Belfast Media Group

Irish Echo:
The Belfast Media Group bought out a controlling stake in the weekly Irish Echo in June 2007 to make it the only Irish newspaper group with operations on both sides of the Atlantic. Irish-America's biggest-selling and oldest newspaper — it was founded in 1928 — the Irish Echo remains the dominant force in the highly influential Irish American market. With offices on Wall Street, the Irish Echo boasts a strong display and classified advertisement performance which has been bolstered by its annual events: The Golden Bridges Awards (Boston), The Irish Echo Top 40 Under 40 (co-hosted with the Irish Consul General in New York), and the Irish Echo Index 30 luncheon on Wall Street which celebrate the very best of Irish America.In March 2008, New York City Council presented a special award to The Irish Echo, during a ceremony in the Council chamber at which Senator George Mitchell was also honoured, to acknowledge its contribution to Irish America.

The Belfast Media Group has grown exponentially in recent years, increasing the number of titles it publishes, commissioning its own printing presses and building offices in West Belfast, Teach Basil.

West Dublin Gazette Group:
In 2004, with Fermanagh businessman and founder of Ireland on Sunday, Peter Quinn, the Andersonstown News Group invested in the fledgling west Dublin title, Lucan Gazette, which was swiftly followed by the Blanch Gazette and the Clondalkin Gazette. The paid-for titles, in which the Belfast Media Group was the largest single shareholder, were sold to the Irish Times in 2007.

Peter Quinn:
We are pleased that Peter Quinn has agreed to serve as a non-executive director on the Board of the Belfast Media Group. As a board member of Ireland's most successful company, the Quinn Group, and a former President of the GAA when it undertook the development of Croke Park, he brings his vast experience of business and community development to our group.

Echo Group:
The Belfast Media Group is a minority shareholder in the new Echo Group which publishes the dynamic Border title, theCavan Echo (weekly), launched in October 2006. The free titles are very strong in editorial and sports and are distributed door-to-door and in shops. PricewaterhouseCoopers audited the circulation of the Cavan Echo at 17,125 and it has already received advertisements from Cavan County Council and the county's main businesses. We are confident the Echo Group will enjoy the same success as the West Dublin Gazette group.

Community involvement and business partnerships: The Belfast Media Group encourages its people to become involved in community activities of benefit to the neighbourhoods its serves. The Andersonstown News and North Belfast News have been particularly supportive of the West Belfast and Greater Shankill Enterprise Council and the Belfast Media Group is represented on its board and its executives sit on the boards of numerous voluntary bodies.