• Editor & Publisher, Wednesday, October 24, 2007 11 AM

GateHouse Media has gobbled up more print, agreeing to buy 14 daily papers, three non-dailies, a commercial printing operation, and other publications from Morris Publishing Group for $115 million. Among the dailies changing hands are the Dodge City (Kan.) Daily Globe; The Holland (Mich.) Sentinel; the Hannibal (Mo.) Courier-Post; and The Shawnee (Okla.) News-Star.

For Morris, says CEO William S. Morris IV, the sale is "in line with our strategic plan to focus on our larger markets and will enable us to pay down our existing bank debt." It is an excellent acquisition opportunity for GateHouse, says GateHouse CEO Mike Reed. "These are strong local media franchises in small markets, many of which are near existing GateHouse properties and offer compelling synergy opportunities."

The Fairport, N.Y.-based company is now one of the largest community newspaper chains in the U.S., with 86 dailies.

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