The Sun-Bulletin, a Binghamton tabloid-format newspaper, was purchased by Gannett's Binghamton Press Company a half-century ago.

The July 1971 acquisition marked a major initial step in the consolidation and downsizing of Broome County media operations.

The announcement of the deal was made at the Press Building in downtown Binghamton on a Friday evening.

According to The Evening Press, Binghamton Press Company president Orb Reeder said the purchase was made reluctantly "to keep The Sun-Bulletin in business and to maintain two separate and competing newspapers for readers in this area."

David Bernstein, editor of The Sun-Bulletin, said his company turned to Gannett when it became clear the smaller newspaper could not survive on its own.

For 14 years, the two Gannett morning and afternoon papers had separate news teams which competed with each other even as they worked in the same building on the Vestal Parkway.

Eventually, Gannett consolidated the papers in a cost-cutting move. The afternoon publication of what originally was The Binghamton Press ended after more than eight decades. The combined Press & Sun-Bulletin was launched as a morning paper on September 30, 1985.

Related: Press & Sun-Bulletin Owner Acquired in "Megamerger"

Snapshots of The Press & Sun-Bulletin

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Contact WNBF News reporter Bob Joseph: bob@wnbf.com or (607) 772-8400 extension 233.

For breaking news and updates on developing stories, follow @BinghamtonNow on Twitter.

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