Extra, Extra! Read all about the Southland beginning today. Readers and advertisers in Chicago's southern communities have exciting new sources of news and information: the Sun-Times News Group, the operating subsidiary of the Sun-Times Media Group (NYSE:SVN), today announced its first print and online editions of the SouthtownStar, www.Southtownstar.com and www.Neighborhoodstar.com.
The first copies of SouthtownStar rolled off the presses Saturday, and an estimated 73,000 copies of Sunday's SouthtownStar were circulated. The SouthtownStar is a merger of two of Chicago's finest news institutions and more than 200 years combined of journalism excellence: the Daily Southtown, launched in 1906, and Star Newspapers launched in 1901.
Residents wanting the best and most up-to-date information on the Southland will still be able to read their favorite columnists, including Phil Arvia, Kim Brehm, Pat Disabato, Tom Houlihan, Phil Kadner, Kristen McQueary and Donna Vickroy. What's more, the SouthtownStar offers some of the best features of both papers, including the popular entertainment guides Firstlook on Thursdays and TGIF! on Fridays.
"We think our readers and advertisers will be pleased with the new products and their breadth," said Murdoch Davis, President of Midwest Suburban Publishing, a division of the Sun-Times News Group. "The SouthtownStar, Southtownstar.com and Neighhorhoodstar.com will serve about 75 ZIP codes within the footprint of both papers. What's more, the Neighborhood Star on Thursdays and Sundays will offer added value to readers and advertisers via nine zoned neighborhood sections and far more unique local content than either the Star or Southtown has previously offered, or any competitor offers now."
Mike Waters and Frank Shuftan are Co-Editor/Publishers. Mr. Waters had been Editor/Publisher of the Daily Southtown and Mr. Shuftan was Editor/Publisher of Star Newspapers.
About Sun-Times Media Group
Sun-Times Media Group, Inc. is dedicated to being the premier source of local news and information for the greater Chicago area. Its media properties include the Chicago Sun-Times and Suntimes.com as well as newspapers and websites serving more than 200 communities across Chicago. Further information can be found at www.thesuntimesgroup.com.
Cautionary Statement on Forward-Looking Statements
Certain statements made in this release are "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 (the "Act"). Forward-looking statements include, without limitation, any statement that may predict, forecast, indicate or imply future results, performance or achievements, and may contain the words "believe," "anticipate," "expect," "estimate," "project," "will be," "will continue," "will likely result" or similar words or phrases. Forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties, which may cause actual results to differ materially from the forward-looking statements. The risks and uncertainties are detailed from time to time in reports filed by Sun-Times Media Group with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including in its Forms 10-K and 10-Q. New risk factors emerge from time to time and it is not possible for management to predict all such risk factors, nor can it assess the impact of all such risk factors on the Company's business or the extent to which any factor, or combination of factors, may cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statements. Given these risks and uncertainties, investors should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements as a prediction of actual results.
