NEW YORK: Village Voice Media and Phoenix-based New Times Media (NTM) will merge under the Village Voice Media name. The entity will publish free weekly alternative newspapers and websites in 17 markets.
NTM CEO Jim Larkin will be CEO, and NTM executive editor Michael Lacey will be executive editor of the combined operation. Village Voice CEO David Schneiderman will serve as president of Village Voice Digital.
Scott Spear, SVP of NTM, said the two have discussed a possible deal for years because they are the biggest players in the alternative newspaper business.
"The time was right," he said, adding that the deal would be finalized sometime in early 2006.
Spear added that he didn't expect any content or staff changes at the titles. "To my knowledge, it'll be business as usual," he said.
