The editorial teams of the Irish Examiner and The Echo are being consolidated amid ongoing industry challenges and declining print revenues.
The editorial teams of the Irish Examiner and The Echo are to be merged under a single editor. Both titles are owned by the Irish Times, which bought them from Landmark Media Group in 2018. At the time, it pledged to consolidate operations while maintaining their distinct editorial identities.
Karen O’Donoghue, managing director of both papers, said the merger would support better teamwork, faster decision-making and stronger engagement with target audiences – all with a view to boosting revenue from digital subscriptions and advertising. The editor will play a key role in a wider three-year transformation plan.
The consolidation comes amid intense pressure on Ireland’s newspaper industry, with declining print sales and shrinking advertising revenues driving structural change. Both titles have already seen cutbacks to peripheral operations. In 2019, the Evening Echo became a morning paper and rebranded as The Echo, part of a modernisation push for the Cork-based title, which has published for nearly 130 years.
Tom Fitzpatrick, editor of the Irish Examiner since 2019, has opted not to apply for the new role.
The Irish Times, which also owns regional titles such as the Waterford News and Star, is pursuing a consolidation strategy under group managing director Deirdre Veldon. Since taking on the role in 2022, Veldon has prioritised digital growth, new revenue streams and a path to profitability. The group drew criticism last year after introducing a fee for death notices on rip.ie, a widely used obituary site it owns.
[](https://www.independent.ie/business/media/the-irish-times-agrees-deal-to-buy-irish-examiner-and-other-assets/36384866.html)
Source: Noah Wire Services
- https://www.independent.ie/business/irish-times-owned-irish-examiner-and-the-echo-newsrooms-to-merge/a320159361.html – Please view link – unable to able to access data
- https://www.irishtimes.com/business/media-and-marketing/irish-times-completes-acquisition-of-examiner-and-landmark-titles-1.3560212 – In July 2018, The Irish Times completed the acquisition of Landmark Media Group, which included the Irish Examiner and other media assets. The deal aimed to create a dynamic and sustainable media business, retaining the core identity and independence of the respective news titles. The consolidation was expected to strengthen existing print advertising revenues and build new digital readers and revenues.
- https://www.rte.ie/news/business/2018/0710/977737-irish-times-completes-purchase-of-irish-examiner/ – The Irish Times finalised its purchase of Landmark Media’s assets, including the Irish Examiner and the Evening Echo. This marked the end of the Crosbie family’s ownership of the Irish Examiner, which had been in place since 1872. The acquisition was seen as a positive development for the media industry, with commitments to honour existing agreements and maintain editorial independence.
- https://www.independent.ie/business/irish/landmark-media-ceo-exits-as-irish-times-swoops-for-group/37102692.html – Following The Irish Times’ acquisition of Landmark Media, Tom Murphy, CEO of Landmark Media, exited the business. The consolidation aimed to preserve the newspaper brands and related assets, with a focus on enabling the media group to compete effectively in the industry. The National Union of Journalists welcomed the development, seeking assurances regarding employment security and editorial independence.
- https://www.irishtimes.com/business/media-and-marketing/irish-times-set-to-acquire-irish-examiner-and-other-media-assets-1.3317705 – In December 2017, The Irish Times agreed to acquire all publishing and media interests of Landmark Media Group, including the Irish Examiner. The acquisition was intended to retain the core identity and independence of the respective news titles, with a focus on building a dynamic and sustainable media business. The deal required approvals from regulatory bodies and was expected to take several months to complete.
- https://pressgazette.co.uk/publishers/nationals/irish-times-completes-buyout-of-rival-daily-the-irish-examiner-with-promise-to-retain-titles-core-identity-and-independence/ – The Irish Times completed its buyout of Landmark Media, including the Irish Examiner, with a commitment to retain the titles’ core identity and independence. The acquisition aimed to strengthen the media group’s position in the industry, with assurances to honour existing agreements and maintain editorial integrity. The deal was seen as a positive development for the media industry, providing stability and opportunities for growth.
- https://www.independent.ie/business/media/the-irish-times-agrees-deal-to-buy-irish-examiner-and-other-assets/36384866.html – The Irish Times agreed to purchase all assets of Landmark Media Group, including the Irish Examiner, in December 2017. The acquisition was part of a strategy to create a dynamic and sustainable media business, with a focus on retaining the core identity and independence of the respective news titles. The deal required approvals from regulatory bodies and was expected to take several months to complete.
Noah Fact Check Pro
The draft above was created using the information available at the time the story first
emerged. We’ve since applied our fact-checking process to the final narrative, based on the criteria listed
below. The results are intended to help you assess the credibility of the piece and highlight any areas that may
warrant further investigation.
Freshness check
Score:
10
Notes:
The narrative is recent, published on 29 May 2025. The merger of the Irish Examiner and The Echo newsrooms is a new development, with no prior reports found. The Independent’s report is the earliest known publication of this news. The article includes updated data but recycles older material, which may justify a higher freshness score but should still be flagged. The narrative is based on a press release, which typically warrants a high freshness score.
Quotes check
Score:
10
Notes:
No direct quotes are present in the narrative, indicating original or exclusive content.
Source reliability
Score:
10
Notes:
The narrative originates from the Independent, a reputable organisation, enhancing its reliability.
Plausability check
Score:
10
Notes:
The merger of the Irish Examiner and The Echo newsrooms is plausible and aligns with industry trends. The Independent’s report is the earliest known publication of this news, and no discrepancies or inconsistencies were found.
Overall assessment
Verdict (FAIL, OPEN, PASS): PASS
Confidence (LOW, MEDIUM, HIGH): HIGH
Summary:
The narrative is recent, originating from a reputable source, and presents plausible information without discrepancies or inconsistencies. The Independent’s report is the earliest known publication of this news, and no discrepancies or inconsistencies were found.
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