Texas Hill Country News

Cox Media Group Places Austin American-Statesman on the Market

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Tony Maples Photography

 

The Austin American-Statesman has recently been put up for sale as announced by Cox Media Group October 31. Employing over 200 people, the Statesman will be placed on the market together with its numerous websites and its seven additional community newspapers. Cox Media Group is also in the process of selling the Palm Beach Daily News and the Palm Beach Post based in Florida.

In a statement by the company, President Kim Guthrie identified that this decision was made as part of a move toward those markets in which Cox has several media assets. “After careful consideration, we have made the difficult but strategic decision to put our newspapers in Palm Beach and Austin up for sale. We have made the decision that we will be better equipped to operate our newspapers in Atlanta and Ohio, where we have the integrated opportunity with our TV and radio operations.”

Cox Media Group Places Austin American-Statesman on the Market

Photo: Flickr/Jon S

The announcement was made in West Palm Beach, Florida on the morning of October 31, with plans for staff to travel to their Texas Hill Country offices that same afternoon to discuss details with employees situated there. Publisher Susie Gray Biehle explained to employees in a memo, “When Kim called last week to share this decision with me, she made it clear that this is not a reflection of the value the Statesman delivers to our readers, to our advertisers, and to CMG. While I am sad to leave the Cox family, I am optimistic about the future for the Austin American-Statesman because of the strength of our brand, the quality of the journalism that we do and the talent of the people.” As this story progresses, all updates will be available on statesman.com.