Big announcements from The Macomb Daily's parent company

The Macomb Daily's parent company, Digital First Media, made two big announcements this morning.

First, a merger of the two media groups under the DFM umbrella is now final, making The Macomb Daily (along with The Oakland Press and the Mount Pleasant Morning Sun) part of the second-largest newspaper company in America.

Second, DFM, based in New York City, has named Don Wyatt, a Swartz Creek native and a Michigan State University Journalism School grad, as the new Vice President of News for the Michigan Group, which includes the three daily papers mentioned above and numerous smaller papers across the state such as those in the News-Herald chain, which covers the Downriver area and Washtenaw County.

Wyatt

Wyatt, 54, who started his newspaper career at the Lansing State Journal and The Detroit News, will succeed Glenn Gilbert, who is retiring in January.

Here are the press releases that officially unveiled the two announcements: 

MediaNews Group and 21st Century Media Transaction Has Been Finalized

Newly Combined Company To Be Branded as Digital First Media

New York, N.Y. – Digital First Media today announced the MediaNews Group and 21st Century Media combination has been finalized and that the two Companies will operate under the Digital First Media name.

The transaction, first announced on December 17, brings together the two companies jointly managed by Digital First Media under one name.

The newly combined company has approximately $1.3 billion in annual revenues with more than 800 multi-platform products and a monthly audience of more than 67 million Americans. As the nation’s second largest newspaper company, Digital First Media is among the largest providers of digital news and information in the United States.

"This is an important moment for our Company and positions us to accelerate our growth under a single and innovative brand," said John Paton, Chief Executive Officer of Digital First Media.

Digital First Media Names

Don Wyatt Vice President

of News for Michigan Group

New York, N.Y. – Digital First Media today named Don Wyatt Vice President of News for the Company’s Michigan group – including the Oakland Press, The Macomb Daily, the Morning Sun, and affiliated weekly publications. Mr. Wyatt succeeds Glenn Gilbert, who is retiring in January.

“I am thrilled Don Wyatt will be joining us to continue the digital transformation of Digital First Media’s Michigan newsroom that Glenn Gilbert led so masterfully in recent years,” said Jim Brady, Digital First Media’s Editor-in-Chief. “Coverage of our local communities remains Job No. 1 for us, but we must continue to expand our efforts to serve local readers in print, on the web, on mobile and on whatever new platforms develop in coming years. We feel confident that Don is the right person to handle that significant challenge.”

Mr. Wyatt, who recently served as Senior Regional Editor for Patch.com in Michigan and several states in the Midwest, was raised in Detroit and Swartz Creek, Michigan. He graduated with a degree in Journalism from Michigan State University and started his career at the Lansing State Journal before joining The Detroit News.

“I have led news teams covering communities in southeastern Michigan so I’m familiar with the area’s cities and counties. I understand the issues, what is important, and already have relationships with area residents and officials,” said Mr. Wyatt. “I am eager to get to know Michigan’s Digital First Media team, our readers and our business partners. This is an exciting time in journalism and an exciting time in Michigan. I can’t wait to get started.”

Mr. Wyatt has led daily newsrooms in Springfield, Mo. And Duluth, Minn. and was a senior editor at the Pioneer Press in St. Paul, Minn. He also previously worked at USA Today and The Boston Globe. In addition to his bachelor’s degree, Mr. Wyatt is a graduate of the Advanced Executive Program at Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management.

“I am excited that we have someone of Don’s caliber joining our leadership team. He brings a wealth of digital experience that will help grow our audience,” said Jim O’Rourke, Digital First Media’s Michigan Group Publisher. “With the retirement of Glenn Gilbert – one of the best partners I’ve had in my career – we are confident Don will continue to build on the work we have started.”

Mr. Wyatt lives in Hadley with his wife, Roxanne, who is a speech and language pathologist in the Lapeer Community Schools. Mr. Wyatt and his wife have two sons: Dylan, 20, is a medical student at the University of Missouri Kansas City, and Sawyer, 17, is a senior at St. Paul Lutheran High School in Concordia, Mo.