Western Communications

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Western Communications, Inc.
Founded1953
FounderRobert W. Chandler
Defunct2019
SuccessorEO Media Group
Headquarters locationBend, Oregon
Publication typesNewspapers

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Western Communications, Inc. was an American newspaper publisher serving the states of Oregon and California from 1953 to 2019. The family-owned[1] company was based in Bend, Oregon and was founded by Robert W. Chandler.[2] Its flagship paper was The Bulletin.[2]

History

Robert W. Chandler bought The Bulletin in 1953 and built his newspaper company up over the ensuing decades, prior to his death in 1996.[3] The company was recognized by an Oregon State University awards program in 1995, for an effective ownership transition from Chandler to his daughter, Elizabeth McCool, and for remaining actively engaged in its community. At the time, the chain consisted of eight papers and employed 300 people.[4] When the company bought The Redmond Spokesman from Mary Brown in 1971, it owned radio stations in Oregon and California.[5]

Western Communications purchased the La Grande Observer in 1959,[6] Baker City Herald in 1967,[7] The Redmond Spokesman in 1971,[5] Burns Times-Herald in 1976,[8] Curry Coastal Pilot in 1981,[9] Del Norte Triplicate in 1988[10] and The Hermiston Herald in 1992[11] but would sell it in 2008 to EO Media Group.[12] The Union Democrat was purchased in 1998.[13] The company built a large headquarters building in Bend in 2000.[14] In 2006, the Burns Times-Herald was sold.[15]

The company filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in 2011, seeking to renegotiate an $18 million loan, and hoping to complete the bankruptcy proceedings within six months.[16] In 2012, the company did emerge from bankruptcy,[14] but also laid off 10% of its staff, due to a sharp decline in advertising revenue from legal notices.[17] In 2017, it listed its headquarters building for sale, but no offer had been accepted as of January 2019, and the company had fallen behind on payments of state taxes. The debt the company owes is estimated at $26 million.[14] In January 2019, the company again filed for bankruptcy protection.[18] Two papers were sold to Country Media, one was sold to RISN Operations and the remaining properties were sold to EO Media Group.[19][20][21]

Newspapers formerly published by Western Communications

Title Year acquired Year sold or closed Fate
The Bulletin 1953 2019 Sold to EO Media Group
The Observer 1959 2019 Sold to EO Media Group
Baker City Herald 1967 2019 Sold to EO Media Group
The Redmond Spokesman 1971 2019 Sold to EO Media Group
Burns Times-Herald 1976 2006 Sold to out-of-state owners
Curry Coastal Pilot 1981 2019 Sold to Country Media, Inc
The Daily Triplicate 1988 2019 Sold to Country Media, Inc
The Hermiston Herald 1992 2008 Sold to EO Media Group
The Union Democrat 1998 2019 Sold to RISN Operations

References

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  1. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Rafter, Michelle V. (January 31, 2009). "Good News for Small Papers". Oregon Business. Retrieved November 8, 2018.
  2. ^ a b Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Our history". The Bulletin. Retrieved 2011-02-28.
  3. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Obituary: Robert Chandler, Prominent Editor Of Small Ore., Calif. Newspapers". Seattle Times. July 13, 1996. Retrieved 2019-01-15.
  4. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Leeson, Fred (November 12, 1995). "Awards Single Out Family Businesses". The Oregonian.
  5. ^ a b Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Company Buys Weekly Paper". The Oregonian. July 2, 1971.
  6. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."La Grande Paper Gets New Owner". Corvallis Gazette-Times. UPI. February 25, 1959. p. 2.
  7. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Newspaper At Baker Sold". Albany Democrat-Herald. Associated Press. August 2, 1967. p. 7.
  8. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Burns paper joins 100 Year Club". The Oregonian. May 20, 1987. p. 50.
  9. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Weekly Brookings paper sold". Corvallis Gazette-Times. June 19, 1981.
  10. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Newspaper Purchased". The Oregonian. January 8, 1988. p. 14.
  11. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.McDowell, Jade (2016-11-04). "Former Herald owner/publisher Jerry Reed has died". Hermiston Herald. Archived from the original on 2024-09-14. Retrieved 2024-09-14.
  12. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."East Oregonian Publishing Co. to acquire Herald". East Oregonian. 2008-04-22. Retrieved 2024-09-14.
  13. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."The Union Democrat has new owners". The Union Democrat. May 7, 1998. p. 1. Retrieved 2025-09-03 – via Google News Archive Search.
  14. ^ a b c Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Cureton, Emily (January 15, 2019). "Bend Bulletin Owners Behind On Taxes And Local News Coverage Hangs In The Balance". Oregon Public Broadcasting. Retrieved 2019-01-15.
  15. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Doussard, Robin (2006-05-01). "Good news for the little guy". Oregon Business. Archived from the original on August 13, 2024. Retrieved 2025-01-10.
  16. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Nogueras, David (April 24, 2011). "Bend-Based Newspaper Chain Files Chapter 11". Oregon Public Broadcasting. Retrieved 2019-01-15.
  17. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Nogueras, David (October 10, 2012). "Western Communications Cutting 10 Percent Of Staff". Oregon Public Broadcasting. Retrieved 2019-01-15.
  18. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Cureton, Emily (January 22, 2019). "Bend Bulletin Owner Files For 2nd Bankruptcy In A Decade". Oregon Public Broadcasting. Retrieved 2019-01-23.
  19. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Staff Report. "Country Media adds to its publications". Curry Pilot. Retrieved 2020-04-05.
  20. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Rhode Island Suburban Newspapers buys California paper". News & Tech. Retrieved 2020-04-05.[dead link]
  21. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Wright, Phil (July 29, 2019). "Observer's company buys Bend Bulletin". Chinook Observer. Archived from the original on 2020-09-27. Retrieved 2020-04-05.

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