Newspaper cousins get cozy

The relationship between the Fort Myers News-Press and the Naples Daily News is getting tighter.

The first step occurred earlier this year, when News-Press parent Gannett purchased Daily News parent Journal Media Group. Then, in April, Daily News Publisher Bill Barker was named one of two regional presidents for Gannett in Florida. He oversees the company's newspapers in Tallahassee, Pensacola and Fort Myers, where Mike Jung is publisher of the News-Press.

The latest move of togetherness: Jung announced the Naples Daily News will print the News-Press, starting this summer. Jung calls the printing consolidation a “smart business choice,” despite the loss of some employees.

Both publishers say it's unlikely they will combine the two newspapers into a single brand, though reporter bylines have appeared in both papers. Keeping both brands makes sense because Fort Myers and Naples each has unique audiences, both publishers say.

“The News-Press is a top brand of choice for audiences and businesses in Southwest Florida,” Jung wrote to readers recently. “We've been publishing in this community for more than 130 years.”