Newsquest Media Group

Overview

Newsquest Media Group Limited is a regional and local newspaper publisher headquartered in London, England. It is the largest publisher of regional and local newspapers in the UK by title count, operating more than 200 news brands online and in print, alongside a digital marketing business and specialist trade publications. Newsquest is a wholly owned subsidiary of USA TODAY Co., Inc., the American media company formerly known as Gannett Co., Inc.

Portfolio

• More than 200 local and regional news brands across England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland, including The Herald and The National in Scotland, the Northern Echo, The Argus (Brighton), and the Glasgow Times.

• Newsquest Specialist Media, publishing business-to-business titles such as Insurance Times and The Strad.

• s1jobs and s1homes, digital classifieds businesses operating in Scotland.

• Exchange & Mart, a classified advertising publication and website.

• LOCALiQ, a digital marketing agency for small and medium-sized businesses, operated jointly with parent company USA TODAY Co.

Ownership

Newsquest is a wholly owned subsidiary of USA TODAY Co., Inc., a publicly traded American media company (NYSE: TDAY). USA TODAY Co. was known as Gannett Co., Inc. until it changed its corporate name effective November 18, 2025. Gannett first acquired Newsquest plc in 1999. USA TODAY Co.'s 2025 annual report identifies Newsquest and the USA TODAY Network as its two primary media segments.

History

Newsquest was formed in 1995 through a £210 million management buyout of Reed Regional Newspapers, a 125-to-129-title regional newspaper division that RELX plc (then Reed Elsevier) was divesting. The buyout, led by Reed Regional chief executive Jim Brown and finance director John Pfail, was financed by the American private equity firm Kohlberg Kravis Roberts (KKR), which took an 88 percent stake against management's 12 percent. In 1996, the enlarged company, backed by KKR and Cinven, acquired the 65-title Westminster Press newspaper division from Pearson plc for £305 million. Newsquest listed on the London Stock Exchange in October 1997.

In June 1999, Gannett Co., Inc. announced an agreed offer to acquire Newsquest plc for approximately £922 million (US $1.5 billion), paying 460 pence in cash per share; the deal completed later that year, and Newsquest became a wholly owned Gannett subsidiary. Henry Faure Walker was appointed chief executive of Newsquest in April 2014. In November 2014, Newsquest launched The National, a Scottish daily newspaper. In 2018, Newsquest acquired CN Group (Cumbrian Newspapers). In 2025, Newsquest reported growth in digital subscriptions to 159,000 despite a decline in overall revenue. Gannett Co., Inc., Newsquest's parent, changed its corporate name to USA TODAY Co., Inc., effective November 18, 2025.

Leadership

• Henry Faure Walker has served as chief executive officer of Newsquest Media Group since April 2014. He previously served as digital director of Johnston Press plc and general manager of The Scotsman Publications Ltd. He is also chair of the News Media Association, a UK trade body.

• Mike Reed is chief executive officer and chairman of parent company USA TODAY Co., Inc.

Location and contact info

Headquarters
144 Theobalds Road
London WC2A 3LJ
England, United Kingdom

Website. https://www.newsquest.co.uk