By JAMES CRAVEN
Herald staff

NEW BRITAIN — With less than two weeks before staff at The Herald and The Bristol Press were scheduled to cover their keyboards and lock the doors for the final time, a last-minute buyer has appeared to save the newspapers.

Publisher Edward Gunderson announced Tuesday that Michael E. Schroeder, owner of Central Connecticut Communications, has entered into a letter of intent to buy the two daily papers. The sale, which should be complete within two weeks, includes three area weeklies: the Wethersfield Post, the Newington Town Crier and the Rocky Hill Post.

“We look forward to building upon the rich history of these properties as local businesspeople,” Schroeder said. “We plan to work with current staff, readers and advertisers to produce papers, Web sites and other media that successfully educate, inform and entertain the communities they serve.”

A longtime fixture of the news industry, Schroeder was with Newsday for 15 years and was publisher of BostonNOW, a free commuter daily.

Owned by Journal Register Co., of Yardley, Pa., the papers were set to publish their last editions Jan. 16.

Journal Register President Scott Wright said the company worked hard to find a good home for the papers and the employees.

“We know that the papers will be in good hands under Michael Schroeder’s leadership,” Wright said. “He came into this situation very recently and demonstrated a thorough knowledge of the business, a willingness to learn about the community and a positive attitude toward the future of the properties.”

The move to save the papers became something of a community cause as Mayors Timothy Stewart, of New Britain, and Art Ward, of Bristol, along with state Reps. Tim O’Brien, Betty Boukus and Frank Nicastro and others worked to keep them open and functioning as a service to their constituents.

“We received substantial support from mayors in both towns,” Schroeder said.

When informed of the sale, Stewart said he was happy someone like Schroeder was coming into the community.

“I’ve been in communication with him and found him to be a reputable and knowledgeable businessman,” Stewart said. “The Herald has been a part of the community for a very long time and is depended on by many of our citizens.”

In Bristol, Ward got a call from Schroeder with news that Bristol would retain its community source of news.

“I was just ecstatic when I got the call,” Ward said. “There are times when we all don’t appreciate what we have, but almost losing our paper really reminded us of the importance of making sure we have a way to stay informed.”

A press conference with public officials is planned for 4 p.m. at the state capital.

As the new owner settles in, he said he expects few changes to be noticeable over the short term, but expects some change will be inevitable as the papers reemerge to a position of dominance in their communities.

“I’m a big proponent of continuous improvement,” Schroeder said.

Schroeder said he expects the areas covered by the papers to stay the same, but with an increased depth and emphasis on local news, sports and community events. His aspiration for the papers is that they regain their place as the newspapers of record in their communities.

“I’m not saving the papers — the community is going to save the papers,” he said. “Readers are going to support it by buying the paper and advertisers are going to support it by realizing it is the voice of their community.”

The Herald and The Bristol Press have been published continuously for more than 130 years. They employ a combined staff of more than 90, publishing six days each with a combined Sunday paper.

The sale price was not disclosed.

James Craven can be reached at jcraven@newbritainherald.com or by calling (860) 225-4601, ext. 231.