Lee closes Missoula Independent

Lee Enterprises closed the alternative weekly Missoula Independent (Montana) Sept. 11. A demonstration protesting the closure of the free paper took place the same day, according to the Missoulian, a Lee paper in the city. 

Indy staff had voted to unionize in April under the name Missoula News Guild.

Matt Gibson, who had owned the paper since 1997, sold the Indy to Lee 18 months ago, then worked as general manager for the Missoulian, the Ravalli Republic and the Independent.

“The Independent has consistently lost money for its owners and is not financially sustainable,” said Gibson, according to the Missoulian. 

Those trying to get to the Missoula Independent’s website are routed to the Missoulian site and the Indy’s Facebook account no longer exists.  

Salary and benefits will be available through Oct. 10, according to an email from Lee, the Missoulian reported. 

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