Did Gannett Deliver Sunday’s Binghamton Newspapers to Rochester?

Thousands of copies of the Binghamton Press & Sun-Bulletin weren't delivered on Sunday because of a reported distribution snafu.

Gannett representatives won't say exactly what happened but at least one customer said she was advised the newspapers had been delivered to Rochester by mistake.

People who expected to receive the Sunday paper at their home received an early-morning email informing them that "delivery of today's print edition will unfortunately not be completed."

The note did not explain why the paper could not be delivered on schedule but it offered an apology "for the impact to your day."

Press & Sun-Bulletin delivery problems have become more frequent since Gannett closed its Johnson City printing plant in June 2018. The $50 million facility was shut down only twelve years after it went into operation.

The Binghamton newspaper then was produced at a Gannett printing site near Rochester. But the company closed that facility in another cost-cutting move early this month.

Most of Gannett's New York state newspapers now are printed at a plant in Rockaway, New Jersey. That means much-earlier deadlines for news, sports and other features to allow that facility to handle additional publications.

The newspapers then are trucked from New Jersey to local distribution hubs where they are picked up by drivers who use their own vehicles to deliver them to homes. The Press & Sun-Bulletin papers are dropped off at a Court Street delivery center six nights a week.

Press & Sun-Bulletin delivery workers received a text late Saturday advising them there would be no newspaper delivery that night. Some were furious that they received no explanation for the problem.

One told WNBF News she didn't know what to tell customers who called her on Sunday. She said "I was so embarrassed" because the paper's customer service representatives "had no idea there was a problem" when they were contacted.

Press & Sun-Bulletin retailers also were kept in the dark about why they received no papers on Sunday. One Binghamton store manager said there have been delivery problems with the paper in recent weeks.

The newspaper's offices at 33 Lewis Road in Choconut Center appeared to be empty Monday. A person who works in the Airport Corporate Center said she's seen no activity at the offices in recent months.

Press & Sun-Bulletin executive editor Kevin Hogan referred an inquiry delivery matters to Gannett's corporate public relations office.

After this story was published, Gannett emailed this statement from Erick Buezo, the company's vice president for regional manufacturing and distribution: "We regret the delivery delays of the Sunday issue of the Press & Sun Bulletin due to a transport error. We have implemented measures to rectify the matter and sincerely appreciate the patience and support of our valued readers and advertisers."

Gannett did not respond to requests to explain what caused the problem or whether Binghamton's Sunday papers were sent to the wrong city.

This story has been updated to include a statement from a Gannett representative.

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Contact WNBF News reporter Bob Joseph: bob@wnbf.com or (607) 545-2250. For breaking news and updates on developing stories, follow @BinghamtonNow on Twitter.