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Hearst Connecticut Media Group will close on its acquisition of the Republican-American and Sunday Republican on Wednesday, the last day Waterbury’s daily newspaper will publish under the Pape family’s ownership.
In a note to readers on Sunday, Publisher William B. Pape wished Hearst “much success” providing “the most accurate and relevant daily information available” to the Republican-American’s large coverage area, which includes Greater Waterbury, the Naugatuck Valley and Litchfield County, stretching to the Massachusetts border.
Pape noted that the newspapers have been published by the Pape family since 1901.
“Fittingly, Hearst Corporation is still run by the family of William Randolph Hearst, who founded the company in 1887,” he said.
Remembrances of the Republican-American’s history will be published in Wednesday’s editions.
“I also thank you, our readers, for your patronage throughout the past 124 years,” Pape said. “It has been our honor to serve you.”
Several newsroom staff members have posted on social media about their futures.
Distinguished columnist Tracey O’Shaughnessy said she will continue writing for Hearst, but her column will be discontinued.
Martin Begnal, co-founder of the Waterbury Observer, who worked for many years as the Republican-American’s night editor and assistant managing editor, also said he has accepted a job with Hearst.
The Torrington bureau chief, Bruno Matarazzo Jr., said the Torrington bureau has closed, but he will continue covering the Waterbury courts system for Hearst.
Ed Daigneault, longtime sports writer and co-founder of Clocktown Brewing Co. in Thomaston, said in a social media post that he will be laid off and is looking for a new job.
The Waterbury City Hall reporter, Livi Stanford, has reportedly taken a job with the Hartford Courant.
Hearst Connecticut has become a dominant force in Connecticut’s newspaper industry, owning daily newspapers in Stamford, Norwalk, Greenwich, Danbury, Bridgeport, New Haven and Middletown. It recently acquired the Journal Inquirer of Manchester and Record Journal of Meriden.
The Republican-American’s offices are in Waterbury’s iconic clock tower building at 389 Meadow St., which is slated for an apartment conversion project.
The Republican-American traces its roots to William Jamieson Pape, who purchased the Waterbury Republican in 1901 with a partner. He became the sole owner in 1910, and purchased the rival Waterbury American in 1922. The Pape family merged the Waterbury Republican and Waterbury American into the Republican-American in 1990.
Among many other awards, the Republican-American is known for winning a Pulitzer Prize in 1940 for its coverage of fraud in Waterbury city government.
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