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Advance Publications, owner of The Star-Ledger and NJ.com, is studying making changes to its newspaper and online publications throughout New Jersey, the newspaper's publisher said today.
(Frances Micklow/The Star-Ledger)
NEWARK — The company that owns The Star-Ledger, NJ.com and 10 other newspapers in New Jersey said today it is looking at ways for those properties to work together more effectively — including possible consolidations.
“We are currently assessing how we can leverage all of our newspaper and online operations to best serve our readers and advertisers who rely on us to provide news and information 24/7 across print and digital platforms,” said Star-Ledger publisher Richard Vezza.
He said no changes were contemplated in the frequency of publication of any of the newspapers, nor the elimination of home delivery or mergers of newspapers themselves.
“We’re looking at our strategic direction,” he said.
The Star-Ledger, New Jersey’s largest daily newspaper, is owned by Advance Publications, which also operates three other daily papers in the state — the Jersey Journal, the Times of Trenton and the South Jersey Times — along with seven weekly newspapers. Advance also owns NJ.com, which serves as the online presence of all the state’s newspapers and has its own staff as well.
Many of Advance's papers in other states — including Michigan, Alabama, Louisiana and Oregon — have undergone dramatic transformations in recent years. Some have reduced frequency of printing and home delivery. Many have also seen large-scale layoffs and created new digital-centric companies.
Vezza said there is no specific game plan for New Jersey.
“We’ve got a big daily newspaper, some smaller dailies and several weeklies and an online company,” he said. “Right now there’s channel conflict between them. How do we work together? How do we do better?”
He said the company is looking at everything, from combining sales forces to how to organize its news operations.
“It doesn’t mean we’re going to merge some operations or not merge. We’re starting with a blank slate,” Vezza said.
Earlier this year, The Star-Ledger reached new contract accords with its production unions after threatening to shut down without significant cost-saving concessions.
After months of negotiations, the four unions agreed to the savings, which included buyout packages for at least 55 workers.
Vezza said The Star-Ledger continues to lose money and the union agreements didn’t solve all the problems of Advance’s operations in New Jersey.
Advance Publications, owned by the Newhouse family, is a private company not required to publicly disclose its earnings.
Vezza said he expects the study will take several months.
“Clearly we need to find a different direction,” he said.
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