Gatehouse Media to close three southern Illinois publications—two newspapers and a free shopper

Gatehouse Media announced this week that it will close two southern Illinois community newspapers and a weekly shopper, reports The Randolph County Herald Tribune, which is owned by Gatehouse. Scheduled to cease publications the week of May 10 are: The Daily American, a five-times-a-week newspaper in West Frankfort; the Murphysboro American, a weekly in Murphysboro; and the Money Stretcher, a weekly free shopper distributed in several Southern Illinois communities.

Gatehouse cited financial reasons for the Illinois closures. Regional publisher Lynne Campbell told the Tribune, "Despite our best attempts to adapt to the economy in these markets and the changing media landscape, we are unable to continue. This was a tough decision that had to be made, but it will allow us to improve our remaining properties in the region."

New Media Investment Group, parent company of GateHouse—which filed for bankruptcy in 2013—in March began laying off employees from its 36 community newspapers. Many of the newspapers were formerly owned by The New York Times then by Halifax Media, which was recently purchased by New Media for $280 million.