The Birmingham News, Huntsville Times, Mobile Press-Register and Mississippi Press will cease print publication in February, the Alabama Media Group announced today.
The company will focus on its digital brands, including AL.com, the Alabama Education Lab, This is Alabama, People of Alabama and the Lede.
“We remain deeply committed to serving our local communities and are producing high-quality journalism and reaching more people than ever before,” said Tom Bates, president of Alabama Media Group. “At the same time, we’re adjusting to how Alabama readers want their information today, which increasingly is on a mobile device, not in a printed newspaper.”
In October 2012, the newspapers went from daily publication to thrice weekly publication.
The company will keep offices in Huntsville, Mobile and Birmingham, though the closing will “impact some local employees in production, circulation and advertising,” according to Alabama Media Group’s announcement.
In addition to the newspapers ceasing print publication, the company will close a production facility in Mobile.