Dolan Media reports third-quarter profit, cost containment measures

Dolan Media Co., the parent of business newspapers across the country, reported Thursday a third-quarter profit after posting a loss in the same quarter a year ago, and a 25 percent increase in revenue.

The Minneapolis-based company said that its net income for the quarter was $2.45 million, compared to a loss of $7.5 million in the third quarter of 2007. Revenue increased to $47.9 million, primarily due to acquisitions.

Operating income, however, fell 5.9 percent to $7.8 million as the company faced the weakening economy.

“Given this uncertainty, we have developed a number of cost-containment plans across all divisions, including decreases in discretionary spending, staff reductions through various methods and the transition of some print publications to on-line,” said CEO James P. Dolan in a statement. “We imposed hiring controls late in the third quarter in response to business conditions and we will take additional steps over time as required by changes in the regulatory environment in each of the markets we serve.”

“Our senior management team has extensive knowledge of our target communities and markets and significant industry experience, all of which we believe are enabling us to manage through these uncertain times,” he added.

Dolan Media owns the Long Island Business News, Mississippi Business Journal, the Colorado Springs Business Journal, the Idaho Business Review and the Daily Journal of Commerce in Portland, Ore., among others.

Read the earnings release here.