Journal Times to start printing Kenosha News

RACINE â€" The Journal Times and the Kenosha News have signed an agreement to have Racine print the Kenosha paper starting with the May 1 edition.

The deal means that both the Kenosha News and The Journal Times will be printed on Racine’s press at 212 Fourth St.

“We look forward to working closer with the Kenosha News,” said Journal Times Publisher Mark Lewis. “Over the past several years we have partnered with the Kenosha News on a number of items, including a delivery partnership in overlapping areas. This is an expansion of that relationship.”

The daily and Sunday Kenosha News, as well as the KN Sampler and Tune-In will be printed in Racine.

The Racine plant had been serving as the Kenosha News’ emergency backup printing facility.

“With the consolidation in printing facilities across the country, it was important for us to secure a printing partner that was close and shared the same values in community journalism,” said Kenosha News Publisher Randy Rickman. “After several months of discussion, we agreed to terms last week and the agreement was signed over the weekend.”

This winter, The Journal Times is converting to new computer-to-plate technology. This technology allows an image of the page to be burned directly to a printing plate, rather than having the images print to negatives first and then burned to plates.

The new technology will enhance printing quality for all publications. Additionally, The Journal Times is investing in upgrading its insertion equipment in its packaging department to handle the increased volume.

Since decommissioning its press in August 2009, the Kenosha News has been printed at the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel’s Burnham Street facility in West Milwaukee. Cutting the distance between the printing facility and its readers was a key factor in the Kenosha News’ decision.