Poet Walt Whitman founded The Long-Islander as a 19-year-old in 1838. The newspaper has documented Huntington life ever since.
Now it will do so under a new owner. Michael Schenkler, publisher of The Long-Islander since 2006 and president of Tribco, LLC, announced the sale of his media holdings to PFH Media Group.
PFH Media Group is a subsidiary of Washington DC-based investment firm Phoenix Financial Holdings. It will also run The Record (of Northport), the Half Hollow Hills Newspaper and Dine Huntington, operators of Huntington Restaurant Week.
“I believe that exciting days are ahead for our new publications, and we look forward to building on their historic, journalistic foundations and growing them in the vital communities in which they serve,” PFH Chairman Brandy Williams said.
Schenkler, a trustee for the Village of Port Washington North, also sold The Queens Tribune, which he ran since 1978 and was founded by former Congressman Gary Ackerman in 1970.
Long-Islander Associate Publisher/Managing Editor Peter Sloggatt said Schenkler will remain as a consultant to ensure a smooth transition.
The present staff of both the Queens and Long Island operations will be retained by Phoenix, the firm announced.
