Bristol Post: A History of Bristol's Local Journalism
The story of the Bristol Post is a reflection of the shifting landscape of British regional media. From its origins as a community-driven response to corporate consolidation to its evolution into a modern digital-era publication, the paper has served as a primary record of life in Bristol for nearly a century.
The Birth of the Evening Post
The publication was founded in 1932 under the name the Evening Post. Its creation was a direct reaction to a strategic agreement between two powerful national press figures: Lord Rothermere, owner of the Bristol Evening World, and Baron Camrose, owner of the Bristol Times and Echo. To reduce competition, Camrose agreed to close his Bristol title if Rothermere closed his title in Newcastle.
This corporate maneuver left Bristol with only one evening paper, sparking a movement among the readers of the Times and Echo. These citizens were instrumental in establishing the Evening Post, which proudly carried the rubric: "The paper all Bristol asked for and helped to create."
[ไม่มีภาพประกอบ]Consolidation and Growth
For several years, the Evening Post and Evening World engaged in fierce competition. This rivalry ended in 1935 when both titles were acquired by the Bristol United Press (BUP). The ownership of BUP was split, with 60% held by the Bristol Evening Post and 40% by Lord Rothermere's interests.
The BUP continued to expand its footprint in the local market, acquiring the weekly Bristol Observer and the morning publication, the Western Daily Press, in 1960. By 1962, the Evening World ceased publication entirely, leaving the Evening Post as the city's sole evening newspaper with a circulation of 160,000.
Corporate Transitions and Modernization
The late 20th and early 21st centuries saw a series of ownership changes. In 1990, David Sullivan, owner of the Sunday Sport, acquired an interest in the title. By 1998, the Northcliffe Newspaper Group (part of the Daily Mail and General Trust) acquired all independent shares in BUP, bringing the paper under full corporate ownership.
The 2000s brought significant structural changes. In 2006, Northcliffe implemented 36 staff redundancies and attempted to sell the Bristol Evening Post and Western Daily Press. By May 2009, printing operations were moved from Bristol to a central unit in Didcot, Oxfordshire, leading to the demolition of the Temple Way headquarters' press hall in January 2011.
In April 2012, the publication was renamed The Post, acknowledging that it was no longer printed exclusively in the evening. Shortly after, in May 2012, the Saturday edition was discontinued, resulting in 20 job losses. To compensate, an enhanced Friday edition was launched, featuring a magazine called The Weekend.
[ไม่มีภาพประกอบ]Ownership Shifts and Social Accountability
The paper's ownership continued to shift, with Local World acquiring Northcliffe Media in 2012, followed by Trinity Mirror acquiring the Bristol Post in October 2015 as part of a larger takeover of Local World titles.
Beyond business transitions, the paper has faced challenges regarding its relationship with the community. In March 2018, editor Mike Norton issued a front-page apology for a 1996 headline titled "Faces of evil." The original story featured 16 photos of Black men jailed for crack cocaine dealing, which Norton admitted cemented a view that the paper only wrote about Black people in the context of crime. This incident had led to a long-term boycott of the publication by a large portion of the city's Black communities.
Key Facts
- Founded: 1932 by local interests.
- Peak Circulation: 160,000 (circa 1962).
- Major Ownerships: Bristol United Press, Northcliffe Newspaper Group, Local World, and Trinity Mirror.
- Name Change: Renamed from Evening Post to The Post in April 2012.
- Printing Shift: Moved from Bristol to Didcot, Oxfordshire, in 2009.
| Year | Event | Impact |
|---|---|---|
| 1932 | Foundation of Evening Post | Created by readers to maintain local press competition. |
| 1935 | Formation of BUP | Merger of Evening Post and Evening World. |
| 1962 | Evening World closes | Evening Post becomes the sole evening paper. |
| 1998 | Northcliffe acquisition | Paper becomes wholly owned by Daily Mail and General Trust. |
| 2012 | Renamed "The Post" | Reflected change in printing schedule. |
| 2015 | Trinity Mirror acquisition | Integrated into a larger national media group. |
Frequently Asked Questions
Why was the Bristol Evening Post founded?
It was founded in 1932 by local interests and readers after an agreement between Lord Rothermere and Baron Camrose threatened to leave Bristol with only one evening newspaper.
When did the paper change its name to The Post?
The paper was renamed The Post in April 2012 to reflect the fact that it had not been printed as an evening publication for some time.
Where is the paper printed now?
Since May 2009, the paper has been printed at Northcliffe's central printing unit in Didcot, Oxfordshire, rather than in Bristol.
Who currently owns the Bristol Post?
The Bristol Post was acquired by Trinity Mirror in October 2015 as part of its takeover of Local World titles.
What was the significance of the 2018 apology?
Editor Mike Norton apologized for a 1996 front page titled "Faces of evil," which featured photos of Black men. The apology aimed to address the historical disconnect and distrust between the paper and Bristol's Black communities.