'Mass circulation brought in bucket loads of advertising and the paper grew like Topsy'

Northants Post founder Tony Boullemier looks back and also reflects on the local news industry today

Our new local journalism service for Northamptonshire is now into its third month. We’re treading ground that many have walked before us and we are delighted to be able to bring you this article by Tony Boullemier - former editor and managing director of the Northants Post Group.

Launched in the mid 1970s Tony’s newspaper group blossomed in the days of mass advertising and high circulation. He and his partners sold up when they received an offer they couldn’t refuse. Here he looks back at those heyday times and gives his views on the local news industry today.

The founders of the Northants Post Group in 1975: Tony Boullemier (seated). Standing, from left, Ben Clingain, Richard Meredith, Marie Boullemier and Mike Page. Picture John Roan

“My partners and I started the Northants Post weekly newspaper in 1975, on a wing and a prayer. And not very much money.

We nearly sank after five months because we had made the mistake of starting as a paid-for newspaper and simply ran out of money. But a…