December 5, 2014
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Ray Allen, raya@madtimes.com
MADISON – Madison Times Publisher and Owner Ray Allen announced today
that his Madison-based newspaper has been acquired by Courier
Communications Corporation of Milwaukee, effective Dec. 1.
Courier Communications is publisher of the weekly Milwaukee Courier
newspaper and its related website, and owns and operates urban-based
radio station WNOV (AM 860) in Milwaukee.
For the past year, the two newspapers have collaborated by sharing
editorial and advertising content and promotion. Allen said that the
joint venture led to further discussions between him and Courier
Communications President and CEO Jerrel Jones about how to better
serve the readers and advertisers of both publications.
“The strategic objective of this acquisition is to build an integrated
news organization that can serve the state’s growing minority
community in Milwaukee, Madison and other communities,” Allen said. “I
am confident that Courier Communications will do an excellent job of
serving the needs of readers in both markets.”
Courier Communications will continue to publish both the Madison Times
and Milwaukee Courier under their current names. The Madison Times,
which will remain based in Madison and focused on Dane County, will be
adding both editorial and advertising staff, Allen said.
“This acquisition makes Courier Communications stronger and allows us
to successfully compete in the current industry environment,” Jones
said. “Our mission will be to do an even better job of serving the
needs of readers and advertisers in the Milwaukee and Madison
markets.”
With the acquisition of the Madison Times, Courier Communications is
now the largest African American-focused media company in Wisconsin.
The Milwaukee Courier was founded by Jones in 1964 and is that city’s
oldest African American newspaper. The Madison Times was founded in
1991 by the late civil rights activist Betty Franklin-Hammonds. Allen
purchased the publication in 2005.
The combined weekly publication of The Courier and The Times is more
than 55,000. The combined monthly reach of their two websites is in
excess of 100,000. Their websites can found at
www.milwaukeecourieronline.com and www.themadisontimes.com.
