The Valley Breeze bought by Virginia multimedia company

BREEZE PUBLICATIONS has been acquired by a Virginia-based multimedia company. Above, Valley Breeze Publisher Thomas V. Ward, who told PBN Wednesday that he is beginning the process of retirement. / PBN FILE PHOTO/DAVE HANSEN
BREEZE PUBLICATIONS has been acquired by a Virginia-based multimedia company. Above, Valley Breeze Publisher Thomas V. Ward, who told PBN Wednesday that he is beginning the process of retirement. / PBN FILE PHOTO/DAVE HANSEN

LINCOLN – Breeze Publications Inc., the publisher of The Valley Breeze, has been sold to Whip It Media, according to a statement from The Valley Breeze Wednesday.

Whip It Media, a self-described advertising and multimedia corporation based in Virginia, owns Media Prowler, an online marketing company focused on email; The Fairfax Times; and is the parent company of the Washington Suburban Press Network, a newspaper-owned network of local publications in the Mid-Atlantic.

Breeze Publications said it did not expect changes to personnel. Publisher Thomas V. Ward and Deputy Publisher James E. Quinn are expected to remain with the paper following the sale.

Ward told PBN Wednesday he was beginning the process of retirement and expects to stay on with the publication for several months to a year. He said the company was approached by Richard Whippen, who is the CEO for Whip It Media. Ward said he was excited and optimistic about what the company can do for Breeze Publication’s news outlets.

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“We like him and we like what he wants to do,” Ward said of Whippen. The sale is expected to strengthen the digital efforts and services to readers and advertisers, Ward noted.

“I’m extremely honored that Tom and Jamie decided that our organization was the best aligned with The Valley Breeze’s focus on community journalism,” said Whippen in a statement in The Valley Breeze. “The Valley Breeze has played an extremely critical role in the communities it serves for over 20 years. We look forward to continuing to build upon the great print and digital products they’ve provided their readers and customers.”

It was not immediately clear if Whip It Media owned or was affiliated with any other New England publications. Terms of the deal were not disclosed, however, the paper noted that the company’s office in Lincoln is not part of the sale.

Whippen is CEO for Whip It Media, Washington Suburban Press Network and Media Prowler. The company said on its website that both WSPN and Media Prowler are “Jeff Bezos” companies. Whippen has worked with the Boston Herald, the Warren Group and Gate House Media.

Whip It Media did not immediately respond to PBN’s inquiries.

Chris Bergenhiem is the PBN web editor. You may reach him at Bergenheim@PBN.com.

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