The Clarion Group was a newspaper corporation owned by Nick Cavanagh, based in Neptune House. As of Nick's acquisition of Bob Statham's 60% share of the Weatherfield Recorder in February 1988, the Clarion Group owned five free sheets. Ken Barlow knew of the Clarion Group by reputation, and remarked that their style wasn't editorials but wall-to-wall advertisements and horoscopes, though he held onto his 40% share of the Recorder and worked alongside Nick, despite an offer by the Clarion Group to buy him out.