Katy’s first daily newspaper has folded after less than a year of publication.
Owned by Clarion Publishing, a partnership including some of the principals in Houston investment firm Salient Partners, the Katy Courier put out its first issue in August 2005, and put out its last issue last week.
The Courier reportedly came out of the blocks with a staff of 26 people, a daily press run of 20,000 copies, and used printing presses purchased from the New York Times Co. It was a subscription-only daily paper, and after the first few weeks of publication, even information on its web site was restricted to subscribers only.
The Courier won recognition for its sports coverage and design during its short life, winning first-place awards for spot sports coverage, sports features and team design in the 2006 Texas Associated Press Managing Editors journalism contest.
Salient Partners managing director Haag Sherman, chairman of Clarion Publishing, did not return phone calls Monday seeking comment. No one answered the phones at the Katy Courier offices.
The Houston Business Journal quoted a letter, written by Sherman and Clarion President Jeremy Radcliffe and published in the Courier on June 18, which said several Katy area investors are interested in “re-capitalizing” the paper and possibly converting it publish two or three times a week.
“Given our pride in the newspaper, our desire to serve Katy and our view that the area represents one of the most vibrant growth markets in the country, we have arrived at our decision to transition the paper with great reluctance,” Sherman and Radcliffe’s letter said.
Owned by Clarion Publishing, a partnership including some of the principals in Houston investment firm Salient Partners, the Katy Courier put out its first issue in August 2005, and put out its last issue last week.
The Courier reportedly came out of the blocks with a staff of 26 people, a daily press run of 20,000 copies, and used printing presses purchased from the New York Times Co. It was a subscription-only daily paper, and after the first few weeks of publication, even information on its web site was restricted to subscribers only.
The Courier won recognition for its sports coverage and design during its short life, winning first-place awards for spot sports coverage, sports features and team design in the 2006 Texas Associated Press Managing Editors journalism contest.
