MediaNews Group Announces the Appointment of John Paton as CEO and the Retention of Digital First Media to Provide Management Services

DENVER, Sept. 7, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- MediaNews Group, Inc., the nation's second largest newspaper company as measured by circulation, ("MediaNews") today announced that it has appointed John Paton as CEO, and has entered into an agreement with newly-created Digital First Media, headed by Mr. Paton, to provide management services and lead the execution of the Company's business strategy. Mr. Paton and Digital First Media will also manage The Journal Register Company. This arrangement provides MediaNews with immediate cost benefits, and the ability to leverage the combined scale and expertise of MediaNews and Journal Register Company to benefit both companies, respectively.

Under this agreement, the independent directors of the board of directors of MediaNews will oversee the activities of Mr. Paton and Digital First Media on behalf of MediaNews, and will make recommendations to the Board of MediaNews, which will have ultimate responsibility with respect to the arrangement with Mr. Paton and Digital First Media.

"We said in January that MediaNews was intent on continuing its transformation from a print-oriented newspaper company to a locally focused provider of news and information across multiple platforms to profitably address the rapidly changing industry landscape," said Chairman Dean Singleton. "At the forefront of our efforts was developing a successful digital strategy. I have known and respected John Paton for more than 20 years. With 'digital first,' John has successfully implemented just such a digital strategy for Journal Register. We are delighted to tap into John's experience as we accelerate further our successful transition to a digital world." Mr. Singleton, who announced in January his intention to step down as CEO of MediaNews, will remain chairman of MediaNews, and publisher of The Denver Post and The Salt Lake Tribune. Mr. Singleton is also the Chairman of The Associated Press.

Gordon Paris, who has served as interim President of MediaNews since the beginning of the year, and Michael Sileck, who has served as interim Chief Revenue Officer, will continue in those roles throughout a transition period. Mr. Paris will remain a director of the company and after the transition period will serve as a special advisor to the company focusing on strategic transactions. Mr. Sileck will be stepping down as a member of the board and will become a special advisor to the board.

Mr. Paris said: "The board of directors was determined to select leadership for MediaNews that would accelerate the progress of the Company already underway. We are pleased to have reached this agreement with Digital First Media, which followed an extensive review of potential CEO candidates. John Paton has developed a highly innovative media business model built around digital that has achieved both content of the highest quality and commercial success.  We see tremendous benefit for MediaNews from teaming up to take advantage of Digital First Media's expertise and the benefits of scale that both we and the Journal Register can accomplish as independent entities collaborating together."

Mr. Paton said: "I am very excited to be working with the MediaNews Group and Journal Register Company teams to continue the Digital First transformation. This initiative creates a local news powerhouse with more than 880 multi-platform products in 18 states, serving more than 57 million people a month. It will be one of the largest and most compelling news platforms in the country for consumers and advertisers."

Digital First Media represents the codification into a management company of a digital strategy that Journal Register Company has been pursuing with great success since February 2010, when John Paton was named Chief Executive Officer of Journal Register Company. MediaNews will benefit from that experience, and from cooperation with Journal Register Company, as it continues its own evolution to successfully compete in the new media landscape.  Mr. Paton, currently a member of the board of directors of Journal Register Company, has been elected to the board of directors of MediaNews Group. Mr. Paton is also a member of the board of directors of the Newspaper Association of America.

About Media News Group

MediaNews Group, Inc. (www.medianewsgroup.com) is the nation's second largest newspaper company as measured by circulation, with headquarters in Denver, Colorado. MediaNews Group and its affiliated companies publish 57 daily newspapers and more than 100 non-daily publications in 11 states. In addition, MediaNews Group provides programming and operational services for a CBS affiliate in Anchorage, Alaska, and four radio stations in Texas licensed to Affiliated Media, Inc. FCC Trust. MediaNews maintains 187 Web sites.

About Digital First Media

Digital First Media, a division of the Journal Register Company to be headquartered in New York City, is a newly-created Company formed to jointly manage Journal Register Company and MediaNews Group.

About Journal Register Company

Journal Register Company is a leader in local news and information in 10 states. The Company's more than 350 multi-platform products reach an audience of 21 million people each month. For more information visit the company website at www.JournalRegister.com.

Contacts:

Jeremy Fielding/Kathy Deveny/Tom Davies
Kekst and Company
212-521-4800

SOURCE MediaNews Group, Inc.