Former councilman Madaffer sells newspapers

Consolidation of San Diego media large and small is marching on, as San Diego Community News Network announced the acquisition of four Mission Publishing Group properties formerly owned by ex–San Diego city councilman Jim Madaffer.

Effective July 1, the Mission Valley News, Mission Times Courier, and La Mesa Courier will join the online-only ScoopSanDiego.com publication in a merger with publisher David Mannis’s operations, which include San Diego Uptown News, San Diego Downtown News, and Gay San Diego, which claim a combined existing distribution of 55,000.

The Mission papers add another 68,000 to that distribution number, giving the new organization a reach of over 120,000. Not included in the sale is Mission's Seaside Courier, which serves coastal towns from Del Mar north to Oceanside and is circulated to 28,000 weekly.

Per a release announcing the merger, "Madaffer will remain busy with his government affairs consulting firm, serial entrepreneurship, and volunteer activities."