• by Sara Guaglione , September 26, 2017

While media companies tend to spin off their broadcast and publishing arms to operate as their own entities, Raycom Media and Community Newspaper Holdings are merging.

Both Raycom and CNH are owned by the Retirement Systems of Alabama, based in Montgomery. Under the merger agreement, CNH will operate as a Raycom Media subsidiary. CEO of CNH Donna Barrett will continue to run the newspapers and report to Raycom CEO Pat LaPlatney.

Raycom owns or operates 65 TV stations and two radio stations, covering 44 markets in 20 states, mostly in the South.

CNH owns more than 110 newspapers, websites and niche publications in 22 states. Its biggest brands include the Joplin Globe in Missouri, The Eagle-Tribune of North Andover, Massachusetts, and The Tribune-Democrat of Johnstown, Pennsylvania.

In the seven markets where Raycom Media's broadcast stations and CNHI's newspapers overlap, the publications will be sold.

LaPlatney told TVNewsCheck the merger will combine administrative operations, such as accounting, finance, IT, legal and human resources. The companies are located around the block from each other in Montgomery, by the RSA Tower.

CNH will also produce more video, according to LaPlatney, who said Raycom’s digital media hub in Atlanta will provide international and national news for the CNH papers, as well as Raycom's websites.