Nashville newspaper management firm adds Va., Okla. papers

NASHVILLE, Tenn. Copyright 2005 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. — A company formed to manage smaller newspapers announced it has bought publications in Virginia and Oklahoma.

Nashville-based American Hometown Publishing is a new company that acquires and manages community newspapers of 25,000 circulation or less through partnerships with local publishers. According to the company’s Web site, it offers expertise in business operations, marketing, revenue growth and regional cooperation while local newspaper executives handle hiring, local management and community relations.

In Virginia, the company has acquired Norton Press Inc., which owns The Coalfield Progress, a twice-weekly with a circulation of 7,180; The Dickenson Star, a weekly with 7,000 circulation; and The Post, a weekly with 4,500 circulation.

Norton Press was a third-generation family newspaper company owned by Jenay and Michael Tate. Jenay Tate remains as publisher.

In Oklahoma, the company purchased the 2,690-circulation Blackwell Journal-Tribune and 2,750-circulation Guthrie News Leader. Both newspapers are independently owned dailies.

Terms of the deals were not released.

Dan Hammond, who founded the newspaper supplement American Profile in 2000, is chairman and CEO of American Hometown Publishing. Other principals include Steve Young, a founding partner and director who also was a founder of American Profile’s parent company, and Ron Fryar, who has 30 years’ experience managing community newspapers most recently with Morris Newspapers.