Athens Banner-Herald being sold to Gatehouse Media

News broke Wednesday morning that the Athens Banner-Herald and its assets would be sold to GateHouse Media by its longtime parent company Morris Publishing Group.

The Athens Banner-Herald is one of 10 publications and websites included in the sale that is set to be completed in early October of this year.

“Today as we announce the transition from Morris Publishing Group to Gatehouse Media, we celebrate the decades-long service to our communities and we look forward to joining one of America’s strongest media companies with 500 newspapers across America,” said Scot Morrissey, publisher of the Athens Banner-Herald in an article on the publication’s website. “This move will help strengthen our sustainability for decades to come. Gatehouse Media is deeply committed to local journalism and serving the local communities they are in. We will continue being the trusted source for local news coverage and proven digital and print marketing solutions for our local advertising partners.”

“Since my father took a job as bookkeeper at The Chronicle in 1929, our family has been dedicated to journalism, and to the readers and advertisers in the communities we serve,” said William S. “Billy” Morris III, chairman of Morris Communications. “Although this has been a difficult decision for me, we have found a wonderful buyer for the newspapers in GateHouse, as they are strongly committed to providing good community coverage for readers and effective solutions for advertisers.”

GateHouse Media also issued a statement as published in the Athens Banner-Herald:

“GateHouse is very excited to welcome the Morris publications and their employees into our company,” said Michael E. Reed, New Media president and CEO. “For more than 80 years, the Morris family has built and operated an incredible collection of local media assets. We are honored that the family has chosen us to uphold the rich tradition of journalism and innovation they have established. This transaction will expand our footprint into new states and add some very attractive markets to our local media portfolio. We see strong synergies between our two companies and look forward to the value creation opportunity that will exist as we combine the portfolios.”