Support our Nation today - please donate here
News

Weekly ‘The National’ newspaper comes to an end after eight months

13 Nov 2021 2 minute read
The first edition of The National newspaper

The weekly The National newspaper has announced that it is coming to an end after eight months.

The newspaper by the company Newsquest, which also published the pro-independence Scottish The National, launched in March with a special edition before the Senedd election, and then from April onwards as a weekly newspaper.

However, the newspaper announced today that it would cease as a weekly publication, with “special editions” planned in 2022.

Writing in this week’s edition, the editor Gavin Thompson said that the price of newsprint was “rising sharply” and that distributing a weekly newspaper across the country was “expensive”.

He added that they were “looking into the best way we can do that in future, perhaps through special editions or other means of distribution”.

He added that publishing the weekly national newspaper had “been an absolute joy” and that they would continue to post content online.

“As someone who has worked in print for two decades, I’ve been particularly proud that we have introduced many new readers to a physical newspaper for the first time,” he said.

He added: “I know many of you reading this love print, and many will be disappointed not to be able to pick up a copy at your local newsagent or supermarket every week. I understand.”

Sarah Hughes, the Print Content Editor of The National, wrote on social media that she was “really sad to no longer be bringing you a weekly print edition of the National”.

“I’m really proud of the paper we’ve produced and look forward to working on some special editions next year,” she said.

“Thanks to everyone who bought a copy over the past few months.”


Support our Nation today

For the price of a cup of coffee a month you can help us create an independent, not-for-profit, national news service for the people of Wales, by the people of Wales.

Subscribe
Notify of
guest
14 Comments
Oldest
Newest Most Voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
Dai Rob
Dai Rob
3 years ago

What a crazy business decision, this was!! How could anyone have thought this was a goer….!!

Leigh Richards
Leigh Richards
3 years ago

Sorry to hear this ☹️. Thank goodness we still have Nation Cymru – a news service for the people of Wales and produced and owned by people in Wales! 👏

Last edited 3 years ago by Leigh Richards
Ellie TOWNSEND JONES
Ellie TOWNSEND JONES
3 years ago

Sorry to hear this.

j humphrys
j humphrys
3 years ago

Very brave attempt, when inkies are dropping like flies in the USA and in danger of extinction in the UK and often kept alive by very rich for influence over the people. Hence the current westminster lot, so popular in Europe.
Still, the Online version remains.

Last edited 3 years ago by j humphrys
Stephen Owen
Stephen Owen
3 years ago

I didn’t even know it existed, maybe it should have advertised itself more

Ann
Ann
3 years ago

Well, it has been a challenge finding it most weeks in my local shop (which is really a cafe) as it is usually buried under other titles because their news stand is too small! My husband has enjoyed the puzzles but I haven’t really been reading it as I have usually read most of the articles on line!

CapM
CapM
3 years ago
Reply to  Ann

I bought a copy last week from the local Co-op.
I had to dig it out from the bottom shelf of the free standing display where it was buried beneath the “Morning Star”.
Not in the interests of the Labour supporting Co-op maybe to give more prominence to a newspaper that wasn’t British Nationalist. .

Y Cymro
Y Cymro
3 years ago

Very sad. Another avenue closed to promote our Welsh voice. And If you don’t shout in life you’ll never get heard or noticed.

And where Scotland rides on a crest of a wave, Wales lies beached & floundering. It doesn’t have to be like this. Quitting does nothing to aid our cause but hand victory to hostile forces that want to demote, demean & destroy Wales and Welsh culture

Last edited 3 years ago by Y Cymro
Geoff Horton-Jones
Geoff Horton-Jones
3 years ago

A sad time as this really had potential.and was well worth a pound a week
.Eagerly awaited each Saturday .

I will subscribe today as a lifetime supporter and if you care for Wales you should to

Donald Anderson
Donald Anderson
3 years ago

You are definite not getting the advertising revenue that the left over pulped Brit papers get!

Rhosddu
Rhosddu
3 years ago

That’s a great loss. The people who run the online version need a marketing campaign all over Wales to make this vital news outlet well-known. They could start with adverts placed in public libraries and academic institutions.

Rob
Rob
3 years ago

Print media is dying anyway. The future is the internet. A You Tube channel similar to progressive media in the US might help (Majority Report, The Young Turks, David Pakman etc)

HywelE3
HywelE3
3 years ago

Shame we can’t run a popular news outlet for Cymry, from Cymru, by Cymry rather than relying on Media Groups from over the border.
My local Tesco does have a well defined area for local and National papurau Cymraeg, fair play.

Richard
Richard
3 years ago

I have bought a copy each week ar our local Tesco. It was great to see it on sale but how much did I actually read ? Well not very much really – why I wonder . Some good contributors and some interesting topics. I think 🤔 it may need to look at a few matters and examine why it has not grown roots.. 1. Was the range of contributors to narrow ? Politically and too restricted? 2. Perhaps it became too magazine in nature or not magazine enough ? Caught in the middle…..? 3. Did it resonate with young… Read more »

Our Supporters

All information provided to Nation.Cymru will be handled sensitively and within the boundaries of the Data Protection Act 2018.