{{Short description|U.S. newspapers owned by the Hearst Corporation}} {{Use mdy dates|date=February 2025}} {{Infobox publisher | name = Examiner Newspaper Group, Inc. | image = ExaminerNewsGroupoffices.jpg | image_size = | alt = | caption = Houston Community Newspapers Examiner Newspaper Group offices | parent = Houston Chronicle | status = Active | founded = {{start date and age|2001}} | founders = George Boehme and Edwin Henry | defunct = <!-- use {{end date and age|YYYY|MM|DD}} --> | successor = | country = United States | publications = ''Bellaire Examiner'', ''Memorial Examiner'', ''River Oaks Examiner'', and ''West University Examiner'' | topics = Local news | owner = Hearst Corporation | website = <!-- {{URL|example.com}} --> }}
The '''Examiner Newspaper Group, Inc.''' consisted of a set of four community newspapers owned by the Hearst Corporation, doing business as Houston Community Newspapers (HCN). The publications include the ''Bellaire Examiner'', ''Memorial Examiner'', ''River Oaks Examiner'', and ''West University Examiner''.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Downing |first1=Margaret |title=HISD Trustee Harvin Moore Wants the State to Man Up |url=http://blogs.houstonpress.com/hairballs/2011/02/hisd_trustee_harvin_moore_want.php |website=Houston Press Blogs |access-date=23 November 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110507000641/http://blogs.houstonpress.com/hairballs/2011/02/hisd_trustee_harvin_moore_want.php |archive-date=7 May 2011 |date=23 February 2011 |url-status=dead}}</ref> All four newspapers were headquartered in the HCN Southwest Office-Central facility in Houston.<ref>{{cite web |title=Houston Community Newspapers 2013 Contact Page |url=http://www.yourhoustonnews.com/app/pdf/2013HCNContact.pdf |publisher=Houston Community Newspaper |access-date=23 November 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140630031123/http://www.yourhoustonnews.com/app/pdf/2013HCNContact.pdf |archive-date=30 June 2014 |language=en |url-status=dead}}</ref>
The company was previously a separate entity headquartered in Rice Village, Houston.<ref name="Davisp44">{{cite book |last1=Davis |first1=Mitchell P. |title=Power Media Bluebook W/ Talk Show Guest Directory |date=1 January 2005 |publisher=Broadcast Interview Source |isbn=978-0-934333-50-4 |edition=15th |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=AQqnULQq6JUC |access-date=23 November 2023 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Williams |first1=Sarah |title=Examiner joins West U, merchants in food drive |url=http://www.westuexaminer.com/default.asp?smenu=56 |access-date=23 November 2023 |work=Examiner News |date=26 November 2003 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20031128054328/http://www.westuexaminer.com/default.asp?smenu=56 |archive-date=28 November 2003}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Rice Village Businesses |url=http://www.ricevillageonline.com/show_map_businesses.php?show=174-173-175-172 |website=RiceVillageOnline.com |access-date=23 November 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140415103617/http://www.ricevillageonline.com/show_map_businesses.php?show=174-173-175-172 |archive-date=15 April 2014 |date=2004 |url-status=usurped}}</ref> It was later acquired by ASP Westward and later 1013 Star Communications, before becoming a part of the Hearst Corporation in 2016.
==History== In 2001 George Boehme and Edwin Henry started the group, with Boehme as the publisher and Henry as the editor. The first publication from the group was the ''West University Examiner''. The second one was the ''River Oaks Examiner'', and the third publication, the ''Memorial Examiner'', followed.<ref name=HoustonPress>{{cite news |title=Best Community Newspaper Houston 2004 |url=http://www.houstonpress.com/bestof/2004/award/best-community-newspaper-31604/ |access-date=23 November 2023 |work=Houston Press |date=2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140415064958/http://www.houstonpress.com/bestof/2004/award/best-community-newspaper-31604/ |archive-date=15 April 2014}}</ref>
In 2004 the group won the "Best Community Newspaper Houston 2004" award from the ''Houston Press''.<ref name=HoustonPress/>
In 2006 George Boehme sold the Examiner Newspaper Group to ASP Westward, doing business as "Houston Community Newspapers",<ref name="Zhenglocsue">{{cite web |last1=Zheng |first1=Zen T.C. |title=Local news service operator sued |url=http://blog.chron.com/fortbend/2008/01/local-news-service-operator-sued/ |website=Inside Fort Bend |access-date=23 November 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140416074137/http://blog.chron.com/fortbend/2008/01/local-news-service-operator-sued/ |archive-date=16 April 2014 |date=16 January 2008 |url-status=dead}}</ref> for $2.1 million.<ref name="Zhengrages">{{cite web |last1=Zheng |first1=Zen T.C. |title=Legal battle against local media outlets rages on |url=http://blog.chron.com/fortbend/2008/03/legal-battle-against-local-media-outlets-rages-on/ |website=Inside Fort Bend |access-date=23 November 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140416074128/http://blog.chron.com/fortbend/2008/03/legal-battle-against-local-media-outlets-rages-on/ |archive-date=16 April 2014 |url-status=dead}}</ref> At the time, the purchase price was not disclosed.<ref name="AroundRegion">{{cite news |title=Around the Region: Business |url=https://www.chron.com/business/article/AROUND-THE-REGION-1654998.php |access-date=23 November 2023 |work=Chron |date=29 April 2006 |language=en}}</ref>
In 2010 the ''Houston Press'' ranked the Examiner Newspaper Group division of the HCN the "Best Community Newspaper Houston 2010".<ref>"[http://www.houstonpress.com/bestof/2010/award/best-community-newspaper-2015256/ Best Community Newspaper Houston 2010 - Examiner Newspaper Group, Houston Community Newspapers]" ([https://web.archive.org/web/20150222131734/http://www.houstonpress.com/bestof/2010/award/best-community-newspaper-2015256/ Archive]). ''Houston Press''. Retrieved on April 14, 2014.</ref>
In 2012 1013 Star Communications acquired Houston Community Newspapers from ASP Westward.<ref>{{cite news |title=Houston Community Newspapers acquired by 1013 Star Communications |url=https://www.chron.com/neighborhood/friendswood/news/article/Houston-Community-Newspapers-acquired-by-1013-9514176.php |access-date=23 November 2023 |work=Chron |date=27 August 2012 |language=en}}</ref>
<ref>{{cite news|author=Pulsinelli, Olivia|url=http://www.bizjournals.com/houston/news/2012/08/28/houston-community-newspapers-sold-to.html|title=Houston Community Newspapers sold to Nevada company|newspaper=Houston Business Journal|date=2012-08-28|access-date=2017-01-22}}</ref> In 2016 the Hearst Corporation acquired Houston Community Newspapers. It is the parent company of the ''Houston Chronicle''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.chron.com/neighborhood/katy/news/article/Hearst-purchases-community-newspapers-across-9882614.php|title=Hearst purchases community newspapers across Houston's suburbs|author=Lewis, Al|date=2016-07-29|publisher=Katy Rancher at the Houston Chronicle|access-date=2017-01-22}}</ref> As part of the deal the ''Examiner'' papers became a part of the Hearst Corporation.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.marketwired.com/press-release/hearst-purchases-locally-focused-houston-community-newspapers-media-group-2146666.htm|title=Hearst Purchases Locally-Focused Houston Community Newspapers & Media Group|publisher=Hearst Corporation at MarketWired|date=2016-07-29|access-date=2017-01-22}}</ref>
==See also== * ''Village News and Southwest News''
==References== {{reflist|2}}
==External links== *{{official website|http://www.chron.com/neighborhood/bellaire/}} - ''Bellaire-River Oaks-West University Examiner'' *{{official website|http://www.chron.com/neighborhood/memorial/}} - ''Memorial Examiner'' * {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/*/http://www.yourexaminernews.com |date=* |title=''Your Examiner News'' }} (''Examiner'' under 10/13) * {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/*/http://web.archive.org/*/http://www.examinernews.com |date=* |title=Examiner Newspaper Group }} (as an independent publication and while under ASP Westward) {{Bellaire, Texas}} {{Memorial Villages}} {{Greater Houston newspapers}} {{Hearst Corporation}}
Category:Newspapers published in Texas Category:Publishing companies established in 2001 Category:Newspapers established in 2001 Category:Companies based in Houston Category:2001 establishments in Texas Category:Hearst Communications publications