According to a statement released by the journalists' union on its website, the Athlone Voice, Longford News and Roscommon Champion could be closed with immediate effect
This article was migrated from an old version of our website in 2025. As a result, it might have some low-quality images or non-functioning links - if there's any issues you'd like to see fixed, get in touch with us at info@journalism.co.uk.
The National Union of Journalists has spoken out against the reported closure of three newspapers within the Northern Ireland Alpha Newspaper Group , which they accuse of acting with "indecent haste".
According to a statement released by the journalists' union on its website , the newspaper group, which is owned by former Ulster Unionist MP John Taylor, now Lord Kilclooney, informed staff yesterday that three titles; the Athlone Voice, the Longford News and the Roscommon Champion are to be be closed with immediate effect.
The NUJ says it understands this could mean up to 40 jobs will be lost, but Irish Secretary Seamus Dooley says it is not too late to save the papers.
"The Athlone Voice is a new title in a difficult market," he says in the NUJ statement. "The Roscommon Champion and the Longford News are long established titles and form an important part of the landscape of the Midlands. The closure of the newspapers represents a blow to media diversity as well as a significant blow to the economy of the Midlands.
"Alpha Newspapers entered the market in the South fully aware of the tough competition in the region. They failed to invest in editorial resources and made massive demands on staff, whose loyalty has certainly not been rewarded. Mr Taylor called meetings today, which were deliberately timed so that the newspapers could not carry news of their own demise. It is not too late to save the newspapers and we would urge Lord Kilclooney and his board to take a step back, even at this stage. We would also urge local politicians to use their influence with Lord Kilclooney at this crucial time."
Journalism.co.uk tried contacting managing director Jonathan Taylor, son of owner John Taylor, after being informed he was the only person who could comment on these reports, but was told he is unavailable.
The NUJ says he has also failed to return calls from the union's Irish organiser Nicola Coleman.
"We are anxious to meet Mr Taylor to discuss redundancy terms," she said in the NUJ statement. "We also believe that it would be easier to sell the titles as a going concern and feel the decision to simply cease publication is extremely short-sighted."
The union says its Irish organiser will meet with union members in Longford today before a planned meeting between staff and Alpha Newspaper Group managing director Jonathan Taylor tomorrow.
The union also said that Taylor has "refused" requests to meet with representatives to discuss the closure of the three titles.
Following an interview with owner John Taylor on Morning Ireland today, Irish Secretary Seamus Dooley said that the views of staff communicated by Taylor were misrepresented.
"Lord Kilclooney's analysis is simplistic," he said in a statement released to Journalism.co.uk. "There can be no doubt that the recession has had a major impact on regional media. However, the major casualties have been new arrivals on the regional landscape. To compare the Roscommon Champion and the Longford News, both established titles, with relatively editorial short-lived initiatives, is a distortion of the situation.
"With editorial investment at least two of the three titles have a future and it is extremely regrettable that the company decided to take the papers off the streets. It would be far easier to find a buyer and to maintain the loyalty of advertisers and readers if the papers remain in circulation pending acquisition by a new owner or owners."
