Times-Shamrock Communications
Times-Shamrock Communications is a privately owned American media company based in Scranton, Pennsylvania, with interests historically spanning newspapers, radio broadcasting, digital media, printing, and distribution.
Last updated August 31, 2026
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Overview
Times-Shamrock Communications is a privately owned American media company associated with the Lynett and Haggerty families of Scranton, Pennsylvania. Its business developed around local and regional media, particularly newspapers and radio stations serving communities in Pennsylvania and other U.S. markets. The company’s best-known newspaper assets included The Times-Tribune in Scranton, The Citizens’ Voice in Wilkes-Barre, The Standard-Speaker in Hazleton, and The Republican & Herald in Pottsville. It also operated weekly and specialty publications, commercial printing, distribution, and a portfolio of radio stations. The company’s portfolio historically extended well beyond northeastern Pennsylvania. Through acquisitions and ownership of local publishing properties, Times-Shamrock became associated with alternative and community newspapers including Baltimore City Paper, Cleveland Scene, Detroit Metro Times, Orlando Weekly, San Antonio Current, and the Virgin Islands Daily News. Its broadcasting interests also reached markets such as Tulsa, Reno, Milwaukee, Baltimore, and northeastern Pennsylvania. This geographic expansion gave the company a broader U.S. media footprint while retaining a strong connection to its Scranton base. Times-Shamrock pursued both traditional and digital local-media initiatives. In January 2008, it launched the570.com, an entertainment and events portal focused on the Pennsylvania region served by the 570 telephone area code. The project reflected the company’s effort to complement print and broadcast properties with a locally oriented online service. Beginning in 2013, Times-Shamrock undertook a substantial restructuring of its portfolio. It sold its Tulsa radio stations to Stephens Media Group and announced the divestiture of several out-of-state alternative newspapers and other publications. The stated strategic direction was to concentrate more heavily on northeastern Pennsylvania. In 2015, the company sold the Towanda Printing Company newspaper and printing group, including a number of regional newspapers, pennysavers, and specialty titles, to Sample News Group. The company continued to reduce its geographic reach in broadcasting. In 2017, it sold several radio stations in the Reno, Nevada, market to Entravision, with KRZQ handled separately in a transaction involving Bighorn Media. In August 2023, Times-Shamrock announced the sale of its remaining daily newspapers and related weekly publications, distribution, and creative-services operations to MediaNews Group, which is owned by Alden Global Capital. The transaction included the company’s flagship Scranton newspaper, The Times-Tribune, as well as three other Pennsylvania dailies. After the newspaper divestiture, the Times-Shamrock name remained associated primarily with broadcasting interests and affiliates. In 2025, the Milwaukee Radio Alliance, a partnership involving Shamrock Communications and All-Pro Broadcasting, announced sales of Milwaukee radio assets to Educational Media Foundation and Civic Media. Shamrock Communications also announced the sale of WZBA in the Baltimore market to K-Love Inc. These transactions illustrate the continuing contraction and reorganization of the company’s historical radio portfolio. The available reference material does not establish a complete current list of all remaining Times-Shamrock or affiliated broadcasting assets.
History
Times-Shamrock Communications is a Scranton, Pennsylvania-based private media company owned by the Lynett and Haggerty families. Its historical activities covered multiple segments of local media: daily and weekly newspapers, alternative publications, radio stations, digital services, commercial printing, and distribution. The company’s identity was closely tied to northeastern Pennsylvania, although its portfolio at various points included properties across the United States. The company’s newspaper operations included four prominent northeastern Pennsylvania dailies: The Times-Tribune of Scranton, The Citizens’ Voice of Wilkes-Barre, The Standard-Speaker of Hazleton, and The Republican & Herald of Pottsville. It also published weekly and periodic titles serving communities in and around the Scranton, Wilkes-Barre, Pocono, Wyoming County, and other regional markets. Associated operations included newspaper distribution and commercial printing. Times-Shamrock also developed a significant radio presence. Its listed Scranton-area assets included WEJL and stations identified through the WEZX, WPZX, WFUZ, WLGD, WQFM, and WQFN call signs. The company held radio properties in other markets as well, including Tulsa, Reno, Milwaukee, and Baltimore. Some of these holdings were connected with affiliated entities such as Shamrock Communications and Milwaukee Radio Alliance rather than necessarily being direct assets of the core corporate entity. In January 2008, Times-Shamrock launched the570.com, a regional entertainment portal built around the 570 telephone area code. The initiative extended the company’s local-media model into digital publishing and entertainment information. The company began a pronounced portfolio-reduction phase in 2013. In April of that year, Stephens Media Group agreed to acquire KTSO and KMYZ-FM in the Tulsa market. Later in 2013, Times-Shamrock announced that it would divest several properties outside Pennsylvania, including a group of alternative newspapers and community publications. The stated objective was to focus the company more heavily on northeastern Pennsylvania. Buyers included Baltimore Sun Media Group, Euclid Media Group, GateHouse Media, and other purchasers. In October 2015, Times-Shamrock announced another divestiture involving the Towanda Printing Company business segment. Sample News Group acquired the associated printing facility and numerous titles, including The Daily Review, The News-Item, Bradford-Sullivan Pennysaver, The Citizen-Standard, The Farmer’s Friend, The Northeast Driller, The Owego Pennysaver, Susquehanna County Independent, The Troy Pennysaver, and The Weekender. The transaction further reduced the company’s newspaper and printing footprint outside its core operations. The broadcasting portfolio was also reduced. In July 2017, Times-Shamrock announced the sale of several Reno-area stations to Entravision. The stations involved were KZTI, KWNZ, and KNEZ, while KRZQ was sold separately to Bighorn Media. These transactions continued the company’s retreat from distant regional markets. In August 2023, Times-Shamrock announced the sale of its remaining four daily newspapers to MediaNews Group, a company owned by Alden Global Capital. The transaction included The Times-Tribune, The Citizens’ Voice, The Standard-Speaker, and The Republican & Herald. It also covered weekly and periodic titles, including The Abington Suburban, The Triboro Banner, The Valley Advantage, The Pocono Times, Wyoming County Press Examiner, and Ithaca & Tri-Village Pennysaver, together with Absolute Distribution Inc. and Times-Shamrock Creative Services. The sale marked a major transition for the company because its flagship newspaper and principal daily newspaper group left Times-Shamrock ownership. The available record indicates that the company remained involved in radio through affiliated and related broadcasting operations after the newspaper sale. In 2025, Milwaukee Radio Alliance announced transactions involving WLUM-FM, WLDB, and WZTI, while Shamrock Communications announced the sale of WZBA in the Baltimore market. These agreements continued the long-term pattern of asset sales and geographic concentration. The supplied sources do not provide a complete account of the company’s current ownership structure, executive leadership, founding date, or all remaining operating assets.
- 2025
Further Milwaukee and Baltimore radio divestitures
[1]Related broadcasting entities announced sales of Milwaukee stations and Baltimore station WZBA to new owners.
- 2023
Sale of the remaining daily newspaper group
[1]MediaNews Group acquired Times-Shamrock’s four daily newspapers along with weekly titles, distribution, and creative and printing operations.
- 2017
Sale of Reno radio properties
[1]Times-Shamrock sold several Reno-market stations to Entravision, with KRZQ transferred separately to Bighorn Media.
- 2015
Sale of Towanda Printing Company properties
[1]Sample News Group acquired the Towanda Printing Company segment, its facility, and a group of newspapers and specialty publications.
- 2013
Sale of Tulsa radio stations
[1]Stephens Media Group agreed to acquire KTSO and KMYZ-FM from Times-Shamrock for $8.5 million.
- 2013
Strategic divestiture of out-of-state publications
[1]The company announced sales of several newspapers and community publications to concentrate more strongly on northeastern Pennsylvania.
- 2008
Launch of the570.com
[1]Times-Shamrock launched a regional entertainment portal serving the area associated with Pennsylvania’s 570 telephone area code.
Products and positioning
A family-owned local-media operator focused historically on community newspapers, radio broadcasting, and related publishing services, with a strategic shift toward northeastern Pennsylvania before later newspaper and radio divestitures.
newspaper publishing
Daily newspapers
Times-Shamrock historically published major northeastern Pennsylvania daily newspapers, including The Times-Tribune, The Citizens’ Voice, The Standard-Speaker, and The Republican & Herald. These titles covered local news, public affairs, business, sports, and community life. The group was sold to MediaNews Group in 2023.
newspaper publishing
Weekly and community newspapers
The company operated a broad collection of weekly, periodic, pennysaver, and community publications. These titles served smaller Pennsylvania communities and specialized local audiences. Many were sold in the 2013, 2015, and 2023 divestiture programs.
radio broadcasting
Radio broadcasting
Radio has been a central part of the Times-Shamrock media portfolio. Listed properties included several Scranton-area stations, while historical holdings and affiliated operations extended to Tulsa, Reno, Milwaukee, and Baltimore. The company progressively sold many of these stations as it narrowed its geographic footprint.
digital media · 2008
the570.com
the570.com was a regional entertainment website launched in 2008. It focused on events and entertainment information for the area associated with Pennsylvania’s 570 telephone area code, providing a digital complement to the company’s local newspaper and radio properties.
media services
Commercial printing and distribution
Times-Shamrock historically operated commercial printing, distribution, and creative-services activities supporting its publishing business. The Towanda Printing Company segment was sold in 2015, while remaining related services were included in the 2023 sale to MediaNews Group.
Brand decisions
2023
Sale of newspaper and related operations to MediaNews GroupM&ABackground
Times-Shamrock announced the sale of its remaining daily newspapers and associated weekly, distribution, printing, and creative-services operations.
Action taken
MediaNews Group acquired the newspaper group and related operations, including The Times-Tribune and three other Pennsylvania daily titles.
Aftermath
The transaction removed the company’s principal daily newspaper assets and significantly changed Times-Shamrock’s business profile.
2013
Refocus on northeastern PennsylvaniaStrategyBackground
Times-Shamrock maintained a geographically diverse portfolio of newspapers and radio stations but announced a series of sales involving out-of-state properties.
Action taken
The company divested multiple publications and broadcasting assets outside its core northeastern Pennsylvania market.
Aftermath
The move reduced the company’s national footprint and established geographic concentration as a central direction for its portfolio.
Sources1 sources
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