Rannikkoseutu joins Alma Media’s Local Newspapers

ALMA MEDIA CORPORATION     PRESS RELEASE   17 June 2008 at 08:00

 

RANNIKKOSEUTU JOINS ALMA MEDIA’S LOCAL NEWSPAPERS

 

Rannikkoseutu, a local newspaper issued in Raisio, Western Finland, will join Suomen Paikallissanomat Oy on 15 September 2008 at the latest. Suomen Paikallissanomat Oy is part of Alma Media Group and it currently publishes 15 local newspapers across Finland. Managing Director, Editor-in-Chief Juha Haapakoski and the other employees continue to work with the new publisher.

 

Rannikkoseudun Sanomat Oy, the publisher of Rannikkoseutu newspaper, sells its business operations to Suomen Paikallissanomat Oy. Rannikkoseudun Sanomat continues to publish the newspaper until the final transfer in ownership in the autumn. Juha Haapakoski will continue as Editor-in-Chief with budget responsibility also with the new publisher.

 

– The growing population in the areas of Raisio and Naantali, the successful development of the retail trade and the upcoming changes in municipal structure will all bring new challenges for a local newspaper. It takes resources and right timing to face these challenges successfully. Therefore, Rannikkoseudun Sanomat saw fit to seek itself a solid backing who shares our strong local values, Mr. Haapakoski says.

 

Mr. Haapakoski considers that Suomen Paikallissanomat Oy is a company with genuine interest and professional expertise to develop local newspapers.

 

Mr. Jorma Valkama, Managing Director of Suomen Paikallissanomat Oy, states that Rannikkoseutu complements in an outstanding way the current product range of the company. Rannikkoseutu is clearly the most important media in this growing region and thus an efficient communication tool for an advertiser.

 

– We aim to further diversify the content of the newspaper and enrich its layout. In addition, we will launch a versatile online service to complete the traditional printed newspaper, Mr. Valkama says.

 

The circulation of Rannikkoseutu is 7,128 (LT 2007). It is issued on Tuesdays and Fridays.

 

For further information, please contact:

Managing Director Juha Haapakoski, tel +358 44 513 1055
Managing Director Jorma Valkama, tel +358 40 506 6967

 

Alma Media in brief

 

Alma Media is a profitably growing and internationally expanding company that invests in the future of newspapers and online media. Its best known products are the Aamulehti, Iltalehti, Kauppalehti and Etuovi.com.

Net sales in 2007 totalled EUR 329 million and the operating margin was over 19%. The company’s share is listed in the Mid Cap segment of the OMX Exchange’s Nordic List, trading code ALN1V.