The word around the paper is that the deal to sell The Bristol Press, New Britain Herald and three weeklies to Mike Schroeder and his silent partner should be finalized on Monday.
Let's hope the Journal Register Co., the current owner, doesn't find a way to muck it up.
*******
Copyright 2009. All rights reserved.
Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com
Showing posts with label New Britain Herald. Show all posts
Showing posts with label New Britain Herald. Show all posts
January 16, 2009
January 8, 2009
More links to stories about the sale of the Press
You can see the story that aired on Hartford's Channel 61 last night by following this link and clicking on the appropriate video clip in the gray box in the middle. If anyone can tell me how to embed it, I'll gladly do that.
Copyright 2009. All rights reserved.
Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com
January 7, 2009
New publisher is a newspaper guy
Story by reporter Jackie Majerus:
Sitting down to breakfast with a friend last month, Mike Schroeder had never set foot in Bristol or New Britain.
Little did he know how fast – and how much – his world was about to change.
The 50-year-old Long Island resident, doing consulting work after nearly three decades in the news business, had given a lot of thought over the years about running his own community newspaper.
Now here was his friend, handing him a copy of the December 15 edition of The New York Times, which carried a story by columnist Dan Barry about the role that the 137-year-old Bristol Press has played in its community.
The story also carried the grim news that the paper's owner, the Journal Register Co., would close it and a dozen sister papers if they weren't sold by mid-January.
Schroeder's friend asked him if he ever thought about buying a newspaper, suggesting they might consider it together.
After thinking it over, Schroeder called his friend back and asked whether he was serious. He was, and they were on their way.
"I always wanted to retire as a gentleman publisher," said Schroeder.
Not long after that, Schroeder was scouting around Bristol and New Britain, meeting the mayors and getting a feel for the towns.
He got a warm welcome.
"Immediately the mayors came on board," said Schroeder, willing to drop their schedules to meet with him and talk about the newspapers and their communities. They put together the meeting that "sealed the deal," said Schroeder.
"Both of them have just been stellar," said Schroeder.
Schroeder said the sale of the two dailies and three weeklies to his newly-formed company, Central Connecticut Communications, should close within two weeks.
He said a handshake on New Year's Eve officially put the deal in motion.
His New York Times-reading friend, who Schroeder said prefers to be an anonymous, silent partner, is the primary investor and Schroeder's sole partner in the business, he said.
"I'm totally the operating piece of this thing, and I better make it work, or I'm going to lose a friend," said Schroeder.
Schroeder, who said he came from a small town of just 2,700 people, said his first experience in journalism was typing out his own neighborhood newspaper – using carbon paper! – and selling copies for two cents each.
"I'd take a nickel if they gave it to me," he said.
He worked every possible job at his local paper, he said, and earned a bachelor's degree in journalism and economics at the University of Southern California, where he was elected editor of the campus paper, the Daily Trojan.
He later earned a master of business administration from Long Island University.
After college, he worked at the Los Angeles Herald Examiner and later, the Orange County Register. He also taught in the journalism school at USC.
Schroeder put in many years at Newsday, leaving in 2005 as general manager of Island Publications, the company's niche publications division. Before that, he was the publisher's chief of staff and earlier, director of editorial technology and information services.
An earlier stint at Newsday ran from 1983 to 1992, when Schroeder started work as a news editor and left as manager of editorial technology.
About a year ago, he "went out on a limb," he said, and started up Boston NOW, a free daily commuter paper, which was backed by investors from Iceland. That venture ended in April.
"When their economy collapsed, so did we," he said.
He went into consulting for a time, but now, Schroeder said, he can't wait to get started in his newest adventure.
His resume boasts a "proven track record" in a variety of challenges, "including startups, turnarounds, reorganizations and staff development."
With help from a friend, Schroeder intends to build a business that supports itself, serves the community "and lets me fulfill my dream."
He can help two communities save their newspapers, each with more than 130 years of publishing history "and have a great time" doing it, he said.
He said his wife, Janet Schroeder, who is a business manager for a charter school in New York, may work at the Connecticut papers, too.
The couple, who worked together at Boston NOW, plan to move from Long Island to Central Connecticut, he said.
Thanks to CT NewsJunkie, here's some video of Schroeder at today's press conference:
******
Copyright 2009. All rights reserved.
Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com
Copyright 2009. All rights reserved.
Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com
New owner vows to give communities time to save their newspapers
These stories were written by reporter Jackie Majerus:
Incoming Press owner says papers can regain former role
HARTFORD – Promising to restore The Bristol Press and The Herald of New Britain to "the iconic position" they once held in their communities, incoming owner and Publisher Mike Schroeder said he can't wait to get started.
Schroeder, meeting reporters at the Capitol Wednesday, outlined his plans for the two daily papers and three weeklies that he and a fellow investor intend to buy for an undisclosed price in the coming weeks.
The two dailies, each with a circulation of about 9,000, will remain separate publications, said Schroeder, but continue to put out a combined Sunday paper.
The papers will continue printing on their current schedules, said Schroeder, who said there will be no interruption in publication.
"We're going to keep the staffs close to what they are now," said Schroeder, who said there will be a place for employees who want to work hard and do a good job.
"We're going to make the papers as good as they can possibly be," said Schroeder, who has a long history in the news business.
Initially, the Press will continue to be printed in Torrington, and the Herald in New Haven, said Schroeder, but he said he expects that to change.
He said he's not yet sure where the newspaper offices will be, but said he is not purchasing the Bristol Press building on Main Street. The Herald building in New Britain is already under contract for sale.
Schroeder said he does not expect to change from the morning delivery format and promised "first-class customer service."
There will be continued improvements in the newspapers, Schroeder said, vowing to deliver value for advertisers and "a paper that people want to turn to if they want to know what's going on."
But Schroeder, who along with a private investor recently formed Central Connecticut Communications, made it clear that the newspapers will go far beyond the printed word.
"We're going to be a multi-media company," said Schroeder. "We want to educate, inform and entertain these communities."
The papers will deliver the news and information in whatever form best works for the subscriber, Schroeder said.
He said there will be improvements to the printed edition, to the web page and predicted there will be more technological advances. Some people, he said, may wind up reading their local news on their cell phones in the future.
"I don't think the print version will ever entirely go away," said Schroeder, but he said he doesn't know what form it will take, even five years from now.
"We're going to serve the community in any form we need to," Schroeder said.
Though local leaders hailed Schroeder for rescuing the newspapers from closure, he said, "I'm here to give enough time so the community can save the papers."
The papers are going to need subscribers, advertisers and community support to make it work, Schroeder said.
"We're going to have a viable, profitable company as well as a community resource," said Schroeder.
One of the things that will set the newspapers apart, according to Schroeder, is local control. Too many publications are owned and controlled from outside the area and suffer from "management by phone."
"I don't think that works," said Schroeder, who lives on Long Island but plans to move to the area be involved in the communities, listening to residents and supplying what they need.
"This is not going to be operated from Long Island," said Schroeder.
Schroeder joked that he's being torn in two directions because leaders of both Bristol and New Britain want him to settle in their town.
State Rep. Betty Boukus, a Plainville Democrat who also represents people in Bristol and New Britain, offered a diplomatic solution.
"Plainville is right in the middle," she said. "I'd be happy to show you around."
Schroeder said he is in the process of doing due diligence before the closing. Though unlikely, it is still possible that the deal could fall apart, he said, adding, "but neither of us want it to."
Politicians hail prospective owner of Press, Herald
HARTFORD – City and state officials representing Bristol and New Britain gathered Wednesday to herald Mike Schroeder, the incoming owner and publisher of five newspapers that had been threatened with closure by their current owner, the Journal Register Co.
"It is great news," said Rep. Tim O'Brien, a New Britain Democrat who said he and fellow lawmakers from Bristol and New Britain got involved after learning that their hometown newspapers would close if they weren't sold by the middle of this month. He said they were concerned about the impact the loss of the papers would have on their communities.
Lawmakers said many people helped spread the news about the plight of the papers, from politicians to state economic development officials to members of the press.
"The word got out," said O'Brien, "and Mr. Schroeder read about it in The New York Times."
Bristol Mayor Art Ward showed off a copy of Wednesday's Bristol Press, where the lead story announced Schroeder's plan to purchase the paper.
"It's a great headline to see in the morning," said Ward, who said Schroeder and his investment partner is the "economic stimulus for the newspaper industry" in Connecticut.
"It's good news for a new year," said New Britain Mayor Timothy Stewart.
Stewart and Ward, who met privately with Schroeder in the last days of December, said their impression of him was good from the start.
"From minute one, his focus has been community," said Ward.
Both mayors pledged to do what they could to help Schroeder's new venture.
"It is our job to make sure you're successful," said Stewart. "Your success goes alongside ours."
Schroeder, who along with a private investor recently formed Central Connecticut Communications, intends to close soon on the purchase of two daily papers, The Bristol Press and The Herald of New Britain and three weeklies, the Newington Town Crier, the Wethersfield Post and the Rocky Hill Post.
All together, the papers have 95 employees, said Schroeder.
O'Brien said the new publisher will have access to the same programs through the state Department of Economic and Community Development that any other business does.
Schroeder said there is no state money in the deal now, but he said, "I'll take every nickel I can get."
Bristol has a series of economic development programs aimed at job retention and growth, and Ward said the newspaper would be eligible for those.
"We don't expect to get handouts," said Schroeder. "We don't expect to get something for nothing."
Stewart said there may be money available for retraining workers for new technology.
"The paper is no different than any other business," said Stewart, who said his goal is saving local jobs.
Rep. Frank Nicastro, a Bristol Democrat, said the legislators tried to drum up support and interest in the papers, but weren't involved in the negotiations.
Perseverance paid off, said Nicastro. "This is a positive ending."
Copyright 2009. All rights reserved.
Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com
January 6, 2009
Buyer emerges for Bristol Press
With much relief, I can point you to this story just posted on The Bristol Press website announcing the imminent sale of The Press and the New Britain Herald.
What it means for employees is clear enough. We keep our jobs, for now at least.
What it means for Bristol, though, is that its newspaper will keep coming out as it has for the past 137 years, chronicling our community day in and day out.
It's wonderful news.
Here's part of the story:
As the new owner [a group headed by Michael Schroeder] settles in, he said he expects few changes to be noticeable over the short term, but expects some change will be inevitable as the papers reemerge to a position of dominance in their communities.
“I’m a big proponent of continuous improvement,” Schroeder said.
Schroeder said he expects the areas covered by the papers to stay the same, but with an increased depth and emphasis on local news, sports and community events. His aspiration for the papers is that they regain their place as the newspapers of record in their communities.
“I’m not saving the papers — the community is going to save the papers,” he said. “Readers are going to support it by buying the paper and advertisers are going to support it by realizing it is the voice of their community.”
“I’m a big proponent of continuous improvement,” Schroeder said.
Schroeder said he expects the areas covered by the papers to stay the same, but with an increased depth and emphasis on local news, sports and community events. His aspiration for the papers is that they regain their place as the newspapers of record in their communities.
“I’m not saving the papers — the community is going to save the papers,” he said. “Readers are going to support it by buying the paper and advertisers are going to support it by realizing it is the voice of their community.”
Really, that is the key now. Bristol has its paper, but now it must rise to the occasion and save it for future generations.
PS: Here's a Journal Register Co. report on the sale:
Buyer purchases two Connecticut newspapers
HUNTINGTON, N.Y. – Central Connecticut Communications has entered into a letter of intent to purchase the assets of The Bristol Press, The Herald of New Britain and The Sunday Herald Press from Journal Register Company, parent company of the New Haven Register.
The acquisition is expected to close within two weeks.
The sale includes the assets of the papers’ Web sites and of three nearby weeklies: the Wethersfield Post, the Newington Town Crier and the Rocky Hill Post.
Central Connecticut Communications, a corporation formed to facilitate the sale, is owned by Michael E. Schroeder, most recently publisher of the short-lived free daily BostonNOW and a long-time newspaper and magazine industry executive. He previously held editorial and management positions at Long Island’s Newsday.
Once the acquisition is finalized, Schroeder will become president, publisher and CEO of the group, and will manage all operations from the newspapers’ offices in New Britain and Bristol. The papers will continue to publish on their current schedule.
“We look forward to building upon the rich history of these properties as local business people,” said Schroeder. “We plan to work with current staff, readers and advertisers to produce papers, Web sites and other media that successfully educate, inform and entertain the communities they serve.”
“We know that the papers will be in good hands under Michael Schroeder’s leadership,” said Scott Wright, Journal Register president. “He came into this situation very recently and demonstrated a thorough knowledge of the business, a willingness to learn about the community, and a positive attitude toward the future of the properties.”
“Journal Register worked hard to find a good home for these papers under very trying circumstances, and insisted on fair treatment of their employees. We appreciate them working with us, along with the efforts of the current publisher, Ed Gunderson, to get us up to speed,” Schroeder said. “We also received substantial support from mayors of both towns, Tim Stewart in New Britain and Art Ward in Bristol.”
The Bristol Press and The Herald of New Britain have been published continuously for over 130 years. They employ a combined staff of over 90 in their two offices, publishing six days each with a combined Sunday paper.
The acquisition was brokered by Phil Murray of Dirks, Van Essen and Murray of Santa Fe, New Mexico.
HUNTINGTON, N.Y. – Central Connecticut Communications has entered into a letter of intent to purchase the assets of The Bristol Press, The Herald of New Britain and The Sunday Herald Press from Journal Register Company, parent company of the New Haven Register.
The acquisition is expected to close within two weeks.
The sale includes the assets of the papers’ Web sites and of three nearby weeklies: the Wethersfield Post, the Newington Town Crier and the Rocky Hill Post.
Central Connecticut Communications, a corporation formed to facilitate the sale, is owned by Michael E. Schroeder, most recently publisher of the short-lived free daily BostonNOW and a long-time newspaper and magazine industry executive. He previously held editorial and management positions at Long Island’s Newsday.
Once the acquisition is finalized, Schroeder will become president, publisher and CEO of the group, and will manage all operations from the newspapers’ offices in New Britain and Bristol. The papers will continue to publish on their current schedule.
“We look forward to building upon the rich history of these properties as local business people,” said Schroeder. “We plan to work with current staff, readers and advertisers to produce papers, Web sites and other media that successfully educate, inform and entertain the communities they serve.”
“We know that the papers will be in good hands under Michael Schroeder’s leadership,” said Scott Wright, Journal Register president. “He came into this situation very recently and demonstrated a thorough knowledge of the business, a willingness to learn about the community, and a positive attitude toward the future of the properties.”
“Journal Register worked hard to find a good home for these papers under very trying circumstances, and insisted on fair treatment of their employees. We appreciate them working with us, along with the efforts of the current publisher, Ed Gunderson, to get us up to speed,” Schroeder said. “We also received substantial support from mayors of both towns, Tim Stewart in New Britain and Art Ward in Bristol.”
The Bristol Press and The Herald of New Britain have been published continuously for over 130 years. They employ a combined staff of over 90 in their two offices, publishing six days each with a combined Sunday paper.
The acquisition was brokered by Phil Murray of Dirks, Van Essen and Murray of Santa Fe, New Mexico.
Other links:
Note: A news conference has been scheduled at the state Capitol for 4 p.m. with the new owner and state officials. I'll post more details later.
*******
Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com
January 4, 2009
A roundup of new Bristol Press-related stories and columns
Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com
January 3, 2009
New London daily distressed at possible Press closure
The Day weighs in with an editorial lamenting the possible closure of The Bristol Press and New Britain Herald.
Here's an excerpot: "The two daily newspapers are a part of the fabric of everyday life in central Connecticut, as are newspapers across the country. They are the conduit that provides local municipal news and information on births, deaths, arrests, high school sports and more. Readers depend on their newspapers to stay informed. Television and the Internet might keep people abreast of what's happening in the Gaza Strip, but they won't tell them what the local zoning commission is up to or if the New Britain Golden Hurricanes won a big game."
The editorial also hails the state Department of Economic Development for doing "nothing extraordinary to save the Journal Register newspapers," which is exactly what lawmakers asked from it.
In any case, I'm glad to see The Day's support. Every little bit helps. Maybe.
Copyright 2008. All rights reserved.
Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com
December 30, 2008
JI, Record Journal among potential buyers, editor says
In this story in Editor & Publisher today, the executive editor of The Bristol Press and New Britain Herald talks a bit more about what's going on in the search for a buyer for both threatened dailies.
*******
Copyright 2008. All rights reserved.
Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com
*******
Copyright 2008. All rights reserved.
Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com
December 29, 2008
State officials optimistic as half a dozen prospects emerge to buy threatened newspapers
Both of these stories were written with reporter Jackie Majerus:There are at least six potential buyers eyeing The Bristol Press, The Herald of New Britain and 11 weeklies, according to state and municipal officials who met Monday to discuss the looming closure of the newspapers.
“We are guardedly optimistic” that a deal might be struck, said state Economic Development Commissioner Joan McDonald.
Five of the six are already talking to the broker hired by the Journal Register Co. to try to sell the Central Connecticut papers slated to close in mid-January unless a new owner takes over, the officials said.
The other possible buyer, an anonymous New York newspaper veteran, met earlier in the day with the mayors of Bristol and New Britain. Both mayors expressed hope he might snatch up both dailies.
“We are pretty optimistic that this might materialize,” said Mayor Timothy Stewart of New Britain. “The prospects are pretty good that somebody will save these local papers.”
State lawmakers and economic development officials said their role in helping to land a buyer for the troubled newspaper chain is pretty much over unless someone asks for their assistance. Instead, they said, buyers and the broker hired to sell the papers are talking.
“We’re stepping back,” McDonald said.
It remains murky, though, who might be interested at a time when newspapers are taking it on the chin across much of America.
At least one is another newspaper company that responded to a letter sent out to 16 media firms by the state Department of Economic and Community Development, McDonald said. The Journal Inquirer of Manchester is also in the mix, according to Stewart.
Three of six prospects had been talking to the broker, the New Mexico-based Dirks, Van Essen & Murray. Another was put in touch with the broker through state Rep. Tim O’Brien, a New Britain Democrat. The other read about the papers’ plight and contacted the DECD, McDonald said.
The sixth prospect is the one the mayors spoke with in Stewart’s office Monday.
Both Stewart and Ward said the New York buyer is the most promising of all.
“He's most real,” said Stewart. “I think the prospects are pretty good here. They are looking to maintain that hometown nature.”
The mayors wouldn't name the individual from New York, but said he has many years experience as an editor, is not connected to any Connecticut paper and is not part of a newspaper chain.
“He does come from a strong background in journalism,” said Stewart. “He was very promising.”
Ward said he was “definitely, definitely interested” and has the financing in place to pull it off.
“Hopefully this will amount to something in the very near future,” Stewart said.Neither the JRC nor the broker has ever disclosed how much money they’re seeking for the papers. Officials said they would not name any potential buyers for fear of jeopardizing negotiations.
O'Brien said that he and other lawmakers working with McDonald’s office helped generate publicity that may have spurred interest from a buyer.
“Our efforts have succeeded in getting the word out to potential buyers," said O'Brien. "At this point, it's in their hands."
The five potential buyers who are speaking with the broker are "very much interested in doing something," said state Rep. Frank Nicastro, a Bristol Democrat.
"It appears that negotiations are getting serious," Nicastro said. “It's important that we move forward."
The mayors of New Britain and Bristol said they each spoke with some of the same prospective buyers, but that each of them had been contacted by other potential buyers who were interested in just one of the papers.
Stewart said he spoke with someone from the Journal Inquirer, but Ward said he had not. Stewart said the Manchester paper was interested in both the Press and the Herald and that it was still in the running as a buyer.
Nicastro said citizens need their newspapers. He said he's heard from many constituents about his work to help save the papers.
"The vast majority of the phone calls are saying, do what you can do to save the newspaper," said Nicastro. He said if people didn't like it, he would hear from them.
Even if, in the end, no buyer comes through, at least they tried, Nicastro said.
"This can't hurt," Nicastro said. "This can only help the citizens of Connecticut."
O'Brien also said that voters in his district are in favor of his work to save the papers.
"We would like to see our hometown papers preserved," said O'Brien, who said he is "hopeful" that a deal will be made.
Local newspapers are "centers of community life," said O'Brien. "Their loss would be felt very severely."
Deputy House Speaker Demetrios Giannaros, a Farmington Democrat, said the loss of the state's daily and weekly papers threatened – and some already closed – by the Journal Register Co. means the "dismantling of local reporting for most of Connecticut."
Giannaros paraphrased Thomas Jefferson's comment about preferring a world without government over a world without newspapers. He said citizens like him who have become elected leaders often are in place because people have learned about them through coverage in local papers.
"It's a democratic process that must be maintained," said Giannaros.
State Rep.-elect Chris Wright of Bristol said he hopes it works out because losing the papers would be a blow to democracy. "How can you have a free press if there's no press?" he asked.
Selling the papers, though, has not proven an easy process.
Stewart said the records kept by the JRC that are being shown to prospective buyers are turning some of them away.
"The books aren't the greatest," said Stewart. "That's part of the issue."
Some of the concern, said Stewart, is whether the paper is viable. But he said a major stumbling block is that there just isn't enough information in the books to make a reasonable judgment about the business.
Former Bristol mayoral contender Ken Johnson, who was part of a group that considered buying the Press, said that “the lack of information from the seller has been a primary impediment to submitting any purchase offer.”
Johnson said the broker “actually felt compelled to apologize for the lack of information.”
Another complication, said Stewart, is that that the Journal Register Co. papers are so intertwined that it is complicated to sort out the truth about any particular newspaper.
Since the JRC notified employees in Bristol and New Britain on Nov. 11 that it intended to close the papers in 60 days, it has shuttered many weekly papers in southern Connecticut and Pennsylvania. The company is heavily in debt and its stock is worth less than a penny a share.]
The newspaper industry as a whole is reeling, with many papers struggling to remain afloat in the face of shrinking circulations and declining advertising. People are shifting their attention online, where newspapers frequently have as many readers as ever, but profits are elusive.
“It’s a challenging time” for newspapers, McDonald said.
“We are guardedly optimistic” that a deal might be struck, said state Economic Development Commissioner Joan McDonald.
Five of the six are already talking to the broker hired by the Journal Register Co. to try to sell the Central Connecticut papers slated to close in mid-January unless a new owner takes over, the officials said.
The other possible buyer, an anonymous New York newspaper veteran, met earlier in the day with the mayors of Bristol and New Britain. Both mayors expressed hope he might snatch up both dailies.
“We are pretty optimistic that this might materialize,” said Mayor Timothy Stewart of New Britain. “The prospects are pretty good that somebody will save these local papers.”
State lawmakers and economic development officials said their role in helping to land a buyer for the troubled newspaper chain is pretty much over unless someone asks for their assistance. Instead, they said, buyers and the broker hired to sell the papers are talking.
“We’re stepping back,” McDonald said.
It remains murky, though, who might be interested at a time when newspapers are taking it on the chin across much of America.
At least one is another newspaper company that responded to a letter sent out to 16 media firms by the state Department of Economic and Community Development, McDonald said. The Journal Inquirer of Manchester is also in the mix, according to Stewart.
Three of six prospects had been talking to the broker, the New Mexico-based Dirks, Van Essen & Murray. Another was put in touch with the broker through state Rep. Tim O’Brien, a New Britain Democrat. The other read about the papers’ plight and contacted the DECD, McDonald said.
The sixth prospect is the one the mayors spoke with in Stewart’s office Monday.
Both Stewart and Ward said the New York buyer is the most promising of all.
“He's most real,” said Stewart. “I think the prospects are pretty good here. They are looking to maintain that hometown nature.”
The mayors wouldn't name the individual from New York, but said he has many years experience as an editor, is not connected to any Connecticut paper and is not part of a newspaper chain.
“He does come from a strong background in journalism,” said Stewart. “He was very promising.”
Ward said he was “definitely, definitely interested” and has the financing in place to pull it off.
“Hopefully this will amount to something in the very near future,” Stewart said.Neither the JRC nor the broker has ever disclosed how much money they’re seeking for the papers. Officials said they would not name any potential buyers for fear of jeopardizing negotiations.
O'Brien said that he and other lawmakers working with McDonald’s office helped generate publicity that may have spurred interest from a buyer.
“Our efforts have succeeded in getting the word out to potential buyers," said O'Brien. "At this point, it's in their hands."
The five potential buyers who are speaking with the broker are "very much interested in doing something," said state Rep. Frank Nicastro, a Bristol Democrat.
"It appears that negotiations are getting serious," Nicastro said. “It's important that we move forward."
The mayors of New Britain and Bristol said they each spoke with some of the same prospective buyers, but that each of them had been contacted by other potential buyers who were interested in just one of the papers.
Stewart said he spoke with someone from the Journal Inquirer, but Ward said he had not. Stewart said the Manchester paper was interested in both the Press and the Herald and that it was still in the running as a buyer.
Nicastro said citizens need their newspapers. He said he's heard from many constituents about his work to help save the papers.
"The vast majority of the phone calls are saying, do what you can do to save the newspaper," said Nicastro. He said if people didn't like it, he would hear from them.
Even if, in the end, no buyer comes through, at least they tried, Nicastro said.
"This can't hurt," Nicastro said. "This can only help the citizens of Connecticut."
O'Brien also said that voters in his district are in favor of his work to save the papers.
"We would like to see our hometown papers preserved," said O'Brien, who said he is "hopeful" that a deal will be made.
Local newspapers are "centers of community life," said O'Brien. "Their loss would be felt very severely."
Deputy House Speaker Demetrios Giannaros, a Farmington Democrat, said the loss of the state's daily and weekly papers threatened – and some already closed – by the Journal Register Co. means the "dismantling of local reporting for most of Connecticut."
Giannaros paraphrased Thomas Jefferson's comment about preferring a world without government over a world without newspapers. He said citizens like him who have become elected leaders often are in place because people have learned about them through coverage in local papers.
"It's a democratic process that must be maintained," said Giannaros.
State Rep.-elect Chris Wright of Bristol said he hopes it works out because losing the papers would be a blow to democracy. "How can you have a free press if there's no press?" he asked.
Selling the papers, though, has not proven an easy process.
Stewart said the records kept by the JRC that are being shown to prospective buyers are turning some of them away.
"The books aren't the greatest," said Stewart. "That's part of the issue."
Some of the concern, said Stewart, is whether the paper is viable. But he said a major stumbling block is that there just isn't enough information in the books to make a reasonable judgment about the business.
Former Bristol mayoral contender Ken Johnson, who was part of a group that considered buying the Press, said that “the lack of information from the seller has been a primary impediment to submitting any purchase offer.”
Johnson said the broker “actually felt compelled to apologize for the lack of information.”
Another complication, said Stewart, is that that the Journal Register Co. papers are so intertwined that it is complicated to sort out the truth about any particular newspaper.
Since the JRC notified employees in Bristol and New Britain on Nov. 11 that it intended to close the papers in 60 days, it has shuttered many weekly papers in southern Connecticut and Pennsylvania. The company is heavily in debt and its stock is worth less than a penny a share.]
The newspaper industry as a whole is reeling, with many papers struggling to remain afloat in the face of shrinking circulations and declining advertising. People are shifting their attention online, where newspapers frequently have as many readers as ever, but profits are elusive.
“It’s a challenging time” for newspapers, McDonald said.
Here's a sidebar about the state DECD's effort to find potential buyers:
State economic development officials reached out this month to potential buyers as part of an attempt to save more than a dozen threatened newspapers in Connecticut.
Commissioner Joan McDonald of the Department of Economic and Community Development said her office wrote to possible newspaper buyers to see if any had interest in buying The Bristol Press, The Herald of New Britain or any of the 11 weekly papers owed by the Journal Register Co.
"Our role is of a facilitator," said McDonald. "We sent 16 letters out. That was national as well as local."
The Journal Register Company told employees last month that it would close the papers – putting about 100 people out of work – if no buyer is found by mid-January.
In the letter, which is signed by McDonald, she wrote, "Many of these publications have intrinsic value to the communities in which they serve, and so the state is interested in working with potential buyers in an effort to keep and grow these important business operations in Connecticut."
The commissioner said she was asked by Gov. Jodi Rell to see how the state could help find a buyer and said the DECD helps businesses and organizations all over the state. She provided the newspaper companies with contact information for the New Mexico broker who was hired by the Journal Register Co. to handle any sale and for the DECD representative who would work with any potential buyer.
Her agency could provide "technical assistance, low-cost financing opportunities, and access to tax incentives for economic development projects, as well as assistance with site planning, environmental and regulatory issues, training, exporting, and research," McDonald wrote.
According to information provided by McDonald's office, letters went to the following companies: Gannett Co. Inc., Hearst Newspapers, Tribune Co., Cox Newspapers, Gatehouse Media, Herald Media, Landmark Communications, Lee Enterprises, The New York Times Co., News Corp., The E.W. Scripps Co., Community Newspaper Holdings, Inc. and Advance Publications, Inc.
In Connecticut, the letters went to the Journal Inquirer of Manchester, the Record-Journal of Meriden and the The Republican-American of Waterbury.
On Monday, McDonald and some of her staff met in Hartford with representatives from Bristol and New Britain about the efforts to save the papers.
Once a prospective buyer connects with the newspaper broker, said McDonald, the state isn't actively involved and isn't privy to the details of the negotiations, including whether any potential buyer is interested in one of the daily papers, both dailies, a weekly or a combination of papers.
She stressed that the mid-January deadline to sell or close the papers is imposed by the Journal Register Co., not by the state or any potential buyer. If negotiations are "bearing fruit," McDonald said, she supposed there might be some "wiggle room" to extend the deadline a little bit.
She said the deadline is not impacting the due diligence her office is doing to check into any potential deal.
They do a "detailed economic analysis," said McDonald, examining the investment a company might make in property, equipment or jobs, as well as the financial impact the deal has on Connecticut, before putting any offer of help on the table.
"We can offer low interest loans, dependent on the number of jobs retained or created," said McDonald.
McDonald said the state can also help with breaks when a company buys new equipment or needs employee training.
"All of these programs are available to any business," said Rep. Tim O'Brien, a New Britain Democrat.
Rep. Frank Nicastro, a Bristol Democrat, said he's doing what his constituents want by helping the papers.
"This is not a bailout. We're talking about incentives," said Nicastro.
Commissioner Joan McDonald of the Department of Economic and Community Development said her office wrote to possible newspaper buyers to see if any had interest in buying The Bristol Press, The Herald of New Britain or any of the 11 weekly papers owed by the Journal Register Co.
"Our role is of a facilitator," said McDonald. "We sent 16 letters out. That was national as well as local."
The Journal Register Company told employees last month that it would close the papers – putting about 100 people out of work – if no buyer is found by mid-January.
In the letter, which is signed by McDonald, she wrote, "Many of these publications have intrinsic value to the communities in which they serve, and so the state is interested in working with potential buyers in an effort to keep and grow these important business operations in Connecticut."
The commissioner said she was asked by Gov. Jodi Rell to see how the state could help find a buyer and said the DECD helps businesses and organizations all over the state. She provided the newspaper companies with contact information for the New Mexico broker who was hired by the Journal Register Co. to handle any sale and for the DECD representative who would work with any potential buyer.
Her agency could provide "technical assistance, low-cost financing opportunities, and access to tax incentives for economic development projects, as well as assistance with site planning, environmental and regulatory issues, training, exporting, and research," McDonald wrote.
According to information provided by McDonald's office, letters went to the following companies: Gannett Co. Inc., Hearst Newspapers, Tribune Co., Cox Newspapers, Gatehouse Media, Herald Media, Landmark Communications, Lee Enterprises, The New York Times Co., News Corp., The E.W. Scripps Co., Community Newspaper Holdings, Inc. and Advance Publications, Inc.
In Connecticut, the letters went to the Journal Inquirer of Manchester, the Record-Journal of Meriden and the The Republican-American of Waterbury.
On Monday, McDonald and some of her staff met in Hartford with representatives from Bristol and New Britain about the efforts to save the papers.
Once a prospective buyer connects with the newspaper broker, said McDonald, the state isn't actively involved and isn't privy to the details of the negotiations, including whether any potential buyer is interested in one of the daily papers, both dailies, a weekly or a combination of papers.
She stressed that the mid-January deadline to sell or close the papers is imposed by the Journal Register Co., not by the state or any potential buyer. If negotiations are "bearing fruit," McDonald said, she supposed there might be some "wiggle room" to extend the deadline a little bit.
She said the deadline is not impacting the due diligence her office is doing to check into any potential deal.
They do a "detailed economic analysis," said McDonald, examining the investment a company might make in property, equipment or jobs, as well as the financial impact the deal has on Connecticut, before putting any offer of help on the table.
"We can offer low interest loans, dependent on the number of jobs retained or created," said McDonald.
McDonald said the state can also help with breaks when a company buys new equipment or needs employee training.
"All of these programs are available to any business," said Rep. Tim O'Brien, a New Britain Democrat.
Rep. Frank Nicastro, a Bristol Democrat, said he's doing what his constituents want by helping the papers.
"This is not a bailout. We're talking about incentives," said Nicastro.
Here's a copy of the letter the state Department of Economic and Community Development Commissioner Joan McDonald sent to 16 newspaper companies:
Dear Mr. XXX:
As you may be aware, newspaper publisher Journal Register Company recently announced it is seeking buyers for several of its daily and weekly newspaper publications. In Connecticut, these newspapers include The Herald, The Bristol Press, and 11 weekly publications.
Many of these publications have intrinsic value to the communities in which they serve, and so the state is interested in working with potential buyers in an effort to keep and grow these important business operations in Connecticut. Governor M. Jodi Rell has asked the Connecticut Department of Economic and Community Development (DECD) to reach out to businesses such as yours to determine your interest in acquiring any of these publications and to see if we may help in any way.
DECD is a state agency that provides technical and financial assistance to businesses and organizations throughout Connecticut. The department is a one-stop business resource that matches company needs with many programs and services. DECD can provide technical assistance, low-cost financing opportunities, and access to tax incentives for economic development projects, as well as assistance with site planning, environmental and regulatory issues, training, exporting, and research. To learn more about how we help Connecticut’s businesses grow, visit www.YouBelonginCT.com.
The firm of Dirks, Van Essen & Murray from Santa Fe, New Mexico has been retained by the Journal Register Company to help manage the process of seeking buyers. The state point of contact is Peter Lent in DECD’s Office of Business and Industry Development. He can be reached at 860-270-8046 or peter.lent@ct.gov.
I encourage you to explore this possible opportunity and to contact us to see how we may be of assistance.
Sincerely,
Joan McDonald
Commissioner
As you may be aware, newspaper publisher Journal Register Company recently announced it is seeking buyers for several of its daily and weekly newspaper publications. In Connecticut, these newspapers include The Herald, The Bristol Press, and 11 weekly publications.
Many of these publications have intrinsic value to the communities in which they serve, and so the state is interested in working with potential buyers in an effort to keep and grow these important business operations in Connecticut. Governor M. Jodi Rell has asked the Connecticut Department of Economic and Community Development (DECD) to reach out to businesses such as yours to determine your interest in acquiring any of these publications and to see if we may help in any way.
DECD is a state agency that provides technical and financial assistance to businesses and organizations throughout Connecticut. The department is a one-stop business resource that matches company needs with many programs and services. DECD can provide technical assistance, low-cost financing opportunities, and access to tax incentives for economic development projects, as well as assistance with site planning, environmental and regulatory issues, training, exporting, and research. To learn more about how we help Connecticut’s businesses grow, visit www.YouBelonginCT.com.
The firm of Dirks, Van Essen & Murray from Santa Fe, New Mexico has been retained by the Journal Register Company to help manage the process of seeking buyers. The state point of contact is Peter Lent in DECD’s Office of Business and Industry Development. He can be reached at 860-270-8046 or peter.lent@ct.gov.
I encourage you to explore this possible opportunity and to contact us to see how we may be of assistance.
Sincerely,
Joan McDonald
Commissioner
One little note: The mayors of New Britain and Bristol said they met with the unidentified New York prospect at 11 a.m. Monday for about 45 minutes. They said the man had met earlier with Ed Gunderson, publisher of The Herald and The Bristol Press.
The photograph of Stewart and Ward is from CT News Junkie's wonderful website. Here's the link to her story.
I'll add links to other news stories as I run across them.
Here is a story in The Hartford Courant.
The Republican-American of Waterbury has a story here.
Rep. Tim O'Brien weighs in here, which includes video of Channel 61's story.
The Associated Press wrote a story, too.
*******
Copyright 2008. All rights reserved.
Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com
Copyright 2008. All rights reserved.
Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com
No buyer for Press yet, but things are looking up
More details to follow, but state officials said today that at least five potential buyers have emerged for The Bristol Press and New Britain Herald. It's less clear if they're interested in the 11 weeklies threatened with closure.
One possible purchaser met this morning with the mayors of Bristol and New Britain.
"We are pretty optimistic that this might materialize," said Mayor Timothy Stewart of New Britain. "The prospects are pretty good that somebody will save these local papers."
Bristol's mayor, Art Ward, said he's excited about the prospect of a buyer emerging soon.
The five are "very much interested in doing something," said state Rep. Frank Nicastro, a Bristol Democrat.
"Hopefully this will amount to somehting in the very near future," Stewart said.
State Rep.-elect Chris Wright of Bristol said he hopes it works out because losing the papers would be a blow to democracy.
"How can you have a free press if there's no press?" Wright asked.
State Sen. Tom Colapietro, a Bristol Democrat, said he's more encouraged about the papers staying alive than he was after the Dec. 12 session between lawmakers and state economic development leaders.
"I feel better today than I did two weeks ago," Colapietro said.
At this point, it is clear that no deal has been struck. But perhaps we'll find out something solid in the days ahead.
In any case, I'll have more on here later this afternoon.
*******
Copyright 2008. All rights reserved.
Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com
One possible purchaser met this morning with the mayors of Bristol and New Britain.
"We are pretty optimistic that this might materialize," said Mayor Timothy Stewart of New Britain. "The prospects are pretty good that somebody will save these local papers."
Bristol's mayor, Art Ward, said he's excited about the prospect of a buyer emerging soon.
The five are "very much interested in doing something," said state Rep. Frank Nicastro, a Bristol Democrat.
"Hopefully this will amount to somehting in the very near future," Stewart said.
State Rep.-elect Chris Wright of Bristol said he hopes it works out because losing the papers would be a blow to democracy.
"How can you have a free press if there's no press?" Wright asked.
State Sen. Tom Colapietro, a Bristol Democrat, said he's more encouraged about the papers staying alive than he was after the Dec. 12 session between lawmakers and state economic development leaders.
"I feel better today than I did two weeks ago," Colapietro said.
At this point, it is clear that no deal has been struck. But perhaps we'll find out something solid in the days ahead.
In any case, I'll have more on here later this afternoon.
*******
Copyright 2008. All rights reserved.
Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com
December 26, 2008
Meeting on newspapers on Monday afternoon
Press release issued today:
NEW BRITAIN AND BRISTOL LAWMAKERS SCHEDULE SECOND MEETING WITH ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMISSIONER ON FATE OF NEWSPAPERS
Members of New Britain’s and Bristol’s legislative delegation will be meeting again with Joan McDonald, Commissioner of the Department of Economic and Community Development, concerning the announced closing of the New Britain Herald and the Bristol Press and several weekly papers-if they are not sold by January 12th. This meeting will be held on Monday, December 29th, at 1:30 p.m., in the Labor Committee’s Conference Room (Room 3800), 3rd Floor, Legislative Office Building.
For those planning to cover, there will be a press avail after the meeting at the 3rd Floor Outbreak Area in the LOB for interested media. Estimated time for the avail is 2:30 p.m.
*******
Copyright 2008. All rights reserved.
Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com
NEW BRITAIN AND BRISTOL LAWMAKERS SCHEDULE SECOND MEETING WITH ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMISSIONER ON FATE OF NEWSPAPERS
Members of New Britain’s and Bristol’s legislative delegation will be meeting again with Joan McDonald, Commissioner of the Department of Economic and Community Development, concerning the announced closing of the New Britain Herald and the Bristol Press and several weekly papers-if they are not sold by January 12th. This meeting will be held on Monday, December 29th, at 1:30 p.m., in the Labor Committee’s Conference Room (Room 3800), 3rd Floor, Legislative Office Building.
For those planning to cover, there will be a press avail after the meeting at the 3rd Floor Outbreak Area in the LOB for interested media. Estimated time for the avail is 2:30 p.m.
*******
Copyright 2008. All rights reserved.
Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com
December 19, 2008
A potential JRC buyer says company wouldn't provide enough information
A statement from former Republican mayoral candidate Ken Johnson, who was involved with what proved to be an unsuccessful effort to buy The Bristol Press this month:
As you know I was in conversation with local investors and then, more recently, a local businessperson who inquired about bidding. The confidentiality agreement I signed with Dirks, Van Essen & Murray (the firm retained by the JRC) precludes me from discussing the particulars. I can certainly say, however, that the lack of information from the seller has been a primary impediment to submitting any purchase offer. My contact at DV&M actually felt compelled to apologize for the lack of information. Completing the necessary due diligence on a very tight timeline has been a factor, as well.
You may be right about the JI. That might be a best case scenario for the employees of the Press at this point. I still firmly believe that the best outcome for the City and for the Press would be a community-based ownership team as we had in the Barnes’ era. The JRC did us no favors and I wish them good riddance. It appears to me that a sale is likely, although, I can tell you from experience that there’s a lot that can happen from offer to acceptance to closing… Prospective bidders could express an interest in buying the Herald, the Press and the real estate or any portion thereof. I have no expectation that anyone is going to show any interest in the real estate (99 Main St.) and, if there’s a sale, it will likely include the subscriber base, the advertisement database, the archives and the masthead and the employees needed to run a paper. There’s will be some value assigned to the hard business assets (but not much in my book!). If the buyer is already in the business, like the JI, I would expect the deal would include the Herald and the Press.
Johnson is apparently not the only possible buyer who has complaints about the dearth of information the company is providing. It doesn't speak well for the professed desire of the company to sell the papers.
But we're all trying to remain optimistic. At least another newspaper company has a pretty good idea what they're getting.
*******
Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com
December 18, 2008
Meeting on newspapers' fate postponed
Reporter Jackie Majerus wrote this story:
Lawmakers who planned to meet Friday with state economic development officials about the fate of more than a dozen imperiled newspapers postponed the session until next week.
Rep. Tim O'Brien, a New Britain Democrat, said they decided to "bow to Mother Nature" and not ask people to attend a meeting when a big snowstorm was expected.
An added benefit, said O'Brien, is that it gives Commissioner Joan McDonald of the state Department of Economic and Community Development more time to gather information and work with potential buyers.
O'Brien said he hopes to hold the meeting on Monday.
In November, the Journal Register Co., a newspaper chain that owns many papers in Connecticut, said it planned to close The Bristol Press, The Herald of New Britain and 11 weeklies in the state by mid-January if a buyer is not found for the papers. A total of about 100 people work at all the impacted papers.
Both the Press and the Herald have been publishing the news of their respective communities for more than a century, and lawmakers from the cities and towns involved have said they want to help save the papers.
Lawmakers have said they support offering a new owner the same kind of economic development aid that is available to any other business in Connecticut.
State Rep. Frank Nicastro, a Bristol Democrat who has voiced strong support for the newspapers, said O'Brien and others who postponed the session "made the right decision," given the forecast.
Sen. Tom Colapietro, a Bristol Democrat, said he also postponed meetings set for today.
"I don't see any choice," said Colapietro.
An email from O'Brien's office to other lawmakers in the delegation indicated that negotiations were proceeding positively, but offered no other information about any prospective buyer.
O'Brien, Nicastro and Colapietro all said they couldn't offer much in the way of details.
"I just heard rumors that there were two, they were negotiating with two," Colapietro said, adding that he didn't know any more about it.
"I have not been part of the negotiations," said Nicastro.
O'Brien said participants in the first meeting – McDonald and members of the Bristol and New Britain delegations gathered behind closed doors December 5 – agreed not to say much about potential deals in the works so as to give prospective buyers "breathing space" and not jeopardize negotiations.
"It would not be good for the process to discuss publicly what is out there," said O'Brien, who said he didn't know much more now than he did after meeting with McDonald the first time.
O'Brien would only say that he was aware of at least one interested party, but said he didn't know the depth of the interest or whether the prospective buyer would want all the papers, some of them or just one.
"We certainly hope there's some good news to say," said O'Brien. But he said he always thought that finding a buyer would be "an uphill climb."
Copyright 2008. All rights reserved.
Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com
Meeting about the fate of Press and Herald on Friday
A group of state lawmakers and state development leaders is slated to meet at 11:30 p.m. in the legislative office building in Hartford on Friday to talk about how the state might help a new owner take over The Bristol Press, the New Britain Herald and 11 weeklies threatened with closure by mid-January.
The first session, two weeks ago, was said by participants to have been fruitful. It is not clear what's been done in the days since.
There are at least a couple of potential buyers talking to the Pennsylvania-based Journal Register Co. and its broker about purchasing the papers, according to several sources in the community. But whether they'll reach a deal that can prevent the papers' closure is unclear.
The JRC is in dire financial shape. It also owns the New Haven Register, the Register-Citizen in Torrington, the Middletown Press, Connecticut magazine and a number of weeklies that are not slated to shut down soon.
*******
Copyright 2008. All rights reserved.
Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com
The first session, two weeks ago, was said by participants to have been fruitful. It is not clear what's been done in the days since.
There are at least a couple of potential buyers talking to the Pennsylvania-based Journal Register Co. and its broker about purchasing the papers, according to several sources in the community. But whether they'll reach a deal that can prevent the papers' closure is unclear.
The JRC is in dire financial shape. It also owns the New Haven Register, the Register-Citizen in Torrington, the Middletown Press, Connecticut magazine and a number of weeklies that are not slated to shut down soon.
Update at 9:30 p.m., Thursday -- The meeting is cancelled, mostly because of the possibility of snow Friday.
*******
Copyright 2008. All rights reserved.
Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com
December 16, 2008
Without sale, last day for Bristol Press is January 16th
According to this memo from our publisher, Ed Gunderson, the company is "now targeting January 16, 2009 as the last day if a buyer or deal does not surface."
The memo says the paper's owner, the Journal Register Co., is still pursuing the sale of the Press, New Britain Herald and 11 Central Connecticut weeklies. It gives no hint of the status of that effort.
Gunderson wrote that he was sending the memo to allow employees to plan, which is helpful.
*******
Copyright 2008. All rights reserved.Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com
December 7, 2008
Once again, nobody wants a bailout
Former Republican legislator Kevin Rennie, who normally manages to be both incendiary and right on the money, is way off the mark with his column in today's Hartford Courant, "Bailout For Two Papers Delusional."
Right off the bat, the delusional aspect of the piece is that anyone is seeking "a bailout."
In fact, there is nobody -- absolutely nobody -- who is pushing the state to provide any sort of bailout to The Bristol Press or the New Britain Herald, despite what Rennie, columnist Michelle Malkin and the editorial board of the Waterbury Republican-American might say.
They have collectively hopped on a myth that spread through a number of blogs in recent days, the notion that asking for the state Department of Economic and Community Development to help find a buyer for the two papers is tantamount to a massive government intervention to save them.
Let's get real, people.
Rennie bases his out-of-date column on the notion that somebody wants the state to "come up with some chi-ching" to keep the two dailies humming. But that simply isn't true.
All anyone is asking for the DECD to do is to talk with potential buyers to try to keep the papers open after the Journal Register Co.'s Jan. 12 deadline -- not so much to save the papers themselves, or even the 100 or so jobs at stake, as to keep intact the most crucial elements of two communities' heritage. Both Bristol and New Britain will suffer grievously, much more than either town yet recognizes, if the papers vanish. The legislators who are making calls, writing letters and demanding action are aware of the cost if a paper folds, but they are not trying to stick taxpayers with the bill for it.
What alarms me in Rennie's column -- as well as most of the other pieces that have been written in opposition -- is that they argue newspaper companies should not take advantage of the same government programs that help every other business that's in trouble.
It's apparently fine to accept tax breaks, low-cost mailing rates and countless other governmental perks for papers as long as the press companies are humming along, but if they begin to sputter, they should just go ahead and die rather than violate a mythical separation of the media from the state? C'mon, that makes no sense at all.
Let's start right at the root of this idea. Every newspaper I know about except my beloved ReadTheTattoo.com exists as some kind of corporate entity. Its entire existence is based on the artificial, government-granted right to operate as a collective business that gains many of the rights of real people while securing lots of rights that plain old citizens don't have, including gaining a shield for personal liability for its officers' own misdeeds and misfortunes.
Without the government's say-so, there is no Republican-American, Hartford Courant or any other business.
But I suppose newspaper companies should not accept the perks of corporate law rather than risk the taint of government "interference."
Beyond that, of course, are a wealth of tax breaks and tax incentives that newspapers have always claimed when they could, from property tax breaks for new equipment to whatever tax benefits they can find for being in an economic development zone. They take it all, whenever they can, however they can, because they are businesses looking out for the bottom line.
Heck, there are lobbyists there in Hartford, and across America, who are pushing all kinds of policies and programs that would help the newspapers who hire them by convincing the government to revise the law. Is that also a line that the press should not cross? Perhaps, but it happens all the time.
So now, when the JRC is fading out of the picture in New Britain and Bristol, opening the door to new owners who might have a larger vision than simply raking in every possible penny until there's nothing left to grab, we're supposed to slam that door shut because it's better to let two newspapers that have served their communities with honor since the 1800s drop dead than to see if government might be able to tap into programs available to every other business? I'm sorry, but that is absolutely delusional.
It doesn't make any sense to pick a moment when two papers are struggling to survive to suddenly argue that the press should not participate in any governmental programs that might help it.
If there is a way that officials who are already paid to find and retain important businesses in Connecticut can assist in finding a buyer, why shouldn't they? Who's harmed? I always thought the goal was to make the state more friendly to business, not to stand on the sidelines and do nothing while 13 newspapers close up shop.
Whatever solutions may emerge, the government has a clear role in helping to find them, and then, as always, stepping back and letting a new owner get down to business.
And, rest assured, if there's still a Bristol Press after Jan. 12, it's not going to hesitate to track down wrongdoing at the DECD or anywhere else, because that's what we do.
*******Copyright 2008. All rights reserved.
Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com
December 6, 2008
New England Cable News covers the effort to save the Press
Here is a link to a New England Cable News piece on the effort to save The Bristol Press and 12 other Central Connecticut newspapers.
If I can figure out how to embed the video, I will.
Also, Here is WFSB's report (that's channel 3 in Hartford).
*******
Copyright 2008. All rights reserved.
Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com
If I can figure out how to embed the video, I will.
Also, Here is WFSB's report (that's channel 3 in Hartford).
*******
Copyright 2008. All rights reserved.
Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com
December 5, 2008
Some hope from Hartford
State officials said Friday they can help find a buyer for The Bristol Press, the New Britain Herald and other Central Connecticut papers whose owner has threatened to shut them down next month.The commissioner of the state Department of Economic and Community Development, Joan McDonald, said Friday she is "guardedly optimistic" that buyers will emerge for the papers.
She said there "could be some serious discussions" underway now for the two dailies, though she declined to go into detail.
Lawmakers said there is at least one potential buyer working with the Greater Bristol Chamber of Commerce and another possible purchaser eyeing the New Britain paper. They would not provide specifics.
"Things are very positive right now," said state Rep. Tim O'Brien, the New Britain Democrat who rallied legislators to action.
Ten state lawmakers, including three state senators, met behind closed doors for an hour with McDonald in a conference room in the Legislative Office Building. They spoke with the press afterward.
McDonald said lawmakers from Bristol and New Britain – as well as Gov. Jodi Rell – reached out to her to see what the state could do to help. She described the session as "extremely productive."
"We're not here to ask for a bailout," said state Rep. Frank Nicastro, a Bristol Democrat. "We're here to try to save our newspapers."
McDonald said her department can offer "our full array of services" to any potential buyers -- the same ones that any business can tap into -- that include tax breaks, tax credits, low-interest loans and job retraining money.
She said the department would also assist the paper's employees if they wished to try to take over for themselves.
"We are going to aggressively outreach to see if there are other potential buyers," said McDonald.
McDonald said the programs offered to potential newspaper buyers are the same available to any other business to help retain and create jobs.
"It's nothing over and above any programs that are already offered. It's a matter of linking any prospective buyers with those things that are available," said state Rep. Sandy Nafis, a Newington Democrat who is worried that closing the town's weekly will leave its residents
without a source of information.
"There's no favorable treatment," said McDonald. "We are not here to bail out the newspapers."
The owner of the two dailies, the Pennsylvania-based Journal Register Co., announced last month it would shut down the Press, Herald and 11 weeklies as soon as Jan.12 if they could sell them beforehand. A newspaper broker in New Mexico is in charge of finding buyers.
Sen. Donald DeFronzo, a New Britain Democrat, said he was more optimistic than he was a week ago that the both papers will survive with new ownership.
DeFronzo called it "an indication of the magnitude and depth" of the legislature's commitment to preserve the papers that three senators and seven representatives attended "the very productive and very informative" session with the commissioner.
State Rep. Betty Boukus, a Plainville Democrat whose 22nd District includes portions of both New Britain and Bristol, said it's important that any kind of economic development help is offered to whoever is interested in keeping the papers alive.
Boukus said newspapers provide the community with information in a non-partisan way so the public can know what's happening.
"They're the unsung heroes," said Boukus, who said she "can't imagine not being able to turn to a newspaper" for information, schedules, and other news.
Boukus said the papers could change under a new owner. "It may be a great deal better," Boukus said.
State Rep. John Geragosian, a New Britain Democrat, said the papers should return to local ownership or create an employee-run business.
"We have to look at a new model," said Geragosian. "We have to try to get that local flavor back."
"Newspapers are a vital part of America," said Nicastro.
There isn't a politician alive, said Nicastro, that hasn't cursed a newspaper at some point, but he said that's just the way it is.
Many newspaper readers, especially seniors, rely every day on the print edition of newspapers to get important information, said Nicastro.
"Not everybody lives on the computer," said Nicastro.
Nicastro said he was happy that the delegations from Bristol and New Britain came together with the DECD for the sake of saving the papers.
"I believe that we can do something very positive for our cities," said Nicastro. "We have to make an effort together as a team."
McDonald and several legislators said that the Journal Register Co. was not invited to the meeting. "We have not been in touch with the JRC," McDonald said.
"This was a meeting for legislative folks," DeFronzo said.
Nicastro said the company hastened the decline of its papers.
"They have dropped the ball and I think it's a shame," Nicastro said. "It's always the little people who suffer."
O'Brien said the discussions and possible state help focused on potential successors to the current owner.
"We're going to keep working," said Deputy House Speaker Demetrios Giannaros, a Farmington Democrat.
"This impacts many, many communities. We really have to find a solution," Giannaros said.
Local newspapers provide news about city and town government, schools and business, youth sports, births, deaths, marriages and more.
"You can't get that kind of news from TV," said Giannaros.
The enterprise zones in both Bristol and New Britain, Nicastro said, could provide state-sanctioned tax breaks that would go along with state programs McDonald oversees.
"It's there for anybody who comes forward," said Nicastro, who said the mayors and chambers of commerce in the cities are also committed to helping.
"What we need to do is save jobs," said Nicastro. About 100 jobs are stake at the 13 papers facing closure.
The lawmakers agreed to meet with McDonald again in about 10 days to review any progress.
Ten state lawmakers, including three state senators, met behind closed doors for an hour with McDonald in a conference room in the Legislative Office Building. They spoke with the press afterward.
McDonald said lawmakers from Bristol and New Britain – as well as Gov. Jodi Rell – reached out to her to see what the state could do to help. She described the session as "extremely productive."
"We're not here to ask for a bailout," said state Rep. Frank Nicastro, a Bristol Democrat. "We're here to try to save our newspapers."
McDonald said her department can offer "our full array of services" to any potential buyers -- the same ones that any business can tap into -- that include tax breaks, tax credits, low-interest loans and job retraining money.
She said the department would also assist the paper's employees if they wished to try to take over for themselves.
"We are going to aggressively outreach to see if there are other potential buyers," said McDonald.
McDonald said the programs offered to potential newspaper buyers are the same available to any other business to help retain and create jobs.
"It's nothing over and above any programs that are already offered. It's a matter of linking any prospective buyers with those things that are available," said state Rep. Sandy Nafis, a Newington Democrat who is worried that closing the town's weekly will leave its residents
without a source of information.
"There's no favorable treatment," said McDonald. "We are not here to bail out the newspapers."
The owner of the two dailies, the Pennsylvania-based Journal Register Co., announced last month it would shut down the Press, Herald and 11 weeklies as soon as Jan.12 if they could sell them beforehand. A newspaper broker in New Mexico is in charge of finding buyers.
Sen. Donald DeFronzo, a New Britain Democrat, said he was more optimistic than he was a week ago that the both papers will survive with new ownership.
DeFronzo called it "an indication of the magnitude and depth" of the legislature's commitment to preserve the papers that three senators and seven representatives attended "the very productive and very informative" session with the commissioner.
State Rep. Betty Boukus, a Plainville Democrat whose 22nd District includes portions of both New Britain and Bristol, said it's important that any kind of economic development help is offered to whoever is interested in keeping the papers alive.
Boukus said newspapers provide the community with information in a non-partisan way so the public can know what's happening.
"They're the unsung heroes," said Boukus, who said she "can't imagine not being able to turn to a newspaper" for information, schedules, and other news.
Boukus said the papers could change under a new owner. "It may be a great deal better," Boukus said.
State Rep. John Geragosian, a New Britain Democrat, said the papers should return to local ownership or create an employee-run business.
"We have to look at a new model," said Geragosian. "We have to try to get that local flavor back."
"Newspapers are a vital part of America," said Nicastro.
There isn't a politician alive, said Nicastro, that hasn't cursed a newspaper at some point, but he said that's just the way it is.
Many newspaper readers, especially seniors, rely every day on the print edition of newspapers to get important information, said Nicastro.
"Not everybody lives on the computer," said Nicastro.
Nicastro said he was happy that the delegations from Bristol and New Britain came together with the DECD for the sake of saving the papers.
"I believe that we can do something very positive for our cities," said Nicastro. "We have to make an effort together as a team."
McDonald and several legislators said that the Journal Register Co. was not invited to the meeting. "We have not been in touch with the JRC," McDonald said.
"This was a meeting for legislative folks," DeFronzo said.
Nicastro said the company hastened the decline of its papers.
"They have dropped the ball and I think it's a shame," Nicastro said. "It's always the little people who suffer."
O'Brien said the discussions and possible state help focused on potential successors to the current owner.
"We're going to keep working," said Deputy House Speaker Demetrios Giannaros, a Farmington Democrat.
"This impacts many, many communities. We really have to find a solution," Giannaros said.
Local newspapers provide news about city and town government, schools and business, youth sports, births, deaths, marriages and more.
"You can't get that kind of news from TV," said Giannaros.
The enterprise zones in both Bristol and New Britain, Nicastro said, could provide state-sanctioned tax breaks that would go along with state programs McDonald oversees.
"It's there for anybody who comes forward," said Nicastro, who said the mayors and chambers of commerce in the cities are also committed to helping.
"What we need to do is save jobs," said Nicastro. About 100 jobs are stake at the 13 papers facing closure.
The lawmakers agreed to meet with McDonald again in about 10 days to review any progress.
Here is a statement from many of the employees of The Bristol Press.
And here is state Rep. Tim O'Brien's take on the session.
CT News Junkie's story is here.
Hartford Courant reporter Chris Keating's report on the meeting is here.
Sen. Donald DeFronzo has a press release here.
The Republican-American in Waterbury has a story about it here.
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Copyright 2008. All rights reserved.
Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com
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Copyright 2008. All rights reserved.
Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com
State officials 'guardedly optimistic' that papers can be saved
The commissioner of the state Department of Economic and Community Development, Joan McDonald, said Friday she is "guardedly optimistic" that buyers will emerge for The Bristol Press and New Britain Herald.
She said there are "serious negotiations" underway now for the papers, though she declined to go into detail.
Lawmakers said there is at least one potential buyer working with the Greater Bristol Chamber of Commerce and another possible purchaser eyeing the New Britain paper.
"Things are very positive right now," said state Rep. Tim O'Brien, a New Britain Democrat.
Ten state lawmakers, including three state senators, met for an hour with McDonald in a conference room in the Legislative Office Building.
Afterward, many of them spoke to a number of reporters who gathered to find out what, if anything, the state could do to help save the papers.
McDonald said her department can offer an array of services to any potential buyers -- the same ones that any business can tap into -- that include tax breaks, low-interest loans and job retraining money.
"We're not here to ask for a bailout," said state Rep. Frank Nicastro, a Bristol Democrat. "We're here to try to save our newspapers."
At the meeting with McDonald, were Sens. Tom Colapietro of Bristol, Donald DeFronzo of New Britain and Paul Doyle of Wethersfield, and Reps. Betty Boukus of Plainville, John Geragosian of New Britain, Sandy Nafis of Newington, Frank Nicastro of Bristol, Tim O’Brien of New Britain, Peter Tercyak of New Britain, Rep.-elect Chris Wright of Bristol and Gary Friedle, chairman of the New Britain Downtown District. All of the lawmakers in attendance are Democrats.
At the meeting with McDonald, were Sens. Tom Colapietro of Bristol, Donald DeFronzo of New Britain and Paul Doyle of Wethersfield, and Reps. Betty Boukus of Plainville, John Geragosian of New Britain, Sandy Nafis of Newington, Frank Nicastro of Bristol, Tim O’Brien of New Britain, Peter Tercyak of New Britain, Rep.-elect Chris Wright of Bristol and Gary Friedle, chairman of the New Britain Downtown District. All of the lawmakers in attendance are Democrats.
More to come later as we pour over our notes. You can probably see something on the television news and from other newspapers later.
The picture, which shows McDonald and state Rep. Betty Boukus of Plainville, was taken by Christine Stuart at CT News Junkie, whose own story is here.
*******Copyright 2008. All rights reserved.
Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com
December 1, 2008
'We're trying to save these newspapers'
Reporter Jackie Majerus wrote this story:
Legislators representing Bristol and New Britain will meet Friday with state economic development officials about what can be done to save the daily newspapers in those cities.
The Bristol Press and The Herald in New Britain – and 11 weekly community papers in Connecticut – will be closed January 12 if a buyer for the papers isn't found by then, the owner, Journal Register Co., has said.
All together, there are about 100 jobs at stake.
"We're trying to save these newspapers," said Rep. Frank Nicastro, a Bristol Democrat.
Lawmakers from Bristol and New Britain have a meeting scheduled on Friday with Commissioner Joan McDonald of the state Department of Economic and Community Development.
Rep. Tim O'Brien, a New Britain Democrat who brought the delegation together to ask for the meeting, said he wants to talk about how the state can help.
"The state has programs that are designed to create and preserve jobs," said O'Brien, who said he wants to bring the importance of the newspapers to McDonald's attention.
The goal, according to O'Brien, is to "keep these historic businesses and the jobs from leaving our communities."
Sen. Tom Colapietro, a Bristol Democrat, said he would be at the meeting Friday to lend a hand.
"I don't like to see anybody lose their jobs," Colapietro said. "I'm hopeful we can do something."
Sen. Donald DeFronzo, a New Britain Democrat, said he wants to find out what, if anything, the DECD is already doing to preserve the newspapers.
"They may have something percolating already," said DeFronzo.
If not, DeFronzo said, he wants to find out what can be done.
Aiding a prospective newspaper buyer, said O'Brien, is the same as helping any other business.
Any state help would go to a new owner or operating organization, according to O'Brien, not to the Journal Register Co., which intends to sell or close the papers.
"The application for any assistance would be for the new prospective buyer," said O'Brien.
DeFronzo said the state may be able to help "if we can find a prospective buyer or successor organization."
If nothing can be done and the papers close, DeFronzo said, he wants to know what the state can offer the 100 people who stand to lose their jobs.
Both O'Brien and DeFronzo said they had been contacted by possible newspaper buyers or their representatives, but didn't provide details.
"I'm somewhat encouraged," said DeFronzo.
Nicastro, who served as Bristol's mayor for a decade, said the local paper includes everything, even notices of Cub Scout meetings and fundraising car washes.
"You lose a newspaper, you lose everything," said Nicastro. "You lose the city, and it's wrong."
Nicastro – who was instrumental in brokering a deal that saved Lake Compounce when the nation's oldest amusement park nearly closed more than a dozen years ago – said he's pleased that the New Britain and Bristol delegations are working together to save the papers.
January 12 isn't far away, Nicastro pointed out.
"Time is of the essence," said Nicastro. "We've gotta fight hard on this."
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Copyright 2008. All rights reserved.Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com
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