Area News Group

Area News Group publishes three newspapers in southern New Hampshire: Hudson-Litchfield News, Pelham-Windham News, and Salem Community Patriot. It was founded in 2000 when it purchased the Hudson-Litchfield News, and has since added the other papers.[1]

Area News Group
Mastheads of Area News Group newspapers.
TypeWeekly newspapers
FormatBroadsheet
Owner(s)Michael Elizabeth & Moore, Limited
EditorLen Lathrop
Founded2000
Headquarters17 Executive Drive, Suite One,
Hudson New Hampshire 03051  United States
Circulation36,300+
Websiteareanewsgroup.com

The local weekly papers are supported by advertisers and are distributed to town residents free of charge. The company is headquartered in Hudson, New Hampshire on Executive Drive. Len Lathrop is the Publisher and Editor in Chief.[2][3][4] The company won the "Small Business of the Year" award from the local chamber of commerce in 2012.[1]

The papers place a large emphasis on publishing local news on issues in town and state government, education, local organization's activities, high school sports, and other topics. The Hudson-Litchfield News has done investigative reporting that has been picked up by other local news outlets,[5][6][7][8] has published cartoons satirizing local public officials,[9] and is a venue for legal notices.[10]

The Hudson-Litchfield News and Pelham-Windham News each run a popular, long-running vox populi column called "Thumbs Up Thumbs Down" where readers share opinions on local issues as a "thumbs up" (in support of a local issue or in recognition of a good deed) or "thumbs down" (in opposition to a local issue or expressions of anger or disappointment).[11][12] In 2008 ANG went to court to resist a subpoena from suspended Litchfield police chief Joseph O'Brion, who sought the identity of an unnamed source. The competing Nashua Telegraph supported ANG in resisting the subpoena.[13] Columns printed in that year also impacted the relationships among Hudson public officials.[14]

Until 2010, the Hudson-Litchfield News was printed on the presses of the Nashua Telegraph.[15]

In 1991, three town council members in Hudson purchased the Hudson-Litchfield News, igniting concerns about conflict of interest in local and national news outlets and prompting a lawsuit.[16][17] In 1999 Fidele J. Bernasconi, one of the owners named as a defendant in the lawsuit, published an op-ed in the neighboring New Hampshire Union Leader as part of a campaign around special education funding.[18][19][20] Bernasconi retired as publisher around the time of the acquisition.[21][20]

Other Southern New Hampshire newspapers

References
  1. Shaloup, Dean (April 1, 2012). "Citizenship recognized - Report - Feds say 5% rise has state ranked 8th for per-capita". The [Nashua] Telegraph.
  2. "The Column: Grab your popcorn; appeal will be a show". Lowell Sun. 19 August 2012.
  3. "Zachary Tompkins field project still languishing". The Union Leader. 25 July 2014.
  4. Collins, John (11 May 2010). "Community pulls together for Zach's dream". Lowell Sun.
  5. "Credibility takes a hit in Litchfield". The [Nashua] Telegraph. October 6, 2014.
  6. Forbes, Tina (October 3, 2014). "School board votes to extend contract - Litchfield - Move to reverse decision after chairman's abrupt resignation". The [Nashua] Telegraph.
  7. "Second bidder emerges for Malden Mills". The Lowell [Mass.] Sun. January 14, 2007.
  8. Smith, Ashley (May 17, 2006). "Teachers resign over porn, trip". The [Nashua] Telegraph.
  9. "Grab your popcorn; appeal will be a show". The [Lowell, Mass.] Sun. August 19, 2012.
  10. "Summons Complaint to Schedule Special School District Meeting, RSA 197:3, IV". New Hampshire Union Leader. July 18, 2019. p. B7.
  11. Milbouer, Stacy (15 June 1997). "Column allows spleen venting". Boston Globe.
  12. Collins, John (2 June 2011). "Pelham officials protest published comment". The Sun (Lowell).
  13. "Judge should quash H-L News subpoena - Key Points". The [Nashua] Telegraph. April 9, 2008.
  14. Halliday, Ryan J. (March 26, 2008). "Hudson selectmen fill vacant position". The [Nashua] Telegraph.
  15. McKeon, Albert (December 2, 2010). "Newspapers to outsource printing - Cabinet and its sister weeklies and daily to be published off-site, 40 jobs cut". The [Nashua] Telegraph.
  16. Kowet, Don (January 4, 1991). "Conviction? Or conflict of interest?". Washington Times.
  17. Frieswick, Kris (January 28, 1991). "Suit Alleges Councilors Had Conflict of Interest". New Hampshire Union Leader.
  18. Bernasconi, F. J. (September 20, 1999). "Promise not kept with IDEA program". New Hampshire Union Leader.
  19. McGee, Hunter (October 5, 1999). "Hudson publisher continues special ed crusade. NH woman one of three killed in California crash". New Hampshire Union Leader.
  20. Rutherford, Emelie (April 5, 2002). "Special ed gets push from NH. Howard nomination hearing near". New Hampshire Union Leader.
  21. McGee, Hunter (February 8, 2001). "Inspired to change the world; Family's support motivates teen's drive for special education". New Hampshire Union Leader.
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