Journal spins newspapers

Multimedia Journal Communications, which owns and operates newspaper, television and radio interests (all three, in fact, in its headquarters market of Milwaukee), is selling a cluster of newspapers in a pair of deals. Hersam Acorn Community Publishing is getting Journal's New England cluster, which includes 11 community papers, two printing facilities and five local shoppers. Journal had been doing business there as Hometown Publications and Trumbull Printing.

The properties are in Vermont and Connecticut. Gannett is the buyer in Ohio, getting the eight weekly shoppers and specialty items operating as Central Ohio Advertiser Network, and the Advantage Press printing operation. In an earlier announcement, Journal noted it was selling Louisiana assets to Target Media. The total for all three transactions is about 30M. Journal says the move will allow it to focus on community publications in Wisconsin and Florida.

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