Seattle-based Sound Publishing, Inc., announced today its purchase of the Capital City Weekly and the Juneau Empire from GateHouse Media.
Sound Publishing President Gloria Fletcher broke the news to Empire and CCW staff at 11 a.m. Wednesday. The new owners steward a group of 49 publications in the greater Puget Sound Region.
Sound Publishing is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Black Press, a Victoria, British Columbia company with publications in Washington, Hawaii and California.
Founded in 1975 by current chairman and owner David Black, Black Press owns over 150 publications total.
Juneau Empire Publisher Joe Leong, who is also publisher of GateHouse Media’s other two Alaska holdings, the Peninsula Clarion in Kenai and Homer News, will be staying with GateHouse Media. He said he will be relocating to GateHouse Western Division headquarters in the Lower 48. It is not yet known who will be replacing Leong.
“I have absolutely enjoyed my time here, and the people I’ve worked with have been phenomenal,” Leong said. “The community of Juneau has been welcoming and although my time here has been short, I’ll miss it tremendously.”
With the purchase, Sound Publishing also acquired the Peninsula Clarion and Homer News from GateHouse.
Fletcher told Empire staff there are not any major changes planned right now.
The Capital City Weekly is the Empire’s sister publication that covers arts and culture in Juneau, and is also based out of the Juneau Empire building on Channel Drive.