The pseudonymous author of the Pressing The Herald blog reports that a new coalition of local notables has formed which may purchase the floundering Portland Press Herald and the other Blethen newspapers.
Ex-U.S. Sen. Bill Cohen; his son Kevin; local lightning-rod businessman Michael Liberty; the governor's big brother, Robert Baldacci; and Willkes Barre businessmen/publisher Richard Connor have formed a coalition to negotiate a sale with the wretched Blethens.
This comes as the paper's union works desperately to avert more job losses by asking its members to take voluntary, unpaid vacation time.
In related news, Robert Baldacci and the rest of the governor's family are selling the site of the current Baldacci Restaurant and will be moving it to another location in Bangor, possibly on the waterfront.
UPDATE: After technical difficulties all morning, the Press Herald website now has an article up about the potential buyers.
sounds positive
this is a very positive sounding development.
the more locally owned a newspaper is, the more it is likely to be responsive to the community.
it sounds like these investors want to run a newspaper for what a newspaper is good for.
too many people buy newspapers just to make money.
but they are oh so much more than that.
they are an essential tool in the democratic process.
..jon