Gannett’s buying spree extends to magazines

Gannett isn’t just after newspapers.

Apparently its recent feeding frenzy includes magazines, too.

The country’s biggest newspaper chain has bought Golfweek, a weekly publication about golf that was launched by Charley Stine in 1975. The financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.

The title was sold to Turnstile Publishing Company in 1990. Under Turnstile’s guidance, Golfweek made content-sharing agreements with Gannett’s largest publication, USA Today.

The magazine is known for having cozy relationships with players on the PGA Tour, and it publishes an annual ranking of top 100 golf courses that’s widely watched throughout the golf industry.

Gannett’s purchase includes Golfweek’s custom media business, which produces publications for the PGA Tour, LPGA and other golf-related companies.

Golfweek’s headquarters will remain in Orlando. It’s unclear if the purchase will result in any layoffs, though that has happened at other recent Gannett purchases.

Another big buy

Gannett has been snapping up properties of late as it fights a poor climate for print advertising that’s dogged newspaper companies across the country.

Earlier this week it reportedly came to an agreement to purchase tronc, the publisher of The Chicago Tribune and Los Angeles Times. It recently bought the Bergen Record and is eyeing the Dallas Morning News.

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