Gannett Cutting Print Editions Of Milford, MetroWest Daily News

MILFORD, MA — Two Gannett-owned daily newspapers serving a large area between Worcester and Boston will cut Saturday print editions beginning in March. Newspaper editors announced the cuts Wednesday at more than 100 Gannett papers across the U.S.

In place of a print paper, Milford Daily News and MetroWest Daily news subscribers will get a "full digital replica" of the papers, Executive Editor Dave Nordman said in a note to readers. Nordman and other editors touted the benefits of the digital edition, which will also allow subscribers to read USA Today, Gannett's nationwide daily.

"The Saturday digital replica, or e-edition, will have the same look and news as the printed newspaper," he said. "The digital format also has some additional features, such as the ability to clip and share articles with friends and family and adjust the text size."

The change comes a little over two years after GateHouse purchased Gannett for about $1.1 billion. The merger created the largest newspaper company in the U.S. with about 260 dailies.

The chain owns close to 100 outlets in Massachusetts, including dailies like the Worcester Telegram, the Patriot Ledger and Cape Cod Times, the TAB newspapers and Wicked Local-branded news sites. The chain also owns dozens of weekly newspapers across eastern Massachusetts.

The end of Saturday print editions at the MetroWest Daily News and Milford Daily News will begin March 5, according to Gannett.