The is , owner of several Ohio papers including and .
The Beacon Journal has been owned by , a subsidiary of Vancouver-based , since 2006. New York-based GateHouse Media plans to rent the Beacon Journal building in downtown Akron on what鈥檚 described as a short-term lease, although no time frame has been given. GateHouse also says it will not recognize any labor agreements under the terms of the sale.
Bob DeMay has been with the Beacon Journal since 1999, and has been head of the paper鈥檚 unit of the for the past decade. He says GateHouse plans to interview current employees in the next week.
鈥淚t looks to be that they鈥檙e using the process they鈥檙e using in Columbus where many people will have to re-apply for their jobs.鈥�
The Newspaper Guild currently covers about 50 reporters and photographers at the Beacon Journal. The interview process should wrap up by the end of the month, but it鈥檚 unclear which departments will be affected.
The Beacon Journal鈥檚 Bruce Winges has been with the paper since 1982, and editor since 2007. He says the paper鈥檚 strength is storytelling, and he hopes to enhance that in the coming years.
鈥淚 hope we get better at telling stories digitally and reaching audiences where the audiences are. I think that鈥檚 been a continuing process in our profession and needs to continue.
The Beacon Journal was first published in 1839 as the Summit Beacon, later merging with the Akron Evening Journal.
鈥淭he Beacon Journal has been here for 179 years, and we鈥檙e still here. We鈥檙e still committed to telling the story of Akron and Summit County with our professional journalists. And that hasn鈥檛 changed with this sale.鈥�
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