The Independent has become the UK’s largest quality digital news brand after reaching 24.5 million readers in the month of November, the latest industry figures show.
Monthly data released by independent analytics company Comscore showed The Independent overtaking theguardian.com for UK-based unique monthly users.
Interest in Brexit and the build-up to the 12 December general election drove around a quarter of all traffic to The Independent, which has since 2018 led a campaign calling for a Final Say referendum on the terms of Britain’s exit from the EU.
November also saw the news website release a series of exclusive articles exposing the avoidable deaths and injuries of dozens of mothers and babies in the Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital Trust maternity scandal.
The news of readership figures, which are up 12 per cent compared to the same month last year, comes after the recent announcement of John Paton’s appointment as chairman of Independent Digital News and Media, and the promotion of Zach Leonard to the role of chief executive.
Christian Broughton, the editor of The Independent, said: “This achievement is a wonderful milestone for the dedicated, inspirational and fearlessly independent journalists at The Independent, and would not have been possible without the trust and support of our 24.5m readers across the UK.
“We have ambitious plans for 2020 – and we can’t wait to take The Independent to the next level on the world stage.”
Evgeny Lebedev, proprietor of The Independent, said: “I am delighted that these figures recognise the Independent’s achievements at the forefront of journalism. The Indy has managed to balance moving fast and breaking stories with refining a longer lens view of events in Britain and the world. Well done to all our writers in London, New York and around the world.”
Mr Paton added: “Ten years ago Evgeny Lebedev made a commitment to save a failing news brand. This announcement heralding the Independent as the leading quality journalism site in the UK is a testament to that commitment.”
