Northeast News Gleaner

Mondo Times editors    Boulder, Colorado USA

Posted at 12:19am on Tuesday, January 6th, 2009

On December 13, 2008, the Philadelphia Daily News reported that the Northeast News Gleaner and two other newspapers owned by the Journal Register Co. would shut down immediately. The News Gleaner had a circulation of 135,482 copies:

"Without so much as a word of warning to their readers or employees, the Journal Register Co. on Thursday closed three longtime community newspapers in Philadelphia.

Staffers of the Olney Times, News Gleaner and Northeast Breeze were told all three weekly publications were going to be shut down immediately during an impromptu morning meeting, said Stuart London, the News Gleaner's sports editor.

London said publisher J. Wesley Rowe Jr. cited the struggling economy and an unsuccessful attempt by the Journal Register Co. to sell the papers when he delivered the grim news.

Journal Register Co. officials could not be reached for comment yesterday on the decision to close the papers.

Employees were aware of the Yardley, Pa.-based newspaper company's larger financial struggles. A month ago, the company - saddled with $650 million in debt and a forbearance agreement with its lenders - announced it would shutter two of its papers in Connecticut if buyers don't emerge by Jan. 12.

Still, Thursday's announcement of the Philadelphia closures came as a shock. No one realized the papers had been for sale or in danger of perishing.

"There had been rumblings and grumblings, but you didn't think it would happen now, particularly with the the Christmas holidays approaching," London said.

"The suddenness of it was stunning. There was no farewell edition or anything on the Web site. We cleaned out our desks and left in two hours."