— Future Publishing: Ahead of its October-to-March earnings on May 20, CEO Stevie Spring’s magazine publisher warned its US business will turn in a loss. It lost sales worth $1.5 million (£1 million) when a dispute amongst American wholesalers and news distributors caused it to lose 40 percent of sales there. In the UK, Future reckons its performance will be in line with last year, when group pre-tax profit dropped 34 percent to £4.1 million.
— Johnston Press: Telegraph.co.uk reports an unnamed source as saying the struggling regional publisher is “open to offers” for The Scotsman and Yorkshire Post, but the company tells Reuters no formal such process is underway. Johnston is suffering with £477 million debt, a pitiful share price and is formally looking to sell its Irish news business.
— Shrewsbury Chronicle: Much like the larger Manchester Evening News, Shropshire Newspapers’ Shrewsbury Chronicle is going part-free, part-paid. In the town itself, the paper will become free, but will remain pay-for in surrounding villages, HTFP reports. The company says it’s due to falling circulation. The Chronicle has been going for 235 years.