Rhode Island News Company Closes Abruptly

Rhode Island News Company Closes Abruptly

The latest media company to shutter in Rhode Island is the Smithfield Times, a community magazine in Northern Rhode Island.

The print industry has been hit hard. In November, Gannett announced the closure of the Providence Journal's printing facility, the layoff of 136 employees, and the sale of the property, now listed at $9 million. Previously, Providence Monthly and East Side Monthly were merged into one publication; the Phoenix closed, and the Newport Mercury shuttered in 2018; it had been published since 1758.

The Smithfield Times was previously owned by Laurence Sasso Jr. and Ron Scopelliti and then by politician John Tassoni. At one time, it had a circulation of 9,500.

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Brittni Henderson, the editor of the Smithfield Times publication, took to social media to announce the closure.

Good morning, Smithfield Times community,

I am using my personal Facebook page to make this announcement because I was removed from The Smithfield Times Facebook and Instagram pages early this morning.

The owner of The Smithfield Times abruptly closed the magazine today. The December issue is the final of this era.

While this is not the ideal outcome for the talented writers, salespeople, photographers, and designers of this magazine, we are hopeful that there is a way for us to move forward on our own,” she wrote.

Thomas J. Lopatosky, Jr. is listed as the publication's owner and operator.

“We continued producing content for this magazine despite the many downfalls that took place behind the scenes. The staff of this magazine are truly something special. We kept pushing so that we could provide this magical piece of local journalism to our town,” she wrote.

“We were left with nothing. It’s time to start over. If you or someone you know might interested in helping us get a new magazine off the ground, please let me know,” added Henderson.

The Smithfield Times Facebook account has been closed.