The Dispatch Printing Company issued a press release this morning stating that the company was offloading all of its print publication assets to NYC-based New Media Investment Group. That includes not only The Dispatch daily newspaper, but also other periodicals including Columbus Monthly, Crave, Capital Style, Columbus CEO and ThisWeek Community Newspapers.
The Dispatch has been owned locally by the Wolfe family since 1905, which made the paper unique as one of the few large independently owned daily newspapers. Current Dispatch Publisher John F. Wolfe will remain Chairman of the Board of the company, which will continue to operate their tv and radio assets, as well as overseeing the management of local real estate investments.
“The Wolfe family’s commitment to Columbus remains strong,” said Wolfe. “We intend to remain active and engaged in our city’s civic life as we always have been.”
Wolfe described the sale of the print publications “necessary to respond to the ever-accelerating change in the print media environment” and noted in the release that the division of print and broadcasting is a larger trend in the media business.
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