MediaNews Group 2215416 212387486 2008-05-14T17:01:06Z Kbdankbot 6505923 Robot - move category per [[WP:CFD|CFD]] [[Wikipedia:Categories for discussion/Log/2008 May 8|2008 May 8]] {{Infobox_Company | company_name = MediaNews Group | company_logo = [[Image:Medianewsgroup.gif|center|250px]] | company_type = [[Private company|Private]]| foundation = [[1983]]| location = 101 West Colfax Avenue, Suite 1100, [[Denver, Colorado]] 80202 [[USA]] | key_people = Richard Scudder, chairman<br> [[William Dean Singleton]], vice chair, CEO<Br> Jody Lodovic, president<br>Steven Rossi, COO<br> | industry = [[Mass media|Media]] | products = [[Newspapers|Newspaper]]<br/> [[Television]] <br/> [[Radio]]| homepage = [http://www.medianewsgroup.com/ www.medianewsgroup.com] }} {{distinguish2|[[Media General]], an unrelated newspaper and TV group}} '''MediaNews Group''', based in [[Denver, Colorado]], is one of the largest [[newspaper]] companies in the [[United States]]. It is privately owned and operates 40 [[daily newspaper]]s in 9 states, with combined daily and Sunday circulation of approximately 1.7 million and 2.3 million, respectively. The company also owns [[KTVA]], a [[CBS]] affiliate in [[Anchorage, Alaska]], and radio stations in [[Texas]]. The company's chairman is Gary Wright and its chief executive officer and vice chairman is founder [[William Dean Singleton]]. The president is [[Jody Lodovic]]. [[Steven B. Rossi]] is executive vice president and chief operating officer.<ref>Securities and Exchange Commission filing. [http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/918944/000103570406000680/d39670e10vk.htm Form 10-K for the year ended June 30, 2006].</ref> ==History== Singleton founded MediaNews Group in 1983. In August, 2006, the company took out around $350 million in loans to purchase four newspapers from [[McClatchy Company]]. Among those providing the loan was the [[Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation]].<ref>"[http://www.thestar.com/NASApp/cs/ContentServer?pagename=thestar/Layout/Article_Type1&c=Article&cid=1156197009514&call_pageid=968350072197&col=969048863851 "Gates Foundation Makes MediaNews Loan"], ''Toronto Star''. [[August 22]], [[2006]].</ref> The loan was mostly used to help pay for the acquisition of two significant [[San Francisco Bay Area]] newspapers (and some smaller papers), including the ''[[San Jose Mercury News]]'' and the ''[[Contra Costa Times]]'', the dominant papers in the [[San Jose, California|San Jose]] and [[Contra Costa County, California]] markets; in total, the purchases amounted to roughly $737 million. [[Hearst Corporation]] owns 31% of MediaNews publications outside the San Francisco Bay area. [http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/918944/000095013408002793/d53907e10vq.htm Form 10-Q] ===New England Newspapers=== In [[1995]] MediaNews made its first foray into [[New England]], purchasing the [[Berkshire Eagle]] and associated newspapers, including the [[Vermont]] dailies ''[[Brattleboro Reformer]]'' and ''[[Bennington Banner]]''<ref name="Elfland">Elfland, Mike. "Sentinel & Enterprise Sale Set," ''Telegram & Gazette'' (Worcester, Mass.), [[January 8]], [[1997]].</ref> and [[Connecticut]] daily ''[[Middletown Press]]'', the last of which it sold soon after to [[Journal Register Company]].<ref>"Business Briefs," ''Union-News'' (Springfield, Mass.), [[August 26]], [[1995]]</ref> In the next two years, MediaNews expanded its footprint across Massachusetts' northern tier with its purchases of the ''[[North Adams Transcript]]'' ([[1996]]), ''[[Sentinel & Enterprise]]'' in [[Fitchburg, Massachusetts|Fitchburg]] ([[1997]])<ref name="Elfland"/> and ''[[The Sun (Lowell)|The Sun]]'' of [[Lowell, Massachusetts|Lowell]] (also in [[1997]]).<ref>"Lowell Paper Sold," ''Telegram & Gazette'' (Worcester, Mass.), [[July 9]], [[1997]].</ref> MediaNews also purchased the ''[[Connecticut Post]]'' in [[2000]], paying $203 million.<ref>Gatlin, Greg. "MediaNews Drops Bid." ''Boston Herald'', [[August 9]], [[2000]].</ref> In 2007, MediaNews expanded in Connecticut, operating the Stamford Advocate and the Greenwich Time, two dailies in lower Fairfield County with a combined circulation of about 35,000. The Hearst Corporation purchased the two papers from the Tribune Company, and MediaNews operates them through an existing agreement between the two companies. MediaNews makes the day-to-day publication decisions at the two papers. ==Corporate Culture== MediaNews Group is known as a cost-cutter in the newspaper publishing industry. The company has a reputation for buying smaller daily newspapers in a single area (examples include Los Angeles and the San Francisco Bay Area) and consolidating their operations, including sharing staff writers and printing facilities. As a result of the cost-cutting, according to an article in the ''[[Los Angeles Times]]'',<ref>Menn, Joseph. [http://www.latimes.com/news/printedition/la-fi-singleton22mar22,1,6398768,full.story "There Are Two Sides to This Publisher's Story"]. ''Los Angeles Times''. [[March 22]], [[2006]].</ref> some former employees say that the newspapers are focused on making a profit to the detriment of good journalism. On the other hand, Singleton is quick to point out that MediaNews is committed to print journalism, not diversification into other media. ''[[The Berkshire Eagle]]'' editor David E. Scribner, two years after MediaNews bought his newspaper, said the staff respected Singleton despite layoffs because of his hands-on leadership and "traditional emphasis on good writing."<ref name="Elfland"/> ==Anti-Union== In 2004, MediaNews Group acquired the [[York Daily Record]], a 45,000 circulation morning paper in York, PA. As of October, 2007 they have been making the journalists there work without a contract. Despite many offers from the union and mediation by the government, the situation is still not settled. ==Antitrust Allegations== On [[July 14]], [[2006]], San Francisco businessman and real estate investor [[Clint Reilly]] filed a lawsuit against MediaNews Group and ''[[San Francisco Chronicle]]'' parent [[Hearst Corporation]], alleging that the two companies have been conspiring to control advertising rates, a violation of antitrust laws. In November 2006, Reilly's attorney presented to U.S. District Judge [[Susan Illston]] a letter from Hearst senior vice president James Asher to MediaNews President Jody Lodovic that said the two companies agreed to "offer national advertising and internet advertising sales for their San Francisco Bay Area newspapers on a joint basis, and to consolidate the San Francisco Bay Area distribution networks of such newspapers ...." Illston, suggesting she had been misled by the companies when they said they had not been collaborating, issued a 14-page ruling <ref>U.S. District Court [http://cbs5.com/business/local_file_332174530~ Order Re: Second Application for Temporary Restraining Order], [[November 28]], [[2006]].</ref> forbidding Hearst and MediaNews from working together on national advertising sales or distribution. On [[December 21]], [[2006]], the ''[[San Francisco Bay Guardian]]'' and nonprofit [[Media Alliance]] filed suit to make the details of Reilly's lawsuit -- and MediaNews and the ''Chronicle''<nowiki>'s</nowiki> response -- public.<ref>Williamson, Kate. [http://www.examiner.com/a-470754~Weekly__nonprofit_sue_to_open_records.html "Weekly, Nonprofit Sue to Open Records"]. ''San Francisco Examiner'', [[December 22]], [[2006]].</ref> As a result of the filing, many documents in the case were voluntarily disclosed by the defendants. The judge allowed redacted versions of two more documents to be released. She kept 17 others under seal. One of the documents unsealed was the deposition of Hearst's Asher, who says that as of September 2006, his company had recorded cumulative losses of $330 million on its investment in the ''Chronicle''<ref>Said, Carolyn. [http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2007/02/01/BUGF7NT32227.DTL "Hearst, MediaNews Talks Included Possible Sale of Chronicle"], ''San Francisco Chronicle'', [[February 1]], [[2007]].</ref>, which it acquired in mid-2000. He said Hearst proposed selling the ''Chronicle'' to MediaNews, but MediaNews didn't offer enough money. Asher also said Hearst and MediaNews have discussed working together for years. Although the trial was scheduled to start Monday, [[April 30]], [[2007]] in U.S. District Court in San Francisco,<ref>[http://www.examiner.com/a-556253~MediaNews__Hearst_trial_set_to_proceed.html "MediaNews, Hearst Trial Set to Proceed"], ''San Francisco Examiner''. [[February 9]], [[2007]].</ref> the parties announced Wednesday, [[April 25]], [[2007]] that a settlement had been reached.<ref>{{cite news |first=Bob |last=Egelko |title=Hearst, MediaNews Group settle Reilly suit |url=http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2007/04/25/BUG01PF68G7.DTL |work=San Francisco Chronicle |date=2007-04-25 |accessdate=2007-05-30}}</ref> ==Newspapers== ===Dailies=== Daily newspapers owned by MediaNews, alphabetically by state and hometown, are: {| | *''[[Kodiak Daily Mirror]]'' of [[Kodiak, Alaska]] *''[[Fairbanks Daily News-Miner]]'' of [[Fairbanks, Alaska]] *''[[Alameda Times-Star]]'' of [[Alameda, California]] *''[[East Bay Daily News]]'' of [[Berkeley, California]] *''[[Burlingame Daily News]]'' of [[Burlingame, California]] *''[[The Argus]]'' of [[Fremont, California]] *''[[Chico Enterprise Record]]'' of [[Chico, California]] *''[[Contra Costa Times]]'' of [[Walnut Creek, California]] *''[[Times-Standard]]'' of [[Eureka, California]] *''[[Ft. Bragg Advocate-News]]'' of [[Fort Bragg, California]] *''[[Daily Review]]'' of [[Hayward, California]] *''[[Lake County Record Bee]]'' of [[Lakeport, California]] *''[[Long Beach Press-Telegram]]'' of [[Long Beach, California]] *''[[Marin Independent Journal]]'' of [[Marin, California]] *''[[Mendocino Beacon]]'' of [[Mendocino, California]] *''[[Milpitas Post]]'' of [[Milpitas, California]] *''[[Monterey County Herald]]'' of [[Monterey, California]] *''[[The Oakland Tribune]]'' of [[Oakland, California]] *''[[Inland Valley Daily Bulletin]]'' of [[Ontario, California]] *''[[Oroville Mercury Register]]'' of [[Oroville, California]] *''[[Pacifica Tribune]]'' of [[Pacifica, California]] *''[[Palo Alto Daily News]]'' of [[Palo Alto, California]] *''[[Paradise Post]]'' of [[Paradise, California]] *''[[Pasadena Star-News]]'' of [[Pasadena, California]] *''[[Tri-Valley Herald]]'' of [[Pleasanton, California]] *''[[Red Bluff Daily News]]'' of [[Red Bluff, California]] *''[[Redlands Daily Facts]]'' of [[Redlands, California]] *''[[Redwood City Daily News]]'' of [[Redwood City, California]] *''[[The Sun (San Bernardino)|The Sun]]'' of [[San Bernardino, California]] *''[[San Jose Mercury News]]'' of [[San Jose, California]] *''[[San Mateo County Times]]'' of [[San Mateo, California]] *''[[San Mateo Daily News]]'' of [[San Mateo, California]] *''[[Santa Cruz Sentinel]]'' of [[Santa Cruz, California]] *''[[The Daily Breeze]]'' of [[Torrance, California]] *''[[Ukiah Daily Journal]]'' of [[Ukiah, California]] *''[[The Reporter (Vacaville)|The Reporter]]'' of [[Vacaville, California]] | *''[[Times-Herald (Vallejo)|Times-Herald]]'' of [[Vallejo, California]] *''[[San Gabriel Valley Tribune]]'' of [[West Covina, California]] *''[[Whittier Daily News]]'' of [[Whittier, California]] *''[[Willits News]]'' of [[Willits, California]] *''[[Daily Democrat]]'' of [[Woodland, California]] *''[[Los Angeles Daily News]]'' of [[Woodland Hills, California]] *''[[Brush News-Tribune]]'' of [[Brush, Colorado]] *''[[Denver Post]]'' of [[Denver, Colorado]] *''[[Fort Morgan Times]]'' of [[Fort Morgan, Colorado]] *''[[Lamar Daily News]]'' of [[Lamar, Colorado]] *''[[Journal Advocate]]'' of [[Sterling, Colorado]] *''[[Connecticut Post]]'' of [[Bridgeport, Connecticut]] *''[[The News-Times]]'' of [[Danbury, Connecticut]] *''[[Sentinel & Enterprise]]'' of [[Fitchburg, Massachusetts]] *''[[The Sun (Lowell)|The Sun]]'' of [[Lowell, Massachusetts]] *''[[North Adams Transcript]]'' of [[North Adams, Massachusetts]] *''[[The Berkshire Eagle]]'' of [[Pittsfield, Massachusetts]] *''[[The Detroit News]]'' of [[Detroit, Michigan]] *''[[St. Paul Pioneer Press]]'' of [[St. Paul, Minnesota]] *''[[Alamogordo Daily News]]'' of [[Alamogordo, New Mexico]] *''[[Current Argus]]'' of [[Carlsbad, New Mexico]] *''[[Deming Headlight]]'' of [[Deming, New Mexico]] *''[[Farmington Daily Times]]'' of [[Farmington, New Mexico]] *''[[Las Cruces Sun-News]]'' of [[Las Cruces, New Mexico]] *''[[Silver City Sun-News]]'' of [[Silver City, New Mexico]] *''[[Public Opinion]]'' of [[Chambersburg, Pennsylvania]] *''[[Evening Sun (Hanover)|Evening Sun]]'' of [[Hanover, Pennsylvania]] *''[[Lebanon Daily News]]'' of [[Lebanon, Pennsylvania]] *''[[York Daily Record]]'' (and ''Sunday News'') of [[York, Pennsylvania]] *''[[El Paso Times]]'' of [[El Paso, Texas]] *''[[The Graham Leader]]'' of [[Graham, Texas]] *''[[Park Record]]'' of [[Park City, Utah]] *''[[The Salt Lake Tribune]]'' of [[Salt Lake City, Utah]] *''[[Bennington Banner]]'' of [[Bennington, Vermont]] *''[[Brattleboro Reformer]]'' of [[Brattleboro, Vermont]] *''[[Charleston Daily Mail]]'' of [[Charleston, West Virginia]] &nbsp; |} In addition, MediaNews manages but does not own ''[[The Advocate (Stamford)|The Advocate]]'' of [[Stamford, Connecticut]] and ''[[Greenwich Time (newspaper)|Greenwich Time]]'' of [[Greenwich, Connecticut]]. The company runs the newspapers for the [[Hearst Corporation]] under a joint operating agreement.<ref>"Tribune Completes Sale Of 2 Papers", news brief, ''[[The Hartford Courant]]'', [[November 2]], [[2007]], accessed [[November 12]], [[2007]]</ref> === Weekly newspapers === *[[Brooks Community Newspapers]], publishing six weekly newspapers in [[Connecticut]] *[[Gazette Newspapers]], two [[weekly newspaper]]s in [[Long Beach, California]] *[[The Greater New Milford Spectrum]] in [[New Milford, Connecticut]] *[[Impacto USA]], a Spanish-language newspaper in [[Long Beach, California]] *[[Lake Country Newspapers]], several weeklies in [[Texas]] *[[Nashoba Publishing]], several weekly newspapers in northern [[Massachusetts]] *[[Silicon Valley Community Newspapers]], nine weeklies near [[San Jose, California]] *[[Texas-New Mexico Newspapers Partnership]], including two weeklies in [[New Mexico]] ===Television Station=== *[[KTVA]] ([[CBS]] Affiliate) in [[Anchorage, Alaska|Anchorage]], [[Alaska]]. === Other properties === Other MediaNews properties include: *LA.com, a portal site based in [[Los Angeles, California]] *[[Lake Country Radio]] of [[Breckenridge, Texas|Breckenridge]] and [[Graham, Texas]] *[[U-Entertainment]] of [[Los Angeles, California]] *[[Woman Magazine]] of [[Norwalk, Connecticut]] ==References== <references/> ==External links== *[http://www.medianewsgroup.com MediaNews Group official site] [[Category:Newspaper companies of the United States]] [[Category:MediaNews Group]] [[Category:Companies established in 1983]] [[Category:Privately held companies of the United States]] [[Category:Companies based in Denver, Colorado]] [[de:MediaNews]]