Ogden Newspapers buys the Washington Observer-Reporter

The Observer-Reporter reported yesterday:

The Observer Publishing Co. (OPC) announced it has signed a letter of agreement to sell its assets to Ogden Newspapers.

OPC publishes the daily Observer-Reporter, the weekly Almanac and numerous monthly and special interest magazines. The company also runs a digital advertising agency, Reimagine Mainstreet, and produces a series of events. Ogden is the publisher of more than 40 daily newspapers, multiple weeklies and a magazine division with operations in 16 states. It is owned and operated by the Nutting family of Wheeling, W.Va. The transaction is expected to close by Sept. 30.

I have had limited exposure to the Washington paper but on at least two occasions the newspaper's reporting was far superior to what was done by our local Ogden papers. See here and especially here.

Newsroom layoffs are sure to follow

Recent Ogden layoffs:

Last month in Ft. Wayne, Indiana:

The 100-year-old News-Sentinel laid off almost all of its remaining staff Friday afternoon.
According to news reports and social media posts by former staff members, the Fort Wayne publication will use freelancers, emptying a newsroom that once bustled with activity.

This May in Ogden, Utah:

The new owners of Ogden’s Standard-Examiner announced significant layoffs on Thursday — the latest cutbacks rocking Utah’s media landscape.

A combination of consolidation, declining circulation and ad sales have caused upheaval in the industry for some time, but regional papers have been hit especially hard.

Ogden Newspapers, the parent company of the Standard-Examiner, announced it was shedding 21 positions from its Northern Utah paper, including five in the newsroom.