LONG BEACH, Calif., Oct. 6, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- GateHouse Media Illinois has engaged ACI (American Circulation Innovations) in one of the most comprehensive circulation-outsourcing partnerships in publishing history.

The agreement, involving the Rockford Register-Star, Freeport Journal-Standard and Chicago Suburban Life newspapers, calls for ACI to handle multiple channels of distribution, including seven-day home subscription delivery, TMC (Total Market Coverage) distribution, single-copy delivery, weekly community newspaper delivery, as well as Sunday Select and niche product distribution.

"We looked at several ways of increasing our distribution efficiencies while maintaining the quality service our readers and advertisers expect," said Nickolas Monico, western regional vice president for GateHouse.  "ACI's ability to handle our diverse family of publications was very attractive."

Keith Somers, ACI president, said, "This deal represents the future of circulation-outsourcing.  Our bundling strategy provides publishers with a lower cost alternative and allows publishers to focus their efforts on more strategic and differentiating areas such as content creation and revenue development."

The change will be seamless to readers, says Monico, adding that customers will continue to interact with both papers' customer-service personnel for subscriptions and other needs.

GateHouse Media Illinois is a subsidiary of GateHouse Media, Inc. ("GateHouse Media").  GateHouse Media, headquartered in Fairport, New York, is one of the largest publishers of locally based print and online media in the United States as measured by its 79 daily publications.  GateHouse Media currently serves local audiences of more than 10 million per week across 21 states through hundreds of community publications and local websites.  GateHouse Media is traded in the over-the-counter market under the symbol "GHSE."  For more information regarding GateHouse Media please visit www.gatehousemedia.com.

ACI, headquartered in Long Beach, Calif., and founded in 1965, is the nation's largest provider of multi-channel publisher distribution services.  ACI is the only company offering publishers a full selection of delivery services, including paid home delivery, single-copy, TMC/niche distribution and Sunday Select targeted delivery.

For more information regarding ACI and its services, visit  www.acicirculation.com or  contact Randall Brant, VP sales & marketing (310) 439-4006, rbrant@acicirculation.com.  

SOURCE American Circulation Innovations