UPDATED: Gazette Publishing Last Newspapers This Week

UPDATED, June 12, 12:09 p.m. – The Washington Post Community Media is shutting down the Montgomery County Gazette effective Aug. 11, according to the Washington Post.

A letter from Donna Johnson, Post Community Media vice president, states the 69 affected employees are not represented by any labor organization. The Gazette offices are at 9030 Comprint Court in Gaithersburg.

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Officials with The Gazette could not immediately be reached for comment.

County Executive Isiah Leggett made the following statement: “The closing of the Gazette newspapers in Montgomery County is sad news. The Gazette has long been an influential asset to our County communities and a vital source of information. My heart goes out to Gazette employees affected by this closing.”

Neil Greenberger, legislative information officer for Montgomery County Council, issued the following statement:

“The Gazette Newspapers has been a strong voice in the Montgomery County community, particularly in its best days over most of the past three decades. There has not been a better avenue to get information to County residents—whether that information was about breaking news, government decisions, what is happening in schools or features about exciting things being done by not-so-well-known people. Their photographers have traditionally been among the best in the entire Washington region and readers were always interested in their editorials. The Gazettes also printed information that people needed to know—like obituaries, community activities and where you could find this weekend’s yard sales.

A lot of people would snicker at the mention of a newspaper that you could find laying in your driveway every Wednesday, but only once it will be officially gone will many people realize how important it is to have a regular printed friend that had news for and about you. As someone who had many stories printed on The Gazette’s pages early in my career, and as someone who has greatly appreciated its value in my recent roles of trying to get information of all types to the public, I am very sad to learn that the obituary the Gazette will publish will be its own.”

Wash Post letter says elimination of 12 reporter and two photog jobs “expected to be permanent.” — Bill Turque (@bturque) June 12, 2015

Wash Post sent letter to Moco Exec Ike Leggett and Gaithersburg Mayor Jud Ashman warning of “plant closing,” as required by law. — Bill Turque (@bturque) June 12, 2015

Wash Post Community Media will close Moco Gazette effective August 11. Execs met with staff this morning at Gaithersburg offices. — Bill Turque (@bturque) June 12, 2015

Montgomery's Historical Society Offers to Host Gazette Digital Archive The Montgomery County Historical Society has offered to manage the digital archives of the now-defunct Gazette newspapers. Matt Logan, executive director of the Montgomery County Historical Society, said he has called officials at The Gazette to offer the society as a landing spot for the digital documents of the newspaper that published its last edition June 17. […] Read more

As Gazette Era Ends, Archiving Discussion Begins As The Gazette hits driveways and front stoops for the last time today, questions turn to how to preserve what has already been published. Rockville Councilmember Tom Moore told MyMCMedia he has reached out to The Washington Post to find out plans to archive the issues, but he said he has not gotten a response. […] Read more

Leventhal Says Absence of Gazette is a "Terrible Loss" (VIDEO) In this MyMCMedia Extra video, Montgomery County Council President George Leventhal shares his reaction about the news that the Gazette newspaper is closing. Shutting down The Gazette is a gigantic abandonment by The Washington Post Company of its responsibilities to the… Posted by George Leventhal on Friday, June 12, 2015 Read more

Digital Disruption and the Loss of the Gazette No one can replace the Gazette. With the sudden announcement that the Montgomery County’s newspaper of record will print its last edition this week, there has been an understandable amount of shock and loss. The skilled staff of nearly 70 individuals (greatly downsized over the years of nearly-constant cutbacks) is the biggest loss of all. […] Read more

Community and Gazette Staff React To Gazette's Closing on Social Media The Washington Post Community Media is shutting down the Montgomery County Gazette and the community and staff of the newspaper took to social media to give their thoughts. Gazette staff told that next week’s editions are our last. Lot of great people lost their jobs today. pic.twitter.com/AnIZnMcMzR — Ken Sain (@GazSptsEd) June 12, 2015 Thank […] Read more

UPDATED: Gazette Publishing Last Newspapers This Week UPDATED, June 12, 12:09 p.m. – The Washington Post Community Media is shutting down the Montgomery County Gazette effective Aug. 11, according to the Washington Post. A letter from Donna Johnson, Post Community Media vice president, states the 69 affected employees are not represented by any labor organization. The Gazette offices are at 9030 Comprint […] Read more

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