When Will the 'New' News Chief Become the East Polk Ledger?
Posted by Josh Hallett on May 14, 2008 at 09:37 AM
It's been over two months since the News Chief was purchased by The Ledger. How's the outlook? I think this photo of the 'News Chief' sign might offer some foreshadowing.
Looks a bit temporary. You figure they could get a more permanent sign. In my review of the sale one of the points I made was that it didn't make sense for The Ledger to operate the News Chief under a separate masthead. They're competing against themselves. Their non-purchase of the Chief's facilities also raised this flag.
When will it happen? You know the statement that says something like, "We gave it our best shot, but unfortunately economic forces......"
3 months? 6 months? Perhaps we'll start a pool. I'll take either July 23rd or October 23rd.
Comments
When the Ledger announced the deal I said I didn't believe the Ledger intended to grow another brand and:
I'll go out on a short, sturdy limb and say the News-Chief will gradually disappear. The Ledger will eventually turn the News-Chief into a weekly, then close that and add a line on the Ledger's banner "incorporating the News-Chief" and on down the line we'll only see it mentioned in the Sunday paper editorial page.
I don't have any inside sources, but I'll take Dec 26th as the last News Chief print edition.
Posted by: Chuck Welch | May 14, 2008 12:57 PM
C'mon Josh. Don't be such a cynic. That type of architectural sign takes a bit to get new facings made. Nelson Kirkland is as straight a shooter as they come and I believe he has every intention of making the News Chief an even better paper. The News Chief can and does present more East Polk community news. The News Chief is one of the oldest newspaper flags in Florida and I believe the new owners value that heritage.
Posted by: Bob Gernert | May 14, 2008 05:59 PM
My friends at the Ledger/Cheif say that it will remain the Cheif and the East Polk section of the Ledger has dissappeared for good.
Posted by: Dee Dee | May 15, 2008 01:14 PM