The Morning News and NWAnews.com are both reporting that the U.S. Department of Justice has closed its investigation into the newspaper merger between Stephens Media LLC and the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette Inc., and that no antitrust violations were found.
This clears the way for a merger between the two companies that was first announced on Sept. 3.
The venture will be a 50-50 partnership when the formation of a new company – Northwest Arkansas Newspapers – is completed Sunday.
Employees of the both companies have been given W.A.R.N. letters stating that their jobs will be eliminated on or about Oct. 31. Some employees will be immediately hired by the new company.
Read it at The Morning News and NWAnews.com
One party rule for nations doesn’t work.
One party rule for newspapers is equally anti-democratic.
Corporate socialism incarnate.
Go FLYER!!!!!!!
I think the merger is only going to be better for Fayetteville in the end. With the advent of modern publishing tools, the merger will only encourage more independent media (read: laid off journalists) to establish themselves and forge ahead on their own.
I talk about that a little more, and make some other predictions, here: http://matthewpetty.org/articles/2009/10/five-predictions-regarding-fayettevilles-newspaper-merger