Staffers at eight Wyoming newspapers received some good news this week—only days after being told their owner, News Media Corp., was shutting down without warning.
Robb and Jen Hicks and Rob Mortimore said they are buying the eight papers, and will rehire the staff, some 30 people, as they resume publication immediately,
WyoFile reports.
“What better news could you get?” Marie Hamilton, reporter and managing editor for two of the papers -- the Platte County
Record-Times and Guernsey Gazette -- told WyoFile. “There was a lot of tears, but good tears.”
The action also prevents the appearance of several
news deserts in Wyoming. The closures would have deprived eight counties and 35% of the state’s audience of news coverage.
News Media Corp., headquartered in Illinois, shut
down, bringing over 20 small publications throughout the West and Midwest with it with it.
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Mortimore expressed gratitude to the former owner JJ Thompkins, although
not everyone felt so warmly toward Thompkins following last week’s announcement and the lack of warning.
“It would have been far simpler for him to yield to the demands
of creditors,” Mortimore said. “Instead, he chose to work with us to safeguard the future of these Wyoming communities, to preserve their newspapers, and to ensure that every employee was
paid and retained.”
Well, maybe. Thompkins said he make every effort to pay the compensation owed the staff. But healthcare coverage was to be terminated immediately on
August 6.
It's time for investors to step up in the other locales affected by News Media Corp.'s closure.