The owners of The Advocate have purchased The Times-Picayune from Advance Local.
The Advocate says the newspapers will eventually be merged into a single organization. That new paper will debut in June.
New Orleans Advocate owners John and Dathel Georges have purchased The Times-Picayune and its nola.com website from Advance Local, which is owned by Advance Local Media, LLC.
The Advocate says they will publish a seven-day, home-delivered newspaper in New Orleans using the brands and features of both publications. The two papers’ websites will be merged under the nola.com brand around the same time.
The Times-Picayune was not for sale according to a release but after discussions owners say the transaction, “presented the best course to preserve the quality of journalism that both news organizations are known for, and better serve the New Orleans community now and in the future.”
“New Orleans has never lost its love for a daily newspaper,” John Georges said. “I want to thank Advance Local for working with us to ensure a strong print and online news company for years to come.”
The Georges purchased Capital City Press, The Advocate’s parent, in 2013.
“Advance Local is very reluctant to leave New Orleans, our talented employees and loyal readers and advertisers,” said Randy Siegel, CEO of Advance Local. “But we are confident that The Advocate will continue our history of excellent local journalism and community service.”
The Advocate will be expanding its New Orleans news, advertising and circulation staff by hiring from current nola.com and Times-Picayune employees and will increase its coverage of suburban communities, sports and arts and entertainment.
Capital City Press also publishes The Advocate in Baton Rouge and the Acadiana Advocate in Lafayette.
According to a release, the paper is already the state’s largest newspaper and its website, combined with nola.com, will reach more than 8 million viewers per month across the country. The new paper will be printed in Louisiana at The Advocate’s state of the art printing press.
Both Capital City Press and Advance Local are privately held. A purchase price was not disclosed.
Current subscribers and advertisers of The Times-Picayune will be contacted in the coming weeks as the transition between companies occurs.
Subscribers who get both papers will have their subscriptions to The Advocate extended.
The New Orleans Advocate is staffed mainly by Times-Picayune veterans, including those who worked at The Times-Picayune during Katrina. The Advocate as a whole employs more than 110 journalists.
