Owlspotting

The world of American Journalism will never be the same. Knight Ridder, the second largest newspaper publisher in the United States (32 papers) has accepted a bid from McClatchy, a company half its size. Knight Ridder’s sale has been in the making since last year a group of investors began asking that the company bring in more money.

To many inside the business McClatchy was the ideal buyer because despite its small size it has always put journalism before money-making and has never gone through the layoffs that have plagued the industry in 2005.

Pu down March 12, 2006 as a cornerstone in the history of newspapers. One more big player down — what’s next?

More information:
– Great overview piece on the Knight Ridder saga.
– A 2003 profile of the McClatchy company.
– The ups and downs of the Philadelphia Inquirer, one of Knight Ridder’s flagship newspapers.
– Watch or hear a report on financial pressures in the newspaper industry here.