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West Yellowstone News to Stop Publishing in September

Company says it can no longer afford to keep producing the weekly newspaper

By Justin Franz

WEST YELLOWSTONE — Big Sky Publishing’s president says The West Yellowstone News will shut down its newspaper and website on Sept. 2 unless a new owner is found.

Stephanie Pressly says advertising revenue has been in decline since the 2008 economic downturn, and the company can no longer afford to keep producing the weekly newspaper.

A story in the West Yellowstone News on Friday announcing the closure says the owners considered a digital-only edition, but concluded it would still lose money.

The West Yellowstone News was awarded the Montana Newspaper Association’s prize for general excellence in its division in 2015.

Pioneer News Group, which owns Big Sky Publishing, is considering offers to sell the newspaper and website.

Big Sky Publishing also publishes the Bozeman Daily Chronicle and the Belgrade News. Another Big Sky newspaper, The Lone Peak Lookout, closed in 2015.