• by Sara Guaglione , June 6, 2017

Hearst has acquired 21st Century Media Newspaper, a subsidiary of Digital First Media, and its three daily newspapers, eight weekly newspapers and ConnecticutMagazine.

The three dailies in the deal are more than 100 years old: The New Haven Register was founded in 1812, The Middletown Press in 1878 and The Register Citizen in 1889. The new properties have a combined weekly circulation of more than 470,000 households and a monthly digital reach of 1.4 million unique visitors.

Hearst Newspapers president Mark Aldam stated: “This investment strengthens Hearst Newspapers’ commitment to local communities in Connecticut.”

Now, Hearst owns 22 dailies and 64 weeklies across the U.S, with eight dailies and 11 weeklies in Connecticut, including the Connecticut Post, based in Bridgeport; The Hour in Norwalk; The Advocate, based in Stamford; Greenwich Time; and The News-Times in Danbury.

Its Connecticut-based weeklies include Darien News, New Canaan News, Westport News, Fairfield Citizen, Wilton Villager and Greater New Milford Spectrum.

Hearst’s new titles will become part of Hearst Newspapers’ Connecticut Media Group.

Paul Barbetta, group publisher and president of the Hearst Connecticut Media Group, will oversee the business and news operations for the acquired properties.

“By connecting our current Connecticut media assets across Fairfield County with the New Haven Register group, we expect to advance enterprise journalism across southern Connecticut,” Aldam added.

Hearst has recently acquired a number of newspapers, including the Pioneer Group in Michigan in January and two dozen community newspapers in Houston last year.

Separately , Hearst and Scripps Networks Interactive debuted today the pilot issue of The Pioneer Woman Magazine with Food Network star and blogger Ree Drummond. The magazine will sell for $3.99 an issue and is available at Walmart stores across the country.