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Independent free newspaper bought by Johnston Press

A weekly free newspaper founded four years ago has been bought by regional publishing giant Johnston Press.

JP has concluded a deal to buy the Brighton & Hove Independent, which claims a weekly print circulation of 13,005 copies.

Johnston Press South MD Karl Dimmock will assume responsibility for the business, with the region’s group editor Gary Shipton overseeing editorial.

There are no planned changes to staffing on the Independent, which is now added to a stable of 32 other JP-owned titles in the region.

The front page of Friday's Brighton & Hove Independent

The front page of Friday’s Brighton & Hove Independent

In a story announcing the purchase, Ashley Highfield, JP chief executive, said: “The Brighton & Hove Independent perfectly complements our portfolio on the south coast. It’s a great title with a superb reputation with both readers and advertisers.

“We are very pleased to welcome this well-respected newspaper and website to our stable as we further our efforts to expand our reach in the area.

“It’s a small but terrific team – who produce an excellent newspaper and website – and we’re very happy to have them on board.”

Mark Ansell, founder and managing director of Brighton & Hove Independent, added: “It’s a landmark day for us. We started Brighton & Hove Independent with an ambition to change the media landscape, to do things differently.

“More than ever before, we will be able to serve our city and its residents; there are many voices we have not yet heard, many stones left unturned.

“Being part of Johnston Press will allow Brighton & Hove Independent to fast-track growth, to provide even more comprehensive coverage for the city, and to go from strength to strength.”

The Independent’s main competitor in the Brighton newspaper market is Newsquest-owned daily The Argus.

There is also the web-only Brighton and Hove News, run by former Argus deputy editor Frank LeDuc, while Worthing Journal editor Paul Holden has also spoken of plans to launch a sister paper in the city.

23 comments

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  • July 6, 2015 at 11:15 am
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    “There are no planned changes to staffing.” What? If anyone believes that… well, words fail me.

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  • July 6, 2015 at 11:43 am
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    “Being part of Johnston Press will allow Brighton & Hove Independent to fast-track growth, to provide even more comprehensive coverage for the city, and to go from strength to strength.”

    HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA.

    No, seriously.

    HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

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  • July 6, 2015 at 12:35 pm
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    I can’t understand why Mark sold it to JP. He’d have been better off selling it to a newspaper publishing group.

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  • July 6, 2015 at 1:11 pm
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    Complementary? JP & the other big groups only buy indies to shut down the competition If it’s still around in 12 months, I’ll be surprised. Mark Ansell, you have sold out, betraying your town & your staff.

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  • July 6, 2015 at 1:58 pm
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    And, as predicted, there they are – removed from under the stones of their fulfilled lives, the pariah’s come out to graze on anything JP related. It’s a short life haters, live it.

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  • July 6, 2015 at 4:03 pm
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    It strikes me ‘Bob’ that you only come out to ‘graze’ to have a pop at people who are commenting here: the subject seems secondary. The comments sound fair to me, unlike yours. How long before the Independent has to follow the JP template, I wonder? It won’t be doing anything differently then.

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  • July 6, 2015 at 4:46 pm
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    There’s a certain amount of irony in the newspaper’s headline, given the mess JP is in financially. Shedding experienced staff like there’s no tomorrow, it can manage to find cash to snap up a local newspaper – only, as JP Cost Cut Victim correctly states, to turn it into a clone of all the others it owns. What a shame.

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  • July 6, 2015 at 4:47 pm
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    I worked for a JP title that was “well respected.” But then JP ruined it. Glad I took voluntary early retirement when I did.

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  • July 6, 2015 at 5:17 pm
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    Good scrap between JP and Newsquest in the small seaside town masquerading as a city.JP titles in Sussex where they have no competition have declined alarmingly but they will have to be on their game in Brighton. One to watch .

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  • July 6, 2015 at 6:51 pm
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    Surely this is a declaration of war with Newsquest by JP. Will be fascinating to see how Newsquest responds.

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  • July 6, 2015 at 9:59 pm
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    I wish them luck. JPs record with weeklies is not encouraging for staffing and quality and I hope this one does not end up being written 20 miles outside Brighton at the local hen coop for weekly hacks after office closure programme.

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  • July 6, 2015 at 10:04 pm
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    Surely it’s The Brighton and Hove Not Independent Anymore

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  • July 7, 2015 at 6:30 am
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    Another sad case of If you can’t beat the opposition buy it
    Newspaper groups aren’t interested in the development and growth of small successful independents when they buy them,they find it cheaper to purchase,own and leave to tread water or ultimately ‘absorb’ onto one of their other titles or ultimately close than to fight against them. Another title soon to be consigned to just a memory.
    And yes shame on the owner for selling his staff down the river for a quick buck .

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  • July 7, 2015 at 7:28 am
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    JP claims “nothing will change” but it might be wise to make one at least – change the title from Independent. It will not be that from now on. But I suggest only bother warning the loyal readers online!

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  • July 7, 2015 at 9:55 am
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    ‘A good scrap brewing, it will be good to see how Newsquest responds’.

    Probably by sacking the tea lady and 75% of its front counter staff. If modern newspaper executives were stood over one of those big battle maps from the Battle of Britain, they’d just push all those little wooden Spitfires into the bin.

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  • July 7, 2015 at 1:28 pm
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    All the makings of a match between two punch-drunk boxers in seaside boxing booth who have taken too many hits on the head and hit below the belt in desperation. Round one I suspect.

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  • July 7, 2015 at 2:50 pm
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    Or maybe this is the opposite of a scrap.

    Would you mind awfully taking this newspaper out for us old boy? Return the favour when you need it.

    Was it not Ashley who talked about who newspaper’s real competitors were only a few weeks ago at the SOE conference. I can’t see JP wanting a big fight with Newsquest backed by Gannett’s millions.

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  • July 7, 2015 at 4:51 pm
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    Good point Fred D.
    Watch for JP pulling out of Newsquest areas elsewhere. If they do it is a deal.
    Whatever, Brighton deserves a good class local and would support one.

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  • July 9, 2015 at 1:30 pm
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    If JP says it will make no changes to staffing it must mean it was already ridiculously understaffed.

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