Nine community LIFE newspapers serving the Hartford, Connecticut, suburbs sold to Massachusetts-based publisher Turley Publications by owner Chris White
Kendall Sinclair
HARTFORD, Connecticut
,
August 23, 2013
(Hartford Courant )
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Nine community monthly newspapers serving the Hartford suburbs have been sold to a Western Massachusetts publisher, the company announced this week.
The newspapers, Avon LIFE, Canton LIFE, Farmington LIFE, Simsbury LIFE, West Hartford LIFE, Rocky Hill LIFE, Newington LIFE and Wethersfield LIFE, were sold by Chris White for an undisclosed amount to Turley Publications.
White wrote a letter to the readers of the publications that will run Tuesday. In it, he said: "I have published the LIFE newspapers for most of my adult life, starting them at just 26 with a $3,000 loan from my parents."
White, 45, of Hartford, said he decided to sell for two reasons -- he thought a bigger company would have a better chance of sustaining the papers in a changing media market, and because his events arm, LIFE Marketing & Events, has become more and more consuming.
"That second company is taking up so much time and energy I wanted the opportunity to devote all my energy to it," he said in an interview Friday.
That company produces LEGO KidsFest, which travels the country.
He said in his letter that some of LIFE's 30 newspaper staffers will join him at the events company, and most of the staff will be filling the same roles under the new management.
White will continue to do some commercial printing, including Hartford Stage playbills.
"The Turley family has newsprint in its blood; their local newspapers in Massachusetts and Connecticut have flourished for more than 50 years because their commitment to solid, vital community journalism is unparalleled in the area," White wrote.
"I think a larger company will provide more stability and have a better opportunity to grow the papers," he said. "They own their own printing presses."
A Turley official did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
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(c)2013 The Hartford Courant (Hartford, Conn.)
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