The Guardian Media Group (GMG) has announced that it is considering selling The Observer, the world’s oldest Sunday newspaper, to Tortoise Media, an online startup founded in 2019. The sale is under discussion, but the amount has not been disclosed.
In a statement, GMG confirmed that negotiations are ongoing with Tortoise Media regarding the potential sale. The deal, if completed, would allow The Guardian, GMG’s flagship title, to continue as a 24/7 online service with expanded global reach and increased reader funding.
GMG’s chief executive, Anna Bateson, noted that the sale would offer The Observer a chance for significant investment and future growth while enabling The Guardian to focus on its strategy to enhance global presence, digital expansion, and reader support.
The Observer, founded in 1791, has been part of GMG since its acquisition in 1993. GMG stated that, regardless of the sale’s outcome, The Guardian will maintain its seven-day-a-week digital presence.