to sell it to business as two units." The city council does not control who lets spaces in commercial units but it has made helping the owners to find tenants for big sites including Debenhams and Cineworld in Friars Walk a priority in its draft placemaking plan. These suggestions from readers on the Argus Facebook page reflect a desire for a more permanent occupier that will bring people into the city centre.
The Courier
6 hours ago
- The Courier
Fife marketing guru who worked with Nike now helps local firms take on ‘big boys'
In a career spanning almost 40 years in advertising, Fifer Guy Hayward worked with some of the world's top brands, including Nike, Adidas and Haagen-Dazs. But now the St Monans resident wants to help smaller businesses in the area who want to 'take on the big boys'. Guy, 61, started Local Heroes, a marketing consultancy firm, in 2023. He has since used his marketing expertise to help Fife businesses Vivimus Water and the Centre of Golf Excellence St Andrews. Guy spent decades working in the upper echelons of global marketing, working with several top firms, including being the UK CEO of J. Walter Thompson in London. But during the Covid years he realised his passion for corporate marketing was waning. 'I found myself falling out of love with the big corporate structure and falling in love with the ecosystem of independent businesses,' he explained. 'They have real values, and they care about their communities. It is not just about making money. 'With access to digital platforms, they're now competing directly with big brands, but without the resources.' Guy started his company in 2023 as a side hustle, while also working on a short-term job in London. He realised that to make an actual difference he would need to shift his focus. For the last year he has given Local Heroes his full attention and has worked with four companies. Guy follows a strict criterion for what makes a 'local hero'. He explained: 'It is founder owned, it is committed to the local community, it wants to do things better and it wants to take on the big boys. 'My first client was the Centre of Golf Excellence St Andrews, which I helped rebrand. 'Since then, I have worked with a private jet broker in Scotland and a bungee jump company from New Zealand. 'My current client is a mineral water firm from St Monans called Vivimus Water who are currently launching a new product. 'The marketing strategy for SMEs is similar to corporates, you just have to shorten the process and keep things simple. 'Generally I have found that my clients have the answers inside them and it's my job to help them articulate the ideas.' Guy's long-term goal is to grow Local Heroes into a multi-site operation. He envisions a small team based in St Monans, with satellite partners across the UK and beyond. He's also developing what he calls the 'Local Heroes Ignition Fund', a micro-finance initiative to help small businesses afford their first serious marketing campaigns. He said: 'Most banks won't lend you money for marketing. But without that initial investment, many great businesses struggle to grow. 'Even a £10k investment in marketing can make a huge difference for a company.' After years working with global brands, Guy says the biggest difference now is the emotional reward. He admits the decision to pivot from CEO to local consultant surprised some of his friends. 'Some people ask why I don't just get another big job. Others tell me I look so happy and I really am. 'I'm far more invested in these companies. These are people with missions. 'They want to do something meaningful, not just boost profits.'
