2 metro dailies cut staff

Texas’ two largest daily newspapers announced cutbacks last month that include the elimination of staff positions.

Belo, which owns The Dallas Morning News, announced that its workforce will be reduced by approximately 250 positions by Nov. 1, with the majority of positions being eliminated from The Morning News.

Belo reported that its total revenue from all sources in the Dallas/Fort Worth market has been essentially flat since 2001, making changes in expense of The Morning News and WFAA-TV necessary.

The Houston Chronicle announced restructuring plans that include reductions in payroll and staff cuts through attrition, a voluntary buyout program, involuntary layoffs and reduction of contract labor and outside services. No figures were available on the number of positions being eliminated.

The Chronicle restructuring also includes the creation of new niche products and separate publications, such as the Spanish publication La Vibra.

Denver City publisher calls it quits after 50 years

DENVER CITY — Gene Snyder is winding up a career in small-town newspapering as he ends 50 years with the Denver City Press.

Snyder completed the sale of the Press to John and Jeanine Graham, publishers of the Lovington (N.M.) Leader. John Graham will be the new publisher of the Press.

Snyder and his brother, Cal, took ownership of the Press on Aug. 1, 1955. In 1961, they purchased the Morton Tribune, and Gene Snyder moved to that city.

In 1965, Gene Snyder became sole owner of the two firms but later sold the Morton newspaper and returned to Denver City.

Gene Snyder earned TPA’s Golden 50 Award in 2001.

Anson returns to 1-newspaper town

ANSON — Jessica McLaren, publisher of the Jones County Journal, on Oct. 1 purchased the Western Observer from Becky Alambar.

McLaren simultaneously discontinued the Journal, which was founded in 1998, and will become publisher, editor and ad director of the Observer.

Alambar continues as publisher of Ash Newspapers’ Stamford American and Hamlin Herald.

Leonard subscribers miss 1 week after mail gets lost

LEONARD — Due to a mistake made in transit in delivering the Leonard Graphic to the Celeste and Trenton post offices by a postal mail truck, those subscribers did not receive the Aug. 19 issue, publisher Bethany Russell said.

By Tuesday of the following week, Russell said the papers still had not been recovered.

The mistake affected an estimated 125 subscribers and many of those subscribers called the Graphic offices to report missing papers.

“It is very frustrating when something like this happens. We have encountered this a few times over the years, but this is the worst situation so far,” Russell said. “We are now looking at delivering the sacked newspapers to each post office location in the area in person, even though this requires more manpower than we can really afford right now.”

People Newspapers starts 7 new editions

DALLAS — People Newspapers,  publisher of Park Cities People for 23 years, announced the launch of seven new editions in the most affluent neighborhoods in the Dallas area.

The new editions, which will be published weekly, are Bent Tree People, Bluffview People, Lake Highlands People, Lakewood People, Preston Hollow People, West Plano People and Turtle Creek People.

Simultaneously, the company will discontinue publication of North Dallas People, which it launched on Aug. 17, 1989.

Fort Worth launches new weekly in Colleyville

FORT WORTH — Knight Ridder Inc., owner of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, said it would launch a weekly Colleyville newspaper Oct. 22.

The free paper will be mailed to every deliverable address in the city. The Colleyville Journal will be a part of Knight Ridder’s Alliance Newspaper Group of nine newspapers in northeast Tarrant and southern Denton counties.

10 newspapers closed in 2004

The TPA database shows 10 newspapers closed in the last year: The Angleton Times, Benbrook Star, Denison Post (in late 2003), Hutto Herald, Jones County Journal, The Mountain Sun (Kerrville), Sterling City News-Record and Sudan Beacon News. Also, The Bandera Review and Hill Country Recorder (Boerne) merged with The Bandera Bulletin and The Boerne Star, respectively.

Five newspapers started and/or received postal permits: Archer Advocate, Bullard Banner, Hometown News (Hewitt), Tri County Tribune (Seagraves) and West Austin News.

Four newspapers changed names: East Bernard Express (bought East Bernard Tribune), Kirbyville Banner, Lone Star Eagle (was Stateline Speaker in Waskom but moved to Marshall), and the Crosbyton Review.