Newspapers of New England
Encyclopedia
Newspapers of New England Inc. (NNE) is a privately-owned publisher of seven daily and weekly newspaper
s in the U.S. states of Massachusetts
and New Hampshire
.
The company's flagship
publication is the Concord Monitor
, in New Hampshire's capital. Its largest circulation newspaper in Massachusetts is the Daily Hampshire Gazette
of Northampton
.
. Under the leadership of publisher Minnie Dwight and her son, William, the T-T in 1955 bought The Recorder-Gazette
of Greenfield, Massachusetts
. Minnie died two years later, and William bought the Monitor in 1961.
When son-in-law George W. Wilson, publisher of the Monitor, was named company president in the late 1970s, the T-T, Recorder and Monitor were placed under the umbrella of Newspapers of New England. The company added the Valley News
of Lebanon, New Hampshire
, in 1981.
In the 1980s, NNE added the weekly Monadnock Ledger
to its portfolio, but soon had to shed its original flagship: In 1992, the 110-year-old Transcript-Telegram was closed after four years of heavy losses.
NNE remained the publisher of the Concord, Greenfield and Lebanon dailies, plus the Ledger, until purchasing the Daily Hampshire Gazette
in 2005.
In December 2007, the company announced it would buy one of the Gazette's main competitors, the alternative weekly
Valley Advocate of Easthampton
, which had been founded in 1973. The Advocate was owned by Tribune Company
, which also publishes the Hartford Courant and Advocate weeklies in Connecticut
. Advocate circulation at the time was given at 50,000. Actual circulation is 45,000.
Weekly newspaper
A weekly newspaper is a general-news publication that is published on newsprint once or twice a week.Such newspapers tend to have smaller circulations than daily newspapers, and are usually based in less-populous communities or small, defined areas within large cities; often, they may cover a...
s in the U.S. states of Massachusetts
Massachusetts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
and New Hampshire
New Hampshire
New Hampshire is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. The state was named after the southern English county of Hampshire. It is bordered by Massachusetts to the south, Vermont to the west, Maine and the Atlantic Ocean to the east, and the Canadian...
.
The company's flagship
Flagship
A flagship is a vessel used by the commanding officer of a group of naval ships, reflecting the custom of its commander, characteristically a flag officer, flying a distinguishing flag...
publication is the Concord Monitor
Concord Monitor
The Concord Monitor is the daily newspaper for Concord, the state capital of New Hampshire. It also covers substantial portions of surrounding Merrimack and Belknap counties in New Hampshire's Lakes Region...
, in New Hampshire's capital. Its largest circulation newspaper in Massachusetts is the Daily Hampshire Gazette
Daily Hampshire Gazette
The Daily Hampshire Gazette is a six-day morning daily newspaper based in Northampton, Massachusetts, and covering all of Hampshire County and southern towns of Franklin County, Massachusetts...
of Northampton
Northampton, Massachusetts
The city of Northampton is the county seat of Hampshire County, Massachusetts, United States. As of the 2010 census, the population of Northampton's central neighborhoods, was 28,549...
.
History
The company was founded in the late 1970s as a holding company for various properties owned by the Dwight family, longtime publishers of the (now defunct) Holyoke Transcript-TelegramHolyoke Transcript-Telegram
The Holyoke Transcript-Telegram, or T-T, was an afternoon daily newspaper covering the city of Holyoke, Massachusetts, USA, and adjacent portions of Hampden County and Hampshire County....
. Under the leadership of publisher Minnie Dwight and her son, William, the T-T in 1955 bought The Recorder-Gazette
The Recorder (Greenfield)
The Recorder is a six-day morning daily newspaper published in Greenfield, Massachusetts, USA, covering all of Franklin County, Massachusetts; Hinsdale, New Hampshire; and Brattleboro, Guilford and Vernon, Vermont...
of Greenfield, Massachusetts
Greenfield, Massachusetts
Greenfield is a city in Franklin County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 17,456 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Franklin County. Greenfield is home to Greenfield Community College, the Pioneer Valley Symphony Orchestra, and the Franklin County Fair...
. Minnie died two years later, and William bought the Monitor in 1961.
When son-in-law George W. Wilson, publisher of the Monitor, was named company president in the late 1970s, the T-T, Recorder and Monitor were placed under the umbrella of Newspapers of New England. The company added the Valley News
Valley News
The Valley News is a seven-day morning daily newspaper based in Lebanon, New Hampshire, covering the Upper Valley region of New Hampshire and Vermont....
of Lebanon, New Hampshire
Lebanon, New Hampshire
As of the census of 2000, there were 12,568 people, 5,500 households, and 3,178 families residing in the city. The population density was 311.4 people per square mile . There were 5,707 housing units at an average density of 141.4 per square mile...
, in 1981.
In the 1980s, NNE added the weekly Monadnock Ledger
Monadnock Ledger-Transcript
The Monadnock Ledger-Transcript is a twice-weekly newspaper based in Peterborough, New Hampshire and covering the Monadnock Region. It was formed in September 2006, when the 50-year-old Monadnock Ledger bought the 150-year-old Peterborough Transcript...
to its portfolio, but soon had to shed its original flagship: In 1992, the 110-year-old Transcript-Telegram was closed after four years of heavy losses.
NNE remained the publisher of the Concord, Greenfield and Lebanon dailies, plus the Ledger, until purchasing the Daily Hampshire Gazette
Daily Hampshire Gazette
The Daily Hampshire Gazette is a six-day morning daily newspaper based in Northampton, Massachusetts, and covering all of Hampshire County and southern towns of Franklin County, Massachusetts...
in 2005.
In December 2007, the company announced it would buy one of the Gazette
Alternative weekly
An alternative newspaper is a type of newspaper, that eschews comprehensive coverage of general news in favor of stylized reporting, opinionated reviews and columns, investigations into edgy topics and magazine-style feature stories highlighting local people and culture. Their news coverage is more...
Valley Advocate of Easthampton
Easthampton, Massachusetts
Easthampton is the second largest city in Hampshire County, Massachusetts, United States. The town is on the southeastern edge of an area called the Pioneer Valley near the five colleges in the college towns of Northampton and Amherst, MA...
, which had been founded in 1973. The Advocate was owned by Tribune Company
Tribune Company
The Tribune Company is a large American multimedia corporation based in Chicago, Illinois. It is the nation's second-largest newspaper publisher, with ten daily newspapers and commuter tabloids including Chicago Tribune, Los Angeles Times, Hartford Courant, Orlando Sentinel, South Florida...
, which also publishes the Hartford Courant and Advocate weeklies in Connecticut
Connecticut
Connecticut is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States. It is bordered by Rhode Island to the east, Massachusetts to the north, and the state of New York to the west and the south .Connecticut is named for the Connecticut River, the major U.S. river that approximately...
. Advocate circulation at the time was given at 50,000. Actual circulation is 45,000.
Properties
The following daily and weekly newspapers are published by Newspapers of New England:- Amherst Bulletin of Amherst, MassachusettsAmherst, MassachusettsAmherst is a town in Hampshire County, Massachusetts, United States in the Connecticut River valley. As of the 2010 census, the population was 37,819, making it the largest community in Hampshire County . The town is home to Amherst College, Hampshire College, and the University of Massachusetts...
(weekly) - Concord MonitorConcord MonitorThe Concord Monitor is the daily newspaper for Concord, the state capital of New Hampshire. It also covers substantial portions of surrounding Merrimack and Belknap counties in New Hampshire's Lakes Region...
of Concord, New HampshireConcord, New HampshireThe city of Concord is the capital of the state of New Hampshire in the United States. It is also the county seat of Merrimack County. As of the 2010 census, its population was 42,695.... - Daily Hampshire GazetteDaily Hampshire GazetteThe Daily Hampshire Gazette is a six-day morning daily newspaper based in Northampton, Massachusetts, and covering all of Hampshire County and southern towns of Franklin County, Massachusetts...
of Northampton, MassachusettsNorthampton, MassachusettsThe city of Northampton is the county seat of Hampshire County, Massachusetts, United States. As of the 2010 census, the population of Northampton's central neighborhoods, was 28,549... - Monadnock Ledger-TranscriptMonadnock Ledger-TranscriptThe Monadnock Ledger-Transcript is a twice-weekly newspaper based in Peterborough, New Hampshire and covering the Monadnock Region. It was formed in September 2006, when the 50-year-old Monadnock Ledger bought the 150-year-old Peterborough Transcript...
of Peterborough, New HampshirePeterborough, New HampshirePeterborough is a town in Hillsborough County, New Hampshire, United States. The population was 6,284 at the 2010 census. Home to the MacDowell Art Colony, the town is a popular tourist destination....
(twice-weekly) - The RecorderThe Recorder (Greenfield)The Recorder is a six-day morning daily newspaper published in Greenfield, Massachusetts, USA, covering all of Franklin County, Massachusetts; Hinsdale, New Hampshire; and Brattleboro, Guilford and Vernon, Vermont...
of Greenfield, MassachusettsGreenfield, MassachusettsGreenfield is a city in Franklin County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 17,456 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Franklin County. Greenfield is home to Greenfield Community College, the Pioneer Valley Symphony Orchestra, and the Franklin County Fair... - The Summit of Easthampton, MassachusettsEasthampton, MassachusettsEasthampton is the second largest city in Hampshire County, Massachusetts, United States. The town is on the southeastern edge of an area called the Pioneer Valley near the five colleges in the college towns of Northampton and Amherst, MA...
(weekly) - Valley Advocate of Easthampton, MassachusettsEasthampton, MassachusettsEasthampton is the second largest city in Hampshire County, Massachusetts, United States. The town is on the southeastern edge of an area called the Pioneer Valley near the five colleges in the college towns of Northampton and Amherst, MA...
(weekly) - Valley NewsValley NewsThe Valley News is a seven-day morning daily newspaper based in Lebanon, New Hampshire, covering the Upper Valley region of New Hampshire and Vermont....
of Lebanon, New HampshireLebanon, New HampshireAs of the census of 2000, there were 12,568 people, 5,500 households, and 3,178 families residing in the city. The population density was 311.4 people per square mile . There were 5,707 housing units at an average density of 141.4 per square mile...