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Leicester Mercury

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Leicester Mercury
The Leicester Mercury, June 2010
TypeDaily newspaper
FormatTabloid
Owner(s)Reach plc
Founder(s)James Thompson
PublisherReach plc
EditorLinda Steelyard
Staff writersThomas Mack, Lee Garrett, Dylan Hayward, Hannah Richardson, Tess Rushin, Julia Breens, Samuel Kalantzis
Founded31 January 1874 (1874-01-31)
LanguageEnglish
HeadquartersUniversity of Leicester, Leicester
Circulation4,997 (as of 2025)[1]
Sister newspapersNottingham Post, Derby Telegraph
Websiteleicestermercury.co.uk

The Leicester Mercury is a British regional newspaper for the city of Leicester and the neighbouring counties of Leicestershire and Rutland. The paper began in the 19th century as the Leicester Daily Mercury and later changed to its present title.[2]

Early history

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The paper was founded by James Thompson, already proprietor of the Leicester Chronicle which he had merged with the Leicestershire Mercury ten years earlier.[3] The Leicester Daily Mercury was an evening paper, the first to be published in Leicester, and provided support to the Liberal Party in the general election.[4] The first issue was published on 31 January 1874 from the paper's offices at 3 St Martin's, consisting of four pages of five columns each. The paper had a staff of 25 and a circulation of 5,000.[5][6]

Recent history

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The Leicester Mercury has experienced declining circulation, similar to other regional British newspapers. The paper had an average circulation of 69,069 per day in the first half of 2008, down from 73,634 per day the previous year.[7][8] This represented a 5.7% year-on-year decline[8] and a 47% drop compared to the 139,357 copies sold in the equivalent period for 1989.[9]

The newspaper is the sixth largest-selling regional title in England.[7] In 2001, the newspaper received the Regional Newspaper of the Year award after a redesign and relaunch. In 2006, the paper discontinued its localised weekday editions for Loughborough, Hinckley, North West Leicestershire, Melton Mowbray and Market Harborough, replacing them with two general editions covering east and west Leicestershire. The paper maintained two daily editions for Leicester city. The Mercury retained reporting staff in each market town while reducing editorial staff in other areas through non-replacement of departing employees. The company discontinued its Sports Mercury edition due to declining readership and ABC rule changes that no longer allowed the paper to include the sport paper's sales within the main daily editions' circulation figures.[10] The paper subsequently relaunched its Sporting Blue sports newspaper with tête-bêche binding to cover Leicester City and Leicester Tigers.[11]

From January 2010 to September 2011, the paper published a youth supplement called The Leicester WAVE[12] on the last Wednesday of each month. People under the age of 25 wrote the content, which examined how Mercury stories affected young people. Sam Newton edited the supplement in 2011.[13]

The newspaper's headquarters underwent an external renovation at a reported cost of £12.5m before reopening to the public. The redesigned building aligned with Leicester's plans for an "office core" near the Mercury's head office.[14] In April 2009, some production work transferred to a hub in Nottingham that also handled work for the Nottingham Post and the Derby Telegraph, while approximately 60 journalists remained in Leicester. In 2016, Trinity Mirror listed the third floor of the newspaper's building for lease, with plans to relocate all journalists to a new office in 2017. The newspaper's reporters, sports writers, photographers, feature writers, and proofreaders continued to be based in Leicester and other Leicestershire towns.[citation needed]

The offices relocated to New Walk from Mercury Place in March 2017.[15] In 2024, the office moved to the University of Leicester campus.[16]

In December 2006, 79% of the Mercury's workforce voted for National Union of Journalists recognition, making the paper the second Northcliffe Newspapers chapel to secure union representation.[17]

In 2012, Local World acquired Northcliffe Media from Daily Mail and General Trust.[18] Trinity Mirror purchased the company in 2015 and rebranded as Reach plc in 2018.[19][20]

Digital Transformation and LeicestershireLive

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Transition to Digital Publishing

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The Leicester Mercury implemented a digital strategy in the 2010s, launching its online platform LeicestershireLive to provide news across Leicester, Leicestershire, and Rutland.[21] LeicestershireLive launched in February 2018 as part of Reach plc's regional digital expansion.[22] Print circulation decreased from approximately 25,000 in 2015 to 4,997 daily copies by 2025, while online readership grew to over 4.2 million monthly page views by 2024.[23] LeicestershireLive became the primary publishing channel for the newspaper.

Multimedia Content Development

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LeicestershireLive expanded to include video reports, photo galleries, and interactive content. The platform introduced a digital content management system in 2019 for faster publication and improved audience analytics.[24] During Leicester City Football Club's 2016 Premier League victory, the platform published match updates, videos, and reader reactions, recording over 500,000 page views in one day.[25] The 2015 reburial of King Richard III coverage included blogs, historical photographs, and video of the cathedral ceremony.[26] The 2023 Leicester Caribbean Carnival coverage featured photo galleries and video of the parade.[27]

Digital Distribution Channels

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LeicestershireLive utilizes multiple digital channels: website, social media accounts on X (formerly Twitter) (@leicslive) and Facebook, and mobile applications. As of 2024, the @leicslive X account had 130,000 followers, and its Facebook page had approximately 215,000 followers.[28] In 2022, LeicestershireLive launched a redesigned mobile application with personalized news feeds and location-based content options.[29] The platform uses push notifications for mobile users.[30]

Organisational Structure

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The digital operations of the Leicester Mercury are managed through Reach plc's Nottingham production hub, with a team of local journalists covering Leicester and Leicestershire news. In 2021, Reach plc implemented a "Live" newsroom model across its regional titles, including LeicestershireLive, introducing specialized digital roles such as audience editors, social media producers, and SEO specialists.[31] As of 2025, the LeicestershireLive editorial team consists of approximately 15 journalists, including a digital editor and multimedia content creators.[32]

Digital Business Model

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LeicestershireLive uses a digital revenue strategy combining display advertising, sponsored content, and affiliate marketing. In 2023, the platform introduced "LeicestershireLive Plus," a premium content section offering exclusive articles to registered users without a paywall.[33] The site developed location-based advertising capabilities for local businesses to target specific Leicester neighborhoods and demographics.[34]

Cultural and Social Impact

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The Leicester Mercury has reported on Leicester's development over its 150-year history, documenting the city's change from an industrial center to a multicultural city. The newspaper covers Leicester's diverse communities, including South Asian, African-Caribbean, and Eastern European populations, through reporting on cultural festivals, community initiatives, and social issues.[35] Its coverage includes events such as the Leicester Caribbean Carnival, Diwali celebrations, and Leicester Pride.[36]

The Leicester Mercury has covered major events in Leicester's history. The newspaper published front-page headlines and special editions about Leicester City Football Club's 2016 Premier League victory.[37] It covered King Richard III's discovery and reburial in 2015 with historical information and updates.[38] The newspaper reports on local traditions, such as Melton Mowbray's VE Day events with Spitfire fly-pasts.[39]

The Leicester Mercury covers local incidents and social issues. In 2018, it reported on the drowning of six-year-old Khai Satkunarajah in the River Soar, including search efforts, tributes, and safety campaigns.[40] The newspaper reported on the 2024 murder of 80-year-old Bhim Kohli in Franklin Park, Braunstone Town, detailing the attack, family response, and community reaction.[41] The newspaper's "Tower of Horrors" series examined living conditions in Leicester's tower blocks.[42]

The Leicester Mercury's online platform, LeicestershireLive, publishes content through digital media, interactive features, and real-time reporting. The 2019 "Save Our Venues" campaign covered Leicester's independent music venues.[43]

Notable Journalists and Editorial Figures

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The Leicester Mercury and LeicestershireLive employ journalists who report on Leicester and Leicestershire.

Tom Mack

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Tom Mack is a senior reporter at LeicestershireLive who joined the publication in 2016. He has reported on the 2018 Leicester explosion and the murder trial of Rania Alayed's husband in 2014. His work focuses on breaking news and community stories.


Hannah Richardson

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Hannah Richardson is a Local Democracy Reporter for Leicestershire, covering Leicester City Council, Leicestershire County Council and the District and Borough Councils for LeicestershireLive, the BBC and other media partners.

Dylan Hayward

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Dylan Hayward is a reporter for LeicestershireLive. He covers Leicestershire and frequently writes about crime, local government, education, health, environmental issues and housing. Dylan previously worked as a reporter at BirminghamLive. In 2022, he won the Reach Plc Digital Journalism Award for exceptional digital journalism.

Lee Garrett

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Lee Garrett is a content editor. He reports on crime and courts for LeicestershireLive. He has covered the 2020 sentencing of Dylan West and the 2024 Bhim Kohli murder trial.

Tess Rushin

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Tess is a Local Democracy Reporter, covering Leicestershire County Council and several district councils. Tess joined Leicestershire Live in 2012, working first as a communities editor and then social media manager. She previously worked in the public sector and has expertise in a variety of local government matters.

Julia Breens

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Julia Breens is a local democracy reporter covering Charnwood, Hinckley and Melton district councils

Editors

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  • James Thompson (1874–1877)
  • Francis Hewitt (1877–1882)
  • Harry Hackett (1882–1923)
  • Vernon Hewitt (1923–19??)
  • John Fortune (1952–1974)
  • Neville Stack (1974–1987)
  • Alex Leys (1987–1993)[44]
  • Nick Carter (1993–2009)[45][46]
  • Keith Perch (2009–2011)[47][48][49]
  • Richard Bettsworth (2011–2014)[50][51]
  • Kevin Booth (2014–2016)[52][53][54]
  • George Oliver (2016–2020)[55][56][57]
  • Adam Moss (2020–2023)[58]
  • Linda Steelyard (2023–present)[59]

References

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  1. ^ "Leicester Mercury". Audit Bureau of Circulations (UK). 27 January 2025. Retrieved 17 February 2025.
  2. ^ British Library catalogue
  3. ^ Fletcher, William George Dimock (1898). "Thompson, James" . In Lee, Sidney (ed.). Dictionary of National Biography. Vol. 56. London: Smith, Elder & Co.
  4. ^ "Thompson, James". Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (online ed.). Oxford University Press. doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/27267. (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)
  5. ^ "140 Years of the Leicester Mercury: 1874 – 1884: A Liberal and campaigning paper became an instant hit". Leicester Mercury. 31 January 2014. Archived from the original on 10 July 2015. Retrieved 9 July 2015.
  6. ^ England, Steve (1999). Magnificent Mercury: history of a regional newspaper : the first 125 years of the Leicester Mercury (PDF). Newtown Linford: Kairos Press. ISBN 1871344212.
  7. ^ a b Luft, Nick (19 January 2009). "Leicester Mercury editor Nick Carter to leave after 15 years in charge". The Guardian.
  8. ^ a b "Regional ABCs: Part-free strategy hits MEN sales". Press Gazette. 1 March 2007. Archived from the original on 10 July 2015. Retrieved 7 February 2009.
  9. ^ "Report on The Bristol Evening Post PLC" (PDF). Competition Commission. Archived from the original on 27 July 2003.
  10. ^ "Change in lifestyles gives Mercury sports edition the red card". Hold the front page. 23 May 2005. Retrieved 7 February 2009.
  11. ^ "Two 'front' pages for relaunched Saturday sports digest". Hold the front page. 19 September 2005. Retrieved 7 February 2009.
  12. ^ "Wave shows that the future looks bright". Leicester Mercury. 20 January 2010. Archived from the original on 2 March 2014. Retrieved 25 February 2014.
  13. ^ "New year, new look!". Leicester Mercury. 26 January 2011. Archived from the original on 2 March 2014. Retrieved 25 February 2014.
  14. ^ "Mercury unveils £12m redevelopment". Hold the front page. 7 September 2006. Retrieved 7 February 2009.
  15. ^ Sharman, David (6 March 2017). "Leicester Mercury set to move into New Walk office". Hold the Front Page. Retrieved 10 January 2021.
  16. ^ "Reporter - LeicestershireLive". National Council for the Training of Journalists. 25 April 2025.
  17. ^ "Journalists' union wins recognition at two newspaper publishing centres". Hold the front page. 28 December 2006. Retrieved 7 February 2009.
  18. ^ "Daily Mail sells regional newspapers to Local World". BBC News. 21 November 2012.
  19. ^ Sweney, Mark (28 October 2015). "Trinity Mirror confirms £220m Local World deal". The Guardian.
  20. ^ "Trinity Mirror rebrands as Reach after Express and Star deal". The Guardian. 3 May 2018.
  21. ^ "About Us". Leicester Mercury. Retrieved 9 May 2025.
  22. ^ "Reach Plc completes regional rebrand with launch of 'Live' news websites". Press Gazette. 13 February 2018. Retrieved 9 May 2025.
  23. ^ "Leicester Mercury". Audit Bureau of Circulations (UK). 27 January 2025. Retrieved 17 February 2025.
  24. ^ "Inside Reach's digital transformation: Content management systems and audience data". Journalism.co.uk. 14 March 2019. Retrieved 9 May 2025.
  25. ^ "Leicester City's Premier League title win: A fairytale come true". Leicester Mercury. 3 May 2016. Retrieved 9 May 2025.
  26. ^ "King Richard III reburial: Everything you need to know". Leicester Mercury. 22 March 2015. Retrieved 9 May 2025.
  27. ^ "Leicester Caribbean Carnival returns to city centre with vibrant parade". Leicester Mercury. 5 August 2023. Retrieved 9 May 2025.
  28. ^ "UK Local News Social Media Metrics 2024". Social Media Data UK. 18 January 2024. Retrieved 9 May 2025.
  29. ^ "Reach launches new app design for regional titles". Hold The Front Page. 4 July 2022. Retrieved 9 May 2025.
  30. ^ "Reporter - LeicestershireLive". National Council for the Training of Journalists. 25 April 2025. Retrieved 9 May 2025.
  31. ^ "Reach implements 'Live' newsroom restructure with new digital-focused roles". Press Gazette. 17 March 2021. Retrieved 9 May 2025.
  32. ^ "Contact Us". Leicester Mercury. Retrieved 9 May 2025.
  33. ^ "Reach expands regional 'Plus' model without hard paywalls". InPublishing. 23 May 2023. Retrieved 9 May 2025.
  34. ^ "Case Study: Leicestershire Local Targeting Campaign". Reach Solutions. November 2024. Retrieved 9 May 2025.
  35. ^ "Leicester Caribbean Carnival returns to city centre with vibrant parade". Leicester Mercury. 5 August 2023. Retrieved 9 May 2025.
  36. ^ "Leicester Pride 2024: Here's everything you need to know". Leicester Mercury. 31 August 2024. Retrieved 9 May 2025.
  37. ^ "Leicester City's Premier League title win: A fairytale come true". Leicester Mercury. 3 May 2016. Retrieved 9 May 2025.
  38. ^ "King Richard III reburial: Everything you need to know". Leicester Mercury. 22 March 2015. Retrieved 9 May 2025.
  39. ^ "Melton Mowbray VE Day 80th anniversary to feature Spitfire fly-past". Leicester Mercury. 8 May 2025. Retrieved 9 May 2025.
  40. ^ "Boy, 6, who died after falling into River Soar named as Khai Satkunarajah". Leicester Mercury. 16 July 2018. Retrieved 9 May 2025.
  41. ^ "Boy, 14, charged with murder after grandfather dies in Braunstone park incident". Leicester Mercury. 4 September 2024. Retrieved 9 May 2025.
  42. ^ "Tower of Horrors: Life in Leicester's high-rise flats". Leicester Mercury. 12 October 2023. Retrieved 9 May 2025.
  43. ^ "Save Our Venues campaign launched to protect Leicester's music scene". Leicester Mercury. 15 October 2019. Retrieved 9 May 2025.
  44. ^ wireposts, Dominic (27 October 2008). "Northcliffe drops from six regional divisions to three". Press Gazette. Retrieved 19 January 2024.
  45. ^ Luft, Oliver (19 January 2009). "Leicester Mercury editor Nick Carter to leave after 15 years in charge". The Guardian.
  46. ^ Amos, Owen (19 January 2009). "Leicester Mercury editor Nick Carter quits after 16 years". Press Gazette. Retrieved 10 January 2021.
  47. ^ "Tanner beats 140 to land Leicester Mercury job". The Sports Journalists' Association. 8 August 2009. Retrieved 10 January 2021.
  48. ^ Gunter, Joel (13 October 2011). "Keith Perch quits as Leicester Mercury editor". Journalism.co.uk. Retrieved 10 January 2021.
  49. ^ Pugh, Andrew (13 October 2011). "Keith Perch resigns as Leicester Mercury editor". Press Gazette. Retrieved 10 January 2021.
  50. ^ Linford, Paul (26 April 2012). "Richard Bettsworth confirmed as Leicester Mercury editor". Hold the Front Page. Retrieved 10 January 2021.
  51. ^ "Change of editor at Leicester Mercury". InPublishing. 26 August 2014. Retrieved 10 January 2021.
  52. ^ Turvill, William (26 August 2014). "Burton Mail's Kevin Booth to replace outgoing Leicester Mercury editor Richard Bettsworth". Press Gazette. Retrieved 10 January 2021.
  53. ^ Linford, Paul (10 September 2014). "Daily editor to oversee Midlands sister title". Hold the Front Page. Retrieved 10 January 2021.
  54. ^ Linford, Paul (14 April 2016). "Regional daily editor quits for 'personal reasons'". Hold the Front Page. Retrieved 10 January 2021.
  55. ^ Mayhew, Freddy (22 June 2016). "Trinity Mirror appoints new editors to Leicester Mercury and Cambridge News". Press Gazette. Retrieved 10 January 2021.
  56. ^ Sharman, David (10 July 2020). "Leicester Mercury and Stoke Sentinel editors reveal departures". Hold the Front Page. Retrieved 10 January 2021.
  57. ^ Sharman, David (21 June 2016). "New editors unveiled at two former Local World dailies". Hold the Front Page. Retrieved 10 January 2021.
  58. ^ Linford, Paul (1 September 2020). "Four new editors named in Reach Midlands reshuffle". Hold the Front Page. Retrieved 10 January 2021.
  59. ^ Sharman, David (20 June 2023). "Four new editors named in Reach Midlands reshuffle". Hold the Front Page. Retrieved 9 May 2025.
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