In 1861 the Oban Monthly Pictorial Magazine was established by James Miller at a printing site on George Street in Oban. In 1866 the monthly operation became a weekly and changed its name to the Oban Times & Argyllshire Advertiser, although locally it was often referred to as ‘The Highlander’s Bible’. Printing was later transferred to a printing plant at the top of John Street. In 1882, Duncan Cameron purchased The Oban Timesnewspaper for £4,000 following the death of James Miller. Cameron was member of the printing and stationery firm of Macniven and Cameron in Edinburgh. Cameron had ancestral connections to the area. After the purchase, Cameron appointed his twenty-one-year-old son, also named Duncan Cameron, as the editor. The senior Cameron's daughter, Flora Macaulay, became the paper's editor when her brother Duncan left for Edinburgh to join the family's stationery business and another brother, Waverley, drowned at Lismore. Flora stayed involved with The Oban Times until her death at 99 in 1958. She was eventually succeeded as editor by her nephew, Alan Cameron. In June 1976, Alan Cameron decided to relinquish control of the paper, and The Oban Times was acquired by Johnston Press. The control of the paper reverted to private ownership in 1983, when it was purchased by its present owner, Howard Bennett. From 7 July 1866 until 23 November 1929, The Oban Times was published as 'The Oban Times and Argyllshire Advertiser' being described as "The County paper of Argyllshire circulating extensively in Glasgow, Edinburgh, Greenock, Paisley, Stirling, Doune, Callander, Tyndrum, Dalmally, Kingussie, Inverness, Fort William, Ballachulish, Tobermory, Easdale, Lochgilphead, Ardrishaig, Inveraray, Portree, Stornoway, the Lewis, Skye, the Western Islands and many other districts". It has since 19th Oct 1929 been published as the 'Oban Times and West Highland Times,' firstly on Saturday and latterly on Thursday, being described as "The regional newspaper for the West Highlands, Islands and Argyll." In 2016 the Lochaber News was purchased by The Oban Times. The masthead in the northern edition changed to "The Oban Times - Incorporating Lochaber News" - In 2017 the masthead changed again to "The Lochaber Times & Oban Times" A new website was launched in 2017 introducing a paywall. Whilst some news remained free, a paid-for subscription is required to read the rest. Articles are published behind the paywall over 7 days including up to date news as it happens. a webcam which looks over Loch Etive towards Ben Cruachan - Cruachan is run by The Oban Times
Today
' is part of the Wyvex Media Group, which also publishes ' covering Mid Argyll and North Kintyre – known locally as "The Squeak," The Arran Banner covering Arran, covering Campbeltown and Kintyre as well as magazines Scottish Field, SF Edinburgh, the monthly Fish Farmer Magazine and associated website as well as a selection of calendars, specials, holiday supplements and local publications including Lochaber Life, West Coast Review, Holiday West Highland.
