The Irish Independent began placing its journalism behind a paywall in February 2020 as part of a new digital strategy.
Over the past five years the digital offering has grown with the development of audio and video departments as well as a renewed focus on local news.
Along with subscribers, Mediahuis reaches over one million readers in Ireland every week through a mix of print products, podcasts and free digital news.
The 100,000 subscribers figure was announced by Mediahuis Ireland CEO Peter Vandermeersch at a meeting of staff today.
“I am extremely happy and proud of this achievement,” he said. “It shows that our journalism, be it in the Irish Independent or the Belfast Telegraph, is being valued by readers all over the island of Ireland.
‘A milestone in digital journalism’ as MediaHuis Ireland titles reach 100,000 online subscribers
“In a world where fake news is omnipresent, it is crucial to be a trusted source. Mediahuis firmly believes in further building the future of journalism in Ireland.”
The paywall was launched just before Ireland and the world was hit by the Covid-19 pandemic, which forced the Irish Independent’s journalists to work remotely for two years.
Editor-in-chief Cormac Bourke said: “In the period since we started asking people to pay for news online, there have been historic elections, some of the worst storms on record, disturbing events like the Dublin riots and joyful days like our Olympic glories.
“Our journalists have been there for all of them, working to ensure our readers get the full picture and the story behind the story.
“It is down to their hard work that people come back day after day for reliable and relatable news and features. Our subscribers are giving us their trust and their financial support, which is a huge vote of confidence and encourages us to do even more.”
In recent times, the Irish Independent has launched a number of new journalistic projects, including the ‘Indo Sport’ podcast with Joe Molloy; a new online vertical focused entirely on money and personal finance.
There has also been significant investment in hiring local journalists in communities around Ireland, and each county now has its own dedicated news page on the Irish Independent website and app.
The Irish Independent offers two digital subscription tiers: Premium, which gives full access to online articles and app content, and Premium+, which includes digital replicas of the print editions, complete with offline reading, archives, and puzzles.
Sheena Peirse, chief customer officer, said: “With 100,000 paying digital subscribers and a weekly readership that spans more than a million across print and digital, Mediahuis Ireland’s news brands are not only trusted, they are essential. Our titles lead the way in reach and relevance, reflecting the enduring value of independent Irish journalism.”
Alongside the Irish Independent, Mediahuis also publishes the Sunday Independent, Sunday World, The Herald, Belfast Telegraph and several regional titles, including The Kerryman, Wexford People, Wicklow People, Drogheda Independent and Sligo Champion.
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