The Ocala Star Banner has been sold by the New York Times/Tribune along with a number of other Florida based newspapers including the Lakeland Ledger, the News Chief in Winter Haven; the Gainesville Sun and the Sarasota Herald-Tribune to the Halifax Group, a private holding company which already owns the Daytona Beach News Journal, for the sum of 143 Million Dollars. According to the report analysts expect the Halifax Group to announce a number of layoffs and cost cutting measures such as management changes and consolidations within days.
Does this mean we can expect to hear of layoffs at Ocala’s leading newspaper? A rumor has it that Ocala’s leading news magazines are struggling and employees have been let go due to declining revenues and lack of interested in print materials in comparison to web based news and entertainment resources. Will we find a decline in the amount of news coverage as the analysts suspect may be coming or will the Ocala Star Banner continue to provide the same level of services in our community?
Do you have a subscription to the Ocala Star Banner or do you read it online?
WMFE 90.7 : New York Times to Sell Florida Papers
Several regional newspapers are expected to be under new ownership soon, including the Lakeland Ledger, the Star-Banner in Ocala; the News Chief in Winter Haven; the Gainesville Sun and the Sarasota Herald-Tribune, The New York Times Company is expected to earn $143 million from the sale to Halifax Media Holdings, a private company that already controls the Daytona Beach News-Journal.
December 29, 2011
Ocala News