03/28/2008

Associated Press

WEHCO Media Inc. on Thursday was negotiating final details to buy the Jefferson City News Tribune.

Walter E. Hussman Jr., president of WEHCO Media, said the purchase also included the News Tribune's sister newspapers, the Fulton Sun, a daily, and the California Democrat, a weekly.

Hussman introduced himself to the Jefferson City paper's employees Thursday and said he expected the ownership change to occur about May 1. A purchase price was not disclosed.

WEHCO Media, owned by the Hussman family, also owns seven other newspapers, including Little Rock's Arkansas Democrat-Gazette. The company also operates about a dozen cable television franchises, mostly in Arkansas.

He said several things attracted the company to the News Tribune.

"Being in the state capital was a big plus, and this very stable employment base here was a big plus," he said. "The facilities, particularly the new printing press — which is really state-of-the-art and really terrific — was a major plus."

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On the Net:

Jefferson City News Tribune: http://www.newstribune.com/