The Shetland Times was established in 1872. The current co-owner and director is Robert Wishart, and his family has been involved with the paper since 1894.
The Shetland Times encompasses the weekly newspaper published on Fridays, commercial printing wing Studio Graphic Design & Print, a publishing operation and a retail bookshop in Lerwick town centre.
Announcing the news via the newspaper and its website, Wishart said the business was being put up for sale and new owners were required to take on the challenges faced by the printing industry.
“If new owners cannot be found for the newspaper there is a risk that Shetland will lose its only weekly newspaper,” Wishart stated.
The newspaper issued a “use it or lose it” appeal to readers, urging them to buy the printed paper or subscribe to the online version.
“The fact is unless people buy the paper and take out adverts, the costs of printing it cannot be justified,” the title warned.
The printed newspaper costs £2.50.
The Shetland Times’ print operation includes a five-colour B2 Komori litho press, Xerox Versant, Roland TrueVis 640 wide-format printer and Vivid Easymount laminator.
Last year the print wing retired its veteran Linotype Trimstitch and replaced it with a refurbished Horizon Stitchliner sourced through Roberts Graphics.
The Shetland Times employed 37 at the date of its last accounts, to 31 March 2024. The accounts were abbreviated, but shareholders’ funds reduced from £343,147 to £273,972.
