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

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

By Cindy Heflin

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.

Comments

Unusual Suspect

Thu, Sep 6, 2012 : 12:53 p.m.

I'm not surprised. Spending the money to litter every driveway with your newspaper even though nobody reads never seemed like much of a business plan to me.

PineyWoodsGuy

Thu, Sep 6, 2012 : 6:56 a.m.

Yep! Us Internet dudes are all the News Readers left! And we are incredibly selective! With Google to track our needs, we don't need no local "content." It's all baloney, ain't it?

leaguebus

Thu, Sep 6, 2012 : 5:04 a.m.

I don't read the paper they throw on my lawn. It's old news by Thursday. I won't miss it as much as I missed the AA News

MyOpinion

Wed, Sep 5, 2012 : 7:33 p.m.

Does this mean they'll stop delivering their newspaper to my house?

areyoukiddingme

Thu, Sep 6, 2012 : 10:43 a.m.

If you don't want the paper then call and tell them.

Morris Thorpe

Wed, Sep 5, 2012 : 9:37 p.m.

Sorry but the press release did not cover that question.

Macabre Sunset

Wed, Sep 5, 2012 : 6:50 p.m.

Since reporting isn't this blog's style, I know I won't get an answer, but I'm curious who would lend a company in a dying business a significant amount of money only three years after a bankruptcy?

Get over it

Wed, Sep 5, 2012 : 10:12 p.m.

Obama

Morris Thorpe

Wed, Sep 5, 2012 : 9:35 p.m.

Sorry but the press release did not cover that question.