Mlive: Journal Register Co., publisher of Washtenaw County weeklies, files for bankruptcy

By Cindy Heflin Associate news director

Posted on Wed, Sep 5, 2012 : 2:20 p.m.

Journal Register Company, owner of several weekly newspapers covering Washtenaw County, as well as four daily newspapers in Michigan and papers in nine other states, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy organization Wednesday, MLive reported.

The company announced it was seeking a quick sale and had signed a stalking horse bid from Alden Global Capital. Such an agreement allows the company to avoid low bids.

Journal Register newspapers in Michigan include Heritage Newspapers, which publishes weeklies including the Ann Arbor Journal, Dexter Leader, Chelsea Standard, Saline Reporter and Ypsilanti Courier. The company’s publications also include Michigan dailies The Oakland Press, The Macomb Daily, the Morning Sun of Mount Pleasant and Daily Tribune of Royal Oak.

It is owned by Digital First Media, a New York-based firm that also includes MediaNews Group, owner of The Detroit News.

The Journal Register also went through bankruptcy in 2009.

Digital First CEO John Paton said daily operations would continue during the bankruptcy and sale proceedings.