Newspaper groups form new ad network

Community Newspaper Holdings, owner of the Joplin Globe, and GateHouse Media, owner of The Carthage Press, Neosho Daily News, and Big Nickel, have joined with other nwespaper groups to form a national ad network, according to a news release issued today:

The ad network, formed with the trade group Suburban Newspapers of America (SNA), will make it easier for big media buyers to target consumers through thousands of community papers. The "hyper-local" approach to national advertising will feature a "one order, one bill" service.

"We are excited about the formation of this network," said Kirk Davis, president of GateHouse Media New England. "There's considerable interest from national advertisers in using community newspapers to reach consumers. This network will provide the scale, affordability and flexibility they need."

The ad network's full owners are ASP Westward LP, American Community Newspapers LLC, Community Newspaper Holdings Inc., GateHouse Media, Schurz Communications Inc., Sun-Times Media Group and Suburban Newspapers Inc., the for-profit unit of SNA. Fractional owners are Rust Communications, Packet Publications, Recorder Community Newspapers and Holden Landmark Corp.

Each newspaper company is making an undisclosed investment in the ad network, which is scheduled to launch in mid-August.

Rust Communications, listed as a fractional owner, owns the Nevada Daily Mail in southwest Missouri.