Who Owns The Guardian? The Full Story Behind the Newspaper's Ownership
The Guardian isn’t owned by a billionaire, a corporation, or a private equity firm. It’s owned by a trust - and that’s not just a legal detail, it’s the reason the paper still publishes fearless journalism without chasing clicks or catering to shareholders.
Who exactly owns The Guardian?
The Guardian is owned by the Scott Trust a nonprofit entity established in 1936 to safeguard the editorial independence of The Guardian. The trust doesn’t aim to make money. Its only job is to ensure The Guardian stays financially stable so it can keep reporting without pressure from outside owners.
The Scott Trust was created after the newspaper’s then-owner, John Riddell, worried that future owners might sell The Guardian to someone who’d turn it into a profit-driven outlet. He wanted to lock in its mission: to serve the public, not investors. The trust took full control in 1936, and since then, it’s been the only legal owner of the newspaper and its digital arm, Guardian.co.uk.
How does the Scott Trust work?
The Scott Trust is governed by a board of trustees - usually seven to nine people - who are appointed based on their experience in journalism, law, finance, or public service. They don’t get paid. They don’t own shares. They can’t sell the paper. Their only authority is to make sure The Guardian’s values are protected.
The trust owns Guardian Media Group the parent company that runs The Guardian, The Observer, and other media assets. That means every penny earned from subscriptions, advertising, or events goes back into the organization. There’s no dividend payout. No private profit. No corporate takeover.
This structure is rare. Most newspapers today are owned by conglomerates like News Corp, Gannett, or Reach plc - all of which answer to shareholders who demand quarterly profits. The Scott Trust doesn’t have to answer to anyone but its own mission. That’s why The Guardian can afford to publish long investigative pieces on surveillance, climate change, or political corruption, even when they don’t bring in immediate traffic.
Why does ownership matter?
Ownership shapes journalism. When a newspaper is owned by a billionaire, like Jeff Bezos with The Washington Post, or by a hedge fund like Alden Global Capital, which owns dozens of U.S. papers, the editorial direction often shifts toward cost-cutting, layoffs, and sensational headlines.
The Guardian’s model is different. In 2024, the newspaper reported a surplus of £14.2 million - not because it cut staff, but because it grew its global audience to over 200 million monthly readers and boosted digital subscriptions to more than 1.1 million. That money didn’t go to shareholders. It went into hiring more journalists, upgrading its security systems after cyberattacks, and expanding its reporting teams in Africa and Southeast Asia.
Compare that to The Daily Mail, owned by the Daily Mail and General Trust, which cut its newsroom by 30% between 2019 and 2023. Or The New York Times, which is publicly traded and under pressure to hit revenue targets. The Guardian doesn’t have that pressure. It can take risks. It can lose money on a story if it’s important.
What about the Guardian’s funding?
The Guardian doesn’t rely on ads alone. It doesn’t have a paywall that blocks everything. Instead, it uses a hybrid model: free access to most content, with a gentle ask for readers to contribute. Around 25% of its revenue comes from reader donations and memberships. Another 40% comes from advertising and sponsored content. The rest comes from events, licensing, and its nonprofit foundation.
Its reader-funded model works because people trust it. A 2024 Reuters Institute study found that The Guardian had the highest trust rating among major UK news outlets - higher than the BBC, The Times, or The Telegraph. That trust is built on consistency: no ownership changes, no editorial interference, no political agendas pushed by owners.
Has the Scott Trust ever been challenged?
Yes. In the 1990s, when the newspaper was losing money, some trustees considered selling The Guardian to a larger media group. But after public outcry and internal debate, they decided to keep the trust structure. They doubled down on digital innovation instead - launching the website in 1999, long before most newspapers went online.
In 2018, when The Guardian announced it would stop printing its Saturday edition to focus on digital, some readers were upset. But the decision was made by the trust, not by investors. The trust said the move was necessary to survive. They didn’t ask for permission. They didn’t need to.
Even during the 2020 pandemic, when advertising revenue collapsed across the industry, The Guardian didn’t lay off its core newsroom. It launched a reader support campaign and raised over £20 million in three months. That’s the power of being owned by a mission, not a market.
What’s the future of the Scott Trust?
The trust is legally bound to keep The Guardian independent. But the world is changing. Younger readers consume news on TikTok and Instagram. Misinformation spreads faster than ever. The trust has responded by launching new initiatives: Guardian Labs for data journalism, a climate reporting team, and a global partnership with the BBC and other public service outlets.
There’s no plan to sell. No plan to go private. No plan to merge with another publisher. The trust’s charter says it must remain a nonprofit, and it’s been upheld for nearly 90 years. Even if the newspaper one day becomes fully digital, the trust will still be the owner.
Who funds the Scott Trust?
No one. That’s the point. The Scott Trust doesn’t receive funding from outside donors. It doesn’t take money from governments, foundations, or foreign entities. Its only source of funding is the revenue generated by Guardian Media Group - which includes The Guardian, The Observer, and its digital platforms.
This independence is why The Guardian can report on topics others avoid. In 2013, it published the first documents leaked by Edward Snowden - exposing global surveillance programs. The U.S. government tried to pressure the paper to stop. The UK government threatened legal action. The Scott Trust stood firm. They didn’t have to ask anyone’s permission.
What’s different about The Guardian compared to other UK papers?
Most UK newspapers are owned by wealthy families or corporations with clear political leanings. The Daily Mail supports conservative causes. The Financial Times is owned by Nikkei, a Japanese media group. The Times and The Sunday Times are owned by News Corp, which also owns Fox News.
The Guardian is the only major UK paper with no corporate owner, no billionaire backer, and no political party affiliation. Its editorial stance - progressive, internationalist, pro-human rights - comes from its journalists, not its owners. And because the Scott Trust doesn’t interfere, those journalists have the freedom to challenge power, no matter who’s in charge.
Can the Scott Trust be changed?
Technically, yes - but it’s nearly impossible. The trust’s charter requires a supermajority vote (two-thirds of trustees) to change its purpose. Even then, any change must be approved by the Charity Commission, the UK government body that oversees nonprofits. The commission would only approve a change if it proved the new structure better served public interest.
There’s been no serious attempt to alter the trust since 1936. Not even during the newspaper’s financial crises. Not even when digital disruption threatened its survival. The trustees believe the mission is more important than profit. And that’s why, in 2025, The Guardian is still here - independent, respected, and owned by nothing but its readers’ trust.
Who owns The Guardian newspaper?
The Guardian is owned by the Scott Trust, a nonprofit organization established in 1936 to protect the newspaper’s editorial independence. It is not owned by any individual, corporation, or government.
Is The Guardian a nonprofit?
Yes. The Guardian operates under the Scott Trust, which is a registered charity in the UK. All profits are reinvested into journalism, not distributed to owners or shareholders.
Does the Scott Trust control The Guardian’s editorial content?
No. The Scott Trust does not interfere with editorial decisions. Its role is financial and structural - ensuring the newspaper remains independent and financially sustainable. Journalists report to their editors, not the trustees.
Why doesn’t The Guardian have a paywall?
The Guardian has a freemium model: most content is free, but readers are encouraged to contribute voluntarily. This supports its mission of open access while funding journalism. Unlike papers with hard paywalls, it prioritizes reach over subscription revenue.
Can The Guardian be sold?
No. The Scott Trust’s charter legally prohibits the sale of The Guardian. Any attempt to change ownership would require approval from the UK Charity Commission, which would only grant it if a better public interest model were proposed - something no one has successfully argued for in nearly 90 years.
How does The Guardian make money?
The Guardian earns money through reader contributions (about 25%), digital advertising (40%), events, licensing, and syndication. All revenue supports journalism and is reinvested into the organization.
Is The Guardian biased because of its ownership?
The Guardian has a clear editorial stance - progressive and internationalist - but this comes from its journalists and editors, not from an owner pushing an agenda. Unlike papers owned by political figures or corporations, it has no hidden owner with vested interests.
What happens if the Scott Trust fails?
If the Scott Trust ever dissolved - due to legal challenges, financial collapse, or loss of public trust - UK law requires its assets to be transferred to another charitable organization with a similar mission. The Guardian couldn’t be bought by a billionaire or a media conglomerate. The law ensures it stays in the public interest.
That’s why, in a world where newsrooms are shrinking and truth is under attack, The Guardian still stands. Not because it’s perfect. But because its ownership structure protects it from the forces that have destroyed so many others.
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