Swift Communications

{{Short description|Digital marketing and newspaper publishing company}}{{Infobox publisher|name=Swift Communications Inc.|website={{URL|swiftcom.com}}|headquarters=200 Lindbergh Dr, [[Gypsum, Colorado]]|founded=1975|founder=Philip E. Swift|owner=[[Ogden Newspapers]]}}

'''Swift Communications Inc.''' is an American [[digital marketing]] and [[newspaper]] publishing company based in [[Carson City, Nevada]]. Swift's primary markets are [[resort town]] [[Tabloid (newspaper format)|tabloid]] newspapers and websites as well as agricultural publications. The company was founded in 1975 by Philip E. Swift and acquired from estate by [[Ogden Newspapers]] in 2021.

== History ==

=== Origins and growth === Swift Newspapers was founded by Philip E. Swift in 1975. Swift, a former executive at the [[Scripps League Newspapers, Inc.|Scripps League of Newspapers]], exchanged his equity interests in the company for ownership of two daily newspapers, ''[[The News-Review]]'' and ''[[Tahoe Daily Tribune]]''.<ref>{{Cite news |date=August 1, 1975 |title=Argus publisher to Napa |work=The Press Democrat |location=Santa Rosa, California |page=31 |agency=United Press International}}</ref> Swift also took possession of the ''[[Sierra Sun]]''.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Barrett |first=Doug |date=May 7, 1969 |title=Sierra Sun Celebrates 100th Anniversary on May 7, 1969 |url=https://www.sierrasun.com/news/special-sections/sierra-sun-celebrates-100th-anniversary-on-may-7-1969/ |access-date=October 14, 2025 |website=Sierra Sun |language=en-US}}</ref>

In January 1982, he merged his business with [[Pioneer News Group|Pioneer Newspapers]] to form Swift-Pioneer Newspapers, Inc.<ref>{{Cite news |date=January 22, 1982 |title=Pioneer, Swift newspaper firms merge |work=Nevada State Journal |location=Reno, Nevada |pages=18 |agency=United Press International}}</ref> In October 1982, the ''[[Lander Journal]]''.<ref>{{Cite news |date=October 6, 1982 |title=Carson firm buys paper |work=Reno Gazette-Journal |page=10}}</ref> In May 1983, Scripps-Ifft Newspapers, Inc., owned by Nicholas Ifft, sold the ''[[Bozeman Chronicle]]'', ''[[Havre Daily News]]'' and ''[[Idaho State Journal]]'' to Swift-Pioneer.<ref>{{Cite news |date=May 3, 1984 |title=2 state papers purchased |work=The Billings Gazette |page=23 |agency=Associated Press}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=May 15, 2003 |title=George Nicholas "Nick" Ifft III (Obituary) |work=Asbury Park Press |pages=27}}</ref> A few months later Swift-Pioneer also bought the ''[[Seaside Signal]],'' ''[[Tillamook Headlight-Herald]]'' and ''[[The News Guard]]'' from Scripps-Ifft.<ref>{{Cite news |date=July 20, 1983 |title=Nevada chain buys Seaside Signal |work=The Daily Astorian |page=16}}</ref> In 1988, Swift-Pioneer acquired the [[Record-Courier (Nevada)|''Record-Courier'']].<ref>{{Cite news |date=February 26, 1988 |title=Swift chain buys Record-Courier |work=Reno Gazette-Journal |pages=26}}</ref>

Around 1990, Swift and Pioneer began operating separately, with Swift based in [[Carson City, Nevada]] and Pioneer based in [[Seattle, Washington]]. Pioneer took the papers in Idaho, Montana, southern Oregon and Washington, while Swift took the rest. Swift acquired the ''[[Nevada Appeal]]'' in 1995,<ref>{{Cite news |date=June 1, 1995 |title=Swift Newspapers buy the Nevada Appeal |work=Reno Gazette-Journal |page=56}}</ref> followed by the ''[[Aspen Times]]'' and ''Glenwood Springs Independent'' in 1999.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Vader |first=Marija B. |date=November 12, 1999 |title=Newspapers in Aspen, Glenwood Springs are sold |work=The Daily Sentinel |location=Grand Junction, Colorado |page=20}}</ref> A year later Swift bought several papers from [[Morris Communications]], including the ''Glenwood Springs Post,'' ''Rifle Citizen-Telegram'', ''Valley Journal'' of Carbondale, ''Snowmass Village Sun'' and ''Eagle Valley Enterprise.'' The ''Post'' and ''Independent'' were merged to form the ''[[Glenwood Springs Post Independent]]''.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Vader |first=Marija B. |date=November 18, 2000 |title=Glenwood newspapers will merge {{!}} Owner of the Independent buys Post, fires 41 workers |work=The Daily Sentinel |location=Grand Junction, Colorado |page=9}}</ref>

Following the split with Pioneer, Swift took possession of Pacific Coast Newspapers, which published three papers on the Oregon coast. In February 2003, the subsidiary sold off the ''[[Seaside Signal]],''<ref>{{Cite news |date=January 23, 2003 |title=Signal under new ownership |work=Seaside Signal |page=1}}</ref> followed by ''[[Tillamook Headlight-Herald]]'' and ''[[The News Guard]].''<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |date=2007-04-04 |title=New owners taking over coast papers |url=https://www.tillamookheadlightherald.com/news/new-owners-taking-over-coast-papers/article_c3b163a9-650d-55b3-ab07-1589bb2f775e.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231003070723/https://www.tillamookheadlightherald.com/news/new-owners-taking-over-coast-papers/article_c3b163a9-650d-55b3-ab07-1589bb2f775e.html |archive-date=October 3, 2023 |access-date=2023-09-09 |website=Tillamook Headlight-Herald |language=en}}</ref> Swift then purchased the ''Lahontan Valley News'' and ''Fallon Eagle Standard'' in October 2003,<ref>{{Cite news |date=October 28, 2003 |title=Swift Newspapers buys Nevada paper |work=The Union |location=Grass Valley, California |page=13}}</ref> and ''The Vail Trail'' in February 2004.<ref>{{Cite news |date=February 25, 2004 |title=Swifts strengthens hold on Colorado newspapers |work=The Park Record |location=Park City, Colorado |page=38}}</ref> The company was renamed to Swift Communications in 2006,<ref name="State of the Media">{{cite web |url=http://stateofthemedia.org/media-ownership/company-profile/?mediaid=111&id=149 |title=Who Owns the News Media |publisher=The state of the News Media |access-date=2012-11-14}}</ref> and acquired the ''Fort Collins Weekly'' in July 2007. The paper was renamed to ''Fort Collins Now''.<ref>{{Cite news |date=July 13, 2007 |title=Daily Briefing {{!}} Weekly changes name and day |work=Fort Collins Coloradoan |page=9}}</ref>

=== Decline and sell off === Amid the [[Great Recession]], Swift closed the ''Valley Journal'' of [[Carbondale, Colorado|Carbondale]], Spanish-language publication ''La Tribuna'' of [[Greeley, Colorado|Greeley]] and the ''Leadville Chronicle.'' In late 2008, Colorado Mountain News Media, a subsidiary of Swift, reduced its staff by 20% over a two-month period through attrition, retirement and [[layoff]]s.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Weatherred |first=Jenna |date=2008-12-31 |title=A note from the publisher |url=https://www.aspentimes.com/news/a-note-from-the-publisher/ |access-date=2025-11-04 |website=The Aspen Times |language=en-US}}</ref> The ''Vail Trail'' also closed.<ref>{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=2008-11-13 |title=Vail Trail to publish last issue |url=https://www.aspentimes.com/news/vail-trail-to-publish-last-issue/ |access-date=2025-11-04 |website=The Aspen Times |language=en-US}}</ref> Layoffs at Swift continued into 2009 with staff positions eliminated at the ''Grand Junction Free Press,'' ''The Citizen Telegram'', ''The Post Independent'' and ''The Aspen Times''.<ref name="TCI: Layoffs">{{cite news |author=Williams, David O. |date=2009-02-28 |title=Community papers struggling: Vail Daily cuts staff to 2002 levels |url=http://coloradoindependent.com/22991/community-papers-struggling-vail-daily-cuts-staff-to-2002-levels |access-date=2012-11-14 |newspaper=Colorado Independent}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Webb |first=Dennis |date=2009-05-03 |title=Rifle editor among latest Swift layoffs |url=https://www.gjsentinel.com/news/western_colorado/rifle-editor-among-latest-swift-layoffs/article_6c883cb2-d430-5fe2-8b2e-d76f1c0e43af.html |access-date=2025-11-04 |website=The Grand Junction Daily Sentinel |language=en}}</ref> In July 2009, ''Fort Collins Now,'' was closed.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Hughes |first=Trevor |date=May 19, 2009 |title=Fort Collins Now will close doors Thursday |work=Fort Collins Coloradoan |page=11}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Roberts |first=Michael |date=2009-05-21 |title=Closure of Fort Collins Now marks end of era in great Northern Colorado weekly newspaper war |url=https://www.westword.com/news/closure-of-fort-collins-now-marks-end-of-era-in-great-northern-colorado-weekly-newspaper-war-5860582/ |access-date=2025-11-04 |website=Denver Westword |language=en-US}}</ref> In September 2009, P. William Toler was hired as CEO.<ref>{{Cite news |date=September 5, 2009 |title=Swift Communications names ex-P&G executive as new CEO |work=Reno Gazette-Journal |page=11}}</ref>

In 2015, Swift purchased the ''[[Park Record]]''<ref>{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=December 1, 2015 |title=Swift Communications buys Park City newspaper in Utah |url=https://www.rgj.com/story/money/business/2015/12/02/swift-communications-buys-park-city-newspaper-utah/76640202/ |access-date=2025-10-14 |website=Reno Gazette Journal |language=en-US |agency=Associated Press}}</ref> sold ''[[The News-Review]],<ref>{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=September 4, 2015 |title=Roseburg investors buy News-Review |url=https://theworldlink.com/news/local/business/roseburg-investors-buy-news-review/article_48e71e92-760c-5f69-81f3-5a2ed8ec9892.html |access-date=2019-02-02 |website=The World |language=en |publication-place=Coos Bay, Oregon}}</ref>'' and closed the ''Grand Junction Free Press.''<ref>{{Cite web |last=Johnson |first=Ken |date=2015-10-27 |title=Farewell Grand Junction Free Press |url=https://www.postindependent.com/opinion/farewell-grand-junction-free-press/ |access-date=2025-11-04 |website=Glenwood Springs Post Independent |language=en-US}}</ref> In 2016, Swift acquired the ''[[Steamboat Pilot & Today]]'' and the ''Craig Press''.<ref>{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=2016-06-19 |title=Aspen Times owner acquires papers in Craig and Steamboat |url=https://www.aspentimes.com/news/aspen-times-owner-acquires-papers-in-craig-and-steamboat/ |access-date=2025-11-04 |website=The Aspen Times |language=en-US}}</ref><ref name="Craig Daily">{{cite web |last=Campbell |first=Renee |date=June 17, 2016 |title=Craig Daily Press has new owners |url=http://www.craigdailypress.com/news/2016/jun/17/craig-daily-press-has-new-owners/ |access-date=June 17, 2016 |website=Craig Daily Press}}</ref> In July 2019. Swift Communication sold ''[[Nevada Appeal]]'', the ''Lahontan Valley News'', ''The Record-Courier'' and ''Northern Nevada Business View'' to [[Pacific Publishing Company]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Ferrari |first=Mike |date=July 31, 2019 |title=FAQs for Transfer of Ownership of the Nevada Appeal, the Record-Courier, Lahontan Valley News and the Northern Nevada Business View |url=https://www.swiftcom.com/faqs-transfer-ownership-snmg/ |access-date=November 4, 2025 |website=Swift Communications}}</ref>

On November 27, 2019, company founder Philip E. Swift died.<ref>{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=2019-12-06 |title=Philip E. Swift, Founder of Swift Newspapers, Inc., Dies at 102 |url=https://www.editorandpublisher.com/stories/philip-e-swift-founder-of-swift-newspapers-inc-dies-at-102,2404 |access-date=2025-10-13 |website=Editor and Publisher |language=en}}</ref> On December 31, 2021, Swift Communications was acquired by [[Ogden Newspapers]], a [[Wheeling, West Virginia]]-based publisher of daily and weekly newspapers, magazines, telephone directories, and shoppers guides throughout 18 states.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Miller |first=Scott |date=November 30, 2021 |title=Parent company of Vail Daily sells to Ogden Newspapers |url=https://www.vaildaily.com/news/parent-company-of-vail-daily-sells-to-ogden-newspapers/ |website=Vail Daily}}</ref> Company president Bob Brown then retired.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Daily |first=Scott N. MillerVail |date=2021-12-13 |title=Swift Communications President Bob Brown set to retire with sale of newspaper company |url=https://www.summitdaily.com/news/regional/swift-communications-president-bob-brown-set-to-retire-with-sale-of-newspaper-company/ |access-date=2025-11-04 |website=Summit Daily |language=en-US}}</ref>

Following the sale to Ogden, Swift sold the ''Greeley Tribune'' to [[MediaNews Group]] in 2020,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Agnew |first=Kelly Geary |date=February 25, 2020 |title=Swift Communications sells Greeley Tribune to newspaper operator MediaNews Group |url=https://www.postindependent.com/news/swift-communications-sells-greeley-tribune-to-newspaper-operator-medianews-group/ |access-date=2020-02-25 |website=Glenwood Springs Post Independent |language=en-US}}</ref> ''[[The Union (newspaper)|The Union]]'' to Gold Hill California Media in 2022,<ref>{{Cite web |last= |date=June 2, 2022 |title=The Union sold to Gold Hill California Media |url=https://www.theunion.com/news/the-union-sold-to-gold-hill-california-media/article_2128acca-2c3e-5dcd-ae15-d2610e92facc.html |access-date=2023-03-29 |website=The Union |language=en |publication-place=Grass Valley, California}}</ref> and ''[[Park Record]]'' to Tatiana and [[Matthew Prince]] in 2023.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Meyerowitz |first=Robert |date=2023-03-28 |title=Tatiana and Matthew Prince set to acquire the 143-year-old Park Record newspaper |url=https://www.parkrecord.com/news/tatiana-and-matthew-prince-set-to-acquire-the-143-year-old-park-record-newspaper/ |access-date=2023-03-29 |website=The Park Record |language=en-US |publication-place=Park City, Utah}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Malatesta |first=Parker |date=2023-03-28 |title=Park City billionaire purchases Park Record newspaper |url=https://www.sltrib.com/news/2023/03/28/park-city-billionaire-purchases/ |access-date=2023-03-29 |website=The Salt Lake Tribune |language=en-US}}</ref> The company closed the ''Eagle Valley Enterprise'' of [[Eagle, Colorado]], in 2025.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Heicher |first=Kathy |date=2025-03-05 |title=Farewell, Eagle Valley Enterprise: Eagle County’s oldest business folds after 124 years |url=https://www.vaildaily.com/news/farewell-eagle-valley-enterprise-eagle-countys-oldest-business-folds/ |access-date=2025-11-04 |language=en-US}}</ref>

== Publications == Newspapers published by Swift Communications as of 2025.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Brands |url=https://www.swiftcom.com/brands/ |access-date=2025-11-04 |website=Swift Communications}}</ref>

=== [[California]] ===

*''[[Sierra Sun]]'' *''[[Tahoe Daily Tribune]]''

=== [[Colorado]] ===

*''Craig Press'' in [[Craig, Colorado]] *''[[Glenwood Springs Post Independent]]'' in [[Glenwood Springs, Colorado]] *''Snowmass Sun'' in [[Snowmass Village, Colorado]] *''Sky-Hi News'' in [[Granby, Colorado]] *''[[Steamboat Pilot & Today]]'' in [[Steamboat Springs, Colorado]] *''Summit Daily News'' in [[Frisco, Colorado]] *''[[The Aspen Times]]'' in [[Aspen, Colorado]] *''The Citizen Telegram'' in [[Rifle, Colorado]] *''[[Vail Daily]]'' in [[Vail, Colorado]]

== Controversies == Swift Communications has been noted for "being outside of the mainstream"<ref name="Collebrusco">{{cite web |last=Collebrusco |first=Anthony |date= |title='No comment': Swift newspaper websites keeping user comments turned off |url=http://testkitchen.colorado.edu/2011/09/no-comment-swift-newspaper-websites-keeping-user-comments-turned-off/ |access-date=2012-11-14 |publisher=Digital News Test Kitchen}}</ref> and "drawing national attention inside the industry"<ref name="Aspen Times Comments Return">{{cite web |date=2011-10-21 |title=Aspen Times online comments return |url=http://www.aspentimes.com/article/20111021/NEWS/111029971 |url-status=dead |access-date=2012-11-14 |publisher=Aspen Times}}</ref> for disabling commenting and implementing [[paywalls]] on most of its online newspaper's websites.<ref name="Collebrusco" /><ref name="Paywall">{{cite news |author=Tomasic, John |date=2008-09-21 |title=Greeley Tribune, other Swift papers, erecting paywalls |url=http://coloradoindependent.com/100095/greeley-tribune-other-swift-papers-erecting-paywalls |access-date=2012-11-14 |newspaper=Colorado Independent}}</ref>

=== Bob Berwyn firing === In November 2009 Bob Berwyn, a journalist for the ''Summit Daily News,'' wrote a column which criticized the marketing practices of Vail Resorts, one of the paper's largest advertisers. He was fired shortly after the writing the article. Berwyn claimed it was over his column, but the company claimed he was fired over “a series of events.” This firing was widely derided in the Colorado media.<ref>{{cite web |last=Carr |first=David |date=2009-12-15 |title=Mountain Media Takes Nasty Spill After Confrontation with Vail Resorts |url=http://mediadecoder.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/12/15/mountain-media-takes-nasty-spill-after-confrontation-with-vail-resorts/ |access-date=2012-11-14 |publisher=Media Decoder - New York Times}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Hooper |first=Troy |date=2009-12-12 |title=Reporter: I was fired for taking on the ski industry |url=http://www.aspendailynews.com/section/home/138109 |access-date=2012-11-14 |publisher=Aspen Daily News}}</ref>

{{blockquote|"It's unfortunate but, especially in this economy, some advertisers feel like they can flex their muscles when there's commentary that they don't like," says Ed Otte of the Colorado Press Association. "Newspapers need to withstand these kinds of threats."<ref>{{cite web|last=Greene |first=Susan |url=http://www.denverpost.com/greene/ci_13964833 |title=Advertising flap snowballs for Vail Resorts|publisher=Denver Post |date=2009-12-10 |access-date=2012-11-14}}</ref>}}

=== Removal of user comments === In May, 2011 after gathering analytics, metrics and revenue data on their commenting platform investment, Swift reviewed the data and decided to remove the [[user-generated content]] (UGC) platform Pluck from all online newspapers owned by Swift Communications. The ability for readers to leave comments about articles was removed. Editors with Swift felt the inability of their [[content management software]] to restrict comments they did not approve of was impacting newsroom productivity and civil community conversation.<ref>{{cite web |last=Bangert |first=Randy |date=2011-04-30 |title=Web comments for The Tribune take a holiday |url=http://www.greeleytribune.com/article/20110430/OPINION/704309974 |access-date=2012-11-14 |publisher=Greeley Tribune}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Collebrusco |first=Anthony |date= |title=Civil comments for news websites |url=http://testkitchen.colorado.edu/projects/current-projects/civil-comments-for-news-websites/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120716221901/http://testkitchen.colorado.edu/projects/current-projects/civil-comments-for-news-websites/ |archive-date=2012-07-16 |access-date=2011-11-14 |publisher=Digital News Test Kitchen}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Outing |first=Steve |date= |title=#$^&%#@) it! … Keep it civil, commenters! |url=http://testkitchen.colorado.edu/2011/06/keep-it-civil-commenters/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120714153834/http://testkitchen.colorado.edu/2011/06/keep-it-civil-commenters/ |archive-date=2012-07-14 |access-date=2012-11-14 |publisher=Digital News Test Kitchen}}</ref>

Anthony Collebrusco from the ''Digital News Test Kitchen'' at [[University of Colorado at Boulder|CU-Boulder]]'s School of Journalism & Mass Communication which is involved in researching a viable means of limiting the [[pseudonymity]] and unconditional [[free speech]] of commenters on Swift's websites paraphrased Swift's policy as:

{{blockquote|"Executives at Swift concluded that resources should not be invested in comments — and therefore there is no rush to reinstate user comments — unless they can be made to generate revenue."<ref>{{cite web|last=Collebrusco |first=Anthony |url=http://testkitchen.colorado.edu/2011/09/no-comment-swift-newspaper-websites-keeping-user-comments-turned-off/ |title='No comment': Swift newspaper websites keeping user comments turned off |publisher=Digital News Test Kitchen |date= |access-date=2012-11-14}}</ref>}}

In Fall of 2011, the ''Aspen Times'' re-enabled anonymous commenting for users with an active [[Facebook]] account.<ref name="Aspen Times Comments Return" />

=== Inflated ad rates === Swift Communications has been accused of stifling competition and setting artificially inflated ad rates by consolidating and closing small-town newspapers.<ref name="McPapers">{{cite news |author=Williams, David O. |date=2008-06-08 |title=Mountain McPapers slurp up competition |url=http://coloradoindependent.com/4271/mountain-mcpapers-slurp-up-competition |access-date=2012-11-14 |newspaper=Colorado Independent}}</ref> Steve Lipsher, former editor of the ''Summit Daily News'' said in 2008 that "If you're an advertiser in places like [[Summit County, Colorado|Summit County]], they're the only game in town" <ref name="Westword">{{cite news |author=Roberts, Michael |date=2008-05-22 |title=Ed Stein Moves Out of "Denver Square" |url=http://www.westword.com/2008-05-22/news/ed-stein-moves-out-of-denver-square/2/ |access-date=2012-11-14 |newspaper=Denver Westword News |page=2}}</ref> and in 2009, Swift-owned newspapers had 90% market share in [[Eagle County, Colorado|Eagle County]].<ref name="TCI: Layoffs" /> Swift has also been criticized for over-charging for obituary listings.<ref name="Local News">{{cite news |author=Courant, James |date=2010-06-05 |title=Your Not So "Local Newspaper" |url=http://www.greeleygazette.com/press/?p=3244 |access-date=2012-11-14 |newspaper=Greeley Gazette}}</ref>

==See also== *[[Concentration of media ownership]] *[[Online advertising]] *[[Paid content]]

==References== {{Reflist|2}}

==External links== *[http://www.swiftnews.com/ Swift Communications] (official website)

[[Category:Newspaper companies of the United States]] [[Category:Mass media in Carson City, Nevada]] [[Category:American companies established in 1975]] [[Category:1975 establishments in Nevada]]