The Daily Item of Lynn, owned by the same family since 1877, has been sold to Essex Media Group. The sale reflects ongoing problems for newspapers in the digital age.
Owner Hastings & Sons Publishing Company expects the sale to close within 30 days, according to the newspaper’s website. Ted Grant, the principal of Grant Communications Consulting Group of Lynn, leads Essex Media Group. According to Grant’s website, Grant has more than 30 years’ experience as a communications professional, including 15 years at The Daily Item, 17 years as chief executive/consultant to a public/private partnership and 14 as principal/partner in public-relations and issues-management firms.
“The need for a new business model with additional resources to keep the company strong in a rapidly changing media environment, as well as some unsustainable legacy financial issues, drove family shareholders to their decision,” the newspaper reported.
William C. “Bill” Pike, who died in 2002, worked as a reporter at the Lynn Daily Evening Item while he hosted WHAV’s Open Mike Show for more than 20 years. He retired from the Item in 1996 and became editor of the Haverhill Gazette.
Pike was also a reporter for The Boston Globe, Beverly Times, Manchester Union Leader and the Haverhill Independent. Pike was also the voice of Haverhill High School Football for many years and received the Media Award from the Massachusetts Football Coaches Association and was elected to its Hall of Fame for Media Broadcasting.