Newspaper publishing can be a tough business, especially with the Internet stealing away potential readers every day. As newspaper publishers continue to adapt to changes in our global economy, you'll find increasingly that newspapers frequently change hands. Profitable newspaper printing companies are constantly examining their bottom line and finding ways to maximize profits, which can mean a leaner workforce and a thinner paper if advertising dollars are short.

When you're looking at newspaper publishing companies, you will find a variety of sizes. Some independent newspaper publishers handle only small weekly or monthly papers, while others publish large metropolitan dailies. Here are some tips for checking out newspaper publishers.

1. Research who actually owns the paper. The names of newspaper publishers is usually printed somewhere on the inside page. Some papers are actually privately held companies or owned by employees.

2. Find out what other papers the newspaper publishers own. Many publishers own several newspapers, and they can be spread out across the world.

3. Look into morning newspapers for in-depth coverage of news that you can't find on the Internet, plus dependable coverage and higher journalistic standards than you might find with another medium.

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Find newspaper publishing services branching out in all areas of media

The biggest newspaper publishing companies in the United States have been around for a long time, but the savviest among them have responded to the changing media environment, with websites that complement their daily papers.

I recommend: McClatchy Company is the third largest publisher of newspapers in the United States, including the Kansas City Star, Miami Herald and the Sacramento Bee, among others. Gannett Company publishes USA Today and has interests in television and the Internet as well.

Read newspaper publisher information featuring prizewinners

Newspaper printing has a rich history in this country, and some of the best-known players have been around for a long time, earning many awards for their work. Publishers of newspapers also have a strong legacy in their communities.

I recommend: Tribune Company is the largest media company in the United States that is employee-owned, and its papers have earned over 100 Pulitzer Prizes for their work. Publisher of the Chicago Tribune, Los Angeles Times, The Baltimore Sun, South Florida Sun-Sentinel and the Hartford Courant, among others. The E.W. Scripps Company publishes in 18 markets, producing papers such as the Rocky Mountain News (Denver) and the Knoxville News-Sentinel. The Hearst Corporation has been in business for more than 120 years, and currently runs 15 daily newspapers, including the Houston Chronicle and San Francisco Chronicle, San Antonio Express News, the Albany Times and Seattle Post-Intelligencer.

Remember publishers of newspapers serve communities with hometown news

Don't forget about the smaller publishers in the United States, that connect much of the country with what's going on in their community and beyond. Some smaller publishers publish daily papers, while others publish a weekly or even a monthly newspaper. You will find these publishers don't change hands as often as the giants of the newspaper industry.

I recommend: Record Publishing in Ohio publishes the daily Record-Courier, as well as several weekly papers serving local communities. Lee Enterprises, Inc., publishes 55 dailies in 23 states, including the Napa Valley Register and the Wisconsin State Journal.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Newspaper printers will continue to make an impact in the community, but their role will wane unless they respond to the needs of the digital age with Internet sites that can update breaking news stories.