Miami New Times' Owner, Voice Media Group, Sells Village Voice

The owners of Miami New Times on Monday completed a sale of New York's Village Voice to investor Peter Barbey.

Voice Media Group, which took over the publication in 2013, did not announce financial details of the deal but said in a news release that the company would continue managing the Voice through February. “During a time of great challenges and great opportunities in the industry, we’re thrilled that we’ve found an experienced journalist and operator with such considerable resources to take the reins at the Voice,” said VMG Chief Executive Officer Scott Tobias. “We truly love and respect our staff at the Voice, and it’s fulfilling to know they’ll be in good hands.”

There should be no immediate effect on operations in South Florida. 

Following the transition period, the two groups will continue to produce and share film and TV coverage, and the Voice will continue to offer its advertisers VMG’s web and digital agency services, operated through its V Digital Services subsidiary. VMG also will continue to sell national advertising for the Voice.

Barbey is president of the Reading Eagle Co., a family-owned media company that, under various names, has published newspapers for eight successive generations since 1796. The deal was done with his investment company, Black Walnut Holdings. “We were impressed with VMG’s professionalism and creativity, and we wanted to continue to partner with them on concepts that are beneficial to readers and our clients,” said Barbey. “The Voice deserves to be the best it can be. We plan to expand resources, coverage, and reach, in print and online.”

Since being founded in 1955 by Dan Wolf, Ed Fancher, and Norman Mailer, the Voice has been a journalistic touchstone in New York. It has won Pulitzer Prizes for its reporting, as well as acclaim for its cultural coverage. Today the Voice maintains a robust online presence alongside its weekly print offering and continues to serve the community with events such as the Obie Awards for local theater.

Following the sale of the Voice, VMG will continue to own and operate V Digital Services, its digital agency, along with Phoenix New Times, Denver Westword, LA Weekly, Miami New Times, the Dallas Observer, the Houston Press, OC Weekly and New Times Broward-Palm Beach.