EO Media Group has opted to change the name of its start-up newspaper in Medford, saying it faced legal threats from the former owner of the defunct Mail Tribune newspaper.
The Rogue Valley Tribune on Wednesday became the Rogue Valley Times.
Steven Saslow shut down the venerable Medford Mail Tribune in January after an unsuccessful five-year run as owner, and EO Media launched the Tribune to fill the void. Rather than go quietly, Saslow’s lawyers quickly sent EO Media a letter threatening to sue unless it agreed to drop the word “Tribune.”
Saslow insists that he has copyrighted the word, said Heidi Wright, chief operating officer of EO Media.
“Rather than pay lawyers and spend valuable time and resources defending what we believe to be a frivolous lawsuit, EO Media Group will change the name and get on with the business of providing the Rogue Valley with local news,” the company said in a statement.
It has also posted a notice just under the masthead on its website:: “Not affiliated with Rosebud Media of Medford or its former publication The Mail Tribune.” Rosebud Media is Saslow’s company. He could not be reached.
Many newspapers across the country are struggling to adapt to declining circulation and ad revenue in the internet era. But after Saslow folded the Mail Tribune, EO Media did the completely unexpected: It started up a new paper to serve Medford, Ashland and the surrounding community.
EO Media has hired a news staff of 13 to staff the Rogue Valley Times. The company also owns newspapers in Bend, Astoria, Pendleton and other smaller cities in Oregon and Washington.
Wright said the early response in Medford has been overwhelmingly positive. It printed 4,906 papers last Sunday. It has sold more than 800 digital-only subscriptions.
“I’m hopeful we can get 10,000 digital and 10,000 print subscribers within the first year,” Wright said. “This community is hungry for a newspaper focused on local news. It’s been so heartening to see the support.”
– Jeff Manning; jmanning@oregonian.com
