Sun-Times Closing 12 Local Papers

The Chicago Sun-Times is on its death bed. Or, at least, it's doing a good impersonation of someone in their last throes. The Sun-Times Media Group will close 12 of its local newspapers and slashing wages of employees (the remaining ones, that is). The newspapers to close are the Algonquin Countryside, Arlington Heights Post, Cary-Grove Countryside, Des Plaines Times, Elk Grove Times, Hoffman Estates Review, Mount Prospect Times, Niles Herald Spectator, Palatine Countryside, Proviso Herald, Rolling Meadows Review and Wheeling Countryside. (Source: The Inquisitr) Those newspapers were part of the Pioneer Press publication family, which was acquired by the Sun-Times Media Group in 1989. Meanwhile, the Sun-Times announced today that they have hired Jim Dyer, 46, to be their new VP of Classified Advertising. A press release from the Sun-Times says, "Jim knows the classified newspaper and online advertising market inside and out. He is the ideal person to help leverage the strength of the Sun-Times News Group and navigate this challenging market, and help our advertisers better benefit from the Sun-Times News Group footprint in the Chicago area and Northwest Indiana," said Barbara Swanson, Group Vice President of Advertising and Marketing of the Sun-Times News Group." That press release, it should be remembered, comes from a company that reported a $168 million loss in the third quarter of 2008. Good luck, Mr. Dyer. Yer gonna need it. ALSO: Sun-Times Media Group to Close 12 Suburban Papers (Editor and Publisher) A history of newspapers in Chicago (Encyclopedia of Chicago) Subscribe to Chicago News Bench (unlike the Sun-Times, our subscriptions are free and we don't kill trees)