The Guardian is a British daily newspaper founded in 1821 as the Manchester Guardian. The Scott Trust owns it, and this structure guarantees its editorial independence. The Guardian is known for its liberal stance, its reader-funded model without a paywall, and its global editions in the US, Australia, and Europe.
If you have ever read a Guardian article online, you have encountered one of the most influential English-language news organizations in the world. The Guardian has a unique ownership structure and a distinctive funding model. Moreover, it has evolved from a local Manchester weekly into a global digital powerhouse. Let’s explore everything you need to know about this remarkable publication.
H2: The History of The Guardian
The Guardian’s story begins with a tragedy. In 1819, soldiers killed 11 people at a public meeting in Manchester. This event became known as the Peterloo Massacre.
H3: Founding and Early Years
A young cotton merchant named John Edward Taylor founded the Manchester Guardian after Peterloo. The first edition appeared on May 5, 1821. It was a weekly with just four pages, costing seven old pence.
Taylor’s nephew, CP Scott, became editor in 1872 and bought the paper in 1907. His 57-year editorship cemented the paper’s liberal values. Furthermore, it gave the publication an international reputation.
H3: The Scott Trust
CP Scott’s son, John Russell Scott, was determined to protect this legacy. After the deaths of his father and brother, he established the Scott Trust in 1936. The Trust’s purpose was to secure the financial and editorial independence of the Guardian in perpetuity.
This unique structure means the Guardian has no billionaire owner and no shareholders. Consequently, it is beholden to no one.
H3: From Manchester to London to the World
In 1959, the newspaper changed its masthead to The Guardian. This change reflected its growing national and international coverage. The editor’s office and major editorial departments moved to London in 1964.
The Guardian launched its first website in 1995. By 1999, various sites were pulled together to form Guardian Unlimited. This was the predecessor to today’s theguardian.com. In 2007, a dedicated US-based website launched, followed by Guardian Australia. Guardian Europe launched in 2023.
H2: The Guardian’s Ownership Structure
The Guardian’s ownership is unlike any other major news organization. This structure directly shapes its journalism and its relationship with readers.
H3: The Scott Trust
Guardian Media Group owns the Guardian, and it has only one shareholder: the Scott Trust. The Trust’s central objective is “to secure the financial and editorial independence of the Guardian in perpetuity: as a quality national newspaper without party affiliation; remaining faithful to its liberal tradition.”
The Trust allows the Guardian to operate without commercial or political interference. Profits are reinvested in its free-to-access journalism.
H3: No Billionaire Owner
Unlike many major publications, the Guardian has no billionaire owner. This is a point of pride for the organization. In fundraising messages, the Guardian emphasizes that it has “neither a self-interested billionaire owner nor profit-seeking corporate henchmen pressuring us to appease the rich and powerful.”
This independence allows the Guardian to take editorial positions that might conflict with commercial interests.
H2: The Guardian’s Funding Model
The Guardian does not have a paywall. Its journalism is free to read online. However, it asks readers for voluntary financial support. This model has proven remarkably successful.
H3: Reader-Funded Journalism
In 2015, the Guardian faced substantial financial losses. It turned to its readers for help. The publication asked for voluntary contributions, even though it did not have a paywall.
The response was extraordinary. The Guardian now has more than 1.3 million global supporters. Over half of its revenue comes from readers.
H3: The “Epic” Ask
The Guardian’s fundraising appeal, known internally as the “epic,” appears at the bottom of articles. It explains who the Guardian is and why reader funding matters. The Guardian has optimized these asks by testing language, length, and design.
H3: Subscriptions and Contributions
The Guardian offers a three-tier model on its website:
TierMonthly CostBenefitsRegular Contribution£4No added benefitsDigital Subscription£12Ad-free reading and app accessPremium Subscription£27Print and digital bundled
The mobile app uses a metered paywall. Users get 20 free articles before being prompted to subscribe.
H3: Record Revenues
In 2026, the Guardian reported record revenues of £282 million, up 2%. Reader revenues increased 17% to £126 million. Revenue outside the UK rose 8% to £115 million.
Despite rising revenues, the Guardian lost £17 million last year. However, this was an improvement from the previous year’s £24 million loss.
H2: The Guardian’s Editorial Stance
The Guardian is known for its liberal and left-leaning editorial stance. This is not a recent development. It is rooted in the paper’s founding values.
H3: Liberal Values
The Guardian was founded to advocate for parliamentary reform, religious freedom, and free trade. In pursuing this reformist agenda, the Guardian stood against the militant labour movement of the time that demanded universal suffrage and working-class rights.
The Scott Trust was established to safeguard the Guardian’s “liberal values.” Every appointed editor is instructed to uphold these values.
H3: Left-of-Center Perspective
Media observers describe the Guardian as having a “strong left-of-center viewpoint.” However, it is not as far left as publications like Mother Jones. One expert noted that the Guardian has “serious reporting and all kinds of standards you’d like to see, and I think they have some flair as well.”
H3: Criticism from the Left
The Guardian has also faced criticism from the political left. A book titled Capitalism’s Conscience: 200 Years of the Guardian argues that the Guardian has always been an “unreliable ally for the Left, if not outright hostile to it.”
The book’s contributors point to the Guardian’s liberal values as the reason. The Guardian’s founders represented the interests of the liberal bourgeoisie, not the working class.
H2: The Guardian in the Digital Age
The Guardian has embraced digital transformation more successfully than many of its peers. It was one of the first media organizations to launch a website. It also pioneered the reader revenue model.
H3: Global Expansion
The Guardian now has newsrooms in the UK, US, and Australia. Guardian Europe launched in 2023, providing readers on the continent with a tailored English-language edition.
The Guardian has more than half a million paying readers in the US alone. Over 1.5 million supporters are located in 180 countries.
H3: Digital Innovation
The Guardian’s digital formats include live-blogs, podcasts, video journalism, and documentaries. It was the first news organization in the world to win both an Oscar and a Bafta.
H3: No Paywall Strategy
While many publishers have erected paywalls, the has taken a different path. Its website remains open to all. The app uses a metered paywall. This dual strategy allows the to reach a wide audience while still monetizing its most engaged users.
The Guardian’s managing director for Australia, Rebecca Costello, explained the philosophy: “When access to credible information is kept behind paywalls, it risks deepening inequality and limiting informed participation in democracy.”
H2: The and Political Controversies
The Guardian is not afraid to take controversial positions. It has been both praised and criticized for its coverage.
H3: The vs. Donald Trump
The has positioned itself as a leading voice of resistance to Donald Trump. It has published aggressive coverage of his policies and actions. Its fundraising appeals have featured images of Elon Musk, Sean Hannity, and Rupert Murdoch with the line “This is what we’re up against.”
The also announced it would no longer post its journalism on X (formerly Twitter). It called the platform “toxic.”
H3: Criticism of the Guardian
The has also been criticized for its coverage of leftist Latin American governments. One analyst argued that the “has failed to uphold its own standards of objective reportage and solidarity with the underprivileged citizens of these nations.”
H3: The Observer Sale
In 2024, the Media Group sold The Observer, the world’s oldest Sunday newspaper, to Tortoise Media. The sale was unpopular with some staff. The Scott Trust retained a 9% stake in Tortoise and a seat on its commercial board.
H2: Guardian Staff and Labor Relations
The has faced internal tensions over pay and working conditions.
H3: Strike Threats
In 2026, staff threatened to walk out over pay. The National Union of Journalists held an indicative ballot over whether to strike. Union bosses described the company’s latest pay offer of 3.85% as “inadequate.”
Staff also complained about increased workloads under editor Katharine Viner’s Project Berger strategy. This strategy includes greater focus on audio and video and expansion in the US and Australia.
H3: Restructuring
The Guardian has outlined proposals to stop using “casual” workers and instead create up to 95 new roles. Some staff raised concerns that the newspaper is preparing to employ “an army of low-paid young graduates.”
A spokesman said negotiations are ongoing. He added that the company believes it has offered a “fair pay increase which is above inflation.”
H2: FAQ
Who owns The ?
The is owned by Media Group, which has one shareholder: the Scott Trust. The Trust was established in 1936 to secure the Guardian’s financial and editorial independence in perpetuity.
Is The left-wing?
Yes. The is known for its liberal and left-leaning editorial stance. It has a “strong left-of-center viewpoint.” However, it has also faced criticism from the left for being an unreliable ally.
Does The have a paywall?
No. The Guardian’s website is free to access. It asks readers for voluntary contributions instead. The mobile app uses a metered paywall that allows 20 free articles before prompting a subscription.
How does The make money?
The Guardian’s revenue comes from reader contributions, digital subscriptions, and advertising. In 2026, reader revenues reached £126 million. Total revenues were £282 million.
What is the Scott Trust?
The Scott Trust is the sole shareholder of Media Group. It was established in 1936 to guarantee the Guardian’s editorial independence and safeguard its liberal values.
When was The founded?
The Manchester was founded by John Edward Taylor in 1821. The first edition appeared on May 5, 1821.
What is The Guardian’s relationship with The Observer?
The Media Group acquired The Observer in 1993. In 2024, it sold The Observer to Tortoise Media. The Scott Trust retained a 9% stake in Tortoise.
H2: Conclusion
The Guardian is one of the world’s most distinctive news organizations. Founded in 1821 in the wake of the Peterloo Massacre, it has grown from a local Manchester weekly into a global media brand.
Its unique ownership structure, the Scott Trust, guarantees its editorial independence. Its reader-funded model, without a paywall, has proven surprisingly resilient. Moreover, its liberal values have shaped its journalism for two centuries.
The Guardian faces challenges.However, it remains a vital voice in English-language journalism.
With more than 1.3 million supporters in 180 countries, the Guardian has built a powerful relationship with its readers. That relationship may be its greatest asset as it navigates the future of news.
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