After Digital First Media announced it was awarded the Orange County Register and the Riverside Press-Enterprise, DFM’s Los Angeles News Group also revealed it was rebranding itself as the Southern California News Group (SCNG), making it the largest news provider in the combined counties of Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside and San Bernardino.
“Our deep affection for local news was the motivation for pursuing the Orange County Register and the Riverside Press-Enterprise. We understand how to make local news both meaningful and profitable,” said Sharon Ryan, DFM’s Executive Vice President of Western Region.
Ryan also announced Ron Hasse, a 25-year veteran of Southern California newspapers, will assume the role of SCNG’s president and publisher.
“We are honored to uphold the values of local journalism, and we look forward to working with award-winning news teams who have dedicated their careers to informing the public about the issues that matter most,” said Hasse. “We are also excited about providing advertisers a broader platform from which to deliver their messages.”
The $52.3 million bid, which was approved on Monday, includes the Orange County Register, the Riverside Press-Enterprise and other assets of the bankrupt publishing company Freedom Communications. SCNG now owns 11 Southern California daily newspapers and more than a dozen community weeklies, ranking among the top five nationally in Sunday circulation and among the top six daily. SCNG will reach more than 6.3 million unique visitors on digital platforms each month, drawing 22 million page views.
With the acquisitions, SCNG’s newspapers have won a combined five Pulitzer Prizes and are undisputed leaders in local news. In April, the Daily Breeze in Torrance won a Pulitzer for local news for exposing corruption at the Centinela Valley Union High School District.
The owners of the Register and the Press-Enterprise chose to accept DFM’s bid after a judge last week issued a temporary restraining order against Tribune Co., owner of the Los Angeles Times, following the opening of an anti-trust investigation by the Department of Justice.
“Ultimately, readers and advertisers benefit most when there is competition,” Hasse said. “We look forward to providing a world-class product that continues to win the hearts and minds of readers and advertisers in Orange County and the Inland Empire.”
The new Southern California News Group has a geographic reach that includes 261 communities throughout the Southern California area.
“We are dedicated to bringing stability and a renewed sense of purpose to these two great newspapers,” Hasse said. “It is a privilege we take seriously and I am personally looking forward to getting to work.”
About the Southern California News Group
The Southern California News Group operates 11 daily newspapers and associated websites in Southern California, including the Los Angeles Daily News, Daily Breeze in Torrance, Long Beach Press-Telegram, Orange County Register, Pasadena Star-News, Riverside Press-Enterprise, San Gabriel Valley Tribune, Whittier Daily News, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin, The Sun in San Bernardino and Redlands Facts. In addition, when combined with its multiple weekly newspapers, Spanish-language products and social channels, SCNG products will reach an audience of more than 8.1 million readers each week, with in-depth reporting on exclusive content focusing on local news, politics, sports and entertainment relevant to the communities it serves.
Comments
No comments on this item Please log in to comment by clicking here