Lawmakers Discuss Plans To Save 2 Newspapers
by Christine Stuart | December 5, 2008 1:44 PM
Posted to Media Matters
| State Capitol
Lawmakers emerged from a meeting with state officials Friday optimistic about the future of two community newspapers, which under current ownership may have to shut their doors as early as January 12.
At least two lawmakers said they’ve been contacted by potential buyers for the beleaguered New Britain Herald and The Bristol Press, both of which are Journal Register Co. newspapers.
Sen. Donald DeFronzo, D-New Britain, said he was more optimistic Friday than he was a week ago that the two newspapers will be saved under new ownership.
Department of Economic and Community Development Commissioner Joan McDonald said her office would offer everything from tax credits to low interest loans to potential buyers. However, she made it clear that “this is not a bailout.” She said these offers to help are not unlike offers it makes to other industries interested in continuing to do business here in the state.
None of the state officials or lawmakers were able to disclose much about the potential buyers.
State Rep. Tim O’Brien, D-New Britain, said the two newspapers “play a vital role in our communities.”
State Rep. John Geragosian, D-New Britain, said that in Friday’s meeting they talked about the need to go back to local ownership of newspapers because the corporate media organizations “don’t care what happens in New Britain.”
When asked about the Journal Register Co.’s management of the newspapers, state Rep. Frank Nicastro, D-Bristol, said,” I think they have dropped the ball. It’s a shame.”
In recent years, the New Britain Herald and Bristol Press have experienced catastrophic layoffs. According to many former employees of both papers and other JRC publications in Connecticut, the decline of the company’s publications is directly attributable to its management practices. The evening newspapers it purchased in Connecticut were transformed into morning publications in direct competition with the Hartford Courant, leading to immediate declines. Further, the papers’ workforces and resources have been continually slashed for profiteering purposes.
Where the New Britain Herald was once a 30,000-plus circulation daily, ABC reports its current Sunday circulation at about 19,000 and it’s Monday-Saturday circulation at about 9,000. The Bristol Press is down to about 8,000.
Steve Collins a veteran reporter at the Bristol Press said Friday after the press conference that he has been trying to be optimistic from day one and he’s happy to hear that there’s some interest in purchasing the newspapers. Click here to read his report.
Representatives of the Journal Register Co. which currently owns the New Britain Herald and Bristol Press were not invited to Friday’s meeting to discuss the future of the two newspapers.
Comments (12)
Posted by: twoladiesinwaiting | December 5, 2008 2:25 PM
Um, yes. Best to be very careful not to label a goverment initiative to save the free press a "bail out."
That said, I all for keeping around as many papers as we can.
Posted by: Alphonse Credenza | December 5, 2008 3:31 PM
It's a bailout.
Why should these business get a government wheelchair if they can't make on their own? They ain't getting better.
Posted by: Steve Collins | December 5, 2008 4:01 PM
They're not getting a wheelchair. They may get the same access to programs that every other business gets, which is fine.
It also needs to be said that they CAN make it on their own. They just can't make it under the management of the JRC.
Posted by: Doug | December 5, 2008 5:29 PM
If it takes a tax break to open the door to new ownership, so be it. The communities will be better off with new management at both papers. I just hope subscribers will give both papers another chance.
Posted by: E. Costello | December 6, 2008 11:47 AM
Let's be clear. The failure of the Press and Herald has zip to do with the current economic situation and everything to do with the parent company's singular mission to make irresponsible profits at the expense of once-venerable institutions. Again and again, JRC chipped away at the backbone of local operations to pad the wallets of the top administrators, shareholders and its late CEO. If temporary asistance is needed to undo the damage and return these papers to their rightful standing in print or online, so be it. In the meantime, let's enpanel a government body to investigate media corporations that suck the blood of their host communities, then leave them without a media outlet.
Posted by: IBlog | December 6, 2008 11:02 PM
Have either of these newspapers broken any significant stories in recent years? Uncovered serious scandal or corruption? Do their editorials provide unique, thoughtful or inspirational insight into controversial issues?
Have these newspaper taken on rascism, poverty, immigration, health care, campaign finance, the wars?
Have they made a difference?
That's the kind of media we need. That's the kind of media worth supporting.
Posted by: Steve Collins | December 7, 2008 3:10 PM
To answer IBlog,
You bet your ass we have done those kinds of stories. Do you think we'd be fighting so hard to save these papers if they were just printing crap?
Posted by: Steve Collins | December 7, 2008 3:11 PM
Oh, except the Press almost never has a local editorial anymore. The cuts by the JRC pretty much eliminated any capacity for them to appear.
Posted by: Chris Healy | December 7, 2008 5:46 PM
You can blame the evil Journal Register Company or the declining role of a traditional newspaper to survive in the Internet age. It doesn't matter. If a group of investors or like minded people think they can make a go of it, then the market will work its will. And if they are successful, it will be do to the market for such services and the ability of new owners to make it happen. It shouldn't the role of the government to save every failing business. The government doesn't understand anything about business or the media business. They should simply stay out. God forbid we ever have a government hook into any media outlet under any circumstances. That is worthy of Orwell.
Posted by: doug | December 7, 2008 11:14 PM
Steve's correct. Reporters break unique stories on a daily basis in those papers, and you won't find them anywhere else because those reporters are the only ones covering those communities.
Prospective buyers for the BP and NBH should have the same access to tax breaks or other incentives that Republicans and Democrats have been falling over themselves to offer to other industries for years. Film industry, pharmaceuticals, you name it -- CT officials have provided all kinds of benefits to get them to do business here. I think it's a little hypocritical of folks to say those same incentives are out of the question for newspaper publishers. Foolish even.
Whether it's new owners for the BP and/or the NBH or if its a completely new entity, or entities, to replace them, those communities need local coverage to maintain the local democratic process that is vital to the residents of both towns.
Posted by: Richard Nelson | December 8, 2008 8:12 AM
We live under a Capitalist system. What fails fails, what surives, surives. Its that simple.
Idea, all of the people who want to save those papers get up your money and save them. Newspapers have come and gone over the years. That's life. Where will this bail out crap end?
I am all for Socialism but not the kind of the kinder and gentler Capitalists or of the hand out puffed up rich guys, or bloated liberals.
Posted by: Steve Collins | December 8, 2008 9:30 PM
How come it's socialism for a newspaper to get the same tax break that every other business gets?