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More changes have been made at the Yorktown-based PennySaverCommunity, formerly the North County News. Officials with Chase Media Group Monday announced that the recently created PennySaverCommunity will no longer be published and four people in the News and Editorial Departments are being let go.
Instead, the company plans to "go back to its roots," said Director of News and Information Services Bruce Apar. The group will return to publishing its 16 editions of the PennySaver. The changes will go into effect on July 20. An additional 3 editions of the PennySaver will be launched in Westchester over the next few weeks, he said.
Adam Stone, publisher of the Examiner, The Northern Westchester Examiner and The Putnam Examiner said he was saddened at the news of the layoffs.
"Obviously the local news and media industry is going through a million and one changes nowadays, he said. Overall, I think it's a shame what happened to the employees and am saddened at the loss of what was once a very valuable asset in the community."
Apar said the change is being made for several reasons.
"There is no question we are in a very challenging economy. The market conditions are such that this was the best time to go back to the basics and what we do best, and focus on commerce and giving advertisers more hyper-local markets where they can target their advertising dollars, he said.
He also noted that Chase Media Group listened to feedback from its readers and advertisers, which led to the change.
In April, two of Chase Media Group's publications, the North County News and the PennySaver, merged and became known as PennySaverCommunity. The resulting free publication was mailed to some 300,000 homes in Westchester, Putnam and Dutchess counties and featured local community news alongside PennySaver ads.
In addition to the PennySaver, Chase Media Group provides mobile marketing services, search engine marketing services, various print products and website design and hosting services.
"In this economic climate, as I'm fond of saying, there's never a better time to be a 'penny saver, Apar said.
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