The Journal-Enterprise, which has been owned by the Hust family for the past 52 years, is being sold to a family-owned newspaper group in Hopkinsville.
Charlie Hust, managing editor, said the sale to the Kentucky New Era will be effective Oct. 1.
“I’ve worked at The J-E since I was six years old when my dad and mom (Edd and Sue Hust) purchased it in 1962, so I’ve grown up in this business,” Hust stated. “I came back to the business after graduating from college in 1980 and have been working full-time ever since. I feel very blessed and fortunate to have been able to work in a family business with my mom and dad all these years. It’s been an honor to carry on their legacy after their retirement. The entire Hust family is very appreciative of all the people in this community and the surrounding area for their support of the newspaper. The loyalty of advertisers and readers over these past 52 years will never be forgotten. We will forever be grateful for your support.”
“The decision to sell the newspaper has not been an easy one, but as our family looked to our options, we wanted to do what was best for our readers and this community. We believe the Kentucky New Era will preserve the traditions and strong community journalism pattern that we have practiced.”
The New Era is a five-day daily newspaper. Other newspapers under its umbrella include The Times Leader in Princeton, a twice-weekly newspaper, and the weekly Dawson Springs Progress. In 2008 the New Era established a weekly newspaper in Oak Grove, the 11,000-circulation Eagle Post. It also has a government contract to publish the Fort Campbell Courier, a 23,000-circulation weekly serving that military community.
The Journal-Enterprise is combination of three separate papers — Providence Enterprise, Dixon Journal, Clay Tribune — they were combined in the late 1960s to form one weekly publication.
“When the New Era has acquired other newspapers, it has made a conscientious effort to remain firmly-rooted in those communities where the paper is located. In many regards, the readers will continue to see the same paper they have seen in the past. My hope is that it will be able to offer even more to Journal-Enterprise readers in the future,” Hust said.
Taylor Hayes, publisher and CEO of the New Era, said the opportunity to be involved in the Webster County community is an exciting one for his company.
“Charlie and his staff produce an excellent newspaper every week, and we are looking forward to continuing the outstanding job that has been done for so many years,” Hayes said. “The addition of the Providence Journal-Enterprise into the Kentucky New Era’s family of digital and print products expands upon our existing presence in the Pennyrile region of western Kentucky, now reaching well over 100,000 readers per week. The Hust family, which has owned and operated (The J-E) for five decades, is a respected family which has an outstanding community newspaper, anchoring it as the primary source for news and information in Webster County. Their work complements our commitment to quality community journalism, thus providing a viable medium to the advertisers. As we learned through previous acquisitions, our model of operation should solidify the leadership status and strengthen it as the principal local information source. The intent is to be as devoted and passionate about Providence and Webster County as the Hust family,” Hayes concluded.
Charlie Hust will continue to work at the newspaper, but the ownership change will allow him to devote more time to college basketball officiating from November until March.
No staff changes are expected. “Matt Hughes and Kristie Dunbar are valuable assets to the Journal-Enterprise, and we look forward to them being a part of our family,” Hayes said. Plans are to add one employee who will be devoted to selling advertising.
The Journal-Enterprise will continue to operate from its present location at 100 Walnut St., Providence.
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