Journal Register Company Announces The Creation of Digital First Media Inc.
Digital First Media to Manage Journal Register Company and MediaNews Group; John Paton Named Chief Executive Officer of Digital First Media
Digital First Media to Leverage Scale Opportunities between MediaNews and Journal Register Company Creating Local News Powerhouse with more than 880 Multi-Platform Products in 18 States Serving more than 57 million Americans per month
September 7, 2011
NEW YORK, NY. – Journal Register Company, one of the nation’s leading local news and information companies, announced today the creation of Digital First Media Inc. Digital First Media will manage both Journal Register Company and MediaNews Group Inc.
John Paton, as the Chief Executive of Digital First Media, will act as CEO of both Journal Register Company and MediaNews Group.
In a separate release, MediaNews Group, the nation’s second largest newspaper company as measured by circulation, announced its appointment of Mr. Paton as CEO and the new agreement with Digital First Media. Mr. Paton, a director of Journal Register Company, has also been appointed to MediaNews Group’s board of directors. Mr. Paton and Digital First Media will report to the boards of both MediaNews Group and Journal Register Company.
This arrangement provides MediaNews and Journal Register Company with immediate cost benefits, and the ability to leverage the combined scale and expertise of both companies for their mutual benefit.
“This allows these two great companies to accelerate our Digital First strategy of transitioning from what have largely been print-centric businesses to modern, multi-platform media companies focused on local news and advertising,” said Mr. Paton, who is also a director of the Newspaper Association of America. “I am very excited to be working with MediaNews Group and the Journal Register Company teams. This initiative creates a local news powerhouse with more than 880 multi-platform products in 18 States serving more than 57 million Americans per month for the benefit of our communities, customers and employees.”
“Media News is intent on continuing its transformation from a print-oriented newspaper company to a locally focused provider of news and information across multiple platforms. At the forefront of our efforts is developing a successful digital strategy. With ‘Digital First,’ John has implemented just such a digital strategy for Journal Register Company. We are delighted to tap into John’s experience as we accelerate further our successful transition to a digital world,” said Dean Singleton, who will step down as CEO of MediaNews Group. Mr. Singleton, who is the Chairman of The Associated Press, remains Chairman of MediaNews Group and the publisher of the Denver Post and Salt Lake City Tribune.
Digital First Media represents the codification into a management company of a digital strategy that Journal Register Company has been pursuing with great success since February 2010, when John Paton was named Chief Executive Officer of Journal Register Company. MediaNews will benefit from that experience, and from cooperation with Journal Register Company, as it continues its own evolution to compete in the new media landscape.
About Media News Group
MediaNews Group, Inc. (www.medianewsgroup.com) is the nation’s second largest newspaper company as measured by circulation, with headquarters in Denver, Colorado. MediaNews Group and its affiliated companies publish 57 daily newspapers and more than 100 non-daily publications in 11 states. In addition, MediaNews Group provides programming and operational services for a CBS affiliate in Anchorage, Alaska, and four radio stations in Texas licensed to Affiliated Media, Inc. FCC Trust. MediaNews maintains 187 Web sites.
About Digital First Media
Digital First Media, a division of the Journal Register Company to be headquartered in New York City, is a newly-created Company formed to jointly manage Journal Register Company and MediaNews Group.
About Journal Register Company
Journal Register Company is a leader in local news and information in 10 states. The Company’s more than 350 multi-platform products reach an audience of 21 million people each month. For more information visit the company website at www.JournalRegister.com.
Contact:
Jonathan Cooper
Journal Register Company
215-867-2022
