Eastern North Carolina daily newspaper completes sale to Alabama-based publishing company

NC newspaper completes sale to Alabama company

WASHINGTON, N.C. — An eastern North Carolina daily newspaper has completed details of its sale to an Alabama-based company.

The Washington Daily News announced Thursday that the newly formed Washington Newsmedia LLC, an affiliate of Boone Newspapers Inc., completed purchase of the newspaper from the Futrell family.

Completion of the sale ends more than 60 years of operation by the Futrells. The late Ashley B. Futrell became editor and publisher of the newspaper in 1949.

Ashley B. “Brownie” Futrell Jr., who succeeded his father in the newspaper’s leadership positions, retired on Wednesday after 32 years with the family business. He will have an ownership interest in Washington Newsmedia.

Alabama-based Boone owns 37 newspapers in eight states, including North Carolina.