Express-News buys San Antonio publishing group

SAN ANTONIO — The Hearst Corp., parent company of the San Antonio Express-News, has bought Prime Time Inc., a local chain of community newspapers started by Clear Channel Communications Inc. founder L. Lowry Mays in the 1970s, the Express-News reported Nov. 30.

Prime Time included 18 publications, five offices, 150 employees and the Web site www.clickitsa.com. Its TPA member newspapers are the Daily Commercial Record and North San Antonio Times.

Prime Time will be operated as a separate company, publisher Tom Stephenson said in the Express-News article.

In a letter e-mailed to Express-News employees, Stephenson said: “The future opportunities created by the merger of these two companies will further diversify our company, provide advertisers with additional ways to connect with customers, and give readers more publications tailored to their needs and interests.”

Veteran newspaperman buys Frankston weekly

FRANKSTON — Blake and Kim Foster have sold the Frankston Citizen to J. Tom Graham.

The Fosters had owned the newspaper since August 2005 after purchasing it from longtime owner Joe Tindel.

Graham retired last year as chief operating officer of Houston-based Westward Communications, which owns 60 community newspapers. His newspaper career spans more than three decades and includes stints in Australia and in Seoul, Korea, as bureau chief for Stars and Stripes.

Graham took over ownership in Frankston immediately and planned to relocate with his wife Kathryn from their current home in Mineola.

Boerne celebrates 100th birthday with move

BOERNE — For its 100th birthday, the Boerne Star got a new home. The staff of the newspaper outgrew its old location at 282 N. Main, and moved into a brand new 4,000 square-foot building at 941 N. School St. on Nov.14.  

Wooleys sell 34 years after founding Seagoville weekly

SEAGOVILLE — Neal Wooley sold the Suburbia News to Pugh Media, LLC, Dec. 4.

Wooley, and his wife Lois, both 83, had owned the newspaper since publishing the first edition Nov. 7, 1972.

Travis Pugh is the new owner and will serve as publisher, editor and ad director.

Dallas M-News to cut circulation area again

DALLAS — The Dallas Morning News reported that it probably will cut its circulation area again next year.

In April, The News stopped distributing newspapers to most areas beyond a 200-mile radius from the city.

“Further refinements to The Morning News’ distribution areas will occur in the first half of 2007, reducing the circulation perimeter to 100 miles in certain areas,” Belo chairman, president and chief executive Robert W. Decherd said.

Decherd said changes in Belo’s circulation practices at The News and its other three daily newspapers are saving the company about $8 million annually.

He indicated that some outlying areas will continue to receive The News, saying “there are still areas more than 100 miles from Dallas that are still very profitable and important for us. So we’re going to keep them, but try to probably bring it in

Yahoo teams with 176 papers in Internet partnership

Scores of newspapers nationwide have teamed with an unlikely partner to boost their online presence and reach more Internet users.

Yahoo! Inc. announced a strategic partnership with 176 newspapers in 38 states to deliver search, graphical and classified advertising.

Many Texas newspapers are in the partnership including the Austin American-Statesman, The Dallas Morning News and Houston Chronicle. Other Texas newspapers that are part of newspaper groups Cox, Belo Corp., Hearst, E.W. Scripps and MediaNews Group also are participating.

The partnership represents daily circulation of more than 12 million and Web sites that attract more than 58 million unique visitors each month. Yahoo claims 131 million visitors to its sites each month.

The partnership includes a network for advertising, searches, content and local applications across the newspapers’ Web sites.

The first phase of the partnership will include recruitment advertising and expanding and combining each newspaper’s employment ads to Yahoo’s HotJobs.

Kamen expands to Ireland

Kamen & Co. Group Services has expanded its professional print, direct mail & digital media valuation services to publishing enterprises in Ireland.

Kevin B. Kamen said in the last year the company continued growth in Canada and Europe and had specifically targeted Ireland for growth in 2007. The firm is based in New York.