University of Virginia Library

Jefferson Journal Continues
After Temporary Shutdown

By JERRY DRESNER

The Jefferson Journal has
renewed publication after
negotiating with an investment
group over the weekend in
attempts to ease the financial
difficulties which temporarily
shut down the publication last
week.

"We've had new financial
life breathed into us," Journal
President Weldon J. Showalter
said yesterday, who wrote last
Thursday's editorial
announcing the paper's demise.

"That announcement was
completely legitimate as far as
the owners were concerned,"
he said, "and we made no
attempt to solicit financial
assistance. The investors came
to us."

Mr. Showalter revealed that
the ownership and the format
of the Journal would remain
the same and that the investors
were based in Charlottesville.
The name of the group could
not be disclosed as negotiations
are continuing with no results
to be announced before the
end of the week.

"I can't even say how long
we will be able to continue
publishing now," Mr.
Showalter said, "but I would
expect it to be indefinitely
unless the negotiations fall
through. We didn't feel that we
should cease publishing once
the interested party contacted
us," he concluded.

Mr. Showalter stated in the
editorial that the Journal did
not have the necessary funds
for the time that it would take
to establish a profitable
newspaper. However, the
Jefferson Journal Corporation
was to have continued its
commercial printing operations.

The Jefferson Journal was
begun 16 months ago by Mr.
Showalter and Wesley F.
Payne. Both were ranking
advertising men for The Daily
Progress. They began in
response to The Daily
Progress's new owner's order to
cutback local news coverage.

Publisher Daniel J. Rooker,
of The Progress, stated that
"the Jefferson Journal is a
healthy influence on the media
in Charlottesville.