Cooperatives Yorkshire and Humber

The Co-operative movement has been well served with newspapers over the years.

1828 – 1830 The Co-operator. A monthly periodical produced by Dr. William King which sold at a penny each and reached a circulation of 12,000 copies. It was an influential instructional manual of practical co-operative philosophy and helped many people in the pioneering stage of their co-operatives, including the Rochdale Pioneers.

Another newspaper also called The Co-operator was published by the Manchester & Salford Co-operative Society under the editorship of Henry Pitman (brother of Isaac, inventor of shorthand). This was a national newspaper and began in 1860 and lasted for about ten years.

In 1871, the Co-operative Congress supported the establishment of a national newspaper to serve the Co-operative Movement. And on 2nd September 1871 The Co-operative News was born. Today it is the oldest democratically owned newspaper in the world and comes out fortnightly.

Co-operative News is published by Co-operative Press a readers co-op. It reports on the whole co-operative sector and has complete editorial freedom. 

Any reader of the News can become a member.

Co-operative Press has published a number of other titles over the years e.g. Reynolds News (a Sunday newspaper), Scottish Cooperator, Our Circle (Monthly), Woman's Outlook (Fortnightly), The Millgate (the Movements general interest magazine). All this to inform and support co-operative members.

For the Co-operative News go to www.thenews.coop

by Steve Thompson, CYH Board