Isle of Wight Observer
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The Isle of Wight Observer is a free newspaper published on the Isle of Wight every Friday. It was launched on 10 August 2018 in a tabloid format, and is distributed through supermarkets, newsagents and other outlets across the island. It is regulated by IMPRESS.{{cite web |url=https://www.iwobserver.co.uk/ |title=Home |website=iwobserver.co.uk}} The weekly print-run is printed on the newspaper's masthead. In August 2023 it declared 18,500 newspapers published with a digital subscriber base of "over 4,500".
The editor is Carole Dennett (the former partner and parliamentary assistant of the island's previous MP, Andrew Turner). Since 2019, it has operated through the company IW Observer Ltd, of which Miss Dennett is listed as the sole director.{{cite web|title=IW OBSERVER LIMITED - Overview (free company information from Companies House)|url=https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/company/12134079|website=find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk|language=en}} Prior to this, it operated through the company Isle of Wight Observer Ltd, which had Martin Potter as a director alongside her.{{Cite web|title=ISLE OF WIGHT OBSERVER LTD overview - Find and update company information - GOV.UK|url=https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/company/11324340|access-date=2022-01-24|website=find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk|language=en}} Mr Potter is a former owner, editor and publisher of Island Life Magazine.{{Cite web|title=ISLAND LIFE MAGAZINE LTD overview - Find and update company information - GOV.UK|url=https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/company/07026010|access-date=2022-01-24|website=find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk|language=en}}{{Cite web|title=Island Life Magazine Ltd August/September 2010|url=https://viewer.joomag.com/island-life-magazine-ltd-august-september-2010/0440805001440409853?page=7|access-date=2022-01-24|website=Joomag|language=en}}
When it launched, Potter told the Press Gazette that: "For the past 134 years the Isle of Wight County Press has been the only substantial newspaper on the island and we are trying to provide an alternative to it, not compete with it.”{{Cite news|last=Tobitt|first=Charlotte |date=2018-08-01|title=Free newspaper to launch on Isle of Wight hoping to attract locals 'disheartened' by Newsquest buyout of County Press|url=https://pressgazette.co.uk/free-newspaper-to-launch-on-isle-of-wight-hoping-to-attract-locals-disheartened-by-newsquest-buyout-of-county-press/|access-date=2022-02-03|website=Press Gazette|language=en-US}}
The decision to set up the Observer came after a complaint Dennett made against the Isle of Wight County Press was rejected by the Independent Press Standards Organisation (IPSO). She had accused the paper of inaccuracy, harassment and breach of privacy. In its ruling, IPSO said that the stories carried by the paper covered matters of “significant public interest” and constituted “legitimate comment.”{{Cite web|last=Linford|first=Paul|title=Isle of Wight County Press cleared of privacy complaint by MP's former partner - Journalism News from HoldtheFrontPage|url=https://www.holdthefrontpage.co.uk/2016/news/weekly-cleared-of-privacy-complaint-by-mps-former-partner/|access-date=2022-02-03|website=HoldtheFrontPage|language=en-GB}}{{Cite web|title=Ruling|url=https://www.ipso.co.uk/rulings-and-resolution-statements/ruling/?id=04973-15|access-date=2022-02-03|website=www.ipso.co.uk}}
Earlier title
There was a title of the same name which was a regional newspaper based in Ryde.[http://www.isle-of-wight-fhs.co.uk/iwnotices.html Isle of Wight Family History Society] It had a main run of 3,327 editions from 1852 to 1922.{{Cite web|url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/titles/isle-of-wight-observer|title=Isle of Wight Observer in British Newspaper Archive|via=British Newspaper Archive|language=en-US|url-access=subscription|access-date=2018-09-06}}
It was founded by Ebenezer Hartnall in December 1845; but on 27 June 1846, after thirty issues had been published, he ceased publication, perhaps due to a combination of low sales, stamp duty and the tax on advertisements. George Butler, an apprentice of Hartnall, relaunched the newspaper in 1852, and continued to publish it until 1865. After this, until 1893, Hannah Butler is listed in Mitchell's Press Directory as the Proprietress.{{Cite journal|last=Gliserman|first=Susan|date=1969|title=Mitchell's "Newspaper Press Directory": 1846-1907|journal=Victorian Periodicals Newsletter|issue=4|pages=10–29|jstor=20084796}}
The paper continued publication until 1922, when it was incorporated into the Isle of Wight Times.{{Cite web|url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/titles/isle-of-wight-times|title=Isle of Wight Times in British Newspaper Archive|via=British Newspaper Archive|language=en-US|url-access=subscription|access-date=2018-09-06}}
External links
- [https://iwobserver.co.uk Isle of Wight Observer website]