History The Irish Times

1 history

1.1 origins
1.2 arnotts
1.3 irish times trust
1.4 recent history

1.4.1 diversification

history
origins

the first appearance of newspaper using name irish times occurred in 1823, closed in 1825. title revived thrice-weekly publication major lawrence e. knox, first edition being published on 29 march 1859. founded moderate protestant nationalist newspaper, reflecting politics of knox, stood unsuccessfully parliamentary candidate isaac butt s home rule league. headquarters @ 4 lower abbey street in dublin. main competitor in days dublin daily express.

the arnotts

after knox s death in 1873, paper sold widow of sir john arnott, mp, former lord mayor of cork , owner of arnotts, 1 of dublin s major department stores. sale, £35,000, led 2 major changes. headquarters shifted 31 westmoreland street, remaining in buildings on or near site until 2005. politics shifted dramatically, becoming predominantly protestant , unionist, , closely associated irish unionist alliance. paper, along irish independent , various regional papers, called execution of leaders of failed 1916 easter rising.

though paper became publicly listed company in 1900, family continued hold majority shareholding until 1960s (even after family lost control, great-grandson of original purchaser paper s london editor). last member of arnott family sit on paper s board sir lauriston arnott, died in 1958.

the editor during 1930s, r. m. smyllie, had strong anti-fascist views: angered irish catholic hierarchy opposing general franco during spanish civil war. later, irish times, other national newspapers, had problems irish government censorship during world war ii. times largely pro-allied , opposed Éamon de valera government s policy of neutrality.

the irish times trust

in 1974, ownership transferred non-charitable trust, irish times trust. former owner, major thomas mcdowell, made president life of trust runs paper , paid large dividend. several years later articles of trust adjusted, giving major mcdowell 10 preference shares , 1 more vote combined votes of other directors should move made remove him. major mcdowell died in 2009. trust set in 1974 company limited guarantee purchase irish times limited , ensure irish times published independent newspaper specific editorial objectives. (see below).

the trust regulated legal document, memorandum , articles of association, , controlled body of people (the governors) under company law. not charity , not have charitable status. has no beneficial shareholders , cannot pay dividends. profits made irish times cannot distributed trust must used strengthen newspaper, directly or indirectly.

the trust composed of maximum of 11 governors. trust appoints governors required representative broadly of community throughout whole of ireland .

as of june 2012, ruth barrington chair of trust, , governors tom arnold, david begg, noel dorr, margaret elliott, rosemary kelly, eoin o driscoll, fergus o ferrall, judith woodworth, barry smyth, , caitriona murphy.

recent history

in 1969, longest-serving editor of irish times, douglas gageby, allegedly called white nigger company chairman (a former british army officer), because of newspaper s coverage of northern ireland @ outset of troubles, upsetting british government.

the paper established first bureau in asia when foreign correspondent conor o clery moved beijing in 1996.

the paper suffered considerable financial difficulty in 2002 when drop in advertising revenue coincided decision company invest reserves in building of new printing plant. none of journalists laid off, many took voluntary redundancy package when paper restructured. foreign bureaux closed , stopped publishing colour pages devoted local irish regions, regional coverage merged news. paper s problems stemmed partly internal strife led major mcdowells s daughter, karen erwin, not being made chief executive. reorganisation had desired effect; after posting losses of €3 million in 2002, paper returned profit in 2003.

john waters, columnist speak out perceived vast salaries of editor, managing director , deputy editor, sacked , re-hired week later, in november 2003. former editor geraldine kennedy paid more editor of uk s top non-tabloid newspaper daily telegraph, has circulation of 9 times of irish times. later, columnist fintan o toole told sunday independent: paper not shy of preaching corporate pay , fat cats there sense of excess. of sums mentioned disturbing. not attack on ms. kennedy, attack on executive level of pay. there double-standard of seeking more job cuts while paying these vast salaries.

in january 2005, paper due run front-page story on provisional ira s denial of involvement in northern bank robbery, 1 of europe s largest ever, , column kevin myers, said provisional ira responsible. myers asked clarification of decision editor, , later left paper.

the following may, paper launched new international edition, available in london , southeast england @ same time other daily newspapers (previously, copies of irish edition flown dublin major cities in britain on passenger flights, arriving around lunchtime). printed @ newsfax plant in hackney, , uses financial times distribution network.

the central bank of ireland fined irish times in 2008 after admitted breaking market abuse rules.

in 2009, supreme court ordered paper pay €600,000 in costs despite winning case importance of protecting journalistic sources, , called destruction of evidence reprehensible conduct .

the newspaper has been criticized perceived support of british army. article in phoenix magazine examined article in irish times published in august 2010 on irish nationals serving in british army. according phoenix, article romanticized war in afghanistan , little more recruitment advertisement british army. magazine accused editor geraldine kennedy , irish times board of violating defense act prohibits kind of advertising recruitment foreign army , article 15.6.1 of constitution of ireland states right raise , maintain military or armed forces vested exclusively in oireachtas .

on 9 september 2011, paper published pseudonymous article kate fitzgerald. unknown paper, had committed suicide previous august 22. revelation sparked nationwide debate on suicide parents appearing on television discuss suicide , depression. article criticised reaction illness employer, communications clinic, although after identified author employer became known. article later removed paper s website, causing controversy online. editor later told parents sections of article factually incorrect, not ones. kate s parents complained office of press ombudsman apology made communications clinic, complaint upheld.

diversification

the company has diversified original irish times title source of revenue. irish times limited has taken majority share €5m in gazette group newspapers, group publishing 3 local newspapers in west dublin, , has acquired property website, myhome.ie, second-largest property internet website in ireland, €50m, seen insurance against loss of revenue traditional classified property advertising. in june 2009, journalists called on board , trust review flawed investment , diversification strategy of company , passed motion saying ongoing investment in loss-making projects poses serious threat employment @ newspaper. 4 months later, company announced loss of €37 million , 90 staff made redundant. director, maeve donovan, instigated investment , diversification strategy, subsequently retired. dismissed suggestions receive significant golden handshake , saying package nothing out of ordinary @ . given €1m ex-gratia payment newspaper relating commutation of pension rights agreed .

the managing director said in 2009 mobile phone applications key investment newspapers , irish times has application iphone , android smartphones.

in june 2010, gazette group newspapers managing director claimed company s affairs being conducted oppressively majority shareholder, irish times.