Buffalo News moves printing operations to Cleveland
Oct. 2—The Buffalo News is now printing its daily newspaper from a facility in Cleveland.
The Buffalo Newspaper Guild released a statement Saturday lamenting the latest "blow" to the community from the paper's current owners — the shutdown of the paper's printing facility on Scott Street in Buffalo.
Lee Enterprises, which purchased the Buffalo News in 2020, announced in February it would be printing editions at the Plain Dealer's facility in Cleveland and trucking the papers in for local delivery. The last locally printed edition came off the press Saturday night, according to the guild.
"We thank the affected employees for their dedication and commitment to the Western New York community, including two of our Buffalo Newspaper Guild members who work in the press department who are affected by this news and have spent decades with the company," the union representing Buffalo News employees said in its statement.
More than 100 jobs will be affected, including those involved in the printing and distribution of the paper, "and other products printed at the press building on Scott Street."
The current presses, which were installed in 2004, will be decommissioned once operations are moved, according to reports.
Since word of the Buffalo News printing facility closing came in February, the Niagara Gazette and Lockport Union-Sun & Journal's North Tonawanda printing facility has gained new printing contracts and has hired or is in the process of hiring pressmen.
The shift in printing operations is among several recent changes at the Buffalo News. Last year, Lee Enterprises announced it had sold the News building at Washington and Scott streets with News operations moving to the Larkin at Exchange Building in Larkinville. Uniland later backed out of the deal to buy the News building.
The newsroom has also been impacted. The move to print out of Cleveland is expected to drastically impact deadlines at the News.
The Buffalo Newspaper Guild said Saturday's shutdown was another example of Lee Enterprises' lack of commitment to the region.
"Since buying The Buffalo News 3 1/2 years ago, Lee has invested little in the Western New York Community and has spent more time extracting resources from the Buffalo News," the guild said. "The closure of the printing plant is just the latest blow to the community. It paves the way for Lee to sell the property and funnel the sale proceeds elsewhere."
