GateHouse Media closes 137-year-old California newspaper, gives staff no warning

Carthage is not the only community treated shabbily by GateHouse Media this week.

The Chico, California Enterprise Record reports the company closed the twice-weekly Gridley Record, which had been publishing for 137 years:

GateHouse Media could not be reached for comment on Friday. Amy Lanier, Northern California regional manager, had this to say in a “Note to Readers” post on the Gridley Herald’s website:

“We have enjoyed chronicling the lives of Gridley, Biggs and Live Oak residents for all these years. It’s been a privilege to serve as the watchdog for our communities and keeping our readers informed of civic, educational, business and cultural happenings around our wonderful communities.”

At least, that was a little more than Carthage readers got from GateHouse, which told them important Carthage news would continue to be covered in the Neosho Daily News.

The company's latest Securities and Exchange Commission shows its practice of recklessly buying newspapers for more than they are worth has put it $396 million in debt, with most of that due in 2022.