The Journal Register Co. closed three community papers in Philadelphia on Thursday, the Philadelphia Daily News Reported. The company had attempted to sell the Olney Times, News Gleaner and Northeast Breeze, all weekly papers, but was unsuccessful, Stuart London, the News Gleaner's sports editor, told the Daily News.

Publisher J. Wesley Rowe Jr. told employees that the difficult economy and inability to sell the titles were reasons for closure, London said.

Last month, the company announced it would shut two of its Connecticut papers if buyers didn't emerge by January 12, 2009. The Journal Register Co is US$650 million in debt and has a forbearance agreement with its lenders, according to the Daily News article posted by MediaInfoCenter.

"The suddenness of it was stunning. There was no farewell edition or anything on the Web site. We cleaned out desks and left in two hours" after Rowe made his announcement, London told the Daily News.

The News Gleaner has covered the Northeast Philadelphia community since 1882.