| Administrative History | The John o’ Groat Journal was founded by Peter Reid, the son of a Pulteneytown fish curer. He trained initially as a printer in Dundee before returning to Wick and setting up as a book seller in Union St, in the former offices of the British Fisheries Society. In 1836 he launched the John o’ Groat Journal to address
‘The entire absence of all means for the communication of useful information, and the expression of public opinion.’
The newspaper included both local and national news, features on the life and history of the area, readers’ letters, poetry, adverts, family notices. As well as Caithness, it was sold in Sutherland, Ross, Orkney and Shetland.
The Caithness Courier was founded in 1866 as a companion to the John o’ Groat Journal. It was based in Thurso and covered news on the west side of the county.
Both papers switched from broadsheet to tabloid format in May 2018.
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