McClatchy to outsource printing of several papers

Company press release:

The McClatchy Company (NYSE:MNI) today announced a strategic partnership with Pacific Northwest publisher Pioneer Newspapers, Inc., to print McClatchy’s Idaho Statesman and The Bellingham Herald -- initiatives that will improve the quality of both newspapers while significantly reducing expenses.

The two companies have entered into a definitive, long-term agreement to print the Idaho Statesman, a 63,000-circulation daily based in Boise. The printing of the Idaho Statesman will take place at the Pioneer-owned Idaho Press Tribune located 20 minutes to the west in the city of Nampa. The change will occur in early 2009 once Pioneer completes an upgrade to the Idaho Press Tribune’s printing facilities.

The companies also have signed a letter of intent to print McClatchy’s Bellingham Herald, a 22,000-circulation daily newspaper in Bellingham, Wash. Once a final agreement is reached, the printing of The Bellingham Herald will take place at Pioneer’s Skagit Valley Herald newspaper plant about 30 minutes south of Bellingham in Mount Vernon. The change is expected to occur within the second quarter of next year after Pioneer completes construction of the Skagit Valley Herald’s new office and production facilities.