Driving force behind evolution of independent newspaper publishing in Highlands and Moray, Peter Fowler MBE, dies at 86

Peter Granville Fowler MBE, a visionary newspaper publisher who played a pivotal role in the evolution of regional news across the north of Scotland, has passed away.

The driving force behind the grouping together of independently owned newspapers across the Highlands and Moray, Mr Fowler died on February 25, 2025, aged 86.

As a publisher, his career spanned decades of innovation, expansion, and dedication to the newspaper industry .

Born in England in 1938, Mr Fowler’s journey in Scottish publishing began in 1981 when he became the sole shareholder of the Ross-shire Journal through his company, Peter Press.

His influence quickly grew, and in 1983, he acquired Highland Printers—publishers of the Caithness Courier, John O’Groat Journal, North Star, Lochaber News, and Highland News—from Thomson Regional News.

This acquisition marked the first step toward forming a publishing consortium in the north, leading to the creation of the Highland Printing and Publishing Group in partnership with John G Eccles.

Under Mr Fowler’s leadership, the group became a force in Scottish publishing, overseeing five companies, including Highland Printers, North of Scotland Newspapers, John G Eccles Printers, Moray Firth Advertisers (publishers of Inverness Focus), and PMR Publishing, which produced the Property Monthly Review.

A champion of modernisation, Mr Fowler spearheaded a £750,000 redevelopment of the Ross-shire Journal’s aging “hot metal” operations in 1986.

This investment resulted in the newspaper’s first relocation since 1883—to a 9,000-square-foot production facility on Docharty Road in Dingwall.

The new site, equipped with a web offset press, allowed for the in-house printing of all Highland group titles, eliminating reliance on external presses.

His ambitions continued to grow, and in August 1990, he expanded his publishing portfolio with a £3 million acquisition of Moray & Nairn Newspapers.

This move brought titles such as the Strathspey & Badenoch Herald, Northern Scot, Banffshire Journal, and Forres Gazette under his stewardship—an achievement years in the making, following previous unsuccessful bids dating back to 1980.

That same year, Mr Fowler secured a controlling interest in Robert Carruthers & Sons, publishers of the Inverness Courier, from former journalist Stuart Lindsay and his wife, Janet.

With this acquisition, along with his buyout of Highland Printing and Publishing Group partners, the Mackenzie brothers of Fearn, he consolidated his growing media business under a new entity, Scottish Provincial Press.

Even in the later years of his career, Mr Fowler remained committed to the stability and future of journalism in the North of Scotland.

In December 2019, he partnered with Cambridge-based Iliffe Media Group to establish Highland News and Media Ltd (HNM), ensuring the survival of 18 newspaper titles and securing the jobs of 135 employees.

Speaking at the time, he said: “With an impressive portfolio of iconic and much-loved newspapers, numerous special publications and rapidly growing digital activities, Highland News and Media is in a very strong position to deliver modern news and advertising solutions across the north of Scotland for many years to come.”

In 2002, Mr Fowler was named on the New Year’s Honours’ List, awarded an MBE for services to the newspaper industry and to charity.

At the time of his passing, he had interests in several other media companies, including New Milton News and Media, Stratford News and Media, S A Printing Group and Peter Press Ltd.

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