HD Media to contract printing with Charleston Newspapers

The Herald-Dispatch will close its press operation in Huntington, W.Va., next month and contract with Charleston Newspapers to print Huntington's daily newspaper and the company's weekly newspapers.

All news gathering, page layout, advertising sales and production, distribution and delivery operations will continue from The Herald-Dispatch's Huntington office on 5th Avenue. Newspaper subscribers, vendors and advertisers will see no change in delivery times.

"We have been working for several years to find a solution to our aging press operation, and we feel this arrangement will allow us to better serve our readers, advertisers and the community," said Ed Dawson, editor and publisher of The Herald-Dispatch. "I think readers and advertisers will notice a much improved reproduction and print quality right away."

The change is scheduled to take place with the Monday, April 4, edition.

The closing of the Huntington press will result in the layoff of nine full-time press room employees and one part-time employee.

"These are dedicated, hard-working employees, so this was a very difficult decision," Dawson said.

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