Local Media Group history

The Gannett National Service was founded in 1943 and provided Gannett newspapers with national enterprise and stories with a local angle from its Washington office and bureaus across the nation.

And in 1945, Gannett newspapers became the first newspaper group to be united by the Telephoto Network.

In 1947, when Paul Miller left his job as Washington bureau chief and assistant general manager of The Associated Press to join Gannett as executive assistant to Frank Gannett, the company operated 21 newspapers and seven radio stations.

Shortly before the death of Frank Gannett in 1957, Paul Miller was elected president and chief executive officer of Gannett Co., Inc.

Gannett founded its first newspaper on Florida's space coast in 1966.

In 1970, Paul Miller became Gannett's chairman, continuing as chief executive officer.

In 1979 Gannett merged with Combined Communications in what was then the largest merger in the communications industry.

15, 1982, USA TODAY reached up from its headquarters overlooking the nation's capital, and grabbed an orbiting satellite to present information-hungry readers news about the USA in an entirely different way.

With executive travel increasing between Rochester and Arlington, Va., where USA TODAY is based, Gannett decided in 1986 to relocate its corporate headquarters to Arlington.

Curley succeeded Neuharth as chairman on April 1, 1989.

To further serve the people and communities where it operates, in late 1990 the company announced the formation of Gannett Communities Fund.

In December 1997, Gannett sold its last five radio stations to Evergreen Media, ending its radio ownership.

In 2001, the company moved to a new Gannett/USA TODAY headquarters in McLean, Va., about seven miles from Arlington.

In 2003, Gannett became the sole owner of InfiNet.

In 2005, Fortress Investment Group (FIG) purchased the Liberty Publishing Group and renamed the company GateHouse.

A little less than a year later, McCorkindale announced his retirement from the board and the company, effective June 30, 2006.

In 2007, the Tribune Co., which included radio and television stations, as well newspapers, was purchased for $8.2 billion by investor Sam Zell.

Alden Global Capital, founded Digital First Media in 2011 as a subsidiary that included newspapers from MediaNews Group and Journal Register Co.

In 2012, BH Media grew significantly when it bought Media General’s newspapers.

In 2014, Newsquest launched The National, a new daily newspaper in Scotland.

In 2015, Newsquest acquired Romanes Media Group, a local news publishing business operating in Scotland, Berkshire and Northern Ireland.

The Company’s continued execution led to the 2016 purchase of 71 television stations and the digital media properties of Media General, which made Nexstar one of the country’s leading local media companies.

In 2017, Gannett acquired SweetIQ, a provider of location and reputation management software that enables businesses to manage their location data and measure consumer engagement.