The National Union of Journalists has raised serious concerns over the proposed takeover of Alpha Media, which owns the Ulster Gazette and Newry Democrat, by Malcolm Denmark’s Iconic Media, warning it could further concentrate media ownership and undermine diversity, plurality and editorial independence.
In a submission to Ireland’s Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC), the NUJ said Iconic already holds an “unhealthy” share of the Irish media market in terms of ownership, editorial control and advertising influence.
Iconic Media already owns the Newry Reporter and should the merger be successful, the group would own the two ‘papers in the city.
The union said the potential acquisition has significant implications for both Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland, particularly in the north west, along the western seaboard, in the north east and Midlands, and in border regions. It also pointed to Iconic’s recent purchase of the Connacht Tribune as further evidence of its expanding dominance.
According to the NUJ, continued consolidation of media ownership is “bad for business and bad for democracy”, posing risks to competition, employment and independent journalism if allowed to proceed unchecked.
The union also raised concerns about Iconic Media’s industrial relations record, claiming the company routinely treats trade unions with hostility and refuses to engage in collective negotiations or recognise worker representation.
The NUJ said it will continue to seek guarantees that editorial jobs will be protected and that individual titles retain their distinct editorial identities. It has also written to the UK’s Competition and Markets Authority calling for a review of the proposed transaction.
As previously reported by Armagh I, the proposed takeover would see Alpha Media Group Ltd brought under the sole control of Iconic Media Group Limited, headquartered in Dublin.
Notification of the proposed merger was submitted to the CCPC on December 24. Iconic Media is one of the largest independently owned media groups on the island of Ireland, with titles reaching millions of readers each week. In March 2025, the company acquired the National World portfolio of news brands, including the Newry Reporter, Portadown Times and Lurgan Mail.
Iconic’s wider portfolio also includes the Donegal Democrat, Donegal People’s Press, Dundalk Democrat, Letterkenny Live, Finn Valley Post, as well as the Derry News and County Derry Post, which were acquired in 2018 as part of a deal with River Media.
Alpha Media Group, headquartered in Dungannon, was formally incorporated in 2016, though its newspaper operations date back to the late 1980s. The group was built up under the leadership of former Unionist politician John Taylor, Baron Kilclooney, who acquired and consolidated a number of long-established regional titles across Northern Ireland.
The company also operates YourAdsNI, an online classifieds and local advertising platform focused on the Northern Ireland market.
The merger is currently in phase one of the CCPC process, which allows third-party submissions from media organisations, journalists, advertisers, public bodies and members of the public. Submissions closed on Friday, January 9.
