2019 was a year of change and growth for Bonnier News, which today brings together Bonnier’s news and newspaper businesses. When the company was formed in 2015, it was centered on the four major newspapers Dagens Nyheter, Expressen, Dagens industri and Sydsvenskan. Today, as a result of Bonnier’s new structure, it also includes the magazine section Bonnier Magazines & Brands and international business-to-business brands, mainly focusing on business magazines and niche services.

In 2019, there were also breakthroughs on the local newspaper market. Helsingborgs Dagblad and Sydsvenskan as well as
Expressen’s editions GT and Kvällsposten have been joined by media groups MittMedia and Lokaltidningen.

The acquisition of MittMedia, made together with Norwegian Amedia, was one of the biggest events in 2019 in Sweden’s media industry. A total of 28 newspapers from central Sweden were integrated into Bonnier News. The editorial strategy is to keep the independent titles. During the fall, 11 new editors-in-chief were appointed, with a clear responsibility for content and user revenue, according to the model that applies throughout Bonnier News. MittMedia’s magazines also retain their former political profiles. The overall strategy is to protect the publication of paper magazines in Sweden, as well as developing digital revenues and products.

The acquisition of newspaper group Lokal­tidningen, offering free newspapers, is a natural step to further strengthen the presence of HD-Sydsvenskan in southern Sweden. Both acquisitions are an expression of Bonnier News’s strong belief in the ability of local journalism to involve readers, and in digital growth through unique content.

Business media has also grown during the year. Through the acquisition of Dagens Samhälle, a newsmagazine about the public sector, the Dagens industri Group further strengthens its position in Sweden’s business sector. Simultaneously, some solid work has gone into making former business area Magazines & Brands (formerly Bonnier Tidskrifter) profitable and integrating it into Bonnier News Lifestyle (sprung from Expressen’s magazines).

In 2019, Bonnier News also invested in package distribution through the launch of Early Bird, a collaboration with media companies Stampen, Gota Media, NTM, Hall Media and NWT. The initiative utilizes existing early-morning paper distribution to deliver packages to readers. At the same time, the media companies are given the opportunity to increase the distribution value and benefit from the continuous growth of e-commerce.

During the year, Bonnier News’s main newspapers have been awarded several prestigious honors for their journalism, while taking some major steps in their digital transformation. The mission for Bonnier’s newspaper business is the same today as when the first investments were made in the middle of the 19th century: Better than anyone else, and as quickly as possible, to meet the need for relevant, interesting and truthful information about important events and issues. Based on a unique and and growing digital position as the owner of Sweden’s strongest and most credible brands, Bonnier News stands strong as it manages and regenerates the Bonnier Group’s 200-year-old tradition of independent journalism and defending free speech.