Valley PR Blog

Independent Zaps Five Editions

By Len Gutman on July 26th, 2007 In Media

The Arizona Republic reports this morning that Independent Newspapers Inc. is killing five of its Valley editions effective Aug. 1.

The losers are: the Anthem/Deer Valley Independent; the Arrowhead Ranch Independent; the Gilbert Independent; the Northeast Phoenix Independent; and the Chandler Independent.

“Lack of advertising is really what it comes down to with those five (editions),” said publisher Bret McKeand.

McKeand also cited competition as a reason, which I suppose says a lot about the success of the Republic’s “hyperlocal” strategy as mentioned in my post yesterday on the Wired article on Gannett. Kudos should also go out to the folks at the SanTan Sun, Chandler Connection and other hyperlocal players who have obviously taken a bite out of the Independent’s pie.

On the bright side, McKeand reports that the remaining nine Valley Independents will absorb the staff from the unlucky five.

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