Freedom Communications to Acquire North Carolina Weekly

Posted on March 18, 1998

Freedom Communications, Inc. has signed an agreement in principle with Ste. Genevieve Newspapers, Inc. to acquire Havelock Newspapers, Inc. and Ellis Publishing, Inc., publishers of The Havelock News in Havelock, North Carolina, both companies announced. Ellis Publishing also produces The Windsock under contract with Cherry Point Marine Corps Air Station in Havelock. The anticipated closing date is March 31.

"The Havelock News is the only paper in our overall group that is east of the Mississippi," said Mace. "It no longer fits in with our strategic plan. Freedom Communications was an obvious buyer since it is right up the road. And, it made me feel better to know the paper was going into very capable hands."

The Havelock News is a weekly paper serving the town of Havelock, 15 miles east of New Bern. Freedom Communications will operate the paper as a separate company, with offices and staff located in Havelock. It will operate under Freedom's Eastern Newspaper Division.

Freedom Communications, Inc. is a diversified media company consisting of broadcast television stations, newspapers and magazines. The company's newspaper division publishes 27 daily newspapers, six of which are in North Carolina, and 35 weekly publications. The newspaper's combined daily circulation is more than one million subscribers. Freedom's flagship newspaper is the Santa Ana, Calif.-based Orange County Register with a circulation of 360,000.