First published in 1891, the year of the first telephone call between London and Paris, The Irish News is cementing its position as the strongest regional newspaper in Ireland and the UK through its digital transformation and subscription success in recent years
One of the winners at the Future of Media Awards, hosted by the Press Gazette in London on 10 September, was The Irish News—founded in 1891 in Belfast, the heart of the region of Ireland that remains under British sovereignty. Having launched Northern Ireland’s first news website back in 1995, the paper was honoured in the Reader Revenue Strategy category.
The award further cemented the newspaper’s position as the strongest regional newspaper in the United Kingdom (England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland) and the Republic of Ireland. Other winners included major media organisations with substantial financial resources, such as The Guardian, the BBC, The Economist and The Times, as well as local newspapers including the Belfast Telegraph and The Bristol Cable.
The Irish News often finds itself at odds with the predominantly Protestant unionist community by advocating for a united and independent Ireland achieved via referenda alongside the Dublin-led republic to the south.At the same time, the newspaper is known for its strong criticism of the armed struggle waged by the predominantly Catholic militants of the Irish Republican Army (IRA), and for being one of the leading advocates of the 1998 Good Friday Agreement.
Editor-in-Chief Chris Sherrard—who took over the reins roughly three years ago from Noel Doran, a senior manager of the paper for 30 years—discusses how he and his team of around 130 colleagues manage to walk the tightrope between traditional journalism and digital publishing.
Can you give some brief information about your reader and revenue growth rates that have made The Irish News win the award?
Between June 2025 and the end of May 2026, our digital subscribers increased by 32%, while digital subscription revenue grew by 24.3% year on year. Our combined average daily print circulation and paid digital subscriptions also reached 19,962 in the first half of 2026, up around 4% year on year.
These results reflect a clear strategy: understanding our readers, investing in distinctive journalism and making the value of a subscription more apparent. The award recognises a business that is not simply adapting to digital change, but actively using it to build a stronger future.
The Irish News has been behind a paywall since 2011. What were and are the ups and downs in driving growth and developing relations with readers since then, particularly in the last three years?
The fundamental challenge has always been to give readers a compelling reason to pay when so much news is available free, particularly in a news environment in which the BBC exists. Our answer is distinctive journalism, strong local knowledge and a relationship built on trust.
Over the past three years, we have become more focused on the entire subscriber journey: attracting readers, converting them into paying customers and giving them reasons to stay. That requires better audience understanding, a smoother subscription experience and a constant focus on value.
A paywall alone does not create loyalty. We have to keep demonstrating why our journalism matters, day after day. The real measure of success is not how many people subscribe once, but how many continue to believe we are worth paying for.
Have there been any practical changes inside the newsroom recently in accordance with your digital strategy?
The biggest change is that digital is no longer an add-on to the newspaper; it is central to how we plan and deliver journalism.
Editorial planning, audience development and subscription marketing are working much more closely together. We consider how stories can reach readers across platforms from the outset, while using audience data to understand what attracts people and keeps them engaged.
That does not mean allowing clicks to dictate our coverage. It means combining editorial judgement with a better understanding of our audience. We want digital thinking to strengthen our journalism, not dictate it.
Has there been a change in the segmentation of your readers in terms of age group, location, income level and so on?
We are moving beyond simply counting readers towards understanding who they are and what brings them to us.
Our audience includes people across Northern Ireland, as well as those living elsewhere who want to maintain a connection with home. Their interests range from politics and community affairs to sport and specialist reporting, and their reasons for subscribing can differ considerably.
Audience and subscription data are helping us understand these differences and respond more effectively. We should avoid making assumptions based on age or income alone; behaviour and interests can be more revealing.
Better audience insight allows us to move away from a one-size-fits-all approach and build a more relevant relationship with different groups of readers.
Can you give one or more examples of a compelling story you have covered that marked a difference between The Irish News and your competitors?
Our coverage of the Sean Brown case is a powerful example of the role The Irish News can play in pursuing accountability and giving a voice to families seeking answers. Our reporting has followed the Brown family’s long campaign for a public inquiry into his 1997 murder, including the legal battles over the disclosure of information and the involvement of state agents linked to the case. More recently, our coverage has examined the British government’s decision to pursue a Supreme Court challenge, despite repeated legal support for an inquiry.
It demonstrates the value of specialist reporting, sustained journalism and the trust built with families over many years. We are not simply reporting the latest development; we are ensuring that a story of profound public importance remains in the public eye and that the questions surrounding it are not forgotten.
Our political journalism also demonstrates that difference. Northern Ireland’s politics demand more than reporting what politicians say; readers need to understand the consequences of decisions for communities, businesses and public services. Our Gaelic games coverage similarly reflects relationships and expertise built over many years.
These are areas where we can offer depth that is difficult to replicate. Our strongest journalism gives readers something beyond the headlines: the detail, context and insight that help them understand why a story matters.
After receiving the award, you said: “We are only beginning to see what is possible.” What are your plans beyond the website and app?
The next stage is to build a deeper relationship with readers, rather than simply give them more ways to access the same content.
Newsletters, more personalised experiences, video, podcasts, events and specialist coverage all offer opportunities to provide additional value. We are also exploring how emerging technologies, including AI, can improve efficiency and the reader experience without compromising editorial standards.
The key is to be led by what readers need, not by the novelty of the technology. There is considerable room to grow, and our priority is to turn that potential into products and experiences that readers genuinely value.
How do you safeguard your editorial stance while developing your readership in such a polarised political environment, particularly on Brexit and relations with London and Dublin?
In Northern Ireland, trust is hard won and easily lost. On issues such as Brexit, constitutional change and relations between London and Dublin, readers can approach the same facts from very different perspectives.
Our responsibility is to report accurately, challenge political claims and scrutinise all governments and parties consistently. We have been doing that for more than a century and we must continue to do so at the highest of standards. The Irish News has its own editorial identity and history, but our news reporting must be grounded in evidence, fairness and independence. Readers must also be able to distinguish news from analysis and opinion.
We will not always agree with our readers, and they will not always agree with us. That is not a weakness; it is part of independent journalism.
We cannot remove the divisions in Northern Ireland, but we can ensure our journalism helps people understand the issues, question those in power and engage with the debate on an informed basis.
