Publisher to launch MDI paper New weekly to cover Bar Harbor, islands

An Ellsworth publisher plans a new weekly newspaper for Mount Desert Island.

Alan Baker, publisher and owner of the weekly Ellsworth American, said Thursday the Mount Desert Islander will be a community weekly covering Bar Harbor and the island communities.

Baker said he hopes the paper, which probably will begin publication in November, will compete head-to-head with the Bar Harbor Times.

Earl Brechlin, who resigned from the Bar Harbor Times in late summer after serving as the paper’s editor for nine years, will be the new paper’s editor. Brechlin left the Times over philosophical differences with Courier Publications, he has said.

The Times is operated by Rockland-based Courier Publications. Courier Publications was purchased several months ago by Crescent Publishing, based in South Carolina.

“We heard in January that Courier Publications was up for sale again,” Baker said, and the American considered how to respond. Baker said he finally saw the sale as an opportunity because the new owner is an out-of-state company.

“I find it hard to believe that readers and advertisers won’t be able to perceive the difference,” he said, between a locally owned paper and one owned by a group of investors based elsewhere.

Brechlin’s resignation came as Courier made cuts in the editorial staffs of its seven newspapers in Damariscotta, Rockland, Camden, Belfast, Augusta, Ellsworth and Bar Harbor.

“When we heard that Earl had submitted his resignation,” Baker said, “we thought it was a marvelous opportunity for us.”

The new paper will resemble the American in size – a broadsheet – and will be printed at the American’s printing plant.

The Ellsworth American and Bar Harbor Times have competed fiercely for news and advertising in the MDI area for years. The tourist-driven seasonal economy of the area is often robust, even when the state’s economy falters.

Courier Publications started its Ellsworth Weekly as a means of carving out an advertising niche in the Ellsworth area, while the American regularly publishes tourist guides for visitors to MDI and Bar Harbor.

The Ellsworth American reported a weekly circulation of 11,350 over the past year. The Bar Harbor Times has reported a circulation of 7,500, while the Ellsworth Weekly reported a circulation of 2,444.

Brechlin left the Bar Harbor Times in the late 1980s for a job at the American, where he covered Bar Harbor and MDI for the paper. He returned to the Times as editor shortly after Courier Publication purchased it in the early 1990s.

There were reports of a bidding war between the two companies over staff members.

On Thursday, Morse said there was no bidding war. He said Thursday that he visited the Times office Wednesday and that no one was jumping ship. “I’m aware that several people have been approached [by the new paper] and declined the offer,” he said.

“We are unaware of any impact other than the rumors that [the new paper] is offering some free advertising,” he said. “It’s a virtual nonissue, as far as we’re concerned,” Morse said.

Morse also maintained that the Times is not being targeted for cuts.

“There are no cuts, no reductions in the size of the office,” he said. “If anything, we’d be willing to increase our part-time correspondents.”

Morse said the Times will not revamp its strategy because of the new paper, but that the company will focus on the Ellsworth Weekly. It expects to make some changes in that publication in coming weeks, he said.”We wish them well,” Morse said of the new paper.

Baker, who bought the American 10 years ago, said he and the American’s staff of 44 are excited about the new venture.

“I’m a huge fan of newspapers,” he said, and believes they serve a vital role in society. “This is the first time in 150 years we’ve started another newspaper. I’m very excited.”