• by Sara Guaglione , May 3, 2019

Advance Local Media is selling The Times-Picayune and website NOLA.com to the owners of Louisiana newspaper The Advocate. The two brands will combine to create a single daily newspaper and website.

Financial terms were not disclosed.

This merger will combine the 177-year-old Advocate and the 182-year-old Picayune in June, when a new version of the newspaper will debut and publish seven days a week. The new paper will be printed in Louisiana at The Advocate’s printing press.

The papers’ websites will merge under the NOLA.com brand and reach more than 8 million viewers monthly, according to the companies.

The Advocate is Louisiana’s largest newspaper and newsroom, with 110 journalists. It says the single newspaper "will carry the flags of both" brands. The new paper and web site "will have all the features, including comics and puzzles, that appear in both papers."

The Picayune was not for sale, but management for both companies have talked for years about New Orleans journalism. In December, John Georges, who owns The Advocate with his wife, Dathel, went to New York to meet with Advance executives. "The Georges promise to keep the legacy of both papers," according to a post published online by The Advocate's editorial.

“New Orleans has never lost its love for a daily newspaper,” stated John Georges, who thanked Advance Local “for working with us to ensure a strong print and online news company for years to come.”

The Advocate will hire from current NOLA.com and Times-Picayune employees to expand its New Orleans news, advertising and circulation staff, according to the company. 

It also aims to increase its coverage of suburban communities, sports and entertainment, and improve its opinion pages.

In Baton Rouge, the paper will remain The Advocate, as will the website.

Advance Local Media belongs to the Newhouse family, which also owns Condé Nast through Advance Publications.

The Georges purchased Capital City Press, The Advocate’s parent, in 2013. The Advocate won its first Pulitzer Prize this year for local reporting.