Edward Long (1874 - 1925) was a Kilkenny native whose early journalist experience was on the Wexford Free Press and the New Ross Standard. From the beginning, Long clearly saw a public service role for journalism. In 1907, whilst at the Standard, he travelled to the United States with a group of educationalists to observe the American system of education. The results of this trip were subsequently published in the Star and saw him associated with the Technical Instruction Committees of Wexford and Tipperary. Similarly, in 1925, he joined a visit by Irish farmers to Denmark to study agricultural practices there. He was also a prominent figure in the Irish Journalists Association, with arguably the highest profile amongst provincial journalists.  

Long came to Thurles in 1909 to set up the Star and the associated printing works. In his  editorial in the first edition on September 4 1909 he wrote: “The importance of a good newspaper cannot be over-estimated. In the first place it is a powerful weapon for the advancement of the people, secondly the launching of such an enterprise like the creation of any considerable local industry adds materially to the sum of employment.” 

He was also overtly nationalist in his political leanings. In that same debut editorial, anticipating the introduction of Home Rule, he wrote: “Irishmen must themselves be up and doing if they mean to profit by the opportunity which will assuredly be theirs to shoulder the new and heavy responsibilities which National Self-Government will thrust upon them, and what is more to prevent the possibility of ever again losing their independence once ‘tis regained…We desire to say that even if Ireland obtained her political rights tomorrow, she would still lack full Nationhood while bereft of many of her dearest possessions from language downwards and hence in season and out of season we will strive within our limited sphere for the re-Gaelicisation of own country.” 

Long was also noted for his interest in new technology, becoming an early subscriber to the Electric Light Company in Thurles and using its services to power his printing presses.

Malcolm Denmark is an advertising executive who established Mediaforce UK in 1985, an advertising agency which represented media owners to advertising agencies. At the time, Mediaforce focused mainly on regional outlets across the UK. However, the business now includes the production and distribution of inserts in local and national titles. It has also expanded into print and online outlet ownership through an aggressive acquisition policy focusing on regional and local media publishers in the UK and Ireland. 
 
Since the establishment of Mediaforce, Malcolm Denmark’s business interests have expanded in this sector. He has established Media Concierge (Holdings) Ltd., which includes several subsidiaries, including Mediaforce. Denmark has also ventured into business activities that encompass a full range of advertising services such as representation, marketing, publishing, and distribution for Iconic Media in Ireland (Mediaforce Ireland/Formpress), which is the news publishing section of his business. In addition to media businesses, Malcolm Denmark also holds significant property interests and is the owner of multiple race horses.
 
Malcolm Denmark owns 75.2% of Media Concierge, alongside his son Callum Nicolas Denmark’s 15%, his daughter Tara Clare Denmark’s 9% and Valerie Mary Denmark (born 1957) 0.76%.

Darren Hassett, a County Tipperary Native, has served as Tipperary’s Regional Editor for Iconic Media (incl. The Nationalist and Tipperary Star) since 2021. He previously worked as a reporter for the Irish Daily Mail, the Kildare Nationalist, the Ireland International News Agency, and the Kilkenny People. 
Although Hassett’s political leanings are not publicly known, he wrote a popular 2024 column for Tipperarylive.ie condemning far-right involvement in anti-immigration protests in the Tipperary village of Dundrum.