McClatchy Offers Self-Service Ad-Buying Platform
Media giant McClatchy is partnering with DanAds to launch a self-service platform for advertisers. The new product, McClatchy Ad Manager, has appeared in select markets, with more to follow. McClatchy Ad Manager provides advertisers with a one-stop-shop access to premium ad space in McClatchy’s numerous news and information sites, the company says. “Our Ad Manager platform allows advertisers to reach a larger, targeted audience and control all aspects of their advertising budget,” states Jane Howard, senior vice president of advertising at McClatchy. Howard adds, “With features like real-time campaign reporting, instant access to ad placements and brand-safe content alignment, it’s a holistic approach to marketing.” The automated tool is customizable, and simplifies the buying process for small- and media-size businesses.
McClatchy has over 80 million unique visitors for its 50+ brands, including The Sacramento Bee, The Kansas City Star, The Charlotte Observer The Fort Worth Star-Telegram, The Raleigh News & Observer, and other digital and print titles.
Striking Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Workers Launch Ads This Week Urging Readers To Drop The Newspaper
Striking CWA members at the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette launched a radio ad and video this week urging Post-Gazette readers to drop the newspaper by boycotting the website and canceling their subscriptions. The video features CWA Local 14827 member Kitsy Higgins and CWA Local 14842 members Renee Tatalovic and James “Hutchie” Van Landingham, who also voiced the radio ad.
Community support for the strike continues to build. On Tuesday, the Pittsburgh City Council issued a resolution supporting the strikers and condemning Block Communications, the owners of the paper. The Council called on Post-
Gazette management to “recognize the value of their workers, end unfair labor practices, bargain in good faith and fashion a collective bargaining agreement now.”
On Monday, members of CWA Locals 13000, 13500 and the United Mine Workers of America joined the workers who are picketing the Butler Eagle, which has been printing the Post-Gazette during the strike.
The Times’ Downtown L.A. Printing Facility Will Shut Down In 2024
The Times will leave its downtown Los Angeles printing facility in 2024, ending an era of newspaper production at a sprawling plant that was sold off by the paper’s former owner. Print operations will continue at the Olympic Boulevard plant for the next year and a half, said Chris Argentieri, The Times’ president and chief operating officer, before The Times will begin working with the Southern California News Group to print its newspapers. “Despite the difficult news, we’re providing this advance notice to help make the transition as smooth as possible for everyone involved,” Argentieri said. “We hope that manufacturing employees will continue on with us for as long as they can and will work closely with them on the transition process.”
About 170 employees work at the Olympic plant, said Hillary Manning, a Times spokesperson.“I have immense respect for the manufacturing team,” Argentieri said. “Their dedication to the print products we produce, and to our readers, is humbling.”Times management did not provide further information on the future status of print production employees.
The Times’ lease at the Olympic plant expires at the end of 2023, according to real estate data provider CoStar.“We have had a long-term lease in place, but multiple factors prevent us from continuing to print at [Olympic], including a dramatically changed real estate market, declining volume of printing and the landlord’s intention to redevelop the property,” Argentieri said. “The pandemic accelerated these trends.
Alden’s Lee Bid Dead For Now
The economic outlook for newspapers is giving pause to private equity investors that are typically eager to eat big chains.
Driving the news: Alden Global Capital has abandoned its bid for Lee Enterprises, at least for now, in part due to rising interest rates and a tougher market to finance deals, sources told Axios.
• Alden quietly sold part of its stake in Lee in April, shortly after a Delaware judge upheld Lee’s rejection of Alden’s two board director nominees in February.
By the numbers: The firm held a 6.3% stake when it initiated its takeover bid and reported a 4.7% stake in April.
• Alden’s $24 bid, which was once challenged by Lee’s management as too low, now looks attractive compared to Lee’s current share price of $18.
• Alden declined to comment.
