The Birmingham Post-Herald will publish it's final edition Friday Sept. 23, 2005, according to a memo from the publisher of the Birmingham News to all company employees dated today, a press release put out by the Scripps company, an Editor and Publisher story and, finally, a story from the Post-Herald itself.

Post-Herald's Final Edition on Friday

The Birmingham Post-Herald will publish its final edition on Friday, Sept. 23, The E.W. Scripps Co., owner of the newspaper, announced today.

Paid circulation of the Post-Herald has declined to about 7,500 copies - a level at which it no longer makes economic sense to continue publishing, Scripps officials said.

"It's never an easy decision to extinguish the light of an independent editorial voice, especially one as bright and rich with tradition as the Post-Herald," said Ken Lowe, president and chief executive officer of The E.W. Scripps Co. "Sadly, though, newspaper readers in Birmingham have made it clear that they are no longer interested in supporting an afternoon newspaper."

Scripps attributed its decision to close the Post-Herald to the fact that the economics of publishing the Post-Herald were no longer favorable.

The closing of the Post-Herald, a five-day afternoon newspaper, marks the end of a joint operating agreement between Scripps and Advance Publications Inc., owner of The Birmingham News, which manages the printing, marketing and distribution of both Birmingham daily newspapers.

The joint operating agreement between Scripps and Advance Publications was scheduled to run until 2015. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

"The Post-Herald has a long tradition of journalistic excellence and community service, but Scripps was left with no choice but to face economic realities," said Richard A. Boehne, Scripps' executive vice president and head of the company's newspaper division.

Scripps has developed a severance plan for the Post-Herald's 43 editorial department employees and will attempt to place some at other Scripps newspapers. Scripps operates 20 other daily newspapers in 18 markets across the country.

The Post-Herald traces its roots as a Scripps newspaper back to 1921 when the company established the Birmingham Post. In 1950, the Post merged with The Birmingham Age-Herald to become The Birmingham Post-Herald. As part of the transaction, the Post-Herald and The Birmingham News created the joint operating agreement and merged the business and production operations of the two newspapers, but maintained separate editorial products.

"For all of us at The E.W. Scripps Company, and for me personally, today is a sad day," Lowe said. "Our hope had always been for a different outcome."

***

TO: All Employees
DATE: September 22, 2005
RE: The Birmingham News and Birmingham Post-Herald

As most of you have already heard, the E. W. Scripps Company announced that
tomorrow,s edition of the Birmingham Post-Herald will be its last.

Birmingham and The Birmingham News Company have shared a rich history with the
Post-Herald since its formation 55 years ago. Regretfully few cities can
support two quality daily newspapers and Birmingham is no exception. Their
voice will be missed.

While we have printed, packaged and distributed the Post-Herald, we do not
expect any significant impact of this decision on Birmingham News employees.
None of our fulltime non-represented employees will be laid off as a result of
the Post-Herald being closed down. There could be some changes in work
schedules for a few employees, which will be discussed as soon as possible with
those affected.

We do not anticipate the Post-Herald,s closure to adversely impact the
readership reach we deliver for our advertising customers. Be assured that The
Birmingham News, as it has since 1888, will continue to serve the Birmingham
community with superior news and information, commentary, and advertising
services. We always seek to improve upon those services and will continue to do
so.

Victor H. Hanson, III

***
Birmingham newspapers to end JOA

For immediate release (NYSE: SSP)

September 22, 2005

CINCINNATI - The Birmingham Post-Herald will publish its final edition on Friday, Sept. 23, The E. W. Scripps Company, owner of the newspaper, announced today.

The closing of The Post-Herald, a five-day afternoon newspaper, marks the end of a joint operating agreement between Scripps and Advance Publications Inc., owner of The Birmingham News, which manages the printing, marketing and distribution of both Birmingham newspapers.

The Birmingham News will continue to publish seven days a week in the morning.

Scripps attributed its decision to close The Post-Herald to the fact that the economics of publishing The Post-Herald were no longer favorable. The joint operating agreement between Scripps and Advance Publications was scheduled to run until 2015.

"The Post-Herald has a long tradition of journalistic excellence and community service, but Scripps was left with no choice but to face economic realities," said Richard A. Boehne, The E. W. Scripps Company,s executive vice president and head of the company's newspaper division. "The Post-Herald's talented and dedicated staff produces an excellent newspaper, but unfortunately the Birmingham market has made it clear that it will no longer support an afternoon edition."

Scripps has developed a severance plan for The Post-Herald's 43 editorial department employees and will attempt to place some at other Scripps newspapers. Scripps operates 20 other daily newspapers in 18 markets across the country.

The Post-Herald traces its roots as a Scripps newspaper back to 1921 when the company established the Birmingham Post. In 1950, the Post merged with The Birmingham Age-Herald to become The Post-Herald. As part of the transaction, The Post-Herald and The Birmingham News created the joint operating agreement and merged the business and production operations of the two newspapers, but maintained separate editorial products.

The Editor and Publisher story:

Scripps Closing 'Birmingham Post-Herald,' Dissolving JOA

Archived Under Death of Newspapers