The Macomb Daily’s
parent company, Digital First Media, made two big announcements this morning.
parent company, Digital First Media, made two big announcements this morning.
First, a merger of the
two media groups under the DFM umbrella is now final, making The Macomb Daily
(along with The Oakland Press and the Mount Pleasant Morning Sun) part of the
second-largest newspaper company in America.
two media groups under the DFM umbrella is now final, making The Macomb Daily
(along with The Oakland Press and the Mount Pleasant Morning Sun) part of the
second-largest newspaper company in America.
Second, DFM, based in
New York City, has named Don Wyatt, a Swartz Creek native and a Michigan State
University Journalism School grad, as the new Vice President of News for the
Michigan Group, which includes the three daily papers mentioned above and
numerous smaller papers across the state such as those in the News-Herald
chain, which covers the Downriver area and Washtenaw County.
 |
| Wyatt |
Wyatt, 54, who started
his newspaper career at the Lansing State Journal and The Detroit News, will
succeed Glenn Gilbert, who is retiring in January.
his newspaper career at the Lansing State Journal and The Detroit News, will
succeed Glenn Gilbert, who is retiring in January.
Here are the press
releases that officially unveiled the two announcements:
releases that officially unveiled the two announcements:
MediaNews
Group and 21st Century Media Transaction Has Been Finalized
Group and 21st Century Media Transaction Has Been Finalized
Newly
Combined Company To Be Branded as Digital First Media
Combined Company To Be Branded as Digital First Media
New York, N.Y. – Digital
First Media today announced the MediaNews Group and 21st Century Media
combination has been finalized and that the two Companies will operate under
the Digital First Media name.
First Media today announced the MediaNews Group and 21st Century Media
combination has been finalized and that the two Companies will operate under
the Digital First Media name.
The transaction, first
announced on December 17, brings together the two companies jointly managed by
Digital First Media under one name.
announced on December 17, brings together the two companies jointly managed by
Digital First Media under one name.
The newly combined
company has approximately $1.3 billion in annual revenues with more than 800
multi-platform products and a monthly audience of more than 67 million
Americans. As the nation’s second largest newspaper company, Digital First
Media is among the largest providers of digital news and information in the
United States.
company has approximately $1.3 billion in annual revenues with more than 800
multi-platform products and a monthly audience of more than 67 million
Americans. As the nation’s second largest newspaper company, Digital First
Media is among the largest providers of digital news and information in the
United States.
“This is an
important moment for our Company and positions us to accelerate our growth
under a single and innovative brand,” said John Paton, Chief
Executive Officer of Digital First Media.
important moment for our Company and positions us to accelerate our growth
under a single and innovative brand,” said John Paton, Chief
Executive Officer of Digital First Media.
Digital
First Media Names
First Media Names
Don
Wyatt Vice President
Wyatt Vice President
of News
for Michigan Group
for Michigan Group
New York, N.Y. – Digital
First Media today named Don
Wyatt Vice President of News for the Company’s Michigan group – including the Oakland
Press, The
Macomb Daily, the
Morning Sun, and affiliated
weekly publications. Mr. Wyatt succeeds Glenn Gilbert, who is retiring in
January.
First Media today named Don
Wyatt Vice President of News for the Company’s Michigan group – including the Oakland
Press, The
Macomb Daily, the
Morning Sun, and affiliated
weekly publications. Mr. Wyatt succeeds Glenn Gilbert, who is retiring in
January.
“I am thrilled Don
Wyatt will be joining us to continue the digital transformation of Digital
First Media’s Michigan newsroom that Glenn Gilbert led so masterfully in recent
years,” said Jim Brady, Digital First Media’s Editor-in-Chief. “Coverage of our
local communities remains Job No. 1 for us, but we must continue to expand our
efforts to serve local readers in print, on the web, on mobile and on whatever
new platforms develop in coming years. We feel confident that Don is the right
person to handle that significant challenge.”
Wyatt will be joining us to continue the digital transformation of Digital
First Media’s Michigan newsroom that Glenn Gilbert led so masterfully in recent
years,” said Jim Brady, Digital First Media’s Editor-in-Chief. “Coverage of our
local communities remains Job No. 1 for us, but we must continue to expand our
efforts to serve local readers in print, on the web, on mobile and on whatever
new platforms develop in coming years. We feel confident that Don is the right
person to handle that significant challenge.”
Mr. Wyatt, who
recently served as Senior Regional Editor for Patch.com in Michigan and several
states in the Midwest, was raised in Detroit and Swartz Creek, Michigan. He
graduated with a degree in Journalism from Michigan State University and
started his career at the Lansing State Journal before joining The Detroit
News.
recently served as Senior Regional Editor for Patch.com in Michigan and several
states in the Midwest, was raised in Detroit and Swartz Creek, Michigan. He
graduated with a degree in Journalism from Michigan State University and
started his career at the Lansing State Journal before joining The Detroit
News.
“I have led news teams
covering communities in southeastern Michigan so I’m familiar with the area’s
cities and counties. I understand the issues, what is important, and already
have relationships with area residents and officials,” said Mr. Wyatt. “I am
eager to get to know Michigan’s Digital First Media team, our readers and our
business partners. This is an exciting time in journalism and an exciting time
in Michigan. I can’t wait to get started.”
covering communities in southeastern Michigan so I’m familiar with the area’s
cities and counties. I understand the issues, what is important, and already
have relationships with area residents and officials,” said Mr. Wyatt. “I am
eager to get to know Michigan’s Digital First Media team, our readers and our
business partners. This is an exciting time in journalism and an exciting time
in Michigan. I can’t wait to get started.”
Mr. Wyatt has led daily
newsrooms in Springfield, Mo. And Duluth, Minn. and was a senior editor at the
Pioneer Press in St. Paul, Minn. He also previously worked at USA Today and The
Boston Globe. In addition to his bachelor’s degree, Mr. Wyatt is a graduate of
the Advanced Executive Program at Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of
Management.
newsrooms in Springfield, Mo. And Duluth, Minn. and was a senior editor at the
Pioneer Press in St. Paul, Minn. He also previously worked at USA Today and The
Boston Globe. In addition to his bachelor’s degree, Mr. Wyatt is a graduate of
the Advanced Executive Program at Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of
Management.
“I am excited that we
have someone of Don’s caliber joining our leadership team. He brings a wealth
of digital experience that will help grow our audience,” said Jim O’Rourke, Digital
First Media’s Michigan Group Publisher. “With the retirement of Glenn Gilbert –
one of the best partners I’ve had in my career – we are confident Don will
continue to build on the work we have started.”
have someone of Don’s caliber joining our leadership team. He brings a wealth
of digital experience that will help grow our audience,” said Jim O’Rourke, Digital
First Media’s Michigan Group Publisher. “With the retirement of Glenn Gilbert –
one of the best partners I’ve had in my career – we are confident Don will
continue to build on the work we have started.”
Mr. Wyatt lives in
Hadley with his wife, Roxanne, who is a speech and language pathologist in the
Lapeer Community Schools. Mr. Wyatt and his wife have two sons: Dylan, 20, is a
medical student at the University of Missouri Kansas City, and Sawyer, 17, is a
senior at St. Paul Lutheran High School in Concordia, Mo.
Hadley with his wife, Roxanne, who is a speech and language pathologist in the
Lapeer Community Schools. Mr. Wyatt and his wife have two sons: Dylan, 20, is a
medical student at the University of Missouri Kansas City, and Sawyer, 17, is a
senior at St. Paul Lutheran High School in Concordia, Mo.
