Gannett and Morris Multimedia Announce Exchange of Publications
McLEAN, VA – Gannett Co., Inc. (NYSE:GCI) and Morris Multimedia, Inc. said today they had completed the exchange of Gannett’s daily newspaper in Gainesville, Ga., for two of Morris Multimedia’s daily publications in Tennessee.
Gannett will acquire The Review Appeal of Franklin, Tenn., (circulation 6,800) and the Daily News Journal of Murfreesboro, Tenn. (circulation 15,000), as well as two weekly newspapers and a monthly publication in the Murfreesboro area owned by Morris Multimedia.
In exchange, Morris Multimedia will acquire The Times (circulation 20,100) and several non-daily publications in the Gainesville area.
The announcement was made today by Gary Watson, president of Gannett’s Newspaper Division and Charles H. Morris, president and CEO of Morris Multimedia.
“This is a strategic transaction for both Gannett and Morris Multimedia. These publications complement our existing titles in the middle Tennessee region and will allow Gannett to increase its profile in this dynamic region.” Watson said. Gannett also owns The Tennessean in Nashville and numerous non-daily publications in the area.
Charles H. Morris, president and CEO of Morris Multimedia, Inc. said, “This was a strategic move that makes sense for both companies, allowing Morris Multimedia, Inc. to strengthen further its cluster of Georgia properties, while doing the same for Gannett in the Middle Tennessee region.” Morris will continue to operate its newspapers and shopper in McMinnville and Smithville, Tenn.
Gannett Co., Inc. is a leading international news and information company that publishes 101 daily newspapers in the USA, including USA TODAY, the nation’s largest-selling daily newspaper. The company also owns more than 500 non-daily publications in the USA and USA WEEKEND, a weekly newspaper magazine. Gannett subsidiary Newsquest is the United Kingdom’s second largest regional newspaper company. Newsquest publishes more than 300 titles, including 17 daily newspapers, and a network of prize-winning Web sites. Gannett also operates 22 television stations in the United States and is an Internet leader with sites sponsored by its TV stations and newspapers including USATODAY.com, one of the most popular news sites on the Web.
Morris Multimedia, Inc. was founded in 1970 by Charles H. Morris. Today the company operates thirty-five daily and weekly newspapers and forty-nine specialty publications, as well as four network-affiliated television stations in eight states and the Caribbean. Headquartered in Savannah, Georgia, Morris Multimedia, Inc., is a diversified media company that built its reputation as a leader in community journalism.
For more information, contact:
Tara Connell
Vice President of Corporate Communications
Gannett Co., Inc.
(703) 854-6049
tjconnel@gannett.com
Jeff Samuels
Vice President/CFO
Morris Multimedia, Inc.
(912) 233-1281
jsamuels@morrismultimedia.com