New Daily Newspaper, A.M. Journal Express, to Launch in Dallas Market

Posted on November 7, 2003

A.M. Journal Express, LLC, a majority- owned subsidiary of American Consolidated Media (ACM), a Dallas-based privately owned media company, has announced plans to launch a new daily newspaper in the Dallas market aimed at busy, upwardly mobile professionals. The tabloid-format A.M. Journal Express will be available weekdays free of charge and will debut Nov. 12 with a circulation of 140,000 to 150,000.

It will be the first newspaper of its kind in the Dallas market. Earlier this month, amNewYork, backed by media giant Tribune Co., hit the streets targeting young New York commuters. These free, quick-read style dailies, which first emerged in Europe and spread to U.S. cities including Philadelphia, Boston and Washington, are part of a global industry trend to try to attract younger newspaper readers.

Terrie Lonergan, publisher of American Way and Celebrated Living for the past three years, is joining A.M. Journal Express as managing director. She will have direct responsibility for all newspaper operations. Lonergan previously served for five years as associate publisher/advertising director for American Way, Southwest Spirit, Celebrated Living and American Airlines Inflight Television. Earlier, she managed the West Coast advertising sales efforts for all American Airlines Publishing titles.

"This is not going to be a traditional daily newspaper," said Lonergan. "It will have a style and publishing approach that represents a new category of newspaper in this market."

Lori Stahl, a long-time veteran of the Dallas newspaper industry, will be executive editor. Stahl spent 14 years at The Dallas Morning News, where she was an award-winning reporter and columnist. Most recently, she consulted primarily with area non-profit organizations and foundations on communications issues. Lonergan and Stahl join a management team at ACM that has more than 60 years combined experience in the Dallas newspaper business.

"Based on our market knowledge and newspaper industry experience, we believed Dallas was a strong candidate for this new media alternative," said Jeremy L. Halbreich, ACM's chairman, president and CEO. "When prospective readers showed overwhelmingly positive interest in reading a news-in-brief publication like A.M., we knew we had an idea with staying power. Dallas is a young, vibrant market, and we're looking forward to becoming a dynamic, new source for its news and information."

Founded in 1998, American Consolidated Media is a privately owned media holding company. Based in Dallas, Texas, the company owns and operates 28 newspapers in small- to medium-sized markets throughout Texas and Oklahoma, with additional direct mail and print holdings. ACM decided to pursue the launch after The Gallup Organization validated significant consumer acceptance in Spring 2003 for a different style and presentation of daily news and information.