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Gannett
Annual Report 2017

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FY2017 Annual Report · Gannett
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Gannett Co., Inc.
7950 Jones Branch Dr.
McLean, VA 22107

gannett.com

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
SHAREHOLDER SERVICES

GANNETT STOCK

Gannett Co., Inc. shares are traded on the New York Stock Exchange with the 
symbol GCI. The company’s transfer agent and registrar is Equiniti Trust 
Company. General inquiries and requests for enrollment materials for the 
programs described below should be directed to EQ Shareowner Services, 
P.O. Box 64854, St. Paul, MN 55164-0854, by telephone at 800-778-3299, or at 
shareownersonline.com. 

ANNUAL MEETING

The annual meeting of shareholders will be held at 10 a.m. (ET), Tuesday, May 8, 
2018, at Gannett headquarters. 

CORPORATE GOVERNANCE

We have posted on our web site (www.gannett.com) our principles of corporate 
governance, ethics policy and the charters for the audit, transformation, 
nominating and public responsibility, and executive compensation committees 
of our board of directors, and we intend to post updates to these corporate 
governance materials promptly if any changes (including through any 
amendments or waivers of the ethics policy) are made. This site also provides 
access to our annual report on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q and 
current reports on Form 8-K as filed with the SEC. Our chief executive officer and 
our chief financial officer have delivered, and we have filed with our 2017 Form 
10-K, all certifications required by the rules of the SEC. Complete copies of our 
corporate governance materials and our Form 10-K may be obtained by writing 
our Secretary at our corporate headquarters. 

FOR MORE INFORMATION 

News and information about Gannett is available at www.gannett.com. Quarterly 
earnings information will be available in May, August and November 2018. 
Shareholders who wish to contact the company directly about their Gannett 
stock should call Shareholder Services at Gannett headquarters, 703-854-6960. 

GANNETT HEADQUARTERS

7950 Jones Branch Drive 
McLean, VA 22107 
703-854-6000 

INVESTOR RELATIONS

Stacy Cunningham 
Vice President, Financial Planning & Investor Relations 
investors@gannett.com 
703-854-3168

FINANCE

Ali Engel

Senior Vice President,  

Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer

MEDIA RELATIONS

Amber Allman

Vice President, Corporate Events 

and Communications

THIS REPORT WAS WRITTEN  

AND PRODUCED BY  

EMPLOYEES OF GANNETT.

Printing
Action Printing, Fond du Lac, WI

Printed on recycled paper.

Photo Credits
Cover: Jack Gruber, USA TODAY; Kris 
Wartelle, The Daily Advertiser; Rodney 

White, Register Media; Amber Hunt/

Michael Nyerges, The Cincinnati 

Enquirer; Nick Ling, Lansing State 

Journal; Grateful Ventures
Page 2: Michael Chow, The Arizona 
Republic; Michael Zamora, The Des 

Moines Register; John Froelich, Special 

to the Detroit Free Press

This report was printed using  

soy-based inks. The entire report  

contains 10 percent total recovered 

fiber/all post-consumer waste.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

01 | Company Profile
02 | Letter to Shareholders
04 | Board of Directors

 
 
COMPANY PROFILE

Gannett is an innovative, digitally focused media 
and marketing solutions company committed  
to empowering communities to connect, act  
and thrive. 

Gannett’s consumer brands include USA TODAY 
NETWORK’s award-winning portfolio of media 
brands such as the iconic USA TODAY and more 
than 100 local media organizations in 34 states and 
Guam, as well as niche content brands such as For 
The Win (FTW) and Grateful. 

With an unmatched local-to-national reach, 
Gannett’s USA TODAY NETWORK touches the 
lives of more than 117 million people monthly 
with trusted, award-winning content, consumer 
experiences and membership benefits, and 
advertiser products and services. The company’s 
innovative video network delivers best-in-class 
video content and continues the development 
of new storytelling offerings using virtual reality 
technologies and drones. Overall, the network 
typically ranks among the top three in total 
audience in comScore’s news and information 
category and, of the total U.S. digital millennial 
audience (18-34), 54% access content of the USA 
TODAY NETWORK. 

USA TODAY itself has been a cornerstone of the 
national news landscape for more than three 
decades. There have been more than 24.5 million 
downloads of USA TODAY’s award-winning app on 
mobile devices and 4.5 million downloads of apps 
associated with our local media organizations. 
The USA TODAY local edition is included as an 
insert each day in 35 of the company’s local daily 
publications and includes News, Money and Life 
content, while sports coverage is incorporated 
into local sports sections. USA TODAY remains the 
nation’s No. 1 newspaper in consolidated print and 

digital circulation, according to the Alliance for 
Audited Media’s December 2017 Quarterly Data 
Report, with a total daily circulation of almost  
3.1 million, which includes daily print, digital 
replica, digital non-replica and branded editions.  
At our local media organizations, average daily 
print readership is more than 11 million on Sunday 
and five million Monday through Saturday, while 
the digital audience averages 43 million unique 
visitors per month.

In the U.K., Newsquest is a publishing and digital 
leader with more than 160 local media brands and 
a network of web sites that attracts over 26 million 
unique visitors monthly.

Gannett’s diverse sales force, unique industry 
scale, and broad portfolio of print and digital 
products enable the company to successfully tailor 
campaigns to the individual needs of many levels 
of advertisers from small, locally-owned merchants 
to large, complex businesses. 

Through Gannett’s marketing solutions 
organization, the company has strong relationships 
with tens of thousands of businesses due to 
our large local and national sales forces and 
a robust advertising and marketing solutions 
product suite, including from ReachLocal – which 
serves as our local markets’ digital marketing 
services provider. ReachLocal’s digital marketing 
solutions comprise products and solutions in three 
categories: digital advertising, web presence and 
software-as-a-service (“SaaS”). SweetIQ, which 
is part of ReachLocal, is a provider of location 
and reputation management SaaS solutions that 
enable businesses to manage their location data 
and measure consumer engagement.

LETTER TO SHAREHOLDERS

DEAR SHAREHOLDERS:

Gannett made great headway in 2017 - fueled by our 
strategy and our talented employees’ hard work. We 
look forward to making even more progress in the 
years ahead. Some of our key strategic and financial 
highlights include:
• Financially, our revenues and profit were steady. 
We achieved revenues of $3.1 billion, an increase of 
3.2% over 2016 and flat adjusted EBITDA, despite 
continued secular pressure in print advertising and 
circulation.
• Digital revenues continued to grow, reaching nearly 
32% of total revenue, up from 26% a year ago, 
driven by the full-year impact of the ReachLocal 
acquisition and growth in digital advertising 
revenues, especially programmatic.
• Our acquisition of SweetIQ was an important 
milestone for us. SweetIQ’s strong product offerings 
in local listings and reputation management 
strengthen the value we bring to multi-location and 
national clients. 
• We are investing, too, in content diversification. In 
2017, we purchased a stake in Grateful, an online 
lifestyle content company, which expands our 
content offerings beyond our traditional news 
audience, and continued leveraging our signature 
digital video franchises like Humankind, Animalkind 
and SportsPulse across the network and social 
platforms. 
• All in all, we also returned approximately  
$90 million to shareholders through dividends  
and share repurchases. 

Our digital transformation continues across the 
organization as we execute on our mission to be 
essential for consumers and businesses seeking 
meaningful connections with their communities. 

We are well positioned to win as we further leverage 
the USA TODAY NETWORK, our unified nationwide 
media organization, and more tightly focus on the 
needs of our consumers and clients. 

To fuel growth for our organization in an era 
of transformative change, we realigned our 
organization to more clearly align our company with 
our two core customers - marketing clients and 
consumers. Our marketing solutions organization 
is focused on enhancing the way we serve local 
and national marketers by developing a more 
comprehensive suite of marketing products and 

02

services for our thousands of clients. Our consumer 
organization is focused on growing our audiences 
and deepening engagement, in part by expanding 
our spectrum of content beyond traditional news.  

As we navigate our way through an ever-evolving 
digital media environment, we continue to grow our 
successes both with our marketing solutions efforts 
and on the consumer side.

On the marketing solutions side...

We are making good progress with our marketing 
solutions offerings, strengthening relationships 
with our business clients, including further growing 
our digital marketing services through ReachLocal. 
Part of our strategy is to increase client spending by 
cross selling and encouraging clients to use multiple 
products out of ReachLocal’s robust portfolio including 
search, social, website development and location 
services. 

With its “client first” mindset, ReachLocal is achieving 
strong momentum in the North American market, 
including strong results from the 3,500 local market 
campaigns transferred onto the ReachLocal platform 
during the year. ReachLocal also received recognition 
from eight awards organizations, including earning 
a Golden Bridge Award in the “New Products and 
Services” category and an American Business Awards’ 
Stevie Award for best marketing campaign of the year. 

At the same time, our local markets enhanced their 
consultative sales approach by leveraging our entire 
product suite, including print, digital display, digital 
marketing services and branded content. We are 
attracting new clients and taking share in our markets 
by using our full-service digital agency go-to-market 
strategy. Our national digital business, which runs 
across our entire USA TODAY NETWORK, continues to 
post strong results. 

In early 2018, we restructured our marketing solutions 
organization so that it more closely aligns with our 
clients’ needs. Our USA TODAY NETWORK Marketing 
Solutions group is uniquely positioned for success 

“
WE ARE WELL POSITIONED TO WIN  
AS WE FURTHER LEVERAGE THE  
USA TODAY NETWORK.

|  LETTER TO SHAREHOLDERS    “
OUR DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION 
CONTINUES ACROSS THE 
ORGANIZATION AS WE EXECUTE ON 
OUR MISSION TO BE ESSENTIAL FOR 
CONSUMERS AND BUSINESSES.

through our ability to deliver to our business clients a 
scaled, engaged audience with diversity of age, gender, 
geography and affluence across all mediums, including 
mobile devices. 

On the consumer side...

Driving our positive momentum is our amazing 
content, which prompted record audience levels in 
2017. 

Our outstanding, multi-platform content efforts, 
ranging from the landmark multi-media report “The 
Wall” and award-winning investigative pieces such 
as “Out of Balance: How USA Gymnastics Protected 
Coaches Over Kids” to podcasts such as the smash 
hit “Accused,” contribute to our strong consumer 
performance. 

With our content, we have the capacity to transform 
communities and make lives better. We are proud 
of our work, which continues to receive national 
accolades. Among our many honors: USA TODAY 
NETWORK was named 2017 Pulitzer Prize finalist 
in the category of Investigative Reporting for 
“Dishonor Roll,” our series on abusive teachers; and 
three USA TODAY NETWORK media organizations 
(The Desert Sun in Palm Springs, CA; Fort Myers 
[FL] News-Press; and Detroit Free Press) won five 
national Edward R. Murrow awards for their video 
journalism. 

At the same time, the USA TODAY NETWORK 
continues to innovate and lead the industry in 
experimenting with different types of storytelling, 
including virtual reality, 360-degree video and 
drone journalism. In addition, we continue to see 
tremendous growth off-platform with Apple News, 
Facebook Instant Articles and Google AMP.  

Meanwhile, we are engaging with our audiences in 
new and different ways. Through our membership 
programs, we are seeing a direct correlation with 
increased retention and engagement – those who 
access our Insider pages log in much more often, 

stay longer as subscribers and generate more 
revenue for us.  

In addition, our USA TODAY NETWORK events series 
offered new options for consumers and advertisers.  
In partnership with Martha Stewart, we held nine 
upscale food and wine events across the nation 
that collectively drew nearly 18,000 attendees 
and participation from more than 250 restaurants.  
Additionally, we held five Taco Festivals and 
three Food Truck events in 2017. Attendance was 
strong with more than 40,000 attendees (mostly 
millennials) across eight markets. We also saw 
strong growth in our 2017 High School Sports 
Awards program, which attracted approximately 
19,000 attendees and generated a 7% year-over-
year increase in total revenue.  

Our future ahead:
Of course, there’s no finish line. While we have a strong 
foundation, we know we must constantly iterate and 
innovate to stay in front of the changing needs of our 
business clients and consumers. We are 100% focused on 
being essential to all of our customers. 

Thank you for your support and for believing in Gannett.  
We have a terrific team that will continue strengthening 
our business as we create more value for our customers.  
At the same time, we remain steadfast in our goals to 
invest in the future while creating value for Gannett 
shareholders over the long term.

Best regards,

John Jeffry Louis  
Chairman, Gannett Co., Inc. 

Robert J. Dickey 
President and CEO, Gannett Co., Inc.

03

Annual Report  |     
BOARD OF DIRECTORS

JOHN JEFFRY LOUIS  |  Age 55  

Chairman, Gannett Co., Inc.; Co-founder 
and Former Chairman, Parson Capital 
Corporation

Other directorships and trusteeships: The 
Olayan Group and S. C. Johnson & Son, Inc.  
(a,b)

MATTHEW W. BARZUN  |  Age 47 

Former U.S. Ambassador to the United 
Kingdom

(b,d)

ROBERT J. DICKEY  |  Age 60 

President and CEO. Former President, 
Gannett U.S. Community Publishing Division, 
formerly Newspaper Division; former Senior 
Group President, Gannett’s Pacific Group 
and Chairman of Phoenix Newspapers Inc. 

Other directorships: The Associated Press 
(d)

JOHN E. CODY  |  Age 71 

Former Executive Vice President and Chief 
Operating Officer of Broadcast Music, Inc.

Other directorships: Creative & Dreams Music 
Network, LLC and Core Rights, LLC 
(a,b)

STEPHEN W. COLL  |  Age 59 

Dean of the Graduate School of Journalism 
for Columbia University in New York 
(c,d)

DONALD FELSINGER  |  Age 70 

Former Executive Chairman, Sempra Energy

Other directorships: Archer-Daniels-Midland 
and Northrop Grumman Corp. 
(a,b)

LILA IBRAHIM  |  Age 48 

Former Chief Operations Officer, Coursera

Other directorships: Team4Tech 
(b,d) 

TONY A. PROPHET  |  Age 59 

Chief Equality Officer, Salesforce  
(a,c)

LAWRENCE S. KRAMER  |  Age 67 

Chairman of The Street, Inc.; Former 
President of USA TODAY

Other directorships and trusteeships: Harvard 
Business Publishing, Syracuse University 
(d)

DEBRA A. SANDLER  |  Age 58  

President and CEO, La Grenade Group, LLC

Other directorships and trusteeships: Archer-
Daniels-Midland, Hofstra University, The Ad 
Council, LEAD, Executive Leadership Council 
(a,c)

CHLOE R. SLADDEN   |  Age 43  

Co-founder and Principal of #angels and 
former Vice President, Media, Twitter, Inc. 
(c,d)

Board Committees:
(a) Member of Audit Committee
(b) Member of Executive Compensation Committee 
(c) Member of Nominating and Public Responsibility Committee
(d) Member of Transformation Committee

04

|  BOARD OF DIRECTORS    UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, DC 20549

FORM 10-K

(Mark One)

ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2017

TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the transition period from                     to                     

Commission file number 1-36874
GANNETT CO., INC.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Delaware
(State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation or Organization)

7950 Jones Branch Drive, McLean, Virginia
(Address of principal executive offices)

47-2390983
(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)

22107-0910
(Zip Code)

Registrant's telephone number, including area code: (703) 854-6000

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

Title of Each Class
Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share

Name of Each Exchange on Which Registered
The New York Stock Exchange

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act.     Yes  
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Act.     

    No  

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act: None

Yes  

    No  

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities 
Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and 
(2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.    

Yes  

    No   

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive 

Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 
months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files).

Yes  

    No  

Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405 of Regulation S-K is not contained herein, and will not be 

contained, to the best of registrant's knowledge, in definitive proxy or information statements incorporated by reference in Part III of this 
Form 10-K or any amendment to this Form 10-K (Check box if no delinquent filers). 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting 
company, or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of "large accelerated filer," "accelerated filer," "smaller reporting company," 
and "emerging growth company" in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act:

Large accelerated filer

Accelerated filer

Non-accelerated filer

Smaller reporting company
Emerging growth company

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for 
complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act.                         

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Act).     Yes  

    No  

The aggregate market value of the voting common equity held by non-affiliates of the registrant based on the closing sales price of the 
registrant's Common Stock as reported on The New York Stock Exchange on June 25, 2017 was $970,229,308. The registrant has no non-
voting common equity.

As of February 19, 2018, 112,823,971 shares of the registrant's Common Stock were outstanding.

DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE

The definitive proxy statement relating to the registrant's Annual Meeting of Shareholders to be held on May 8, 2018 is incorporated by 

reference in Part III to the extent described therein.

 
 
 
INDEX TO GANNETT CO., INC. 
2017 FORM 10-K 

Item No. 

1 
1A. 
1B. 
2 
3 
4 

5 

6 
7 

7A. 
8 
9 
9A. 

10 
11 
12 
13 
14 

15 
16 

Part I 
Business..............................................................................................................................................................
Risk Factors ........................................................................................................................................................
Unresolved Staff Comments...............................................................................................................................
Properties ............................................................................................................................................................
Legal Proceedings ..............................................................................................................................................
Mine Safety Disclosures .....................................................................................................................................
Part II 

Market for Registrant's Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity 
Securities ............................................................................................................................................................

Selected Financial Data ......................................................................................................................................
Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations ..............................

Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk .............................................................................
Financial Statements and Supplementary Data ..................................................................................................
Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure .............................
Controls and Procedures .....................................................................................................................................
Part III 

Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance .................................................................................
Executive Compensation ....................................................................................................................................
Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters ...........
Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence ...................................................
Principal Accountant Fees and Services .............................................................................................................
Part IV 

Page 

3 
12 
22 
22 
23 
23 

24 

26 
27 

49 
50 
95 
95 

97 
98 
98 
98 
98 

Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedules ......................................................................................................
Form 10-K Summary .........................................................................................................................................

98 
101 

2 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
ITEM 1. BUSINESS 

Overview

PART I

Gannett Co., Inc. (Gannett, we, us, our, or the company) is an innovative, digitally focused media and marketing solutions 
company committed to strengthening communities across our network. Gannett owns ReachLocal, Inc. (ReachLocal), a digital 
marketing solutions company, the USA TODAY NETWORK (made up of USA TODAY (USAT) and 109 local media 
organizations in 34 states in the U.S. and Guam, including digital sites and affiliates), and Newsquest (a wholly owned 
subsidiary operating in the United Kingdom (U.K.) with more than 170 local media brands). Through the USA TODAY 
NETWORK and Newsquest, Gannett delivers high-quality, trusted content where and when consumers want to engage with it 
on virtually any device or platform. Additionally, the company has strong relationships with thousands of marketers in both our 
U.S. and U.K. markets due to our large local and national sales forces and robust advertising and marketing solutions product 
suite. The company reports in two operating segments, publishing and ReachLocal, plus a corporate and other category. A full 
description of our segments is included in Note 14 — Segment reporting of the notes to the consolidated and combined 
financial statements.

The company has made both internal and external digital investments to address consumers' changing habits toward the 

consumption of news and information on digital devices as well as marketers' changing spending habits towards digital 
products. In 2017, total digital revenues were $994.9 million, or 32% of total company revenues. The USA TODAY 
NETWORK, with more than 3,000 journalists, averaged approximately 117 million(a) (see "References" section below) 
monthly unique visitors who access content through desktops, smartphones, and tablets. In September 2017, the company 
achieved a record 125 million(a) unique digital visitors in the U.S. In the U.K., Newsquest is a publishing and digital leader with 
more than 900 journalists and a network of web sites that attracts over 26 million(b) unique visitors monthly.

Publishing Segment

Our publishing segment comprises the USA TODAY NETWORK (as described above) and Newsquest. Since its 

introduction in 1982, USA TODAY has been a cornerstone of the national news landscape and is a recognizable and respected 
brand. Through the execution of our business strategy over the last two years, we have taken a series of steps that have 
culminated in the creation of the USA TODAY NETWORK.

• 

In 2015, we began to include the USA TODAY local edition as an insert each day in 35 of our local daily publications, 

which includes News, Money, and Life content, and throughout the network USA TODAY sports coverage was integrated 
into local sports sections. 

• 

In 2016, we leveraged the strong USA TODAY brand and created the largest local to national media network in the 

country, the USA TODAY NETWORK. 

• 

In 2017, we started a branding refresh of our print and digital products across our U.S. markets that will continue into 

2018. This refresh is designed to unify our digital network, modernize our visual storytelling, create a more contemporary 
look for our advertisers and partnerships, and attract new audiences. 

The USA TODAY NETWORK brand and audience reach will be further leveraged as we build out new digital businesses, 

similar to our successful launch of “For the Win” (ftw.usatoday.com), a unique digital property that provides sports fans with 
social news and curated analysis, and our recent investment in Grateful Ventures, a startup digital content network that operates 
in the lifestyle vertical. 

The scale of our consumer audience across our publishing business makes us an attractive marketing partner to various 

national and local businesses trying to reach consumers. We are the leading newspaper publisher in the U.S. in terms of 
circulation and have the third largest digital audience in the News and Information category based on December 2017 
comScore Media Metrics; per those metrics, our content reaches more people digitally than Fox News, CBSnews.com, New 
York Times Digital, BuzzFeed.com, NBC News, or WashingtonPost.com.(a)

•  At our U.S. local publishing operations, the average daily print readership is more than 11 million on Sundays and 5 
million daily Monday through Saturday, while the digital audience averages 43 million(a) unique visitors per month. At our 
flagship brand, USA TODAY, print readership averages over 2.6 million daily Monday to Friday, while the digital audience 
averages over 93 million(a) unique visitors per month. While our print audience tends to skew to an older demographic, our 
digital audience skews younger as evidenced by 54%(a) of the total U.S. digital millennial audience (ages 18 - 34) accessing 
USA TODAY NETWORK content. 

3

• 

In the U.K., our wholly-owned subsidiary Newsquest has a total average print readership of over 5.7 million every 
week. Newsquest’s digital audience continued to grow in 2017, with average monthly unique users of its network rising to 
26.3 million(b).

As digital media consumption shifts to mobile devices and social media, our audiences on these platforms continue to 
grow. The USA TODAY NETWORK consistently ranks in the top 3 in mobile web unique visitors in the News and Information 
category, finishing December 2017 at #2(a). Total mobile web page views for the USA TODAY NETWORK grew 5%(b) in 
2017, evidence our content successfully resonates on mobile devices. In the fourth quarter of 2017, we began to roll out a new 
mobile web experience with preliminary results showing greater user engagement. At Newsquest, mobile monthly unique users 
increased 7%(b) and mobile article page views grew 15%(b) in 2017 on a year-over-year basis. On social platforms, we focused 
on creating franchises to drive user engagement and had great success with our Animalkind and Humankind franchises. In 
2017, Animalkind produced 266.3 million(c) video views and Humankind produced 95.9 million(c) video views on Facebook 
with 119 million(c) post engagements (liked, shared, commented) and 62 million(c) post engagements, respectively. These results 
show that regardless of platform our content drives engagement.

Gannett continues to build an innovative video network, with best-in-class video content to attract new audiences and drive 

revenue growth through enhancing existing revenue streams and creating new innovative products. In 2017, our U.S. local 
properties generated 292 million(b) cross-platform video plays, an increase of 33%(b) year-over-year. Building on the success of 
our first season of VRtually There, a series that tells the nation’s stories and delivers immersive and original content in virtual 
reality, we launched season two in 2017. Also during the year, we launched a drone storytelling initiative in 10 markets to 
support local and national storytelling; this program was critical in providing the comprehensive video coverage of hurricanes 
Harvey and Irma, giving readers a bird’s eye view of the damage caused by the hurricanes. 

The publishing segment generates revenue primarily through advertising and subscriptions to our print and digital 
publications and to a lesser extent commercial printing and distribution, marketing, and data services. USA TODAY and our 
local publications have developed an efficient operating model utilizing integrated shared support for back-office operations 
such as financial services and accounting, content design and layout services, print and digital creative development and certain 
sales and service platforms. This model also serves as a point of leverage and synergy opportunity with respect to businesses 
acquired by the company. 

Advertising: In 2017, publishing segment advertising revenues of $1.5 billion comprised 53% of total publishing segment 

revenues, down from 55% in 2016. We sell and track our advertising sales in three primary categories: retail, national, and 
classified. Below are descriptions of the three categories:

•  Retail advertising is associated with local merchants or locally owned businesses. Retail includes regional and national 

chains (such as department and grocery stores) that sell in the local market. Ads run in our print products and across our 
digital network. 

•  National advertising is principally associated with advertisers who are promoting national products or brands. 
Examples are pharmaceuticals, travel, airlines, or packaged goods. Both retail and national ads also include preprints, 
typically stand-alone multiple page fliers inserted into daily and Sunday print products.

•  Classified advertising includes the major categories of automotive, employment, legal, and real estate/rentals. 
Advertising for classified segments is published in the classified sections or other sections within the publication, on our 
digital platforms, on affiliated digital platforms, and in certain magazines.

We have an experienced local advertising staff that sells retail, all classified excluding employment, and national 

advertising across multiple platforms, including print, desktop, mobile and tablet, as well as niche publications. Additionally, 
our staff sells the ReachLocal suite of digital marketing solutions, including search engine marketing, social media marketing, 
and website development. We have a separate national advertising sales force focused on the largest national advertisers and a 
separate sales organization to support classified employment sales.

Our advertising staff employs a multi-platform approach to advertising sales, which can be specifically tailored to the 

individual needs of advertisers from small, locally-owned merchants to large, complex businesses. We believe local and 
national advertisers find it challenging to manage the complexity of their media budgets, particularly on the digital side. They 
are seeking to reach a shifting audience and are struggling to influence attitudes and behavior at each stage of the purchase 
path. Our diverse sales force, unique industry scale, and broad portfolio of print and digital products position us to solve these 
challenges. Through our media planning process, we present advertisers with targeted, integrated solutions that help advertisers 
reach this shifting audience. The planning process leverages our considerable strength in data analysis and secondary research, 
with the result being a tailored media and marketing plan in which the individual elements work in concert to amplify and 
reinforce advertisers' messages and solve their business needs.

4

Our advertising revenues are subject to moderate seasonality due primarily to fluctuations in advertising volumes. Our 

advertising revenues for publishing are typically highest in the company's fourth quarter due to holiday and seasonal 
advertising and lowest in the first quarter following the holiday season. The volume of advertising sales in any period is also 
impacted by other external factors such as competitors' pricing, advertisers' decisions to increase or decrease their advertising 
expenditures in response to anticipated consumer demand, and general economic conditions.

Circulation: In 2017, publishing segment circulation revenues of $1.1 billion comprised 40% of total publishing segment 

revenues, consistent with 39% in 2016. In a trend generally consistent within the domestic publishing industry, print circulation 
volumes declined in 2017. Circulation revenues in the U.S. are derived from our All Access Content Subscription Model, 
single-copy sales, hotel sales, and digital-only sales. Circulation revenues at Newsquest are more centered on single-copy sales 
with a larger portion of weekly paid-for titles and free titles as compared to our U.S. publications. Additionally, Newsquest 
employs a regional model, generally involving clustering of the publication of a free print product alongside a paid-for print 
product, which allows for the cross-selling of advertising serving the same or contiguous markets.

Our All Access Content Subscription Model in our local markets includes access to our content via multiple platforms 
including websites, smartphone and tablet applications, and e-newspapers, with subscription prices that vary according to the 
frequency of delivery of the print edition. Also available to subscribers are digital only or digital plus Sunday subscriptions. We 
currently have more than 1.8 million digital activated subscribers via our All Access Content Subscription Model. We offer our 
customers EZ Pay, a payment system which automatically deducts subscription payments from customers' credit cards or bank 
accounts; we see better subscriber retention with our EZ Pay customers. At the end of 2017, EZ Pay was used by 58% of all 
subscribers at local U.S. Gannett sites (not including USA TODAY). 

Growing our digital only subscribers is a strategic priority and, in 2017, our digital only subscribers increased by 50% to 

340,808. Our primary digital subscriber acquisition tactics include onsite promotion, email marketing, social marketing and 
event marketing. A variety of pricing strategies are used throughout the year, including discounted introductory periods and 
sales, to encourage trial and habituation before transitioning to the full rate. In the U.S. local markets, approximately 81% of 
circulation revenue is derived from our All Access Content Subscription Model and digital-only subscriptions.

In addition to the subscription model in our U.S. local markets, single-copy print editions continue to be sold at retail 
outlets and account for approximately 11% of daily and 20% of Sunday net paid circulation volume. Approximately 81% of net 
paid circulation volumes of USA TODAY are generated by single-copy sales at retail outlets, vending machines, or hotels that 
provide copies to their guests. The remainder is generated by home and office delivery, mail, educational, and other sales. 

Production and Distribution: Gannett Publishing Services (GPS) was formed to improve the efficiency and reduce the 

cost associated with the production and distribution of the Gannett printed products across all divisions in the U.S. GPS 
manages the production and circulation operations for all our local daily and non-daily newspapers as well as USA TODAY and 
runs a commercial printing and delivery business that generates revenues from third party publishers. 

GPS leverages our existing assets, including employee talent and experience, physical plants and equipment, and our vast 

national and local distribution networks. GPS is particularly focused on maximizing our geographic footprint to most 
efficiently produce and transport our printed product. GPS is responsible for internal and external printing, packaging, and 
distribution. Over the last several years, GPS has actively outsourced printing activities to competitive local market or regional 
printing businesses in situations where the cost to outsource would benefit Gannett. Alternatively, in certain cases, GPS will 
utilize excess printing capacity to print competitor and other publications.

Newsquest operates its publishing activities in a similar manner to GPS, through regional centers to maximize the use of 

management, finance, printing, and personnel resources. This regional approach allows the business to leverage a variety of 
back-office and administrative activities to optimize financial results and enables the group to offer readers and advertisers a 
range of attractive products across the market.

Competition: Our U.S. and U.K. publishing operations and affiliated digital platforms compete with other media and 
digital companies for advertising and marketing spend. Our publishing operations also compete for circulation and readership 
against other news and information outlets and amateur content creators. While very few of our publishing operations have 
similar daily print competitors that are published in the same city, our print products compete with the following types of 
businesses:

•  National, regional and smaller suburban area newspapers and free or paid publications

5

•  Other media including magazines, television, direct mail, cable television, radio, outdoor/billboard advertising, 

directories, e-mail marketing, web sites, mobile-device platforms and social platforms. 

Development of opportunities in, and competition from, digital media, including web sites, tablet, mobile and social 
products continues to increase. As such, there is very little barrier to entry and limited capital requirements for new companies 
to enter the market with competitive digital products. The company will continue to expand its audience reach in the digital 
media industry through internal audience development efforts, content distribution programs, acquisitions and partnerships to 
protect its audience market share. Additionally, the company will continue to improve its suite of advertising and marketing 
services products through both internal development and acquisitions and partnerships to protect its advertising market share. 

Environmental Regulation: The company is committed to protecting the environment. Our goal is to ensure our 
production and distribution facilities comply with federal, state, local, and foreign environmental laws and to incorporate 
appropriate environmental practices and standards in its operations. We are one of the industry leaders in the use of recycled 
newsprint. During 2017, 11% of our domestic newsprint purchases contained recycled content, with an average recycled 
content of 20%. 

Our operations use inks, solvents, and fuels. The use, management and disposal of these substances are sometimes 
regulated by environmental agencies. We retain a corporate environmental consultant who, along with internal and outside 
counsel, oversees regulatory compliance and preventive measures. Some of our subsidiaries have been included among the 
potentially responsible parties in connection with sites that have been identified as possibly requiring environmental 
remediation, although we do not currently anticipate these designations will have a material impact on our results of operations 
or cash flows.

Raw Materials: Newsprint, which is the basic raw material used in our print publications, has been and may continue to be 
subject to significant price changes from time to time. We purchase newsprint primarily from 12 domestic and global suppliers. 
During 2017, our total newsprint consumption was approximately 270,000 metric tons, including consumption by our owned 
and operated print sites, third-party printing sites, and Newsquest. Newsprint consumption in 2017 was 9% less than in 2016. 
On a pro-forma basis without tonnage from businesses acquired during 2016, newsprint consumption was 20% lower compared 
to 2016. We continue to moderate newsprint consumption and expense through the use of lighter basis weight paper. Our ability 
to supply the needs of our publishing operations depends upon the continuing availability of newsprint at an acceptable price, 
and the results of operations of our publishing segment may be impacted significantly by changes in newsprint prices. The 
availability and price of newsprint is subject to numerous risks and uncertainties, which are described more fully under “Risk 
Factors” in this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

Joint Operating Agencies: Our publishing subsidiaries in Detroit and York each participate in a joint operating agency 
(JOA). In each instance, the JOA performs the production, sales, distribution, and back office functions for our subsidiaries and 
the publisher of another publication pursuant to a joint operating agreement. Operating results for the Detroit and York JOAs 
are fully consolidated along with a charge for the minority partner's share of profits. 

ReachLocal Segment

The mission of our ReachLocal segment is to deliver customers to local businesses. ReachLocal, Inc., which began in 2004 

and was acquired by Gannett in 2016, helps local businesses advertise online to find those customers. We believe local 
businesses want a single, unified solution to solve their digital marketing needs. Our total digital marketing solution consists of 
products and solutions in three categories: digital advertising (including ReachSearch™, ReachDisplay™, ReachSocial Ads™, 
and ReachRetargeting™), web presence (including ReachSite+ReachEdge™, ReachSEO™, ReachCast™, ReachListings™, 
and TotalLiveChat™), and software-as-a-service (ReachEdge™ and Kickserv™). In April 2017, Gannett acquired SweetIQ, a 
provider of location and reputation management Software-as-a-Service (“SaaS”) solutions that enable businesses to manage 
their location data and measure consumer engagement. SweetIQ was integrated into our ReachLocal product suite as 
ReachListings™ and continues to be sold to multi-location businesses under the SweetIQ brand.

Products: Our search engine marketing (SEM) solution, ReachSearch™, combines search engine marketing optimized 
across multiple publishers, call tracking and call recording services, and industry leading campaign performance transparency. 
ReachSearch™ is a leading SEM offering for local businesses and has won numerous awards since its rollout, including most 
recently winning Google's Quality Score Champion Award in North America. ReachSearch™ is optimized for local markets in 
each of the territories in which our ReachLocal segment operates. ReachSearch™ accounted for 77% of our ReachLocal 
segment’s revenue for the year ended December 31, 2017. 

6

We also offer online advertising products focused on maximizing local businesses’ exposure by displaying their ads on 
websites that, in the aggregate, reach an estimated 90% of the U.S. online audience. Our display products include a retargeting 
solution to target consumers who have previously visited a specific client's website through a ReachSearch™ campaign or a 
ReachDisplay™ campaign or who have previously searched for a client's keywords (ReachRetargeting™) and a Facebook 
advertising solution (ReachSocial Ads™), among other products. These products are generally available in North America and 
selectively available in ReachLocal's international markets.

In addition, we offer a number of web presence solutions. These solutions include websites (ReachSite™), search engine 

optimization (ReachSEO™), social (ReachCast™), chat (TotalLiveChat™), listings (ReachListings™), and other products and 
solutions, all focused on expanding and leveraging clients' web presence. Often, these products are designed to work in concert 
with our digital advertising products with a goal of enhancing clients’ marketing return on investment. These products are 
generally available in North America and selectively available in our international markets.

We also offer software products designed to enable our clients to both easily assess the efficacy of their marketing efforts 

and to facilitate their interactions with their customers. Our ReachEdge™ solution is a marketing automation platform that 
includes tools for capturing web traffic information and converting leads into new customers for clients. ReachEdge™ provides 
clients with tools designed to significantly improve their conversion of leads to customers and helps clients stay top-of-mind 
during the prospect's decision-making process by using integrated marketing automation to send new prospects targeted e-mails 
and alerts to the client's staff reminding them to follow up on each lead. ReachEdge™ also provides reports to show clients 
how many leads they are getting from each marketing source and other important business insights. ReachEdge™ is available 
in most of our markets. Our Kickserv™ solution is a cloud-based business management software for service businesses. 
Kickserv™ allows us to provide an end-to-end solution to clients that starts with lead generation (e.g., ReachSearch™, 
ReachDisplay™, and ReachSEO™), includes lead conversion (ReachEdge™), and then closes and manages the business 
relationship (Kickserv™). Kickserv™ is available in North America.

Distribution: We deliver our suite of products and solutions to local businesses through a combination of our proprietary 

technology platform, our sales force, and select third-party agencies and resellers. Our ReachLocal segment has sales 
operations in the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, Germany, Austria, Brazil, and Mexico. Approximately 
77% of revenues are derived in North America and the remaining 23% from other international markets. All ReachLocal 
segment revenues are digital revenues.

Competition: The market for local online advertising solutions is intensely competitive and rapidly changing. The market 

is highly fragmented as there are a number of smaller companies which provide internet marketing services at highly 
competitive prices and, increasingly, we compete with vertical-specific small and medium-sized business (SMB) marketing 
providers who offer solutions tailored for specific verticals. In addition, the online publishers that we utilize for clients, such as 
Google, Yahoo!, and Microsoft, generally offer their products and services through self-service platforms. Many traditional, 
offline media companies also offer online advertising solutions and have large, direct sales forces and digital publishing 
properties. With the introduction of new technologies and market entrants, ReachLocal expects competition to intensify in the 
future.

Strategy

Gannett’s vision is to become the daily destination for consumers and marketers seeking meaningful connections with their 
communities across print, digital, and other channels. We are committed to a business strategy that drives audience growth and 
engagement by delivering deeper content experiences to our audience while offering the products and marketing expertise our 
advertisers desire. The execution of this strategy should allow the company to continue its evolution from a more traditional 
print media business to a digitally focused media and marketing services business. As part of the execution of this strategy, in 
late 2017, the company announced a management reorganization to align its operations under two main areas: Marketing 
Solutions and Consumer. 

Key elements of our strategy are as follows:

Leverage nationwide scale and local presence to expand and deepen our relationships with consumers and marketers. 

The broad reach of both the USA TODAY NETWORK, with 109 local properties plus USA TODAY, and Newsquest, with 
more than 170 local media brands, gives us the ability to deepen our relationships with both consumers and advertisers at a 
national and local level. Through the USA TODAY NETWORK, we bring consumers the local news and information that 
impacts their day-to-day lives while keeping them informed of the national events that impact their country. To further drive 
audience growth and engagement across our domestic and international media brands, we will leverage the network to expand 
our content offerings to extend beyond news into new verticals, including lifestyle content such as food, health and fitness. We 

7

will deepen our relationships with our subscribers by offering a membership model, providing access to local events and 
experiences. For advertisers, we will leverage our broad sales footprint and strong customer relationships to aggressively 
expand our digital marketing services business into our local markets, both domestically and internationally. Given our 
extensive client base and volume of digital campaigns, we will also use data and insights to offer new and dynamic advertising 
products that can deliver superior results. 

Accelerate expansion of our digital businesses through innovative consumer experiences and new marketing solutions. 
In 2017, we continued development of new consumer experiences through innovative storytelling mediums like virtual reality 
and drones, as well as improvements to our digital products. We will continue to deepen overall engagement and drive audience 
growth in 2018 and beyond by extending our content offerings to new platforms such as podcasts, voice and longer form video 
franchises. During 2017, we successfully integrated ReachLocal into our local markets as our digital marketing services 
provider. In 2018, we will continue to expand our digital marketing footprint in these markets as currently only a small 
percentage of our client base takes advantage of our digital marketing capabilities. We will introduce new customer solutions 
that will enable marketers to more easily track their return on investment across all their marketing channels. We also plan on 
extending our branded content offerings to the local level and continuing to evolve our innovative ad products offered to both 
national and local advertisers. 

Pursue opportunistic acquisitions. We are well-positioned to pursue value-enhancing investments and acquisitions while 

being both disciplined and opportunistic in our acquisition strategy. Our balance sheet remains strong and our cash flow 
generation capabilities provide us with the financial flexibility to pursue opportunities of various sizes. Our focus has shifted 
from acquiring traditional print businesses to digital acquisitions that either expand our digital marketing services portfolio or 
broaden our content offerings. For example, in 2017 we acquired SweetIQ, a location and customer engagement software 
provider, which helped expand the product portfolio of ReachLocal. In 2017, we made a majority investment in a startup digital 
content network (“Grateful Ventures”) that operates in the lifestyle vertical to quickly and efficiently expand our content 
offerings beyond the traditional news category. We will still explore traditional print acquisitions that fit our geographic profile 
and offer strong synergy opportunities but likely on a smaller scale than previous acquisitions.

Maximize the value of our legacy print business and rationalize our cost base. We will continue to drive the profitability 

of our traditional print operations by rationalizing our cost infrastructure and maximizing our revenue base. To drive greater 
cost savings, we will continue to centralize operations to increase efficiencies with focus on our printing and distribution 
centers, content creation network and advertising sales structure. Our economies of scale will enable us to continue to reduce 
supply chain costs while streamlining the process of producing newspapers. We will also explore outsourcing certain business 
functions to reduce costs. On the revenue side, we have implemented a new print advertising pricing program that encourages 
more frequent advertising in our printed product, which should deliver the advertiser improved return on investment and reduce 
the advertiser churn we are experiencing. Our circulation pricing strategy will center on strategic price increases while 
delivering greater value to our most loyal subscribers through membership opportunities. 

 Maintain a flexible balance sheet with emphasis on capital allocation. Through aggressive cost management and 

disciplined financial policies, we have been able to maintain a strong balance sheet with relatively low debt levels compared to 
our peers. Our strong balance sheet has enabled us to keep a flexible capital allocation policy with an emphasis on returning 
cash to shareholders. Since the beginning of 2016, we have paid a quarterly dividend of $0.16 per share to shareholders. In July 
2015, our Board of Directors authorized a three-year, $150 million share repurchase program. As of December 31, 2017, 5.75 
million shares have been repurchased under the program at an average cost of $8.70 per share.

Strategic Acquisitions

SweetIQ Analytics Corp. (SweetIQ): In April 2017, we completed the acquisition of SweetIQ Analytics Corp. SweetIQ is a 

provider of location and reputation management software that enables businesses to manage their location data and measure 
consumer engagement. 

ReachLocal, Inc. (ReachLocal): In August 2016, we completed the acquisition of ReachLocal, Inc. 

North Jersey Media Group, Inc. (NJMG): In July 2016, we completed the acquisition of certain assets of North Jersey 
Media Group, Inc. NJMG is a media company with print and digital publishing operations serving primarily the northern New 
Jersey market. Its brands include such established names as The Record (Bergen County) and The Herald. 

Journal Media Group, Inc. (JMG): In April 2016, we completed the acquisition of Journal Media Group, Inc. JMG is a 
media company with print and digital publishing operations serving 15 U.S. markets in nine states, including the Milwaukee 

8

Journal Sentinel, the Knoxville News Sentinel, and The Commercial Appeal in Memphis. The acquisition expanded our print 
and digital publishing operations domestically.

Texas-New Mexico Newspapers Partnership (TNP): In June 2015, we completed the acquisition of the remaining 59.4% 
interest in the Texas-New Mexico Newspapers Partnership that we did not own. The acquisition added one news organization 
in Texas, six in New Mexico, and four in Pennsylvania. 

Romanes Media Group (RMG): In May 2015, we acquired the Romanes Media Group located in the U.K. Romanes 
includes one daily and 28 weekly publications and their associated digital platforms. The transaction was completed by our 
subsidiary, Newsquest.

History

Our newspaper business was founded by Frank E. Gannett and associates in 1906 and incorporated in 1923. We were 
separated from our former parent on June 29, 2015 when our former parent distributed 98.5% of the outstanding shares of 
Gannett common stock (also referred to herein as the spin-off or separation) to its stockholders on a pro rata basis. We are listed 
on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol GCI and are headquartered in McLean, VA near Washington, DC.

Employees

We employed approximately 15,300 persons at our subsidiaries in the U.S. as of December 31, 2017. Approximately 14% of 

those employed by us in the U.S. are represented by labor unions, most of which are affiliated with one of seven international 
unions. These represented employees are covered by approximately 60 collective bargaining agreements. These agreements 
conform generally with the pattern of labor agreements in the publishing industry. We do not engage in industry-wide or 
company-wide bargaining. Our U.K. subsidiaries bargain with two unions over working practices, wages, and health and safety 
issues only. There were approximately 3,700 employees outside of the U.S., including approximately 3,000 employed by 
Newsquest in the U.K.

Internet Access

Our reports on Forms 10-K, 10-Q, and 8-K and all amendments to those reports are available without charge through the 

company's website (www.gannett.com) on the internet as soon as reasonably practicable after they are electronically filed with 
or furnished to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). We also will disclose on this website changes to, or 
waivers of, our corporate Ethics Policy. Information on our website does not constitute part of this Form 10-K.

References 

(a) comScore Media Metrics

(b) Adobe Analytics

(c) Facebook

9

Major Publications and Markets We Serve

We reach a large, diverse audience through our print and digital daily and non-daily publications throughout the U.S. Our 
local and national media brands are united under the USA TODAY NETWORK, the largest local to national media network in 
the U.S. The network is powered by an integrated and award-winning news organization comprising more than 3,000 
journalists with deep roots in 109 local communities, plus USA TODAY, and a combined reach of more than 117 million 
visitors monthly.

The following table lists information for our major publications and their affiliated digital platforms in the U.S. as of 

December 31, 2017: 

Title

Related Website(s)

Location

USA TODAY

The Arizona Republic

Detroit Free Press

www.usatoday.com

www.azcentral.com

www.freep.com

McLean, Virginia

Phoenix, Arizona

Detroit, Michigan

Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

www.jsonline.com

Milwaukee, Wisconsin

The Indianapolis Star

The Record

The Cincinnati Enquirer

The Courier-Journal

www.indystar.com

www.northjersey.com

www.cincinnati.com

Indianapolis, Indiana

Bergen, New Jersey

Cincinnati, Ohio

www.courier-journal.com

Louisville, Kentucky

The Des Moines Register

www.desmoinesregister.com

Des Moines, Iowa

Daily(a)
3,078,773

227,176

182,455

116,680

93,612

91,032

84,669

83,888

68,165

Sunday(a)
2,985,615

422,510

930,818

180,268

213,870

97,149

157,670

174,022

144,049

The Tennessean
(a)  Daily and Sunday combined average circulation is print, digital replica, digital non-replica, and affiliated publications according to the Alliance for Audited 

www.tennessean.com

Nashville, Tennessee

159,617

65,383

Media's December 2017 Quarterly Publisher's Statement.

10

The following table presents information for our local media organizations and affiliated digital platforms within the USA 
TODAY NETWORK on a state-by-state basis, including the major publications listed in the table above, as of December 31, 
2017: 

USA TODAY NETWORK MEDIA ORGANIZATIONS AND AFFILIATED DIGITAL PLATFORMS

State / Territory

Number of Local 
Media 
Organizations

1

1

1

5

1

1

6

1

5

2

2

5

1

5

1

2

1

1

1

8

6

6

1

11

1

4

2

1

6

5

1

1

2

1

Alabama

Arizona

Arkansas

California

Colorado

Delaware

Florida

Guam

Indiana

Iowa

Kentucky

Louisiana

Maryland

Michigan

Minnesota

Mississippi

Missouri

Montana

Nevada

New Jersey

New Mexico

New York

North Carolina

Ohio

Oregon

Pennsylvania

South Carolina

South Dakota

Tennessee

Texas

Utah

Vermont

Virginia

Washington

Daily(a)
17,623

227,176

6,128

85,539

16,794

48,627

205,492

9,308

159,017

75,799

88,139

57,799

8,875

233,774

15,370

37,947

22,080

18,259

26,340

213,861

31,272

159,870

22,574

139,994

23,419

51,951

45,391

22,767

196,226

73,407

9,648

18,852

Sunday(a)
20,484

422,510

111

84,276

20,735

83,213

296,129

8,247

301,790

144,653

179,272

72,423

11,358

1,120,951

19,422

44,305

42,839

18,433

46,420

255,951

23,756

226,558

40,197

213,979

29,599

62,839

102,016

47,844

352,841

162,364

11,715

20,713

3,088,026

22,033

2,996,553

16,347

Wisconsin
(a)  Daily and Sunday combined average circulation is print, digital replica, digital non-replica, and affiliated publications according to the Alliance for Audited 

240,240

330,718

11

Media's December 2017 Quarterly Publisher's Statement.

11

Newsquest has a portfolio of over 170 news brands and more than 80 magazines, published in print and online in the U.K. 
With a digital audience of more than 26 million users a month and more than 5.7 million readers in print, Newsquest's content 
is read by a substantial portion of the U.K. population. In addition to local news brands, Newsquest owns the digital businesses 
s1 and Exchange & Mart and a specialist magazine business.

The following table presents information for our major local media organizations and affiliated digital platforms operated by 

Newsquest in the U.K. as of December 31, 2017. All circulation figures are according to ABC results for the period January to 
December 2017 unless otherwise noted:

DAILY PAID-FOR LOCAL MEDIA ORGANIZATIONS AND AFFILIATED DIGITAL PLATFORMS / NEWSQUEST
Circulation
Monday - Saturday
17,932

Local Media 
Organization / Web Site

Basildon, Southend on Sea

www.echo-news.co.uk

Publication

City

Basildon & Southend Echo

Bolton News

Bolton

www.theboltonnews.co.uk

Bournemouth - The Daily Echo

Bournemouth

www.bournemouthecho.co.uk

Bradford Telegraph & Argus

Colchester Daily Gazette

Dorset Echo

Glasgow - Evening Times

Greenock Telegraph

Lancashire Telegraph

Oxford Mail

South Wales Argus - Newport

Bradford

Colchester

Dorset

Glasgow

Greenock

www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk

www.gazette-news.co.uk

www.dorsetecho.co.uk

www.eveningtimes.co.uk

www.greenocktelegraph.co.uk

Blackburn, Burnley

www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk

Oxford

Newport

www.oxfordmail.co.uk

www.southwalesargus.co.uk

Southampton - Southern Daily Echo

Southampton

www.dailyecho.co.uk

Swindon Advertiser

The Argus Brighton

The Herald, Scotland

The National, Scotland

The Northern Echo

The Press - York

Worcester News

Swindon

Brighton

Glasgow, Edinburgh

Glasgow, Edinburgh

Darlington

York

Worcester

www.swindonadvertiser.co.uk

www.theargus.co.uk

www.heraldscotland.co.uk

www.thenational.scot

www.thisisthenortheast.co.uk

www.yorkpress.co.uk

www.worcesternews.co.uk

The Leader
(a)  Circulation figures are according to ABC results for the period January to December 2016 as 2017 results are not available.

www.leaderlive.co.uk

Wrexham

9,271

12,795

13,264

9,525

10,055

22,397
9,555(a)
10,532

9,922

10,578

15,620

9,104

10,370

27,655
8,496(a)
22,622

14,075

6,815

16,577

ITEM 1A. RISK FACTORS 

In addition to the other information contained or incorporated by reference into this Form 10-K, prospective investors 

should consider carefully the following risk factors before investing in our securities. The risks described below may not be the 
only risks we face. Additional risks that we do not yet perceive or that we currently believe are immaterial may adversely affect 
our business and the trading price of our securities.

Risks Relating to Our Strategic Transformation

We face risks and challenges in connection with our strategic transformation into a digital company focused on our 

marketing solutions and consumer businesses.

In the fourth quarter of 2017, we commenced a management reorganization of our company to align more definitively with 

our business strategy, which focuses on two primary areas: marketing solutions and consumer. See “Business - Strategy” 
section of this Annual Report on Form 10-K for additional information regarding our strategic objectives and the related 
reorganization. Our ability to achieve our strategic transformation is subject to several risks, including:

•  The transformation may require significant time and investment, and the investments may result in lower margins and 

increase our operating expenses or capital expenditures. 

•  The reorganization of our executive management team, including the departure of certain executives, may be 

12

disruptive to, or cause uncertainty in, our business. The failure to ensure a smooth transition and effective transfer of 
knowledge involving senior employees could hinder our strategic execution and succession planning.

•  We may be unsuccessful in recruiting and retaining the talent required to operate and grow our digital marketing 

solutions and content businesses or to internally develop related technologies. We expect to face competition for such 
talent from larger or more well established digital companies with a stronger digital brand association and greater 
resources.

•  The technology required to support our digital marketing solutions or consumer businesses may be unavailable, and 

we may be unsuccessful in developing it internally.

Even if we implement our strategy effectively, it may not produce an increase in digital revenues that sufficiently offsets 
the declines we are experiencing in our traditional print media business. If we fail to implement our strategy effectively, or if 
our strategy ultimately does not yield a sufficient increase in digital revenues, our business, financial condition, and results of 
operations may be adversely affected.

Risks Relating to Our Publishing Segment

Our publishing segment's operating results may be materially adversely affected if we do not respond successfully to the 

shift in our consumers’ preferences, behaviors, and demographics away from traditional print and towards digital media, 
and the associated shift in the allocation of advertising expenditures. Significant capital investments may be needed to 
respond to this shift.

The media industry has experienced rapid evolution in consumer demands and expectations due to advances in technology, 
which have led to a proliferation of delivery methods for news and information. The number of consumers who access online 
services through devices other than personal computers, such as smartphones, handheld tablets and mobile devices, has 
increased dramatically in recent years and likely will continue to increase. Presented with a multitude of media choices and 
sources of free information, consumers generally appear to be focusing more on when, where, how and at what price they 
consume content and less on the source, representation, quality or reliability of the content. The consumption and acceptance of 
"fake news" online and through social media has undercut certain competitive advantages that we possessed as a trusted 
provider of local news and information across the USA TODAY NETWORK and at Newsquest. The media industry also 
continues to be affected by demographic shifts, with traditional print newspaper readers getting older and younger generations 
developing the habit of consuming news through digital media. In addition, the revenues generated by media companies have 
been affected significantly by the shift in advertising expenditures towards digital media. Media companies generally charge 
much lower rates for digital advertising than for print advertising due to the range of advertising choices across digital products 
and platforms and the large inventory of available digital advertising space, and mobile advertising rates typically are even 
lower than desktop digital rates.

Our success therefore depends on our ability to develop and manage our digital businesses in response to the shift in 

consumers’ preferences, behavior and demographics, as well as the related shift in the allocation of advertising expenditures, as 
described above. In particular, we must:

•  Continue to increase digital audiences;

•  Attract advertisers to our digital products;

•  Tailor our products for mobile devices;

• 

Structure our sales force to focus more effort on sales of digital rather than print;

•  Attract and retain employees with the skills and knowledge needed to successfully operate digital businesses;

•  Manage the transition to a digital business from historical print businesses, including by reducing the physical and 

distribution infrastructure and related fixed costs associated with those businesses;

•  Broaden our content offerings to encompass offerings outside of the traditional news and information category; and

• 

Invest funds and resources in digital opportunities.

If we are unable to exploit new and existing technologies to distinguish our publishing segment's products and services from 

those of our competitors, develop in a timely manner compelling new products and services that engage users across multiple 
platforms, or expand our content offerings beyond the news and information category, our business, financial condition, and 
results of operations may be adversely affected. Responding to the changes described above may require us to make significant 

13

 
capital investments and incur significant research and development costs related to building, maintaining, and evolving our 
technology infrastructure, and our ability to make the level of investments required may be limited.

As digital revenues increase as a proportion of our total revenues, we will become increasingly subject to risks associated 

with digital media operations.

A central component of our business strategy involves transitioning from traditional print businesses to digital media 

businesses and, accordingly, we expect our digital revenues to increase as a percentage of our total revenues in future 
periods. We therefore expect to face increasing risks related to our digital media operations, including:

•  Rates we achieve in the marketplace for the advertising inventory on our digital platforms may be adversely affected 

by: 

  News aggregation websites and customized news feeds (often free to users), which may reduce our traffic 

levels by creating a disincentive for users to visit our websites or use our digital products;

  Our inability to successfully manage changes in search engine optimization and social media traffic to 

increase our digital presence and visibility, which also may reduce our traffic levels; or

  Our inability to maintain and improve the performance of our customers' advertising on our digital properties;

•  Our use of subscription models (which may require users to pay for content after accessing a limited number of pages 
or news articles for free on our websites each month) may cause consumers to opt out of subscription offers in greater 
numbers than anticipated or result in fewer page views or unique visitors to our websites than projected;

•  Technical or other problems could prevent us from delivering our products in a rapid and reliable manner or otherwise 
affect the user experience, and users could develop negative views about the quality or usefulness of our products;

•  New delivery platforms may lead to pricing restrictions, loss of distribution control, or loss of direct relationships with 

consumers;

•  Mobile devices, including smartphones and tablets, may present challenges for traditional display advertising; and

•  Technology developed to block the display of advertising on websites could proliferate, impairing our ability to 

generate digital revenues.

Our inability to respond successfully to these or similar challenges could materially adversely impact our ability to maintain 

and grow our digital revenues.

Our media businesses operate in highly competitive markets, and our ability to maintain market share and generate 

operating revenues depends on how effectively we compete with existing and new competition.

Our media businesses compete for audiences and advertising revenue with newspapers and other media such as the Internet, 

magazines, broadcast, cable and satellite television, radio, direct mail, outdoor billboards and yellow pages. Some of our 
current and potential competitors have greater financial and other resources than we do. If we fail to compete effectively with 
competing newspapers and other media, our results of operations may be materially adversely affected. In addition, our 
publications generate a significant portion of their advertising revenues from a few categories, including automotive and 
employment classified advertising and retail advertising. As a result, even in the absence of a recession or economic downturn, 
technological, industry or other changes specifically affecting these advertising sources could reduce advertising revenues and 
materially and adversely affect our results of operations. Further, our print editions and digital platforms compete directly with 
well-established websites dedicated to classified advertising, particularly in the automotive, employment, real estate, and legal 
verticals. Our results may be negatively affected if we do not compete effectively online in the classified advertising market.

Economic conditions may adversely affect demand for print and digital advertising, which could lead to further revenue 

declines in our publishing segment.

Our advertising revenues depend on the strength of the economy. Our revenues are sensitive to economic trends and 
uncertainties, as well as discretionary spending by advertisers both at the national level and in the local markets we serve. A 
decline in the financial or economic prospects of current or periodic advertisers could alter their spending priorities. Certain 
segments of the economy have been challenged in recent years, particularly in the brick and mortar retail sector, and total 
advertising revenues have declined as a result. Advertising revenues may worsen if advertisers reduce their budgets, shift their 
spending priorities, are forced to consolidate or cease operations.

14

We rely on revenue from the printing and distribution of publications for third parties that may be subject to many of the 

same business and industry risks facing us.

We generate a portion of our revenue from printing and distributing third-party publications, and our relationships with 
these third parties are generally pursuant to short-term contracts. Those third parties may be negatively affected by the same 
macroeconomic and industry trends affecting our media business, such as the sensitivity to perceived economic weakness of 
discretionary spending by advertisers and subscribers, circulation declines, shifts in consumer habits, and the increasing 
popularity of digital media. If the third-party publications are negatively affected by these trends, they may reduce the volume 
of publications they print or distribute through us, and as a result we may lose some, or all, of the associated revenue.

Newsprint prices are volatile and may increase in the future, and newsprint supply may become increasingly scarce as 

paper mills exit the market. 

Our publishing operations depend significantly upon the continuing availability of newsprint, and our publishing segment's 
results of operations may be impacted significantly by changes in newsprint prices. Newsprint prices have been, and continue 
to be, volatile and newsprint supply is rapidly declining. The price we pay for newsprint may increase due to a number of 
factors, including:

•  Declines in newsprint supply due to paper mill closures or conversions to other grades of paper;

•  The imposition of tariffs or other restrictions on non-U.S. suppliers of paper;
• 

Increases in supplier operating expenses due to rising raw material or energy costs or other factors; 

•  Reduction in the number of suppliers due to continuing consolidation of newsprint mills in the U.S. and Canada; 

•  Decreases in our current consumption levels; and 

•  Our inability to maintain existing relationships with our newsprint suppliers.

In addition, our ability to supply our publishing operations with newsprint has been and may continue to be disrupted by 

such factors as: 

•  Our suppliers may be unable to deliver newsprint to us due to labor unrest; 

•  Trucks or other means of transporting newsprint may become unavailable; and

• 

Paper mills may close at a rate that outstrips declines in the demand for paper. 

If newsprint prices increase significantly, or we experience significant disruptions in the availability of newsprint, our 

operating results may be materially adversely affected. 

Our business or results of operations could suffer if we fail to protect our publishing segment's intellectual property and 

other proprietary rights.

Our publishing segment's ability to compete depends, in part, upon our intellectual property, including our trademarks (e.g., 

mastheads), copyrights (e.g., content), and proprietary technology (e.g., digital platforms). If we are unable to protect this 
intellectual property, we may not realize the full value of our intellectual property assets, and our business and results of 
operations may suffer. We rely on a combination of intellectual property rights, including contractual provisions, confidentiality 
procedures and agreements, and trademark, copyright, patent, unfair competition, trade secret, and other laws to protect our 
intellectual property. However, these methods afford only limited protection and may not be adequate. For example, 
technological advancements have facilitated the unauthorized duplication and wide dissemination of content, making 
enforcement of our intellectual property rights in content more challenging. Litigation or proceedings before the U.S. Patent 
and Trademark Office or other governmental authorities and administrative bodies may be necessary to enforce our intellectual 
property rights. Our efforts to enforce or protect our rights may be ineffective and could result in substantial costs and diversion 
of resources.

In addition, third parties might claim that the conduct of our businesses or use of intellectual property infringes upon their 
intellectual property rights. Any intellectual property litigation or claims brought against us, whether or not meritorious, could 
result in substantial costs and diversion of our resources, and we may not achieve favorable outcomes in all cases. The terms of 
any settlement or judgment may require us to pay substantial amounts to the other party or cease exercising our rights in the 
intellectual property. We might have to seek a license to continue practices found to be in violation of a third party's rights, 
which may not be available on reasonable terms, or at all.

15

Labor strikes, lockouts and protracted negotiations could lead to business interruptions and increased operating costs, 

either for our businesses, or for our suppliers. 

As of December 31, 2017, union employees comprised approximately 14% of our workforce. We are required to negotiate 

collective bargaining agreements on an ongoing basis. If we, or our suppliers, are unable to renew expiring collective 
bargaining agreements, affected unions or others could implement strikes, lockouts, work stoppages, or other business 
interruptions. A significant labor dispute could materially adversely affect our operating revenues, cash flows, or operating 
income by, among other matters, disrupting our ability to provide customers with our products or services. In addition, even if 
labor negotiations are resolved successfully, they may lead to greater overall employee costs. 

Risks Relating to Our ReachLocal Segment

Weak economic conditions may adversely affect demand for our digital marketing solutions, which may adversely affect 

business and operating results of our ReachLocal segment.

The revenues generated by our ReachLocal segment also are sensitive to economic fluctuations. Many small and medium-

sized businesses (SMBs) have modest advertising budgets. To the extent that economic conditions worsen, our existing and 
potential clients may no longer consider investment in our online marketing solutions a necessity, or may elect to reduce 
advertising budgets. Historically, economic downturns have resulted in overall reductions in advertising spending. In particular, 
online marketing advertising solutions may be viewed by some of our existing and potential clients as a lower priority and may 
be among the first expenditures reduced as a result of unfavorable economic conditions. These developments could cause us to 
respond by temporarily reducing hiring or taking other measures and could have an adverse effect on our business, operating 
results and financial condition.

Our ReachLocal segment's future revenues depend substantially on our ability to successfully develop and launch new 
products and services, acquire complimentary products and services, and market those products and services in our local 
markets.

ReachLocal's ability to stay competitive and generate future revenue depends substantially on its successful development 

and launch of new products and services on a timely basis. ReachLocal may be unable to develop new solutions due to 
employee turnover, failure to sustain the required level of investment in product and technology development, or difficulties of 
designing complex software products, achieving desired functionality and integrating the new products with its existing 
technology. In addition, we intend to supplement ReachLocal’s offerings through acquisitions of businesses offering 
complimentary products and services, such as our acquisition of SweetIQ Analytics Corp. in 2017. ReachLocal may be 
unsuccessful in integrating acquired products and services with its existing offerings, or may be unable to devote sufficient 
resources to the further development of the acquired products and services. 

Even after developing or acquiring new solutions, ReachLocal may be unable to launch them successfully. The sale of new 

or additional features, products and services, the value of which may be different from ReachLocal's current solutions or less 
easily understood by clients, may require increasingly sophisticated sales efforts, as well as additional salesforce training and 
client education, any of which could increase operating expenses. Further, the future revenues of the ReachLocal segment 
depend substantially on Gannett's ability to market the ReachLocal digital marketing solutions product suite, including acquired 
offerings such as SweetIQ’s, in our local markets. If we are unsuccessful in selling ReachLocal's products and services in our 
local markets, ReachLocal's results of operations may be adversely affected.

The market in which our ReachLocal segment operates is intensely competitive, which may adversely impact our 

margins. If we do not compete effectively, ReachLocal's operating results could be adversely affected.

Our ReachLocal segment operates in a highly competitive market. The market for online marketing solutions is rapidly 
changing and with the emergence of new technologies and market entrants, we expect competition to intensify in the future. 
Some of ReachLocal's competitors offer products similar to ours at a lower price, putting pressure on us to lower our prices 
(thereby reducing margins) or lose clients. ReachLocal's competitors include online publishers, traditional media companies, 
local SMB marketing providers, SMB marketing technology providers, and new competitors that ReachLocal may face as it 
launches new products or enters new markets. Many of ReachLocal's current and potential competitors enjoy substantial 
competitive advantages such as greater name recognition, longer operating histories, and substantially greater financial, 
technical, and other resources. If ReachLocal fails to compete successfully against its current and potential competitors, its 
operating results could be adversely affected.

16

Our ReachLocal segment purchases most of its media from Google, and its business could be adversely affected if 

Google takes actions that are adverse to our interests or if we fail to meet advertiser or spend targets necessary for receiving 
rebates from Google. Similar actions from Yahoo!, Microsoft, and other media providers also could adversely affect the 
segment's business.

Most of ReachLocal's cost of revenue relates to the purchase of media, and a substantial majority of the media it purchases 
is from Google. Google accounts for a large majority of all U.S. searches, and Google's share in foreign markets is often even 
greater. As a result, we expect our ReachLocal segment will depend upon media purchases from Google for the foreseeable 
future. This dependence makes that business vulnerable to actions Google may take to change the manner in which it sells 
AdWords or conducts its business. In addition, any new developments or rumors of developments regarding Google's business 
practices that affect the local online advertising industry may adversely affect our ReachLocal products or create perceptions 
with clients that our ability to compete in the online marketing industry has been impaired. These risks also apply to other 
publishers from whom we purchase media, including Yahoo! and Microsoft, though to a lesser degree.

Our business or results of operations could suffer if we fail to protect ReachLocal's intellectual property and other 

proprietary rights.

Our ReachLocal segment's business is heavily dependent on intellectual property, including proprietary technology. As with 

our publishing segment, we rely on a combination of intellectual property rights, including contractual provisions, 
confidentiality procedures and agreements, and trademark, copyright, patent, unfair competition, trade secret, and other laws to 
protect our intellectual property. However, these methods afford only limited protection and may not be adequate. In addition, 
because ReachLocal sells its solutions internationally, we may need to enforce our rights under the laws of countries that do not 
protect proprietary rights to as great an extent as do the laws of the United States. As a result, despite our efforts to protect our 
proprietary rights, unauthorized parties may attempt to copy aspects of our online marketing and reporting solutions, 
technology, software and functionality or obtain and use information that we consider proprietary. Litigation or proceedings 
before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office or other governmental authorities and administrative bodies may be necessary to 
enforce our intellectual property rights. Our efforts to enforce or protect our rights may be ineffective and could result in 
substantial costs and diversion of resources. In addition, as with our publishing segment, third parties might claim that the 
conduct of our businesses or use of intellectual property infringes upon their intellectual property rights. Any such claims could 
result in substantial costs or diversion of resources, and could adversely affect our business and operating results. 

Risks Related to Our Business Generally

Our business, reputation and results of operations could be negatively affected if our information technology systems fail 

to perform adequately or if we become subject to significant data security breaches or other security threats or disruptions.

Our information technology systems are critically important to operating our business efficiently and effectively. We rely on 

our information technology systems to manage our business data, communications, news and advertising content, digital 
products, order entry, fulfillment, and other business processes. We also use third-party technology and systems for many 
operations including encryption and authentication, employee e-mail, domain name registration, content delivery to customers, 
and back-office support. Our information technology systems and any third-party systems on which we rely could fail to 
perform as anticipated or could be disrupted or damaged by natural disasters, fires, power outages, acts of terrorism, or other 
similar events. Any such failures or disruptions could result in transaction errors, processing inefficiencies, late or missed 
publications, and loss of sales and customers, any of which could negatively affect our business or results of operations.

In addition, attempts to compromise information technology systems occur regularly across many industries and sectors, 

and the techniques used to perpetrate such compromises (e.g., viruses, worms, or other malware, denial of service attacks, 
malicious social engineering, and employee malfeasance) are constantly changing. Maintaining the security of our systems is 
critically important both due to our reliance on those systems and because they store and process confidential subscriber, 
employee, and other sensitive personal data. Although we and our third-party service providers have implemented security 
measures and other controls designed to prevent breaches, these precautions might fail to defend against future cyber-attacks or 
prevent breaches or other disruptions to our systems or those of our third-party providers. Because cyber-attacks evolve quickly 
and often are not recognized until after they are launched, we may be unable to anticipate them or implement adequate 
measures to prevent a breach. A significant breach could result in, among other things:

• 

Improper disclosures of personal data or confidential information;

•  Expenditures of significant resources to remedy the breach and defend against further attacks;

17

 
 
•  Diversion of management's attention and resources; and

•  Liability under laws that protect personal data.

The foregoing consequences could result in increased operating costs, loss of revenue, and harm to our reputation. Though 

we maintain cyber risk insurance, this insurance may not be sufficient to cover all losses from any future breaches of our 
systems.

Recent and future strategic acquisitions, investments, and partnerships may expose us to a variety of risks that might 

disrupt our business and adversely affect our results of operations.

Our strategic plan involves targeted acquisitions of high-quality publishing businesses that we believe offer strong synergies 
with our existing portfolio, as well as strategic acquisitions of digital businesses. Any such acquisitions may involve significant 
new risks that could adversely affect our results of operations or cash flows, such as:

•  Distraction of management attention from our current business operations;

• 

• 

• 

• 
• 

• 

Strain on our human resources;

Insufficient new revenue to offset expenses;

Integration challenges arising from combining company cultures and facilities; 

Failure to achieve expected synergies or implement effective cost controls;
Inability to integrate acquired digital products, services or technologies into our existing business's offerings;

Inability to retain key employees of acquired businesses;

•  Applicability of new regulatory or foreign law requirements; and

•  Liabilities and other exposures not discovered in our due diligence process.

We could fail to execute effectively our acquisition strategy if we cannot identify suitable acquisition targets or obtain 
regulatory approvals required to complete or realize the anticipated benefits of potential acquisitions. In addition, in order to 
consummate acquisitions or other strategic transactions, we may need to obtain additional financing from banks or through 
public or private offerings of debt or equity securities, which financing might not be available on attractive terms or at all.

Our strategic plan also involves investments in or partnerships with other companies, which may involve risks such as:

•  Our inability to control the operations of our investee or partner;

•  Our investee or partner's failure to achieve its business or financial goals or otherwise successfully implement its 

business plan; or

•  Our inability to monetize an investment due to transfer restrictions and our lack of control over the timing or process 

for any potential disposition of our equity interest.

Each of the foregoing risks could decrease the benefits we realize from an investment or partnership. We may receive little 

or no return on these investments, and we may be required to record charges to earnings if the companies in which we have 
invested decrease in value.

We may be unsuccessful in managing or growing our international operations.

Newsquest operates in the U.K., and ReachLocal has international sales operations in Australia, Canada, Germany, the 
Netherlands, Japan, Brazil, Austria, and Mexico, and campaign support services in India. Revenue from Newsquest accounted 
for 10% of our publishing segment's total revenue for the year ended December 31, 2017. Revenue from international 
operations outside North America accounted for 23% of ReachLocal's total revenue for the year ended December 31, 2017. Our 
ability to manage these international operations successfully is subject to numerous risks inherent in foreign operations, 
including:

•  Challenges or uncertainties arising from unexpected legal, political, or systemic events; 

•  Difficulties or delays in developing a network of clients in international markets;

•  Restrictions on the ability of U.S. companies to do business in foreign countries;

18

•  Different legal or regulatory requirements, including with respect to internet services, privacy and data protection, 

censorship, banking and money transmitting, and selling, which may limit or prevent the offering of our products in 
some jurisdictions or otherwise harm our business;

• 

International intellectual property laws that may be insufficient to protect our intellectual property or permit us to 
successfully defend our intellectual property in international lawsuits;

•  Different employee/employer relationships and the existence of workers' councils and labor unions, which could make 

it more difficult to terminate underperforming salespeople;

•  Difficulties in staffing and managing foreign operations;

•  Difficulties in accounts receivable collection;

•  Currency fluctuations and price controls or other restrictions on foreign currency;

• 

Potential adverse tax consequences including difficulties in repatriating earnings generated abroad; and

•  Lack of infrastructure to adequately conduct electronic commerce transactions.

Any of the foregoing factors could adversely impact our international operations, which could harm our overall business, 

operating results, and financial condition.

Foreign exchange variability could materially and adversely affect our consolidated operating results.

Our financial statements are denominated in U.S. dollars. Newsquest operates in the U.K., and its operations are conducted 
in foreign currency, primarily the British pound sterling. Newsquest's 2017 results were translated from pounds to U.S. dollars 
at the average rate of 1.29. Continued weakness or further weakening in the British pound sterling to U.S. dollar exchange rate 
could further diminish Newsquest's contributions to our results of operations. In addition, our ReachLocal segment conducts 
operations in several foreign jurisdictions. If the value of currency in any of those jurisdictions weakens as compared with the 
U.S. dollar, ReachLocal's operations in those jurisdictions similarly will contribute less to our results. Though the contributions 
of ReachLocal's foreign operations to our results of operations have not been material to date, they may increase in the future. If 
so, we will be subject to greater risk from fluctuations in the exchange rates for currencies in the foreign jurisdictions where 
ReachLocal operates. 

The value of our existing goodwill and intangible assets may become impaired, depending upon future operating results.

Goodwill and other intangible assets were approximately $877.4 million as of December 31, 2017, representing 
approximately 34% of our total assets. As required under U.S. GAAP, we periodically evaluate our goodwill and other 
intangible assets to determine whether all or a portion of their carrying values may no longer be recoverable. Erosion of general 
economic, market, or business conditions could negatively affect our business and stock price, which may require us to record 
impairment charges to goodwill or other intangible assets when we perform such evaluations. Any such charges would 
adversely affect future reported results of operations and stockholders' equity but would not affect our cash flow. 

Our ability to operate effectively could be impaired if we fail to attract and retain key personnel.

Our success depends substantially upon the continuing contributions of our senior management team and other key 

employees. Qualified individuals are in high demand, and our senior management and other key employees possess knowledge 
of our business and industry that may be difficult to replace. Our loss of members of senior management or key employees, or 
our failure to attract and retain highly-skilled personnel for key positions, could materially adversely affect our business. We 
therefore may incur significant costs to retain our key employees and to recruit new employees in the future. These risks may 
be exacerbated by the implementation of our recently announced reorganization, changes in our senior management team, 
acquisitions and other initiatives.

19

Our pension plans are underfunded, and we must use a portion of our cash flows to make required contributions.

We, along with our subsidiaries, sponsor various defined benefit retirement plans, including plans established under 

collective bargaining agreements. Our retirement plans include the Gannett Retirement Plan (GRP), the Gannett 2015 
Supplemental Retirement Plan, the Newsquest Pension Scheme in the U.K., the Newspaper Guild of Detroit Pension Plan and a 
supplemental retirement plan we assumed pursuant to our acquisition of JMG. Our retirement plans were underfunded as of 
December 31, 2017 by $437.3 million on a U.S. GAAP basis. The excess of pension benefit obligations over assets is expected 
to give rise to required pension contributions over the next several years. Various factors, including future investment returns, 
interest rates, and potential pension legislative changes, may impact the timing and amount of future pension contributions. We 
have committed to make a contribution of $25.0 million to the GRP in each fiscal year from 2018 through 2020, as well as a 
$15.0 million contribution in 2021. We expect to make a contribution of approximately £15.0 million to the Newsquest Pension 
Scheme and aggregate contributions of $17.2 million to our other underfunded plans in fiscal year 2018 and expect to make 
additional contributions thereafter. Our ability to make contribution payments will depend on our future cash flows, which are 
subject to general economic, financial, competitive, business, legislative, regulatory, and other factors beyond our control.

Adverse results from litigation or governmental investigations or changes in the regulatory environment could force us 

to change our business practices, impede our efforts to transform our business, or negatively affect our operating results.

From time to time, we are a party to litigation and regulatory, environmental, and other proceedings with governmental 
authorities and administrative agencies. Adverse outcomes in lawsuits or investigations could result in significant monetary 
damages or injunctive relief that could adversely affect our operating results or financial condition as well as our ability to 
conduct our businesses as they presently are conducted. In addition, new laws or regulations or changes in existing laws or 
regulations could result in penalties for non-compliance or reduction in revenues and could limit our ability to transform our 
businesses in accordance with our strategic plan.

Our historical financial information for periods prior to our separation from our former parent may not be indicative of 

our future results.

The historical financial information included in this report for periods prior to our separation from our former parent may 

not reflect what our results of operations, financial position, and cash flows would have been had we been a separate public 
company during those periods or indicate what our results of operations, financial position, and cash flows may be in the future. 
The historical financial information for the periods prior to the separation does not reflect the increased costs associated with 
being a separate public company, including changes in our cost structure, personnel needs, financing, and operations of our 
business as a result of the separation. Our historical financial information for the periods prior to the separation reflects 
allocations for services historically provided by our former parent, and those allocated costs are different from the actual costs 
we have incurred since the separation. In some instances, such costs have been higher than the costs allocated to our business 
prior to the separation, and we expect such costs to remain higher in future periods.

We could incur significant liability if the separation were determined to be a taxable transaction.

In connection with the separation, our former parent received an opinion from outside tax counsel to the effect that the 
requirements for tax-free treatment under Section 355 of the Code would be satisfied. The opinion relied on certain facts, 
assumptions, representations, and undertakings from our former parent and us regarding the past and future conduct of the 
companies' respective businesses and other matters. If any of these facts, assumptions, representations, or undertakings were 
incorrect or not satisfied, we and our stockholders may not be able to rely on the opinion of tax counsel and could be subject to 
significant tax liabilities. Further, notwithstanding the opinion of tax counsel, the IRS could determine upon audit that the 
separation is taxable if it determines that any of these facts, assumptions, representations, or undertakings were incorrect or 
violated, if it disagrees with the conclusions in the opinion, or for other reasons, including as a result of certain significant 
changes in the share ownership of our company or our former parent after the separation. If the separation were determined to 
be taxable for U.S. federal income tax purposes, our former parent and its stockholders that are subject to U.S. federal income 
tax could incur significant U.S. federal income tax liabilities, and we could incur significant liabilities.

Due to provisions of agreements we entered into with our former parent in connection with the separation, we may be 

restricted from entering into certain transactions or may be required to indemnify our former parent in certain 
circumstances.

In connection with the separation, we entered into a number of agreements with our former parent, including the separation 

and distribution agreement, tax matters agreement, employee matters agreement, and transition services agreement. These 
agreements contain indemnification or other provisions that could inhibit or restrict us from undertaking certain transactions 

20

that we believe are in the best interests of our stockholders or that might increase the value of our business. In addition, we 
entered into a modified affiliation agreement with Cars.com, which at the time was an affiliate of our former parent. The 
agreement was intended to permit our local markets to continue to earn advertising revenues from Cars.com for up to five years 
after the separation, although the agreement may be terminated earlier in certain circumstances, including if we fail to achieve 
specified performance standards. To the extent such an agreement contains exclusivity or non-compete provisions, including 
any that restrict our ability to use a competing service or to compete with our counterparty, it could limit our ability to 
maximize our performance in the provision of services such as digital marketing services, online career services, or online 
automobile sales services.

The Internal Revenue Service may disallow all or part of a worthless stock loss and bad debt deduction.

During 2017, we made an election to treat one of our ReachLocal international subsidiaries as a disregarded entity for U.S. 

federal income tax purposes. This election resulted in worthless stock and bad debt deductions of $99.3 million, yielding a tax 
benefit of $36.6 million. These tax deductions are subject to audit and possible adjustment by the IRS, which could result in the 
reversal of all or part of the income tax benefit. To account for this uncertainty, a reserve of $15.6 million has been established 
to reduce the benefit to an estimated realizable value of $21.0 million. While we believe this represents our best estimate of the 
benefit to be realized upon final acceptance of our tax return, the IRS could reject or reduce the amount of tax benefit related to 
these deductions. If the IRS rejects or reduces the amount of this income tax benefit, we may have to pay additional cash 
income taxes, which could adversely affect our results of operations, financial condition, and cash flows. We cannot guarantee 
what the ultimate outcome or amount of the benefit we receive, if any, will be.

Ongoing analysis of effects of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (the Tax Act) may impact future results.

The Tax Act, which was enacted on December 22, 2017, introduced significant changes to U.S. tax law that have a 
meaningful impact on our income taxes. Due to the timing of the enactment of the Tax Act, we made reasonable estimates of 
the effect of the Tax Act on our deferred tax assets. Continued analysis of these impacts and additional guidance on the 
application of the changes may result in the recognition of income tax expense or benefit in subsequent periods. These 
adjustments could have a material impact on our financial position, results of operations, and the effective income tax rate for 
the period in which the adjustments are made.

Risks Relating to our Stock and our Debt Arrangements

We cannot guarantee the timing, declaration, amount, or payment of dividends on our common stock.

The timing, declaration, amount, and payment of future dividends to stockholders falls within the discretion of our Board of 

Directors. The Board's decisions regarding the payment of dividends will depend on many factors such as our financial 
condition, earnings, capital requirements, any future debt service obligations, covenants under our existing or future debt 
agreements, industry practice, legal requirements, regulatory constraints, and other factors the board deems relevant. Our ability 
to pay dividends will depend on our ongoing ability to generate cash from operations.

Our debt agreements contain restrictions that limit our flexibility in operating our business.

Our debt agreements contain various covenants that limit our flexibility in operating our businesses, including our ability to 
engage in specified types of transactions. Subject to certain exceptions, these covenants restrict our ability and the ability of our 
subsidiaries to, among other things:

• 

Permit certain liens on current or future assets;

•  Enter into certain corporate transactions;

• 

Incur additional indebtedness;

•  Make certain payments or declare certain dividends or distributions;

•  Dispose of certain property;
• 

Prepay or amend the terms of other indebtedness; and

•  Enter into certain transactions with affiliates.

21

Certain provisions of our certificate of incorporation and by-laws and Delaware law may discourage a takeover of our 

company.

Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and amended and restated by-laws contain certain provisions that may 
discourage, delay, or prevent a change in our management or control over us. For example, our amended and restated certificate 
of incorporation and amended and restated by-laws, collectively:

•  Authorize the issuance of preferred stock that could be issued by our Board of Directors to thwart a takeover attempt;

• 

• 

• 

Provide that vacancies on our Board of Directors, including vacancies resulting from an enlargement of our Board, 
may be filled only by a majority vote of directors then in office;

Place limits on which stockholders may call special meetings of stockholders and limit the actions that may be taken at 
such stockholder-called special meetings;

Prohibit stockholder action by written consent; and

•  Establish advance notice requirements for nominations of candidates for elections as directors or to bring other 

business before an annual meeting of our stockholders.

These provisions could discourage potential acquisition proposals and could delay or prevent a change in control, even 
though a majority of stockholders may consider such proposal, if effected, desirable. Such provisions could also make it more 
difficult for third parties to remove and replace the members of our Board of Directors. Moreover, these provisions may inhibit 
increases in the trading price of our common stock that may result from takeover attempts or speculation.

ITEM 1B. UNRESOLVED STAFF COMMENTS 

None.

ITEM 2. PROPERTIES 

 Our corporate headquarters are in McLean, VA, where we lease approximately 196,116 square feet. The lease provides for 

an initial term of 15 years with two five-year renewal options. 

Our publishing domestic facilities occupy approximately 12.8 million square feet in the aggregate, of which approximately 

3.5 million square feet is leased from third parties. Many of our local media organizations have outside news bureaus, sales 
offices, and distribution centers that are leased from third parties.

A listing of publishing centers and key locations may be found in the Major Publications and Markets We Serve section of 
Item 1. Business. We own many of the plants that house most aspects of the publication process but in certain locations have 
outsourced printing or combined the printing of multiple publications.

Newsquest, our subsidiary headquartered in London, occupies approximately 1.1 million square feet in the U.K. spread over 

94 locations. Of this, 0.4 million square feet (or 60 locations) are leased from third parties. Newsquest's owned premises 
include four printing facilities. A fifth printing facility is leased. 

ReachLocal, our subsidiary headquartered in Woodland Hills, CA, has sales and other offices in 28 locations in 17 states - 
Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New York, North 
Carolina, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Texas, Virginia, and Washington. In addition, ReachLocal has 21 locations in nine additional 
countries - Australia, Brazil, Canada, Germany, India, Japan, Mexico, Netherlands, and New Zealand. These properties, which 
total approximately 388,000 square feet, include leased buildings and data centers. Excluded from total square footage but 
included in location counts are serviced office spaces.

All of our material real properties owned by our material domestic subsidiaries are mortgaged as collateral for our revolving 

credit facility. 

We believe that our current facilities, including the terms and conditions of the relevant lease agreements, are adequate to 

operate our businesses as currently conducted.

22

ITEM 3. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS 

Information regarding legal proceedings may be found in Note 12 — Commitments, contingencies and other matters of the 

notes to consolidated and combined financial statements.

Environmental

From time to time, some of our current and former subsidiaries have been included among potentially responsible parties in 

connection with sites that have been identified as possibly requiring environmental remediation. These environmental 
proceedings are highly complex, and require a variety of issues to be resolved, including the extent of contamination, the nature 
and extent of investigation and remedial action that may ultimately be required, and the number of parties that will be required 
to contribute to such investigation and remediation costs, before our liability for them, if any, will be known.

In March 2011, the Advertiser Company (Advertiser), a subsidiary that publishes the Montgomery Advertiser, was notified 
by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) that it had been identified as a potentially responsible party (PRP) for the 
investigation and remediation of groundwater contamination in downtown Montgomery, Alabama. The Advertiser is a member 
of the Downtown Environmental Alliance, which has agreed to jointly fund and conduct all required investigation and 
remediation. In 2015, the Advertiser and other members of the Downtown Environmental Alliance reached a settlement with 
the U.S. EPA regarding the costs the U.S. EPA spent to investigate the site. The U.S. EPA has transferred responsibility for 
oversight of the site to the Alabama Department of Environmental Management, which has approved the work plan for the 
additional site investigation that is currently underway. The Advertiser's final costs cannot be determined until the investigation 
is complete, a determination is made on whether any remediation is necessary, and contributions from other PRPs are finalized. 

Other Matters

In January 2014, a class action lawsuit was filed against Gannett in the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey 

(Casagrand et al v. Gannett Co., Inc., et al). The suit claims various violations of the Telephone Consumer Protection Act 
(TCPA) arising from allegedly improper telemarketing calls made to consumers by one of our vendors. The plaintiffs sought to 
certify a class that would include all telemarketing calls made by the vendor or us. The TCPA provides for statutory damages of 
$500 per violation ($1,500 for willful violations). In April 2016, we agreed to settle all claims raised. The settlements are 
reflected in our financial statements as of December 31, 2017 and were not material to our results of operations, financial 
position, or cash flows. 

ITEM 4. MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURES 

Not applicable.

23

PART II

ITEM 5. MARKET FOR REGISTRANT'S COMMON EQUITY, RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS, AND 
ISSUER PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES 

Our shares are traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol GCI. Information regarding outstanding shares, 
shareholders, and dividends may be found in Item 1. Business and Item 7. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial 
Condition and Results of Operations of this Form 10-K. 

Gannett common stock prices

The following table sets forth the high and low intra-day trading prices of our common stock as reported on the NYSE for 

the past two years:

Year
2016

2017

Quarter
First
Second
Third
Fourth
First
Second
Third
Fourth
First (a)

2018
(a)  Through February 23, 2018.

Low

High

13.27
14.10
11.25
7.30
7.91
7.42
7.95
8.38
9.97

$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$

16.77
17.72
14.42
12.39
10.03
8.96
9.26
12.02
12.23

$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$

Purchases of equity securities

In July 2015, our Board of Directors approved a share repurchase program authorizing us to repurchase shares with an 

aggregate value of up to $150 million over a three-year period. Shares may be repurchased at management's discretion, either in 
the open market or in privately negotiated block transactions. Management's decision to repurchase shares will depend on share 
price and other corporate liquidity requirements. We expect share repurchases may occur from time to time over the three years. 

The following table sets forth information regarding our repurchases of common stock pursuant to our share repurchase 

program during 2017:

Period

Repurchases from August 28, 2017
through September 24, 2017

Number of
Shares
Repurchased

Weighted
Average Cost
per Share

Total Number of
Shares Purchased as
Part of Publicly
Announced Program

Approximate Dollar Value
of Shares that May Yet
Be Repurchased
Under the Program

2,000,000

$

8.67

2,000,000

$

99,954,336

Comparison of shareholder return – 2017 

The following graph compares the performance of our common stock from the date of our separation from our 
former parent company on June 29, 2015 to December 31, 2017 compared to the S&P 500 Index and an index made up 
of peer companies. Our peer group includes the following entities:

•  A.H. Belo Corporation
•  Lee Enterprises, Inc.
•  The McClatchy Company
•  Meredith Corporation
•  New Media Investment Group, Inc.
•  The New York Times Company

tronc, Inc. 

•  News Corporation
• 
•  Yelp Inc.
•  Harte-Hanks, Inc. 
•  Time, Inc. 

24

These entities are collectively known as the "Peer Group". The following changes have occurred within the Peer 

Group since the date of our separation from our former parent:

•  ReachLocal, Inc. was included in the Peer Group until we acquired 100% of its outstanding common stock in 
August 2016. Refer to Note 3 — Acquisitions to the accompanying combined and consolidated financial statements 
for additional details on the acquisition of ReachLocal.

•  Constant Contact, Inc. was included in the Peer Group until Endurance International Group acquired 100% of 

its outstanding common stock in November 2015. 

•  Angie's List, Inc. was included in the Peer Group until InterActive Corp. completed the acquisition of 100% of 

its outstanding common stock in October 2017. 

The S&P 500 Index includes 500 U.S. companies in the industrial, utilities, and financial sectors and is weighted by 

market capitalization. The total returns of the Peer Group also are weighted by market capitalization.

The following graph depicts representative results of investing $100 in our common stock, the S&P 500 Index, and 

the Peer Group index at closing on June 29, 2015. It assumes dividends were reinvested monthly with respect to our 
common stock, daily with respect to the S&P 500 Index, and monthly with respect to each Peer Group company.

June 
2015

September 
2015

December 
2015

March 
2016

June 
2016

September 
2016

December 
2016

March 
2017

June 
2017

September 
2017

December 
2017

Gannett Co., Inc.

$100.00 $

105.51 $

117.16 $112.38 $104.76 $

87.86 $

75.08 $ 63.47 $ 67.85 $

64.90 $

94.78

S&P 500 Index

$100.00 $

93.82 $

101.23 $100.57 $101.19 $

108.07 $

113.66 $120.55 $124.27 $

129.84 $

138.47

Peer Group

$100.00 $

81.02 $

86.80 $ 79.25 $ 80.73 $

94.98 $

91.00 $ 93.28 $ 93.92 $

97.89 $

113.83

25

ITEM 6. SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA 

Selected financial data for the years 2013 through 2017 is contained in the table below and is derived from our audited 
financial statements for those years. The information in this section is not necessarily indicative of the results of operations to 
be expected for future years and should be read in conjunction with Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial 
Condition and Results of Operations and the consolidated and combined financial statements and related notes thereto included 
elsewhere in this annual report on Form 10-K. The financial information included herein for periods prior to our separation 
from our former parent on June 29, 2015 may not necessarily reflect what our financial position, results of operations, and cash 
flows would have been had we been an independent publicly-traded company during the periods presented. 

Fiscal year 2017 comprises 53 weeks, and all other fiscal years presented in the table below comprise 52 weeks. 

In thousands, except per share amounts

Total operating revenue

Operating income

Net income

Net income per share - basic

Net income per share - diluted

Other selected financial data

Dividends declared per share

2017

3,146,480

67,571

6,887

0.06

0.06

0.64

$

$

$

$

$

$

Weighted average number of common shares outstanding:

Basic

Diluted

Financial position and cash flow

Cash and cash equivalents

$

Long-term debt, excluding current maturities $

113,047

115,610

120,589

355,000

Total assets

$

2,569,977

NOTES TO SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA

2016

3,047,474

89,370

52,710

0.45

0.44

0.64

116,018

118,625

114,324

400,000

2,844,681

$

$

$

$

$

$

$

$

$

$

$

$

$

$

$

$

$

$

2015

2,885,012

164,505

146,091

1.27

1.25

0.32

$

$

$

$

$

$

2014

3,171,878

262,331

210,705

1.83

1.83

$

$

$

$

$

— $

2013

3,324,939

325,073

274,461

2.39

2.39

—

115,165

116,695

114,959

114,959

114,959

114,959

196,696

$

71,947

$

78,596

— $

— $

—

2,427,799

$

2,384,460

$

2,494,736

We, along with our subsidiaries, made the significant acquisitions listed below during the period. There were no significant 

dispositions. The results of operations of these acquired businesses are included in the accompanying selected financial 
information from the date of acquisition. 

Acquisitions 2013 - 2017

Year Name
2015

Texas-New Mexico
Newspapers Partnership
Romanes Media Group

2016

Journal Media Group

North Jersey Media Group

ReachLocal

2017

SweetIQ

Location
Texas, New Mexico, Pennsylvania

Description
Media company with print and digital publishing
operations
Scotland, Berkshire, Northern Ireland Media company with print and digital publishing
operations
Media company with print and digital publishing
operations
Media company with print and digital publishing
operations
Digital marketing solutions firm

Woodland Park, New Jersey

Woodland Hills, California

Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Montreal, Canada

Digital marketing solutions firm

26

ITEM 7. MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF 
OPERATIONS 

Certain factors affecting forward-looking statements

Certain statements in this Annual Report on Form 10-K contain certain forward-looking statements regarding business 
strategies, market potential, future financial performance, and other matters. Forward-looking statements include all statements 
that are not historical facts. The words "believe," "expect," "estimate," "could," "should," "intend," "may," "plan," "seek," 
"anticipate," "project," and similar expressions, among others, generally identify "forward-looking statements" which speak 
only as of the date the statements were made and are not guarantees of future performance. The matters discussed in these 
forward-looking statements are subject to many risks, trends, uncertainties, and other factors that could cause actual results to 
differ materially from those projected, anticipated, or implied in the forward-looking statements. Where, in any forward-
looking statement, an expectation or belief as to future results or events is expressed, such expectation or belief is based on the 
current plans and expectations of our management, is expressed in good faith, and is believed to have a reasonable basis. 
However, there can be no assurance the expectation or belief will result, be achieved, or be accomplished. Whether or not any 
such forward-looking statements are in fact achieved will depend on future events, some of which are beyond our control. 
Except as may be required by law, we undertake no obligation to modify or revise any forward-looking statements to reflect 
new information, events, or circumstances occurring after the date of this report. Factors, risks, trends, and uncertainties that 
could cause actual results or events to differ materially from those projected, anticipated, or implied include the matters 
described above under "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations," the 
statements made under the captions "Risk Factors" and "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and 
Results of Operations", and the following other factors, risks, trends and uncertainties:

•  Our ability to achieve our strategic transformation;

•  An accelerated decline in general print readership and/or advertiser patterns as a result of competitive alternative 

media or other factors;

•  An inability to adapt to technological changes or grow our digital businesses;

•  Risks associated with the operation of an increasingly digital business, such as rapid technological changes, frequent 

new product introductions, declines in web traffic levels, technical failures and proliferation of ad blocking 
technologies;

•  Macroeconomic trends and conditions; 

•  Competitive pressures in the markets in which we operate;

• 

• 

Increases in newsprint costs over the levels anticipated or declines in newsprint supply;

Potential disruption or interruption of our IT systems due to accidents, extraordinary weather events, civil unrest, 
political events, terrorism or cyber security attacks;

•  Variability in the exchange rate relative to the U.S. dollar of currencies in foreign jurisdictions in which we operate;

•  Risks and uncertainties related to strategic acquisitions or investments, including distraction of management attention, 
incurrence of additional debt, integration challenges, and failure to realize expected benefits or synergies or to operate 
businesses effectively following acquisitions;

•  Risks and uncertainties associated with our ReachLocal segment, including its significant reliance on Google for 

media purchases, its international operations and its ability to develop and gain market acceptance for new products or 
services;

•  Our ability to protect our intellectual property or defend successfully against infringement claims;

•  Our ability to attract and retain talent;

•  Labor relations, including, but not limited to, labor disputes which may cause business interruptions, revenue declines 

or increased labor costs;

•  Risks associated with our underfunded pension plans;

•  Adverse outcomes in litigation or proceedings with governmental authorities or administrative agencies, or changes in 
the regulatory environment, any of which could encumber or impede our efforts to improve operating results or the 
value of assets;

•  Volatility in financial and credit markets which could affect the value of retirement plan assets and our ability to raise 
funds through debt or equity issuances and otherwise affect our ability to access the credit and capital markets at the 
times and in the amounts needed and on acceptable terms; and

•  Other uncertainties relating to general economic, political, business, industry, regulatory and market conditions.

27

Executive summary

Our operations comprise 130 daily publications and digital platforms in the U.S. and the U.K., 435 non-daily publications in 

the U.S., and 159 such titles in the U.K. Our 110 U.S. daily publications include USA TODAY, which is currently the nation's 
number one newspaper in consolidated print and digital circulation. Together with 20 daily paid-for publications our Newsquest 
division operates in the U.K., the total average daily print and digital circulation of our 130 domestic and U.K. daily 
publications was approximately 7.2 million for 2017. In the markets we serve, we also operate desktop, smartphone and tablet 
products which are tightly integrated with publishing operations. Our operations also include commercial printing, marketing, 
and data services operations.

With our acquisition of ReachLocal in the third quarter of 2016, Gannett is also a leader in offering products and solutions 

in the online marketing, digital advertising, software-as-a-service, and web presence spaces to small and medium sized 
businesses. We believe Gannett is well-positioned to deliver a suite of products and solutions to local businesses through a 
combination of a proprietary technology platform, its sales force, and select third-party agencies and resellers.

As part of our vision is to become the daily destination for consumers and marketers seeking meaningful connections with 
their communities across print, digital, and other channels, we announced in late 2017 a management reorganization designed 
to align our operations under two main areas: Marketing Solutions and Consumer. We believe this reorganization will align 
more definitively with our business strategy going forward. 

Separation from former parent

On June 29, 2015, we completed our separation from our former parent via a spin-off. Through the date of the spin-off, the 

accompanying consolidated and combined financial statements were derived from the consolidated and combined financial 
statements and accounting records of our former parent and present our combined financial position, results of operations, and 
cash flows as of and for the periods presented as if we were a separate entity. These consolidated and combined financial 
statements include allocations between us and our former parent. We believe the assumptions and methodologies used in these 
allocations are reasonable; however, such allocated costs, net of cost recoveries, may not be indicative of the actual level of 
expense that would have been incurred had we been operating on a stand-alone basis, and, accordingly, may not necessarily 
reflect our combined financial position, results of operations and cash flows had we operated as a stand-alone entity during the 
periods presented.

Basis of reporting

The following is a discussion of the key factors that have affected our accounting for or reporting on the business over the 
last three fiscal years. This commentary should be read in conjunction with our financial statements, selected financial data, and 
the remainder of this Form 10-K.

Fiscal year: Our fiscal year ends on the last Sunday of the calendar year. Our fiscal year 2017 ended on December 31, 2017 

and was a 53-week year. Fiscal year 2016 ended on December 25, 2016, and fiscal year 2015 ended on December 27, 2015, 
both of which were 52-week years. Starting in 2018, our fiscal year will coincide with the Gregorian calendar.

Foreign currency translation impacts: Our U.K. publishing operations are conducted through our Newsquest subsidiary. In 

addition, ReachLocal has foreign operations in regions such as Europe, Asia-Pacific, and South America. Our earnings from 
operations in foreign regions are translated into U.S. dollars at average exchange rates prevailing during the period, and assets 
and liabilities are translated at exchange rates in effect at the balance sheet date. 

The average exchange rate used to translate U.K. results was 1.29 for 2017, 1.36 for 2016, and 1.53 for 2015. Translation 

fluctuations impact our U.K. revenue, expense, and operating income results. Impacts stemming from foreign currency 
translation gains and losses for ReachLocal are immaterial to date. 

Certain matters affecting current and future operating results

The following developments affect period-over-period comparisons and will affect period-over-period comparisons for 

future results: 

28

Acquisitions

• 

SweetIQ Analytics Corp. (SweetIQ) – In April 2017, we completed the acquisition of SweetIQ, a location and customer 
engagement software provider, for approximately $31.8 million, net of cash acquired. SweetIQ's customers include 
businesses with multi-location brands and agencies that target local marketing. 

•  ReachLocal, Inc. (ReachLocal) – In August 2016, we completed the acquisition of 100% of the outstanding common stock 

of ReachLocal for approximately $162.5 million, net of cash acquired. ReachLocal offers online marketing, digital 
advertising, software-as-a-service, and web presence products and solutions to local businesses. 

•  Certain assets of North Jersey Media Group (NJMG) – In July 2016, we completed the acquisition of certain assets of 

NJMG for approximately $38.6 million. NJMG is a media company with print and digital publishing operations serving
primarily the northern New Jersey market.

• 

• 

Journal Media Group (JMG) – In April 2016, we completed the acquisition of 100% of the outstanding common stock of 
JMG for approximately $260.6 million, net of cash acquired. JMG is a media company with print and digital publishing 
operations serving 15 U.S. markets in nine states. 

Texas-New Mexico Newspaper Partnership (TNP) and Romanes Media Group (RMG) – In June 2015, we completed the 
acquisition of the remaining 59.4% interest in TNP that we did not own from Digital First Media. In May 2015, Newsquest 
acquired RMG, one of the leading regional media groups in the U.K. RMG publishes local newspapers in Scotland, 
Berkshire, and Northern Ireland, and its portfolio is comprised of one daily newspaper and 28 weekly newspapers and their 
associated websites. 

•  We completed other immaterial acquisitions during the periods presented.

In the discussion of the publishing segment under Results of Operations below, JMG and NJMG are considered 2016 

publishing acquisitions, and TNP and RMG are considered 2015 publishing acquisitions. 

Restructuring and asset impairment costs

Over the past several years, we have engaged in a series of individual restructuring programs designed to right size our 

employee base and improve operations, including those of recently acquired entities. In addition, we have engaged in facility 
consolidation initiatives which include the disposition of older, under-utilized buildings, relocations to more efficient, flexible, 
digitally-oriented office spaces, efforts to reconfigure spaces to take advantage of leasing and subleasing opportunities, and the 
combination of production and distribution operations where possible. These facility consolidation and other cost savings plans 
led us to recognize severance charges, asset impairment charges, shutdown costs, and charges associated with reducing the 
useful lives of certain assets. As part of our plans, we are selling certain assets which we have classified as held-for-sale and 
reduced carrying values to equal fair value less costs to dispose. In addition, we had impairments of intangible assets which 
were principally a result of cash flow projections which were lower than expected. 

In conjunction with these programs, we incurred restructuring costs of $44.3 million in 2017, $45.8 million in 2016, and 
$77.4 million in 2015. Included in these restructuring costs are severance costs of $37.0 million in 2017, $43.5 million in 2016, 
and $72.3 million in 2015.

We recorded asset impairment charges of $46.8 million in 2017, $55.9 million in 2016, and $29.1 million in 2015. We also 
recorded accelerated depreciation of $44.0 million in 2017 and $3.2 million in 2016. No accelerated depreciation was recorded 
in 2015. 

Other

•  Foreign currency – In 2017, there was a weakening in the British pound sterling to the U.S. dollar. With respect to 

Newsquest, results for the year ended December 31, 2017 were translated from the British pound sterling to U.S. dollars at 
an average rate of 1.29 compared to 1.36 for the year ended December 25, 2016. This 5% decline in the exchange rate 
unfavorably impacted 2017 revenue comparisons by approximately $16.1 million. 

Outlook for 2018: As we move into 2018, we remain focused on executing against our strategic vision of becoming a 

“daily destination” for consumers and marketers seeking meaningful community connections across print, digital, and other 
channels. To further capitalize on this vision, we announced an organizational realignment at the end of 2017 that will more 

29

clearly align our company with our two core customers: marketing clients and consumers. In our Marketing Solutions business, 
we are focused on enhancing the way we serve local and national marketers by developing a more comprehensive suite of 
marketing products and services. While print advertising will remained challenged due to market pressures, we anticipate some 
of that decline will be offset by growth in digital advertising and marketing service revenues. Our consumer organization is 
focused on growing our audiences and deepening engagement, in part by expanding our spectrum of content beyond traditional 
news. We will continue to focus on operational excellence by working to maximize the efficiency of our print, sales, 
administrative, and distribution functions to reduce costs. We also intend to continue to pursue our strategy of growing our 
business through selective acquisitions and investments in new technology initiatives. 

RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

Consolidated summary

A summary of our segment results is presented below:

In thousands, except per share amounts

2017 (1)

2016 (1)

Change

2015 (1)

Change

Operating revenues:

Publishing

ReachLocal

Corporate and other

Intersegment eliminations

Total operating revenues

Operating expenses:

Publishing

ReachLocal

Corporate and other

Intersegment eliminations

Total operating expenses

Operating income

Non-operating income (expense), net

Income before income taxes

Provision for income taxes

Net income

Diluted earnings per share

$

$

$

2,812,243

$

2,933,095

(4%)

$

2,881,218

358,728

4,835

(29,326)

110,144

4,235

—

3,146,480

3,047,474

2,592,566

2,697,697

377,667

138,002

(29,326)

128,872

131,535

—

3,078,909

2,958,104

67,571

(26,830)

40,741

33,854

6,887

0.06

$

$

89,370

(22,942)

66,428

13,718

52,710

0.44

***

14%

***

3%

(4%)

***

5%

***

4%

(24%)

17%

(39%)

***

(87%)

(86%)

—

3,794

—

2,885,012

2,624,626

—

95,881

—

2,720,507

164,505

29,470

193,975

47,884

146,091

1.25

$

$

2%

***

12%

***

6%

3%

***

37%

***

9%

(46%)

***

(66%)

(71%)

(64%)

(65%)

*** Indicates an absolute value percentage change greater than 100.
(1) Fiscal year 2017 comprises 53 weeks while fiscal years 2016 and 2015 comprise 52 weeks.

To facilitate a comparison of our publishing results without the impact of acquisitions, the 53rd week of revenues and 

expenses, and foreign currency translation fluctuations, we are also providing explanations for 2017 revenues and expenses for 
our publishing segment on a "same store" basis which are calculated as follows: 

•  Reported revenues or expenses

•  Less: revenues or expenses for our 2017 publishing acquisitions from the date of the acquisition through the end of the 

year

•  Less: revenues or expenses for our 2016 publishing acquisitions from the beginning of fiscal year 2017 through the 

first year anniversary of their applicable acquisition date

•  Less: 53rd week revenue or expenses

•  Less: operations exited in 2016 
•  Add (less): decreases (increases) in foreign currency translation impacts based on a constant currency calculation

30

Similarly, 2016 same store revenues and expenses for purposes of comparison to 2015 are calculated as follows: 

•  Reported revenues or expenses

•  Less: revenues or expenses for our 2016 publishing acquisitions from the date of the acquisition through the end of the 

year

•  Less: revenues or expenses for our 2015 publishing acquisitions from the beginning of fiscal year 2016 through the 

first year anniversary of their applicable acquisition date

•  Less: operations exited in 2015 

•  Add (less): decreases (increases) in foreign currency translation impacts based on a constant currency calculation

In the discussion of year-over-year variances for publishing operating revenues and expenses for the year ended 
December 31, 2017 versus for the year ended December 25, 2016 that follow, amounts specifically attributed to our 2016 
publishing acquisitions reflect only those revenues or expenses from the beginning of fiscal year 2017 through the first year 
anniversary of their applicable acquisition date. In the discussion of year-over-year variances for publishing operating revenues 
and expenses for the year ended December 25, 2016 versus for the year ended December 26, 2015 that follow, amounts 
specifically attributed to our 2015 publishing acquisitions reflect only those revenues or expenses from the beginning of fiscal 
year 2016 through the first year anniversary of their applicable acquisition date. All of these amounts are excluded from our 
calculations of "same store" publishing results for the comparable fiscal years. 

As we continue to integrate our acquisitions, allocations of certain expenses related to acquired businesses may change. 
These adjustments may impact the comparability of same store expense numbers across periods; however, such impacts are 
expected to be immaterial. 

Operating revenues:

Our publishing segment generates revenue primarily through advertising and subscriptions to our print and digital 
publications. Our advertising teams sell retail, classified, and national advertising across multiple platforms including print, 
online, mobile, and tablet as well as niche publications. Circulation revenues are derived principally from distributing our 
publications on our digital platforms and from home delivery and single copy sales of our publications. Other revenues are 
derived mainly from commercial printing and distribution arrangements.

Our ReachLocal segment generates advertising revenue through multiple services including search and display, search 

optimization, social media, and website development. Other revenues are attributable to web presence and software-as-a-
service solutions.

Revenue comparisons 2017 - 2016:

Total operating revenues were $3.1 billion in 2017, an increase of 3% from 2016 primarily attributable to revenue growth 
of $248.6 million from ReachLocal, which was acquired in August 2016. Publishing revenues decreased 4% from 2016 which 
was primarily attributable to the continued softness in publishing segment same store advertising revenues of $211.6 million, 
reflecting decreased demand for print advertising, as well as declining trends in same store circulation revenues of $84.3 
million due to lower circulation volumes partially offset by revenues from our 2016 publishing acquisitions of $157.5 million 
and 53rd week revenues of $49.1 million. Additionally, foreign currency rate fluctuations negatively impacted publishing 
revenues by $16.1 million. 

Revenue comparisons 2016 - 2015:

Total operating revenues were $3.0 billion in 2016, an increase of 6% from 2015. Publishing revenues increased 2%, 
which was attributable to revenues from our 2016 publishing acquisitions of $341.8 million and revenues from our 2015 
publishing acquisitions of $40.0 million. Partially offsetting the impact of the acquisitions were decreases related to the 
continued softness in same store advertising revenues of $206.8 million, which is primarily related to print advertising, and in 
same store circulation revenues of $44.9 million. Additionally, foreign currency rate fluctuations negatively affected publishing 
revenues by $41.8 million. ReachLocal revenues were $110.1 million from the acquisition date in August 2016 through the end 
of the year. 

31

Operating expenses:

 Payroll and benefits are the largest components of our operating expenses. Other significant operating expenses include 

production and distribution costs.

Operating expense comparisons 2017 - 2016:

During 2017, total operating expenses increased 4% to $3.1 billion compared to 2016. Contributing to the increase were 
operating expenses associated with our 2016 publishing acquisitions of $158.0 million, expense increases of $248.8 million 
from ReachLocal, which was acquired in August 2016, and 53rd week expenses of $45.5 million. These additional expenses 
were partially offset by the continued company-wide cost efficiency efforts and lower newsprint expenses. Foreign currency 
rate fluctuations also reduced expenses by $13.5 million. 

Impacting 2017 operating expenses, and included in the numbers above, were asset impairment charges of $46.8 million, 

accelerated depreciation of $44.0 million, severance-related charges of $37.0 million, facility consolidation charges of $7.3 
million and acquisition costs of $5.2 million. See items impacting 2016 operating expenses below. 

Operating expense comparisons 2016 - 2015:

During 2016, total operating expenses increased 9% to $3.0 billion compared to 2015. Publishing operating expenses 
increased 3%. Contributing to the increase were operating expenses associated with our 2016 publishing acquisitions of $333.7 
million and our 2015 publishing acquisitions of $36.3 million. These additional expenses were partially offset by the continued 
company-wide cost efficiency efforts, lower newsprint expenses, and the reporting of sales of certain third party digital 
advertising products on a net basis. Foreign currency rate fluctuations also reduced expenses by $33.5 million. ReachLocal 
operating expenses were $128.9 million from the acquisition date through year end.

Impacting 2016 were asset impairment charges of $55.9 million, severance-related charges of $43.5 million, acquisition 
costs of $31.9 million, and facility consolidation charges of $2.3 million. Impacting 2015 were severance-related charges of 
$72.3 million, asset impairment charges of $29.1 million, facility consolidation charges of $5.1 million, and acquisition-related 
items of $3.8 million.

Publishing segment

A summary of our publishing segment results is presented below:

In thousands

Operating revenues:

Advertising

Circulation

Other

Total operating revenues

Operating expenses:

Cost of sales

Selling, general, and administrative expenses

Depreciation and amortization

Asset impairment charges

Restructuring costs

Total operating expenses

2017 (1)

2016 (1)

Change

2015 (1)

Change

$

1,498,273

$

1,603,515

1,120,739

193,231

2,812,243

1,133,676

195,904

2,933,095

1,767,226

1,850,230

605,954

135,214

46,796

37,376

641,394

105,102

55,940

45,031

2,592,566

2,697,697

(7%)

(1%)

(1%)

(4%)

(4%)

(6%)

29%

(16%)

(17%)

(4%)

(7%)

$

1,611,445

1,060,118

209,655

2,881,218

1,810,134

610,073

103,184

29,130

72,105

2,624,626

$

256,592

(0%)

7%

(7%)

2%

2%

5%

2%

92%

(38%)

3%

(8%)

Operating income
(1) Fiscal year 2017 comprises 53 weeks while fiscal years 2016 and 2015 comprise 52 weeks.

219,677

235,398

$

$

32

Operating revenues:

Revenue comparisons 2017 - 2016:

Advertising revenues for 2017 were $1.5 billion, a decrease of 7% compared to 2016. This decrease is attributable to the 

decline in same store advertising revenues of 13% due to lower print advertising demand consistent with general trends 
adversely impacting the publishing industry. This decline was partially offset by advertising revenues associated with our 2016 
publishing acquisitions of $90.4 million and 53rd week advertising revenues of $20.7 million. Foreign currency exchange rates 
negatively affected advertising revenues by $10.3 million.

Digital advertising revenues were $415.9 million in 2017, an increase of 5% compared to 2016. This increase is 

attributable to digital advertising revenues associated with our 2016 publishing acquisitions of $11.2 million and 53rd week 
digital advertising revenues of $5.0 million. Digital advertising revenues on a same store basis increased 1% as a result of 
increases in digital marketing services, audience extension, and mobile and branded content offset partially by weaknesses in 
digital classified and local desktop display. Foreign currency exchange rates negatively affected digital advertising revenues by 
$2.8 million.

Retail, national, and classified advertising revenues consist of both print and digital advertising.

Retail advertising revenues were $811.0 million for 2017, a decrease of 7% compared to 2016. This decrease is primarily 

attributable to the decline in same store advertising revenues of 15% primarily due to a decrease in retail print revenues of 
$113.7 million stemming from reduced demand. This decline was partially offset by retail advertising revenues associated with 
our publishing acquisitions of $59.3 million and 53rd week retail advertising revenues of $11.7 million. Foreign currency 
exchange rates negatively affected retail advertising revenues by $4.4 million. 

National advertising revenues were $216.3 million for 2017, a decrease of 2% compared to 2016. This decrease is 

primarily attributable to the decline in same store advertising revenues of 6% due to lower national print advertising revenues 
of $18.4 million. This decline was partially offset by national advertising revenues associated with our publishing acquisitions 
of $4.3 million and 53rd week national advertising revenues of $3.8 million. In addition, national digital revenues on a same 
store basis increased 12% as a result of programmatic advertising. Foreign currency exchange rates negatively affected national 
advertising revenues by $1.1 million. 

Classified advertising revenues were $470.9 million for 2017, a decrease of 8% compared to 2016. This decrease is 
primarily attributable to the decline in same store advertising revenues of 14%, reflecting a decline in real estate, automotive, 
and employment advertising revenues of $11.8 million, $18.5 million, and $20.0 million, respectively. This decline was 
partially offset by classified advertising revenues associated with our publishing acquisitions of $26.8 million and 53rd week 
classified advertising revenues of $5.2 million. Foreign currency exchange rates negatively affected classified advertising 
revenues by $4.8 million. 

Circulation revenues were $1.1 billion for 2017, a decrease of 1% compared to 2016. This decrease is primarily attributable 

to the decline in same store circulation revenues of 7%. The decrease was partially offset by circulation revenues associated 
with our publishing acquisitions of $55.3 million and 53rd week circulation revenues of $19.3 million. Print circulation 
revenues on a same store basis were $842.3 million for 2017, a 5% decrease from the same period in 2016 due to a reduction in 
volume, reflecting general industry trends, offset by increases from our strategic pricing programs. Digital circulation revenues 
on a same store basis were $207.1 million for 2017, a 17% decrease from the same period in 2016 due to a reduction in volume 
and changes in fair value pricing used to allocate full access subscription revenues between print and digital circulation. 
Foreign currency exchange rates negatively affected circulation revenues by $4.5 million. 

Commercial printing and other revenues were $193.2 million for 2017, a decrease of 1% compared to 2016. Commercial 

printing and other revenues accounted for 7% of total publishing revenues for 2017.

Revenue comparisons 2016 - 2015:

Advertising revenues for 2016 were $1.6 billion, which were relatively flat compared to 2015. Advertising revenues 
associated with our 2016 publishing acquisitions were $200.0 million and with our 2015 publishing acquisitions were $26.0 
million. Advertising revenues on a same store basis decreased 13%, primarily due to lower print advertising demand consistent 
with general trends adversely impacting the publishing industry. Foreign currency exchange rates negatively affected 
advertising revenues by $27.2 million. 

33

Digital advertising revenues were $395.9 million in 2016, a decrease of 2% compared to 2015. Digital advertising revenues 

on a same store basis decreased 7%, primarily due to unfavorable post-spin changes to the CareerBuilder affiliate agreement 
and the shift to reporting of third-party digital revenues on a net basis in conjunction with the execution of new agreements of 
$58.1 million. Without the impact of these changes, digital advertising revenue on a same store basis would have increased 7% 
year over year, primarily as a result of increases in video and mobile display revenues. Additionally, positively impacting digital 
advertising revenues were revenues associated with our 2016 publishing acquisitions of $22.4 million and our 2015 publishing 
acquisitions of $4.2 million whereas foreign currency exchange rates negatively affected digital advertising revenues by $6.4 
million.

Retail, national, and classified advertising revenues consist of both print and digital advertising.

Retail advertising revenues totaled $869.4 million in 2016, an increase of 7% when compared to 2015. The increase was 

attributable to retail advertising revenues associated with our 2016 publishing acquisitions of $141.0 million and our 2015 
publishing acquisitions of $14.0 million. Retail advertising revenues on a same store basis decreased 11% due to lower 
advertising demand in print publications. Foreign currency exchange rates negatively affected retail advertising revenues by 
$11.2 million. 

National advertising revenues were $220.2 million in 2016, a decrease of 2% compared to 2015. National advertising 
revenues on a same store basis decreased 4% due to lower advertising demand in print publications. The decrease was partially 
offset by national advertising revenues associated with our 2016 publishing acquisitions of $4.7 million and our 2015 
publishing acquisitions of $1.2 million as well as continued growth in national digital advertising revenues. Foreign currency 
exchange rates negatively affected national advertising revenues by $2.8 million. 

Classified advertising revenues for the year ended December 25, 2016 of $513.9 million decreased 10% compared to 2015. 

Classified advertising revenues on a same store basis decreased 20% attributable primarily to declines in automotive and 
employment advertising revenues of $37.7 million and $53.1 million, respectively, reflecting general trends in the newspaper 
industry. The decrease was partially offset by classified advertising revenues associated with our 2016 publishing acquisitions 
of $54.3 million and our 2015 publishing acquisitions of $10.8 million. Foreign currency exchange rates negatively affected 
classified advertising revenues by $13.2 million.

Circulation revenues were $1.1 billion in 2016, an increase of 7% compared to 2015. This increase was primarily 

attributable to circulation revenues associated with our 2016 publishing acquisitions of $116.7 million and our 2015 publishing 
acquisitions of $12.8 million. Circulation revenues on a same store basis decreased 4% attributable to a reduction in volume, 
reflecting general industry trends. Print circulation revenues on a same store basis were $797.5 million in 2016, relatively flat 
year over year. Additionally, digital circulation revenues on a same store basis were $217.7 million in 2016, a 14% decrease 
year over year, due to changes in fair value pricing used to allocate full access subscription revenues between print and digital 
circulation. Foreign currency exchange rates negatively affected circulation revenues by $11.0 million.

Commercial printing and other revenues for 2016 were $195.9 million, a decrease of 7% compared to the prior year. 

Commercial printing and other revenues accounted for approximately 7% of total publishing revenues for the year.

Operating expenses:

Operating expense comparisons 2017 - 2016:

Cost of sales for 2017 decreased 4% from 2016 to $1.8 billion. Cost of sales on a same store basis decreased 12%, driven 
primarily by a decrease in newsprint costs, an overall decline in circulation volumes that reduced production and distribution 
costs, and fewer severance-related expenses. Newsprint costs on a same store basis of $127.0 million decreased 17% primarily 
due to lower consumption. Foreign currency rate fluctuations also reduced expenses by $8.1 million. Partially offsetting the 
decrease in cost of sales was the inclusion of costs associated with our 2016 publishing acquisitions of $116.3 million. 

Total selling, general, and administrative expenses for 2017 decreased 6% from 2016 to $606.0 million. Selling, general, 

and administrative expenses on a same store basis decreased 12%, primarily attributable to continued company-wide cost 
efficiency efforts. Foreign currency exchange rate fluctuations also reduced selling, general, and administrative expenses by 
$4.8 million. Partially offsetting the decrease in selling, general, and administrative expenses was the inclusion of costs 
associated with our 2016 publishing acquisitions of $31.9 million.

Depreciation and amortization expense for 2017 was 29% higher compared to 2016 primarily due to $44.0 million of 
accelerated depreciation expense incurred in 2017 associated with our facility consolidation efforts compared to $3.2 million of 

34

accelerated deprecation incurred in same period in 2016. Depreciation and amortization expenses associated with our 2016 
publishing acquisitions were $9.8 million. Foreign currency exchange fluctuations reduced depreciation expense by $0.6 
million. 

Our individual restructuring programs and space consolidation initiatives continued in 2017, including the right sizing of 

our employee base, disposition of older, underutilized buildings, relocations to more efficient, flexible, digitally-oriented office 
spaces, efforts to reconfigure spaces to take advantage of leasing and subleasing opportunities, and the combination of 
operations where possible. As a result, we recognized restructuring and asset impairment charges during all periods presented. 
These charges are discussed in Note 4 — Restructuring activities and asset impairment charges to the consolidated and 
combined financial statements.

Operating expense comparisons 2016 - 2015:

Cost of sales for 2016 increased 2% to $1.9 billion from 2015. Cost of sales associated with our 2016 publishing 
acquisitions were $232.9 million and our 2015 publishing acquisitions were $24.8 million. Foreign currency exchange rate 
fluctuations partially offset the increase in cost of sales by $20.6 million. Cost of sales on a same store basis decreased 11%, 
which was driven by the decrease in newsprint costs, an overall decline in circulation volumes that reduced production and 
distribution costs, and fewer severance-related expenses. Newsprint costs on a same store basis of $127.5 million decreased 
25% primarily due to lower consumption.

Total selling, general, and administrative expenses for 2016 increased by 5% to $641.4 million from 2015. Selling, general, 

and administrative expenses associated with our 2016 publishing acquisitions were $76.7 million and our 2015 publishing 
acquisitions were $8.9 million. Foreign currency exchange rate fluctuations partially offset the increase in selling, general, and 
administrative expenses by $11.6 million. Selling, general, and administrative expenses on a same store basis decreased 10%, 
primarily attributable to continued company-wide cost efficiency efforts. 

Depreciation and amortization expense for 2016 was 2% higher compared to 2015. Depreciation and amortization 

expenses associated with our 2016 publishing acquisitions were $18.7 million and our 2015 publishing acquisitions were $2.6 
million. Foreign currency exchange fluctuations reduced depreciation expense by $1.3 million. Depreciation and amortization 
expense on a same store basis decreased 15% primarily due to a decrease in amortization as a result of impairment charges 
from the fourth quarter of 2015 that reduced the amount of future amortization recognized as well as older intangible assets that 
became fully amortized during 2016.

As discussed above, we recognized restructuring and asset impairment charges during all periods presented. These charges 

are discussed in Note 4 — Restructuring activities and asset impairment charges to the consolidated and combined financial 
statements.

Adjusted EBITDA

In thousands

2017

Change

2016

Change

2015

Operating income (GAAP basis)

$

Depreciation and amortization

Asset impairment charges

Restructuring costs

Acquisition-related items

Other items

219,677

135,214

46,796

37,376

375

(7,018)

Adjusted EBITDA (non-GAAP basis)

$

432,420

*** Indicates an absolute value percentage change greater than 100.

(7%)

29%

(16%)

(17%)

(52%)

***

(3%)

$

235,398

105,102

55,940

45,031

777

1,860

$

444,108

(8%)

2%

92%

(38%)

***

(77%)

(5%)

$

256,592

103,184

29,130

72,105

—

7,988

$

468,999

Adjusted EBITDA for our publishing segment decreased 3% from 2016 to 2017 and decreased 5% from 2015 to 2016. 
These decreases were primarily attributable to declines in same store publishing revenues due to the continued softness in print 
advertising revenues and declining circulation trends. In addition, there was an unfavorable foreign exchange rate impact of 
$3.3 million in 2017 compared to 2016 and $9.2 million in 2016 compared to 2015. Partially offsetting these decreases were the 
contributions from our 2016 and 2015 acquisitions.

35

ReachLocal segment

ReachLocal was acquired and became a new operating segment in August 2016.

In thousands

Operating revenues:

   Advertising

   Other

Total operating revenues

Operating expenses:

Cost of sales

Selling, general, and administrative expenses

Depreciation and amortization

Restructuring charges

Total operating expenses

Operating loss

2017 (1)

2016 (1)

$

319,346

$

39,382

358,728

207,289

135,496

33,902

980

377,667

$

(18,939) $

100,280

9,864

110,144

67,414

48,582

12,236

640

128,872

(18,728)

Active Clients (a)
Active Product Units (b)
(1) Fiscal year 2017 comprises 53 weeks while fiscal year 2016 comprises 20 weeks.
(a) Active Clients is a number calculated to approximate the number of clients served. Active Clients is calculated by adjusting the number of Active Product 
Units to combine clients with more than one Active Product Unit as a single Active Client. Clients with more than one location are generally reflected as 
multiple Active Clients with the exception of SweetIQ clients. SweetIQ clients are generally reflected as single clients regardless of the number of locations 
served. Because this number includes clients served through ReachLocal's reseller channel, Active Clients includes entities with which ReachLocal does not 
have a direct contractual relationship. Numbers are rounded to the nearest hundred.
(b) Active Product Units is a number we calculate to approximate the number of individual products, licenses, or services we are providing under contract for 
Active Clients. For example, if we were performing both ReachSearch and ReachDisplay campaigns for a client that also licenses ReachEdge, we consider that 
three Active Product Units. Similarly, if a client purchases ReachSearch campaigns for two different products or purposes, we consider that two Active Product 
Units. Numbers are rounded to the nearest hundred.

27,900

15,300

37,500

19,000

Operating revenues: 

Advertising revenues were $319.3 million for 2017, which included advertising revenues from international operations of 

$96.2 million. In 2017, $25.9 million of advertising revenues were recognized as a result of the transition of publishing 
segment customers to the ReachLocal platform. Advertising revenues were $100.3 million for 2016 which included advertising 
revenues from international entities of $30.6 million. Advertising revenues for 2016 were negatively impacted by $8.9 million 
from the revaluation of deferred revenue attributable to the purchase price accounting applied at the acquisition date. 

Other revenues were $39.4 million for 2017. Other revenues of $3.4 million were recognized for 2017 as a result of the 
transition of publishing segment customers to the ReachLocal platform. Additionally, SweetIQ was acquired in April 2017, 
which generated other revenues of $5.2 million since the acquisition date. Other revenues were $9.9 million for 2016.

The increase in Active Clients and Active Product Units as of December 31, 2017 as compared to December 25, 2016 is 

attributable to a mixture of organic growth from the North America base business, the migration of the publishing segment 
digital advertising clients to the ReachLocal platform, the acquisition of SweetIQ, and the onboarding of a significant number 
of new clients in Brazil, partially offset by declines in Europe and Asia Pacific.

36

Operating expenses: 

Cost of sales was $207.3 million for 2017, which included online media acquired from third-party publishers totaling 
$163.3 million. Cost of sales was $67.4 million in 2016, which included online media acquired from third-party publishers 
totaling $66.3 million. Cost of sales also includes third-party direct costs as well as costs to manage and operate ReachLocal's 
various solutions and technology infrastructure. 

Selling, general, and administrative expenses were $135.5 million for 2017 and $48.6 million for 2016. Selling, general, 

and administrative expenses consist primarily of personnel and related expenses for selling and marketing staff, product 
development and engineering professionals, finance, human resources, legal, and executive functions. 2017 totals included 
salaries, benefits, and other costs related to sales and marketing staff of $43.5 million and commission expense of $32.0 
million, while general and administrative expenses were $26.2 million and product and technology expenses were $8.3 million. 
2016 totals included salaries, benefits, and other costs of $16.5 million and commission expense of $10.0 million, while general 
and administrative expenses were $8.7 million and product and technology expenses were $3.0 million.

Depreciation and amortization was $33.9 million for 2017, which included amortization of developed technology 

intangible assets of $27.9 million. Depreciation and amortization was $12.2 million for 2016, which included amortization of 
developed technology intangible assets of $6.6 million.

Adjusted EBITDA

In thousands

Operating loss (GAAP basis)

Depreciation and amortization

Restructuring costs

Acquisition-related items

Other items

2017

2016

Change

$

(18,939) $

33,902

980

43

567

(18,728)

12,236

640

—

—

1%

***

53%

***

***

***

Adjusted EBITDA (non-GAAP basis)

$

16,553

$

(5,852)

*** Indicates an absolute value percentage change greater than 100.

Adjusted EBITDA for our ReachLocal segment was $16.6 million in 2017 compared to a $5.9 million loss in 2016. The 
adjusted EBITDA loss in 2016 is attributable to the exclusion of $8.9 million in revenue due to the purchase price accounting 
revaluation of deferred revenue applied at the acquisition date. 

Corporate and other

Corporate operating revenues were $4.8 million in 2017, $4.2 million in 2016, and $3.8 million in 2015.

Corporate operating expenses were $138.0 million in 2017, an increase of 5% compared to 2016. Increases in expense 
were primarily driven by increases in depreciation expense of $7.1 million, severance-related charges of $5.8 million, and other 
business transformation costs, including changes to our expense allocation structure. These increases were offset by a reduction 
in acquisition-related expenses of $27.1 million.

 Corporate operating expenses were $131.5 million in 2016, an increase from $95.9 million in 2015. The increase was 
primarily driven by acquisition-related expenses of $31.9 million in 2016 along with higher corporate expenses associated with 
our being a public company since the spin-off in 2015. 

Non-operating income (expense)

Interest expense: Interest expense for the year ended December 31, 2017 was $17.1 million compared to expense of $12.8 

million in 2016. The increase in interest expense was primarily attributable to the timing of additional borrowings under the 
Credit Facility.

Other non-operating items, net: Our non-operating items, net, are driven by certain items that fall outside of our normal 
business operations. Our non-operating items, net, consisted of $9.7 million in expense for 2017, $10.2 million in expense for 
2016, and $34.0 million in income for 2015. As a result of our early adoption of new accounting guidance, included in non-
operating expenses are certain net periodic pension and postretirement benefit costs of $21.0 million in 2017 and $9.9 million 

37

in 2016 and a benefit of $6.2 million in 2015. Other non-operating expense, net, for 2017 also included a $2.8 million gain on 
investment. In 2015, there was equity income in unconsolidated investees, net, of $12.0 million primarily attributed to the 
equity income from TNP prior to Gannett's acquisition of the remaining interests in June 2015. In 2015, there was a $21.8 
million gain recognized upon completing the acquisition of our remaining interest in TNP and the assignment of our interest in 
California Newspapers Partnership.

Income tax expense

In December 2017, the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (the “Tax Act”) was signed into law. The Tax Act contains significant 
changes to corporate taxation, including a reduction of the corporate tax rate from 35% to 21%, limitation of the tax deduction 
for interest expense to 30% of earnings, limitation of the deduction for net operating losses (generated after 2017) to 80% of 
current year taxable income, elimination of net operating loss carrybacks, one time taxation of offshore earnings at reduced 
rates regardless of whether they are repatriated, elimination of U.S. tax on foreign earnings (subject to certain important 
exceptions), immediate deductions for certain new investments instead of deductions for depreciation expense over time, and 
modifying or repealing many business deductions and credits. The Tax Act also includes certain provisions that will offset the 
benefits of rate reduction such as repeal of domestic production deduction and disallowance of performance based officers’ 
compensation in excess of $1 million. 

Under U.S. generally accepted accounting principles, we use the asset and liability method of accounting for income taxes. 

Under this method, deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the future tax consequences attributable to differences 
between the financial statement carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities and their respective tax bases. Deferred tax 
assets and liabilities are measured using enacted tax rates expected to apply to taxable income in the years in which those 
temporary differences are expected to be recovered or settled. The reduction in the federal income tax rate from 35% to 21% 
resulted in a reduction in the value of our deferred tax assets. We have made a reasonable estimate of the reduction in deferred 
tax assets and recorded $42.8 million as additional income tax expense in the fourth quarter of 2017. 

Our deferred tax assets were further reduced by $11.1 million through the establishment of valuation allowances related to 

two of our publishing properties of $7.7 million and state net operating losses of $3.4 million, which were recorded as 
additional income tax expense in 2017.  

During 2017, we made an election to treat one of our ReachLocal international subsidiaries as a disregarded entity for U.S. 
federal income tax purposes, which resulted in worthless stock and bad debt deductions. As a result of this election, we incurred 
a tax loss that resulted in a $21.0 million tax benefit, which is net of a reserve of $15.6 million for uncertain tax positions. We 
expect our domestic operations to generate sufficient taxable income to fully utilize the tax benefit of the loss. This tax loss 
may be subject to audit and future adjustment by the IRS, which could result in a reversal of none, part, or all of the income tax 
benefit or could result in a benefit higher than the net amount recorded. If the IRS rejects or reduces the amount of the income 
tax benefit related to the worthless stock and bad debt deduction, we may have to pay additional cash income taxes, which 
could adversely affect our results of operations, financial condition, and cash flows. We cannot guarantee what the ultimate 
outcome or amount of the benefit we receive, if any, will be.

Our effective income tax rate for the year ended December 31, 2017 was impacted by the events discussed above. 

Excluding both incremental expenses and benefits stemming from the items discussed above, our effective tax rate would have 
been 10.7% for the year ended December 31, 2017, which is lower than the statutory tax rate due to return to provision 
adjustments, release of income tax contingencies upon close of statutes and income from lower tax jurisdictions. 

For 2017 and 2016, net income generated in foreign jurisdictions was 90% and 71%, respectively, where the income tax 
rate is lower than in the U.S., whereas 34% of our 2015 net income was generated in foreign jurisdictions. The lower domestic 
net income is attributable to higher expenses domestically for corporate expenses related to restructuring charges, asset 
impairments, and public company costs as compared with foreign jurisdictions. The recent changes in the mix of income 
generated from lower tax rate foreign jurisdictions relative to U.S. net domestic income have had the effect of decreasing our 
tax expense. 

Net income and earnings per share

Net income: Net income was $6.9 million for 2017 compared to net income of $52.7 million for 2016. The decrease in net 
income is primarily attributable to the decline in operating income of $21.8 million and the increase in the provision for income 
taxes of $20.1 million. 

38

 
Net income was $52.7 million for 2016 compared to $146.1 million for 2015. The decrease in net income is primarily 
attributable to the decline in operating income of $75.1 million, the decline in other non-operating items, net, of $44.2 million, 
and the increase in interest expense of $8.2 million.

Diluted earnings per share: Diluted earnings per share were $0.06 for 2017 compared to earnings per share of $0.44 for 

2016. The decrease in diluted earnings per share for 2017 compared to 2016 was primarily attributable to the decline in net 
income discussed above along with a decrease in the weighted average diluted shares to 115.6 million in 2017 from 118.6 
million in 2016.

Diluted earnings per share were $0.44 for 2016 compared to $1.25 for 2015. The decrease in diluted earnings per share for 
2016 compared to 2015 was primarily attributable to the decline in net income discussed above along with the increase in the 
weighted average diluted shares to 118.6 million in 2016 from 116.7 million in 2015. 

Liquidity and Capital Resources

Our operations, which have historically generated strong positive cash flow, along with our Credit Facility described below, 
are expected to provide sufficient liquidity to meet our requirements, including those for investments and expected dividends or 
share repurchases. For strategic acquisitions, we will consider financing options as appropriate. 

Details of our cash flows are included in the table below:

In thousands

Net cash flow from operating activities

Net cash flow used for investing activities

Net cash flow from (used for) financing activities

Effect of currency exchange rate change
Net increase (decrease) in cash

Operating cash flows 

2017

2016

2015

$

$

236,468

$

165,555

$

(87,569)

(141,786)

(519,073)

271,418

(848)
6,265

$

(272)
(82,372) $

231,020

(43,312)

(62,766)

(193)
124,749

Our cash flow from operating activities was $236.5 million for 2017 compared to $165.6 million of net cash flow from 
operating activities for 2016. The increase in net cash flow from operating activities was primarily attributable to tax refunds, 
net of payments, in 2017 of $18.9 million compared to tax payments, net of refunds, in 2016 of $25.7 million. In addition, 
pension and other postretirement contributions decreased by $34.8 million. Partially offsetting these increases in cash flows 
from operating activities was a decrease in working capital of $1.1 million. 

Our cash flow from operating activities was $165.6 million in 2016 compared to $231.0 million of net cash flow from 
operating activities in 2015. This decrease was primarily the result of a decrease in net income from 2015 to 2016 of $93.4 
million as well as decreased pension and other postretirement contributions of $40.7 million.

In addition to any other contributions that may be required, we expect to contribute approximately $25.0 million to the GRP 

in each of the fiscal years 2018 through 2020 and $15.0 million in 2021. We also expect to contribute approximately £15.0 
million per year to the U.K. Pension Plans from 2017 through 2022. In 2018, we also expect to make aggregate contributions of 
$17.2 million to our other underfunded plans and expect to make additional contributions thereafter. 

Investing cash flows

Cash flows used for investing activities totaled $87.6 million for 2017 primarily driven by capital expenditures of $72.3 

million and payments of $44.3 million for acquisitions, primarily related to the SweetIQ acquisition, partially offset by 
proceeds from sales of certain assets of $28.4 million. 

Cash flows used by investing activities totaled $519.1 million for 2016 primarily driven by payments of $464.1 million for 
our 2016 acquisitions, capital expenditures of $60.0 million, and investments of $12.4 million, partially offset by proceeds from 
sales of certain assets of $17.4 million.

39

Cash flows used by investing activities totaled $43.3 million for 2015 primarily due to payments of $28.7 million for our 
2015 acquisitions, capital expenditures of $54.0 million, partially offset by proceeds from sales of certain assets and proceeds 
from other investments of $29.7 million and $12.4 million, respectively.

Financing cash flows 

Cash flows used for financing activities totaled $141.8 million for 2017, primarily consisting of payment of dividends of 
$72.3 million, net repayments of borrowings under our Credit Facility of $45.0 million, and share repurchases of $17.4 million.

Cash flows from financing activities totaled $271.4 million for 2016, primarily as a result of net proceeds from borrowings 
under our Credit Facility of $400.0 million to fund our 2016 acquisitions, partially offset by the payment of dividends of $92.5 
million, and share repurchases of $32.7 million.

Cash flows used for financing activities were $62.8 million for 2015, primarily consisting of $49.7 million in transactions 

with our former parent and the payment of dividends of $18.5 million.

Revolving credit facility 

We maintain a secured revolving credit facility pursuant to which we may borrow up to an aggregate principal amount of 
$500 million (Credit Facility). Under the Credit Facility, we may borrow at an applicable margin above the Eurodollar base rate 
(LIBOR loan) or the higher of the Prime Rate, the Federal Funds Effective Rate plus 0.50%, or the one month LIBOR rate plus 
1.00% (ABR loan). The applicable margin is determined based on our total leverage ratio but differs between LIBOR loans and 
ABR loans. For LIBOR-based borrowing, the margin varies from 2.00% to 2.50%. For ABR-based borrowing, the margin 
varies from 1.00% to 1.50%. Up to $50 million of the Credit Facility is available for issuance of letters of credit. The Credit 
Facility matures on June 29, 2020.

Customary fees related to the Credit Facility, including commitment fees on the undrawn commitments of between 0.30% 
and 0.40% per annum, are payable quarterly in arrears and are based on our total leverage ratio. Borrowings under the Credit 
Facility are guaranteed by our wholly-owned material domestic subsidiaries. All obligations of Gannett and each subsidiary 
guarantor under the Credit Facility are or will be secured by first priority security interests in our equipment, inventory, 
accounts receivable, fixtures, general intangibles and other personal property, mortgages on certain material real property, and 
pledges of the capital stock of each subsidiary guarantor.

Under the Credit Facility, our consolidated interest coverage ratio cannot be less than 3.00:1.00, and our total leverage ratio 

cannot exceed 3.00:1.00 as of the last day of the test period consisting of the last four fiscal quarters. We were in compliance 
with these financial covenants as of December 31, 2017.

The Credit Facility also contains a number of covenants that, among other things, limit or restrict our ability, subject to 
certain exceptions, to: (i) permit certain liens on current or future assets, (ii) enter into certain corporate transactions, (iii) incur 
additional indebtedness, (iv) make certain payments or declare certain dividends or distributions, (v) dispose of certain 
property, (vi) make certain investments, (vii) prepay or amend the terms of other indebtedness, or (viii) enter into certain 
transactions with our affiliates. We were in compliance with these covenants as of December 31, 2017.

As of December 31, 2017, we had $355.0 million in outstanding borrowings under the Credit Facility and $15.0 million of 
letters of credit outstanding, leaving $130.0 million of availability. Subsequent to December 31, 2017, we repaid $50.0 million 
of the outstanding balance.

Share repurchase program

In July 2015, our Board of Directors approved a share repurchase program authorizing us to repurchase shares with an 
aggregate value of up to $150 million over a three-year period. Shares may be repurchased at management's discretion, either in 
the open market or in privately negotiated block transactions. Management's decision to repurchase shares depends on several 
factors, including share price and other corporate liquidity requirements. 

During the year ended December 31, 2017, we repurchased two million shares at a cost of $17.4 million. As of 
December 31, 2017, there was $100.0 million in availability to repurchase shares under the share repurchase program.

40

Operating results non-GAAP information

Presentation of non-GAAP information: We use non-GAAP financial performance and liquidity measures to supplement 

the financial information presented on a GAAP basis. These non-GAAP financial measures should not be considered in 
isolation from or as a substitute for the related GAAP measures and should be read together with financial information 
presented on a GAAP basis.

In this report, we present adjusted EBITDA, adjusted net income, and adjusted diluted earnings per share (EPS), which are 
non-GAAP financial performance measures that exclude from our reported GAAP results the impact of certain items consisting 
primarily of workforce restructuring charges, facility consolidation costs, and non-cash asset impairment charges. We believe 
such expenses, charges, and gains are not indicative of normal, ongoing operations, and their inclusion in results makes for 
more difficult comparisons between years and with peer group companies. In the future, however, we are likely to incur 
expenses, charges, and gains similar to the items for which the applicable GAAP financial measures have been adjusted and to 
report non-GAAP financial measures excluding such items. Accordingly, exclusion of those or similar items in our non-GAAP 
presentations should not be interpreted as implying the items are non-recurring, infrequent, or unusual.

We define our non-GAAP measures, which may not be comparable to similarly titled measures reported by other 

companies, as follows:

•  Adjusted EBITDA is a non-GAAP financial performance measure we believe offers a useful view of the overall operation 
of our businesses. Adjusted EBITDA is defined as net income before (1) income taxes, (2) interest expense, (3) equity 
income, (4) other non-operating items, (5) restructuring costs (6) acquisition-related expenses (including certain integration 
expenses), (7) asset impairment charges, (8) other items (including certain business transformation costs, litigation expenses, 
multi-employer pension withdrawals, and gains or losses on certain investments), (9) depreciation, and (10) amortization. 
When adjusted EBITDA is discussed in this report, the most directly comparable GAAP financial measure is net income.

•  Adjusted net income is a non-GAAP financial performance measure we use for the purpose of calculating adjusted EPS. 
Adjusted net income is defined as net income before the adjustments we apply in calculating adjusted EPS as described 
below. We believe presenting adjusted net income is useful to enable investors to understand how we calculate adjusted EPS, 
which provides a useful view of the overall operation of our business. When adjusted net income is described in this report, 
the most directly comparable GAAP financial measure is net income.

•  Adjusted EPS is a non-GAAP financial performance measure we believe offers a useful view of the overall operation of our 

business. We define adjusted EPS as EPS before tax-effected (1) restructuring costs, (2) asset impairment charges, (3) 
acquisition-related expenses (including certain integration expenses), (4) non-operating (gains) losses, and (5) other items 
(including certain business transformation expenses, litigation expenses, multi-employer pension withdrawals, and gains or 
losses on certain investments). The tax impact on these non-GAAP tax deductible adjustments is based on the estimated 
statutory tax rates for the U.K. of 19.25% and the U.S. of 38.7%. In addition, tax is adjusted for the impact of non-deductible 
acquisition costs, a tax benefit related to a worthless stock and bad debt deduction, and effects related to the passage of the 
Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. When adjusted EPS is discussed in this report, the most directly comparable GAAP financial 
measure is diluted EPS.

•  Free cash flow is a non-GAAP liquidity measure that adjusts our reported GAAP results for items we believe are critical to 

the ongoing success of our business. We define free cash flow as cash flow from operating activities less capital 
expenditures, which results in a figure representing free cash flow available for use in operations, additional investments, 
debt obligations, and returns to shareholders. The most directly comparable GAAP financial measure is net cash from 
operating activities.

We use non-GAAP financial measures for purposes of evaluating our performance and liquidity. Therefore, we believe 

each of the non-GAAP measures presented provides useful information to investors by allowing them to view our businesses 
through the eyes of our management and Board of Directors, facilitating comparison of results across historical periods, and 
providing a focus on the underlying ongoing operating performance of our business. Many of our peer group companies present 
similar non-GAAP measures to better facilitate industry comparisons.

Discussion of non-GAAP measures: The following is a discussion of our as adjusted non-GAAP financial results. 

41

Adjusted EBITDA

Reconciliations of adjusted EBITDA from net income presented in accordance with GAAP on our Consolidated and 

combined statements of income are presented below:

In thousands

Net income (GAAP basis)

Provision for income taxes

Interest expense

Other non-operating items

Operating income (GAAP basis)

Depreciation and amortization

Asset impairment charges

Restructuring costs

Acquisition-related items

Other items

$

$

2017

6,887

33,854

17,142

9,688

67,571

191,885

46,796

44,284

5,202

4,195

Adjusted EBITDA (non-GAAP basis)

$

359,933

*** Indicates an absolute value percentage change greater than 100.

Change
(87%)

***

34%

(5%)

(24%)

44%

(16%)

(3%)

(84%)

32%

0%

2016

Change

2015

$

146,091

$

$

52,710

13,718

12,791

10,151

89,370

132,964

55,940

45,757

32,683

3,181

$

359,895

(46%)

$

(64%)

(71%)

***

***

24%

92%

(41%)

***

(60%)

(7%)

47,884

4,562

(34,032)

164,505

107,552

29,130

77,414

—

7,988

$

386,589

Adjusted EBITDA in 2017 was flat compared to 2016. This was primarily due to the contributions from our acquisitions as 

well as additional EBITDA from the 53rd week of operations in 2017, offset by the continued softness in print advertising 
revenues and declining circulation trends. Also impacting adjusted EBITDA was an unfavorable foreign exchange rate impact 
of $3.3 million in 2017 compared to 2016. 

Adjusted EBITDA decreased 7% from 2015 to 2016 primarily due to the continued softness in print advertising revenues, 
declining circulation trends, and higher corporate costs related to being a stand-alone public company. Also impacting adjusted 
EBITDA was an unfavorable foreign exchange rate impact of $9.2 million in 2016 compared to 2015. Partially offsetting these 
decreases were the contributions from our acquisitions. 

42

Adjusted diluted EPS

Reconciliations of adjusted diluted earnings per share from net income presented in accordance with GAAP on our 

Consolidated and combined statements of income are presented below:

Change

92%

2015

29,130

In thousands, except per share amounts

Asset impairment charges
Restructuring costs (including accelerated
depreciation)

Acquisition-related items

Non-operating (gains) losses

Other items

Pretax impact

Income tax impact of above items
Estimated effect of U.S. statutory tax rate
change
Other tax-related items
Impact of items affecting comparability 
on net income (loss)

Net income (loss) (GAAP basis)
Impact of items affecting comparability 
on net income (loss)
Adjusted net income (non-GAAP basis)

Earnings per share - diluted (GAAP basis)
Impact of items affecting comparability on
net income (loss)
Adjusted earnings per share - diluted (non-
GAAP basis)
Diluted weighted average number of common
shares outstanding (GAAP basis)
Diluted weighted average number of common
shares outstanding (non-GAAP basis)

2017

46,796

Change

(16%)

88,331

5,202

(4,710)

(3,276)

132,343

(50,826)

42,776

(12,169)

112,124

80%

(84%)

***

***

(7%)

0%

***

***

22%

6,887

(87%)

112,124

119,011

0.06

0.97

1.03

115,610

115,610

22%

(18%)

(86%)

24%

(16%)

(3%)

(3%)

$

$

$

$

$

*** Indicates an absolute value percentage change greater than 100.

$

$

$

$

$

2016

55,940

48,975

32,683

3,115

1,860

142,573

(50,609)

—

—

91,964

(37%)

***

***

(77%)

46%

46%

***

***

46%

52,710

(64%)

91,964

144,674

0.44

0.78

1.22

118,625

118,625

46%

(31%)

(65%)

44%

(32%)

2%

2%

77,414

(17,971)

1,008

7,988

97,569

(34,573)

—

—

62,996

146,091

62,996

209,087

1.25

0.54

1.79

116,695

116,695

$

$

$

$

$

Adjusted diluted earnings per share was $1.03 for 2017 compared to $1.22 in 2016 and $1.79 in 2015. The decline in 
adjusted diluted EPS was attributable to the same factors discussed above for adjusted EBITDA in addition to changes in non-
operating income and expenses, particularly pension expense and interest expense.

Free cash flow

Reconciliations of free cash flow from cash flow from operating activities presented in accordance with GAAP on our 

Consolidated and combined statements of cash flow are presented below:

In thousands

Cash flow from operating activities

Capital expenditures

Free cash flow

Change

2017

2016

2015

$ 236,468

$ 165,555

$ 231,020

2017 vs. 2016
70,913
$

2016 vs. 2015
(65,465)
$

(72,325)

(60,048)

(53,979)

(12,277)

(6,069)

$ 164,143

$ 105,507

$ 177,041

$

58,636

$

(71,534)

Free cash flow for 2017 increased by $58.6 million from the same period in 2016. This increase was primarily attributable to 

the increase in net cash flow from operating activities of $70.9 million compared to 2016. The increase in net cash flow from 
operating activities was primarily attributable to tax refunds, net of payments, in 2017 of $18.9 million compared to tax 
payments, net of refunds, in 2016 of $25.7 million. In addition, pension and other postretirement contributions decreased by 

43

$34.8 million. Partially offsetting these increases in cash flows was an increase in cash outflows for capital expenditures during 
2017 of $12.3 million, which was primarily attributable to software development. 

Free cash decreased by $71.5 million from 2015 to 2016. This decrease was attributable to net cash flow from operating 

activities of $165.6 million in 2016, down $65.5 million compared to the prior year primarily attributable to the softening 
environment for advertising and circulation revenues offset by the decrease in pension and other postretirement contributions of 
$40.7 million. There was an increase of $6.1 million in cash outflows for capital expenditures during 2016 compared to the 
prior year, which was primarily attributable to the build out of the corporate leased facilities.

Contractual obligations and commitments

The following table summarizes the expected cash outflows resulting from financial contracts and commitments as of the 

year ended December 31, 2017:

In thousands

Total

2018

2019 - 2020

2021 - 2022

Thereafter

Payments Due by Period

$

428,787

Operating leases (a)
Purchase obligations (b)
Other noncurrent liabilities (c)
Retirement plan contributions (d)
Total
(a)  See Note 12 — Commitments, contingencies and other matters to the consolidated and combined financial statements.
(b) 

1,479,575

399,780

325,675

833,366

195,741

191,184

211,615

26,238

58,459

26,238

97,691

45,237

90,474

—

$

$

$

$

$

$

$

79,322

$

175,885

—

55,473

193,315

250,125

—

—

310,680

$

443,440

Includes purchase obligations related to wire services, interactive marketing agreements, professional services, paper distribution agreements, printing 
contracts, and other legally binding commitments. Amounts which we are liable for under purchase orders outstanding at December 31, 2017 are reflected 
in the Consolidated Balance Sheets as accounts payable and accrued liabilities and are excluded from the table above.

(c)  Consists of unfunded and under-funded postretirement benefit plans excluding the Gannett Retirement Plan and Newsquest Pension Scheme. Unfunded 
plans include the Gannett 2015 Supplemental Retirement Plan, the Gannett Retiree Welfare Plan, and a SERP plan which was assumed pursuant to our 
acquisition of JMG, and under-funded plans include the Newspaper Guild of Detroit Plan. Contributions beyond the next fiscal year are excluded due to 
uncertainties regarding significant assumptions involved in estimating these contributions such as interest rate levels as well as the amount and timing of 
invested asset returns. 

(d)  Consists of amounts we are contractually obligated to contribute to the GRP and Newsquest Pension Scheme. This total does not include additional 

contributions which may be required to meet IRS minimum funding standards as these contributions are subject to uncertainties regarding significant 
assumptions involved in their estimation, such as interest rate levels as well as the amount and timing of invested asset returns. 

Due to uncertainty with respect to the timing of future cash flows associated with unrecognized tax benefits at 

December 31, 2017, we are unable to make reasonably reliable estimates of the period of cash settlement. Therefore, $33.0 
million of unrecognized tax benefits have been excluded from the contractual obligations table above. See Note 10 — Income 
taxes to the consolidated and combined financial statements for a further discussion of income taxes.

Off-balance sheet arrangements

As of December 31, 2017, we had no material off-balance sheet arrangements as defined in the rules of the Securities and 

Exchange Commission.

Capital stock

In July 2015, we announced that our Board of Directors approved a share repurchase program authorizing us to repurchase 

shares with an aggregate value of up to $150 million over a three-year period. Shares may be repurchased at management's 
discretion, either in the open market or in privately negotiated block transactions. Management's decision to repurchase shares 
will depend on share price and other corporate liquidity requirements. We expect that share repurchases may occur from time to 
time over the three years. As of December 31, 2017, 5.8 million shares have been repurchased under this program at a total cost 
of $50.0 million.

The Gannett Co., Inc. 401(k) Savings Plan, our principal defined contribution plan, includes a company matching 
contribution in the form of our stock. We fund the match by buying our stock in the open market and depositing it in the 
participant's account.

Our common stock outstanding, net of treasury stock, at December 31, 2017, totaled 111.8 million shares, compared to 
112.9 million shares at December 25, 2016 and 115.7 million shares at December 27, 2015. As of February 19, 2018, our shares 
were held by 5,984 holders of record.

44

Dividends

Dividends declared on common stock amounted to $72.3 million in 2017.

Cash dividends

2017

2016

2015

4th Quarter

3rd Quarter

2nd Quarter

1st Quarter

4th Quarter

3rd Quarter

2nd Quarter

1st Quarter

4th Quarter

3rd Quarter

Payment Date

Per Share

December 26, 2017

September 18, 2017

June 19, 2017

March 24, 2017

December 19, 2016

September 19, 2016

June 20, 2016

April 1, 2016

January 4, 2016

October 1, 2015

$

$

$

$

$

$

$

$

$

$

0.16

0.16

0.16

0.16

0.16

0.16

0.16

0.16

0.16

0.16

On February 28, 2018, the Board of Directors declared a dividend of $0.16 per share, payable on March 26, 2018, to 

shareholders of record as of the close of business March 12, 2018.

We expect to continue to pay regular quarterly cash dividends on our common stock. Future cash dividends will be at the 
discretion of our Board of Directors, and the amount of cash dividends per share will depend upon, among other things, our 
future earnings, financial condition, results of operations, level of indebtedness, capital requirements and surplus, contractual 
restrictions, the number of shares of common stock outstanding, as well as the legal requirements, regulatory constraints and 
other factors that our Board of Directors deems relevant. Our ability to pay cash dividends on our common stock is subject to 
our continued compliance with the terms of our Credit Facility, including compliance with all financial and other covenants.

Seasonality

Our revenues are subject to moderate seasonality due primarily to fluctuations in advertising volumes. Our advertising 

revenues for publishing are typically highest in the company's fourth quarter due to holiday and seasonal advertising and lowest 
in the first quarter following the holiday season. The volume of advertising sales in any period is also impacted by other 
external factors such as competitors' pricing, advertisers' decisions to increase or decrease their advertising expenditures in 
response to anticipated consumer demand, and general economic conditions.

Critical accounting policies and the use of estimates

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles requires management to 

make estimates and assumptions about future events that affect the amounts reported in the financial statements and 
accompanying notes. Actual results could differ significantly from those estimates. We believe the following discussion 
addresses our most critical accounting policies, which are those that are important to the presentation of our financial condition 
and results of operations and require management's most subjective and complex judgments.

Business combinations: We allocate the fair value of purchase consideration to the tangible assets acquired, liabilities 

assumed, and intangible assets acquired based on their estimated fair values. The excess of the fair value of purchase 
consideration over the values of these identifiable assets and liabilities is recorded as goodwill. When determining the fair value 
of assets acquired and liabilities assumed, management makes significant estimates and assumptions, especially with respect to 
intangible assets.

Critical estimates in valuing certain identifiable assets include, but are not limited to, expected long-term market growth, 
future expected operating expenses, cost of capital, and appropriate discount rates. Management's estimates of fair value are 
based upon assumptions believed to be reasonable but which are inherently uncertain and unpredictable. As a result, actual 
results may differ from estimates.

Goodwill: As of December 31, 2017, we had $737.7 million of goodwill, which represented approximately 29% of our total 
assets. Goodwill represents the excess of acquisition cost over the fair value of assets acquired, including identifiable intangible 
assets, net of liabilities assumed. Goodwill is tested for impairment annually on the first day of our fourth quarter or between 

45

annual tests if events occur or circumstances change that would more likely than not reduce the fair value of a reporting unit 
below its carrying amount.

Before performing the annual two-step goodwill impairment test, we are first permitted to perform a qualitative assessment 
to determine if the two-step quantitative test must be completed. The qualitative assessment considers events and circumstances 
such as macroeconomic conditions, industry and market conditions, cost factors and overall financial performance, as well as 
company and specific reporting unit specifications. If, after performing this assessment, we conclude it is more likely than not 
that the fair value of a reporting unit is less than its carrying amount, then we are required to perform a two-step quantitative 
test. Otherwise, the two-step test is not required. For 2017, a qualitative assessment was not used.

In the first step of the quantitative test, we are required to determine the fair value of each reporting unit and compare it to 
the carrying amount of the reporting unit. Fair value of the reporting unit is defined as the price that would be received to sell 
the unit as a whole in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date and is determined using 
various techniques including multiple of earnings and discounted cash flow valuation. Determining the fair value of the 
reporting units is judgmental in nature and involves the use of significant estimates and assumptions. These estimates and 
assumptions include changes in revenue and operating margins used to project future cash flows, discount rates, valuation 
multiples of entities engaged in the same or similar lines of business, and future economic and market conditions. 

After considering the above factors, if the carrying amount of the reporting unit exceeds its fair value, we perform the 

second step of the impairment test. In the second step of the impairment test, we determine the implied fair value of the 
reporting unit's goodwill. Implied fair value is calculated by assigning the fair value of a reporting unit to all of the assets and 
liabilities of that unit (including any unrecognized intangible assets) as if the reporting unit had been acquired in a business 
combination or an acquisition by a not-for-profit entity. If, after this assignment, the carrying value of a reporting unit's 
goodwill exceeds its implied fair value, then an impairment of goodwill has occurred, and we must recognize an impairment 
loss for the difference between the carrying amount and the implied fair value of goodwill.

Fair value of the reporting units depends on several factors, including the future strength of the economy in our principal 

markets. New and developing competition as well as technological change could also adversely affect future fair value 
estimates. Any one or a combination of these factors could lead to declines in reporting unit fair values and result in goodwill 
impairment charges.

All three of our reporting units (Domestic Publishing, the U.K. Group, and ReachLocal) have goodwill balances. The 
estimated fair value of each of these reporting units exceeded the carrying value at the most recent measurement date. The 
estimated fair value of our ReachLocal reporting unit, which was acquired in August 2016, exceeded its carrying value by 
approximately 10%. The other reporting units' fair values were substantially in excess of their carrying values. Accordingly, no 
goodwill impairment charges were recorded. 

Intangible assets (indefinite-lived and amortizable): Intangible assets consist of mastheads, trade names, domain names, 

developed technology, and customer relationships. 

Local mastheads (e.g., publishing periodical titles and web site domain names) and certain trade names are not subject to 
amortization. As a result, they are tested for impairment annually on the first day of the fourth quarter or more frequently if 
events or changes in circumstances suggest the asset might be impaired. The quantitative impairment test consists of a 
comparison of the fair value of each masthead, domain name, or trade name with its carrying amount. We use a "relief from 
royalty" approach which utilizes a discounted cash flow model to determine the fair value of each masthead, domain name, or 
trade name. Management's judgments and estimates of future operating results in determining the intangibles fair values are 
consistently applied to each underlying business in determining the fair value of each intangible asset. In 2017, following this 
testing, we recognized impairment charges of $3.1 million. These charges were to bring the recorded indefinite lived 
intangibles equal to their implied fair values based on future projections. 

Our amortizable intangible assets consist mainly of developed technology, customer relationships, and certain trade names 
and mastheads. Developed technology is comprised of digital marketing solutions and other technology acquired as part of the 
ReachLocal and SweetIQ transactions. Customer relationships include subscriber lists and advertiser relationships. These asset 
values are amortized systematically over their estimated useful lives. When triggering events are identified, an impairment 
assessment of our definite lived intangibles is performed using the "excess earnings method." The "excess earnings method" 
approach utilizes the present value of projected cash flows expected to be generated by the intangibles, less charges 
representing the contribution of other assets to those cash flows. In 2017, following this testing, we recognized impairment 
charges of $3.4 million. These charges were to bring the recorded definite lived intangibles equal to their implied fair values 
based on future projections. 

46

Property, plant and equipment: Property, plant, and equipment are recorded at cost and depreciated on a straight-line 
method over the estimated useful lives of such assets. Changes in circumstances such as technological advances or changes to 
our business model or capital strategy could result in actual useful lives differing from our estimates. In cases where we 
determine the useful life of property, plant and equipment should be shortened, we would, after evaluating for impairment, 
depreciate the asset over its revised remaining useful life thereby increasing depreciation expense.

Accelerated depreciation was recorded in 2017 and 2016 for certain property, plant, and equipment, reflecting specific 

decisions to consolidate production and other business services.

We review our property, plant, and equipment assets for potential impairment at the asset group level (generally at the local 

business level) by comparing the carrying value of such assets with the expected undiscounted cash flows to be generated by 
those asset groups and local business units. The carrying value of a long-lived asset group is considered impaired when the 
projected undiscounted future cash flows are less than their carrying value. We measure impairment based on the amount by 
which the carrying value exceeds the fair value. In 2017, we recognized $40.3 million of impairment charges primarily 
resulting from assets we have classified as held-for-sale in connection with our facility consolidation and cost saving initiatives. 

Pension accounting: We, along with our subsidiaries, have various defined benefit retirement plans under which 

substantially all of the benefits have been frozen in previous years.

We account for our pension plans in accordance with the applicable accounting guidance, which requires us to include the 

funded status of our pension plans in our balance sheets and to recognize, as a component of other comprehensive income 
(loss), the gains or losses that arise during the period but are not recognized in pension expense. Pension expenses associated 
with service costs are reported on the Consolidated and combined statements of income as Cost of sales and operating expenses 
or Selling, general and administrative expenses. All other pension expenses are reported on the Consolidated and combined 
statements of income within Other non-operating items, net.

The determination of pension plan obligations and expense is dependent upon a number of assumptions regarding future 
events, the most important of which are the discount rate applied to pension plan obligations and the expected long-term rate of 
return on plan assets. The discount rate assumption is based on investment yields available at year-end on corporate bonds rated 
AA and above with a maturity to match the expected benefit payment stream. A decrease in discount rates would increase 
pension obligations. 

We establish the expected long-term rate of return by developing a forward-looking, long-term return assumption for each 
pension fund asset class, taking into account factors such as the expected real return for the specific asset class and inflation. A 
single long-term rate of return is then calculated as the weighted average of the target asset allocation percentages and the long-
term return assumption for each asset class. We apply the expected long-term rate of return to the fair value of the pension 
assets in determining the dollar amount of the expected return. Changes in the expected long-term return on plan assets would 
increase or decrease pension plan expense. The effects of actual results differing from these assumptions are accumulated as 
unamortized gains and losses. A corridor approach is used in the amortization of these gains and losses by amortizing the 
balance exceeding the greater of 10% of the beginning balances of the projected benefit obligation or the fair value of the plan 
assets. The amortization period is based on the average life expectancy of plan participants, which is currently estimated to be 
approximately 20 years for our principal retirement plan.

For 2017, the assumption used for the benefit obligation and funded status discount rate was 3.65% for our principal 
retirement plan obligations. As an indication of the sensitivity of pension liabilities to the discount rate assumption, a 50 basis 
point reduction in the discount rate at the end of 2017 would have increased plan obligations by approximately $96.0 million. A 
50 basis point change in the discount rate used to calculate 2017 expense would have changed total pension plan expense for 
2017 by approximately $1.6 million. We assumed a rate of 7.50% for our long-term expected return on pension assets used for 
our principal retirement plan. As an indication of the sensitivity of pension expense to the long-term rate of return assumption, 
a 50 basis point decrease in the expected rate of return on pension assets would have increased estimated pension plan expense 
for 2017 by approximately $7.6 million. 

Income taxes: We are subject to income taxes in the U.S. and various foreign jurisdictions in which we operate and record 
our tax provision for the anticipated tax consequences in our reported results of operations. Tax laws are complex and subject to 
different interpretations by the taxpayer and respective government taxing authorities. Significant judgment is required in 
determining our tax expense and in evaluating our tax positions including evaluating uncertainties in the application of tax laws 
and regulations.

47

Our annual tax rate is based on our income, statutory tax regulations and rates, and tax planning opportunities available in 
the various jurisdictions in which we operate. Significant management judgment is required in determining our provision for 
income taxes, deferred tax assets and liabilities, and the valuation allowance recorded against our net deferred tax assets, if any. 
In assessing the likelihood of realization of deferred tax assets, management considers estimates of the amount and character of 
future taxable income.

Our actual effective tax rate and income tax expense could vary from estimated amounts due to the future impacts of 
various items, including changes in income tax laws, tax planning and our forecasted financial condition, and results of 
operations in future periods. Although we believe current estimates are reasonable, actual results could differ from these 
estimates.

We recognize tax benefits from uncertain tax positions only if it is more likely than not that the tax position will be 
sustained on examination by the taxing authorities based on the technical merits of the position. The tax benefits recognized 
from such positions are then measured based on the largest benefit that has a greater than 50% likelihood of being realized 
upon ultimate settlement. Significant management judgment is required to determine whether the recognition threshold has 
been met and, if so, the appropriate amount of unrecognized tax benefits to be recorded in the consolidated and combined 
financial statements. Management re-evaluates tax positions each period in which new information about recognition or 
measurement becomes available. Our policy is to recognize, when applicable, interest and penalties on unrecognized income 
tax benefits as part of Provision for income taxes.

The effect of a 1% change in the effective tax rate for 2017 would have resulted in a change of $0.4 million in the provision 

for income taxes and net income.

48

ITEM 7A. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISKS 

We believe that our market risk from financial instruments, such as accounts receivable, accounts payable and debt, is not 

material. We are exposed to foreign exchange rate risk due to our publishing operations in the U.K., for which the British pound 
sterling is the functional currency. Translation gains or losses affecting the Consolidated and combined statements of income 
have not been significant in the past. 

Our cumulative foreign currency translation adjustment reported as part of our equity totaled $344.3 million at 

December 31, 2017, $300.3 million at December 25, 2016, and $384.8 million at December 27, 2015. Newsquest's assets and 
liabilities were translated from British pounds sterling to U.S. dollars at the December 31, 2017 exchange rate of 1.35, at the 
December 25, 2016 exchange rate of 1.23, and at the December 27, 2015 exchange rate of 1.49. Newsquest's financial results 
were translated at an average rate of 1.29 for 2017, 1.36 for 2016, and 1.53 for 2015. 

 If the price of the British pound sterling against the U.S. dollar had been 10% more or less than the actual price, operating 

income would have increased or decreased approximately $4.5 million for the period ended December 31, 2017. In addition, 
our ReachLocal segment has operating activities denominated in currencies other than the U.S. dollar, including the Australian 
dollar, Canadian dollar, European euro, Japanese yen, Indian rupee, Mexican peso, New Zealand dollar, Singapore dollar and 
Brazilian real. A 10% fluctuation in each of these currencies relative to the U.S. dollar would have increased or decreased 
operating income by approximately $1.8 million for the period ended December 31, 2017.

We are also exposed to fluctuations in interest rates on borrowings outstanding under our Credit Facility. Based on the 
variable-rate debt outstanding as of December 31, 2017, we estimate that a 1% increase or decrease in interest rates would have 
increased or decreased interest expense by $3.6 million for the period ended December 31, 2017.

49

ITEM 8. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA 

INDEX TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

Consolidated Balance Sheets at December 31, 2017 and December 25, 2016

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

Consolidated and Combined Statements of Income for each of the three fiscal years in the period ended December 31,
2017

Consolidated and Combined Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss) for each of the three fiscal years in the
period ended December 31, 2017

Consolidated and Combined Statements of Cash Flows for each of the three fiscal years in the period ended December
31, 2017

Consolidated and Combined Statements of Equity for each of the three fiscal years in the period ended December 31,
2017

Notes to Consolidated and Combined Financial Statements

Page

51

52

53

54

55

56

57

50

 
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

To the Shareholders and the Board of Directors of Gannett Co., Inc. 

Opinion on the Financial Statements

We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Gannett Co., Inc. as of December 31, 2017 and December 25, 
2016, the related consolidated and combined statements of income, comprehensive income (loss), equity and cash flows for each 
of the three fiscal years in the period ended December 31, 2017, and the related notes (collectively referred to as the “consolidated 
financial statements”). In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the consolidated 
financial position of the Company at December 31, 2017 and December 25, 2016, and the consolidated and combined results of 
its operations and its cash flows for each of the three fiscal years in the period ended December 31, 2017, in conformity with U.S. 
generally accepted accounting principles. 

We also have audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) 
(PCAOB), the Company’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2017, based on criteria established in 
Internal Control-Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (2013 
framework) and our report dated February 28, 2018, included in Item 9A, expressed an unqualified opinion thereon.

Basis for Opinion

These financial statements are the responsibility of the Company's management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on 
the Company’s financial statements based on our audits. We are a public accounting firm registered with the PCAOB and are 
required to be independent with respect to the Company in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable 
rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.

We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the 
audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement, whether due to error 
or fraud. Our audits included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements, whether 
due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, 
evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. Our audits also included evaluating the accounting 
principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the financial 
statements. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion. 

/s/ Ernst & Young LLP

We have served as the Company’s auditor since 2014. 

Tysons, Virginia

February 28, 2018

51

GANNETT CO., INC.
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

In thousands, except share data

Assets

Current assets

Cash and cash equivalents

Accounts receivable, less allowance for doubtful accounts of $11,588 and $10,317, respectively

Other receivables

Inventories

Prepaid income taxes

Prepaid expenses and other current assets

Total current assets

Property, plant and equipment, net

Goodwill

Intangible assets, net

Deferred income taxes

Investments and other assets

Total assets

Liabilities and equity

Current liabilities

December 31,
2017

December 25,
2016

$

120,589

$

352,546

26,296

30,199

4,286

55,932

589,848

933,334

737,716

139,654

102,492

66,933

114,324

358,041

25,863

40,426

30,009

34,843

603,506

1,087,701

698,288

154,644

218,232

82,310

$

2,569,977

$

2,844,681

Accounts payable and accrued liabilities

$

387,406

$

Deferred revenue

Total current liabilities

Income taxes

Postretirement medical and life insurance liabilities

Pension liabilities

Long-term portion of revolving credit facility

Other noncurrent liabilities

Total noncurrent liabilities

Total liabilities

Commitments and contingent liabilities (see Note 12)

Equity

Preferred stock of $0.01 par value per share, 5,000,000 shares authorized, none issued
Common stock of $0.01 par value per share, 500,000,000 shares authorized, 117,547,116 shares issued

at December 31, 2017 and 116,624,726 shares issued at December 25, 2016

Treasury stock at cost, 5,750,000 shares at December 31, 2017 and 3,750,000 shares at December 25,

2016

Additional paid-in capital

Retained earnings (loss)

Accumulated other comprehensive loss

Total equity

Total liabilities and equity

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated and combined financial statements.

52

122,791

510,197

15,181

83,344

421,876

355,000

166,984

438,724

133,263

571,987

25,467

90,134

739,262

400,000

161,070

1,042,385

1,552,582

1,415,933

1,987,920

—

1,175

(50,046)

1,786,941

(64,158)

(656,517)

1,017,395

—

1,166

(32,667)

1,769,905

1,269

(882,912)

856,761

$

2,569,977

$

2,844,681

GANNETT CO., INC. 
CONSOLIDATED AND COMBINED STATEMENTS OF INCOME

In thousands, except per share data

Fiscal year ended

Operating revenues:

Advertising

Circulation

Other

Total operating revenues

Operating expenses:

Cost of sales and operating expenses

Selling, general and administrative expenses

Depreciation and amortization

Asset impairment charges

Restructuring costs

Total operating expenses

Operating income

Non-operating income (expense):

Interest expense

Other non-operating items, net

Total non-operating income (expense)

Income before income taxes

Provision for income taxes

Net income

Net income per share—basic

Net income per share—diluted

December 31,
2017

December 25,
2016

December 27,
2015

$

1,791,618

$

1,703,795

$

1,611,445

1,120,739

234,123

3,146,480

1,133,676

210,003

3,047,474

1,060,118

213,449

2,885,012

1,959,638

1,927,895

1,810,420

836,306

191,885

46,796

44,284

3,078,909

67,571

795,548

132,964

55,940

45,757

2,958,104

89,370

(17,142)

(9,688)

(26,830)

40,741

33,854

6,887

0.06

0.06

$

$

$

(12,791)

(10,151)

(22,942)

66,428

13,718

52,710

0.45

0.44

$

$

$

$

$

$

695,991

107,552

29,130

77,414

2,720,507

164,505

(4,562)

34,032

29,470

193,975

47,884

146,091

1.27

1.25

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated and combined financial statements.

53

GANNETT CO., INC.
CONSOLIDATED AND COMBINED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS)

In thousands

Fiscal year ended

Net income

Other comprehensive income (loss), before tax:

Foreign currency translation adjustments

Pension and other postretirement benefit items:

Actuarial income (loss):

Actuarial income (loss) arising during the period

Amortization of actuarial income (loss)

Prior service credit (cost):

Change in prior service cost

Amortization of prior service cost (credit)

Settlement charge

Transfer from Separation

Other

Pension and other postretirement benefit items

Other comprehensive income (loss) before tax

Income tax effect related to components of other comprehensive income (loss)

Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax

Comprehensive income (loss)

December 31, 
2017

December 25, 
2016

December 27, 
2015

$

6,887

$

52,710

$

146,091

43,990

(84,526)

(19,390)

223,087

72,759

—

3,023

—

—

(36,477)

262,392

306,382

(79,987)

226,395

(334,653)

62,155

(1,002)

1,883

(49)

—

67,959

(203,707)

(288,233)

78,745

(209,488)

(54,142)

58,148

—

(2,722)

1,254

24,180

15,544

42,262

22,872

(18,184)

4,688

$

233,282

$

(156,778) $

150,779

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated and combined financial statements.

54

GANNETT CO., INC.
CONSOLIDATED AND COMBINED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

In thousands

Fiscal year ended

Operating activities

Net income

Adjustments to reconcile net income to operating cash flows:

Gain on acquisition

Depreciation and amortization

Facility consolidation costs

Asset impairment charges

Stock-based compensation - equity awards

Provision for deferred income taxes

Pension and other postretirement expense, net of contributions

Decrease in accounts receivable

Decrease (increase) in other receivables

Decrease (increase) in inventories

Increase (decrease) in accounts payable

Increase (decrease) in interest and taxes payable

Increase (decrease) in accrued expenses

Increase (decrease) in deferred revenue

Other, net

Net cash provided by operating activities

Investing activities

Purchase of property, plant and equipment

Payments for acquisitions, net of cash acquired

Payments for investments

Proceeds from investments

Proceeds from sale of certain assets

Changes in other investing activities

Net cash used for investing activities

Financing activities

December 31, 
2017

December 25, 
2016

December 27, 
2015

$

6,887

$

52,710

$

146,091

—

191,885

7,271

46,796

20,341

31,511

(39,363)

13,175

(3,799)

10,602

(22,211)

14,469

(38,386)

(12,507)

9,797

236,468

(72,325)

(44,343)

(3,827)

—

28,438

4,488

—

132,964

2,231

55,940

20,576

15,734

(84,600)

28,132

6,836

(7,504)

(22,485)

3,246

(25,517)

2,700

(15,408)

165,555

(60,048)

(464,065)

(12,419)

13

17,405

41

(21,799)

107,552

5,148

29,130

20,623

47,380

(134,907)

33,376

(24,961)

14,023

16,844

(9,349)

44,787

(2,894)

(40,024)

231,020

(53,979)

(28,668)

(2,750)

12,402

29,683

—

(87,569)

(519,073)

(43,312)

Proceeds from borrowings under revolving credit facilities

Repayments of borrowings under revolving credit facilities

Dividends paid

Cost of common shares repurchased

Proceeds from issuance of common stock upon settlement of stock awards

Payments for employee taxes withheld from stock awards

Transactions with former parent, net

Deferred payments for acquisitions

Changes in other financing activities

Net cash (used for) provided by financing activities

Effect of currency exchange rate change

Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents

Balance of cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year

35,000

(80,000)

(72,314)

(17,379)

730

(7,318)

—

—

(505)

(141,786)

(848)

6,265

114,324

480,000

(80,000)

(92,495)

(32,667)

562

(3,667)

—

—

(315)

271,418

(272)

(82,372)

196,696

Balance of cash and cash equivalents at end of year

$

120,589

$

114,324

$

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated and combined financial statements.

—

—

(18,462)

—

6,615

—

(49,701)

(1,218)

—

(62,766)

(193)

124,749

71,947

196,696

55

GANNETT CO., INC.
CONSOLIDATED AND COMBINED STATEMENTS OF EQUITY

In thousands, except per share data

Common
Stock
$0.01 Par
Value

Treasury
Stock

Additional
Paid-in
Capital

Retained
Earnings

Accumulated
Other
Comprehensive
Loss

Former
parent's
investment,
net

Total

Balance: December 28, 2014

$

— $

— $

— $

— $

(678,112) $ 1,615,584

$

937,472

Net income, 2015

Other comprehensive income, net of tax

Total comprehensive income

Dividends declared, 2015: $0.32 per
share

Issuance of common shares

Stock options exercised

Restricted stock awards settled

Stock-based compensation

Tax benefit derived from stock awards
settled

Transactions with former parent

Transfer of former parent's investment,
net

Other activity

—

—

—

1,150

6

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

(1,150)

4,987

(293)

21,742

1,622

55,402

1,625,878

103

59,517

—

(36,964)

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

4,688

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

86,574

146,091

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

4,688

150,779

(36,964)

—

4,993

(293)

21,742

1,622

(68,646)

(13,244)

(1,633,512)

—

(7,634)

103

Balance: December 27, 2015

$

1,156

$

— $ 1,708,291

$

22,553

$

(673,424) $

— $ 1,058,576

Net income, 2016

Other comprehensive loss, net of tax

Total comprehensive loss

Dividends declared, 2016: $0.64 per
share

Purchase of treasury stock

Stock options exercised

Restricted stock awards settled

Performance share units settled

Stock-based compensation

Other activity

—

—

—

—

1

5

4

—

—

—

—

—

(32,667)

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

561

(5,822)

(3,002)

20,576

49,301

52,710

—

—

(209,488)

(73,994)

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

52,710

(209,488)

(156,778)

(73,994)

(32,667)

562

(5,817)

(2,998)

20,576

49,301

Balance: December 25, 2016

$

1,166

$

(32,667) $ 1,769,905

$

1,269

$

(882,912) $

— $

856,761

Net income, 2017

Other comprehensive income, net of tax

Total comprehensive income

Dividends declared, 2017: $0.64 per
share

Purchase of treasury stock

Stock options exercised

Restricted stock awards settled

Performance share units settled

Stock-based compensation

Other activity

—

—

—

—

1

6

2

—

—

—

—

—

(17,379)

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

729

(3,368)

(1,195)

20,341

529

6,887

—

—

226,395

(72,314)

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

6,887

226,395

233,282

(72,314)

(17,379)

730

(3,362)

(1,193)

20,341

529

Balance: December 31, 2017

$

1,175

$

(50,046) $ 1,786,941

$

(64,158) $

(656,517) $

— $ 1,017,395

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated and combined financial statements.

56

 
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED AND COMBINED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

NOTE 1 — Basis of presentation

Description of business: Gannett Co., Inc. (Gannett, we, us, our, or the company) is an innovative, digitally focused media 
and marketing solutions company committed to strengthening communities across our network. Gannett owns ReachLocal, Inc. 
(ReachLocal), an international digital marketing solutions company, the USA TODAY NETWORK (made up of USA TODAY 
and 109 local media organizations in 34 states in the U.S. and Guam), and Newsquest (a wholly owned subsidiary with more 
than 170 local media brands in the U.K.). Through, the USA TODAY NETWORK and Newsquest, Gannett delivers high-
quality, trusted content where and when consumers want to engage with it on virtually any device or platform.

Separation from former parent: On June 29, 2015, the company completed its separation from TEGNA Inc. (our former 
parent or TEGNA) via a spin-off (the spin-off or separation). In the spin-off, TEGNA shareholders of record on June 22, 2015, 
the record date for the distribution, received one share of Gannett common stock for every two shares of TEGNA common 
stock held. On June 29, 2015, Gannett common stock began trading on the New York Stock Exchange as an independent, 
public company.

NOTE 2 — Summary of significant accounting policies

Fiscal year: In fiscal years 2017 and prior, our fiscal years ended on the last Sunday of the calendar year. Our fiscal year 

for 2017 was a 53-week year ending on December 31, 2017. Fiscal year 2016 ended on December 25, 2016, and fiscal year 
2015 ended on December 27, 2015, each 52-week years. Starting in 2018, our fiscal year will coincide with the Gregorian 
calendar.

Basis of presentation and consolidation: The consolidated and combined financial statements include our accounts and 

those which we control after elimination of all intercompany balances, transactions, and profits. 

Prior to the date of the spin-off, these consolidated and combined financial statements were prepared from the accounting 

records of our former parent and present our combined financial position, results of operations, and cash flows as of and for the 
periods presented as if we were a separate entity. These consolidated and combined financial statements include allocations 
between Gannett and our former parent as more fully detailed in Note 15 — Relationship with our former parent. We believe 
the assumptions and methodologies used in these allocations are reasonable; however, such allocated costs may not be 
indicative of the actual level of expense that would have been incurred had we been operating on a stand-alone basis, and, 
accordingly, may not necessarily reflect our consolidated and combined financial position, results of operations, and cash flows 
had we operated as a stand-alone entity during the periods presented.

Use of estimates: The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles 

(U.S. GAAP) requires us to make estimates, judgments, and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the consolidated 
and combined financial statements and footnotes thereto. Actual results could differ from those estimates. Significant estimates 
include amounts for income taxes, pension and other post-employment benefits, and valuation of long-lived and intangible 
assets.

Segment presentation: We classify our operations into two reportable segments: publishing and ReachLocal. In addition to 

these reportable segments, we have a corporate and other category that includes activities not directly attributable or allocable 
to a specific segment. The publishing reporting segment is an aggregation of two operating segments: Domestic Publishing and 
the U.K. Group. For further details, see Note 14 — Segment reporting.

Business combinations: We allocate the fair value of purchase consideration to the tangible assets acquired, liabilities 

assumed, and intangible assets acquired based on their estimated fair values. The excess of the fair value of purchase 
consideration over the values of these identifiable assets and liabilities is recorded as goodwill. Goodwill is assigned to the 
reporting unit that benefits from the synergies arising from the business combination. When determining the fair value of assets 
acquired and liabilities assumed, we make significant estimates and assumptions, especially with respect to intangible assets.

Critical estimates in valuing certain identifiable assets include, but are not limited to, expected long-term revenues, future 

expected operating expenses, cost of capital, and appropriate discount rates. Our estimates of fair value are based upon 
assumptions believed to be reasonable but which are inherently uncertain and unpredictable and, as a result, actual results may 
differ from estimates.

57

Revenue recognition: Our circulation revenues include revenues for newspapers (both print and digital) purchased by 
readers or distributors. Circulation revenues are recognized when purchased newspapers are distributed, net of provisions for 
related returns. Subscriptions are recognized over the subscription period. 

Our advertising revenues include amounts charged to advertisers for space purchased in our newspapers, digital ads placed 

on our digital platforms, advertising and marketing services, other advertising products such as preprints and direct mail, and 
the provision and sale of online marketing services and products through our ReachLocal subsidiary. 

Advertising revenues are recognized, net of agency commissions, in the period when advertising is printed or placed on 

digital platforms. Marketing services revenues are generally recognized when advertisements or services are delivered. 

For online marketing products provided by our ReachLocal subsidiary, we typically enter into multi-month agreements for 
the delivery of our products. Under our agreements, our clients typically pay, in advance, a fixed fee on a monthly basis, which 
includes all charges for the included technology and any media services, management, third-party content, and other costs and 
fees. We record these prepayments as deferred revenue. Revenue is then recognized as we purchase media and perform other 
services. 

Our other revenues primarily include commercial printing and distribution. Commercial printing and distribution revenues 

are recognized when the product is delivered to the customer. 

We have various advertising and circulation agreements which have both print and digital deliverables. Revenue from sales 
agreements that contain multiple deliverable elements is allocated to each element based on the relative best estimate of selling 
price. Elements are treated as separate units of accounting if there is standalone value upon delivery.

Amounts received from customers in advance of revenue recognition are deferred as liabilities. 

Cash and cash equivalents: Cash equivalents consist of investments with original maturities of three months or less.

Accounts receivable and allowance for doubtful accounts: Accounts receivable are recorded at invoiced amounts and 

generally do not bear interest. The allowance for doubtful accounts reflects our estimate of credit exposure and is determined 
principally on the basis of our collection experience, aging of our receivables, and significant individual account credit risk. 
Credit is extended based upon an evaluation of the customer's financial position, and generally collateral is not required. 

Inventories: Inventories, consisting principally of newsprint, printing ink, and plate material for our publishing operations, 

are valued at the lower of cost (first-in, first-out) or net realizable value. 

Assets held for sale: We classify assets to be sold as held for sale in the period in which all of the following criteria are 
met: (1) we commit to a plan to sell the disposal group, (2) the disposal group is available for immediate sale in its present 
condition, (3) an active program to locate a buyer has been initiated, and (4) the sale is expected to qualify for recognition as a 
completed sale within one year, except if events or circumstances beyond our control extend the period of time required to sell. 
Assets held for sale are measured at the lower of carrying value or fair value less any costs to sell. 

Property, software development costs, and depreciation: Property, plant, and equipment is recorded at cost, and 

depreciation is provided, generally on a straight-line basis, over the estimated useful lives of the assets. The estimated useful 
lives are 10 to 40 years for buildings and improvements and 3 to 30 years for machinery, equipment, and fixtures. Changes in 
the estimated useful life of an asset, which could happen as a result of facility consolidations, can affect depreciation expense 
and net income. Major renewals and improvements and interest incurred during the construction period of major additions are 
capitalized. Expenditures for maintenance, repairs, and minor renewals are charged to expense as incurred.

We capitalize costs to develop software for internal use when it is determined the development efforts will result in new or 

additional functionality or new products. Costs incurred prior to meeting these criteria and costs associated with ongoing 
maintenance are expensed as incurred and included in Cost of sales and operating expenses, in addition to amortization of 
capitalized software development costs, in the accompanying Consolidated and combined statements of income. We monitor 
our existing capitalized software costs and reduce their carrying value as a result of releases rendering previous features or 
functions obsolete. Software development costs are evaluated for impairment in accordance with our policy for finite-lived 
intangible assets and other long lived assets. Costs capitalized as internal use software are amortized on a straight-line basis 
over an estimated useful life of 3 to 5 years.

58

 
A breakout of property, plant and equipment and software is presented below:

In thousands 
Land

Buildings and improvements

Machinery, equipment, and fixtures

Software

Construction in progress

Total
Accumulated depreciation

Net property, plant and equipment

December 31,
2017

December 25,
2016

$

114,354

$

800,777

1,310,138

122,743

14,837

132,438

875,313

1,421,865

130,165

9,817

2,362,849

2,569,598

(1,429,515)

(1,481,897)

$

933,334

$

1,087,701

Leases: Operating lease rentals are expensed on a straight-line basis over the life of the lease. At lease inception, we 
determine the lease term by excluding renewal options that are not reasonably assured. Additionally, the depreciable life of 
leased assets and leasehold improvements is limited by the expected lease term.

Valuation of long-lived assets: We evaluate the carrying value of long-lived assets (mostly property, plant, and equipment, 
intangible assets and software) to be held and used whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate the carrying amount 
may not be recoverable. The carrying value of a long-lived asset group is considered impaired when the projected undiscounted 
future cash flows are less than their carrying value. We measure impairment based on the amount by which the carrying value 
exceeds the fair value. Fair value is determined primarily using the projected future cash flows discounted at a rate 
commensurate with the risk involved. Losses on long-lived assets to be disposed of are determined in a similar manner except 
that fair values are reduced for the cost to dispose.

Goodwill and other intangible assets: Goodwill represents the excess of acquisition cost over the fair value of assets 
acquired, including identifiable intangible assets, net of liabilities assumed. Goodwill is tested for impairment annually on the 
first day of the fourth quarter or between annual tests if events occur or circumstances change that would more likely than not 
reduce the fair value of a reporting unit below its carrying amount. 

Before performing the annual two-step goodwill impairment test, we are first permitted to perform a qualitative assessment 
to determine if the two-step quantitative test must be completed. The qualitative assessment considers events and circumstances 
such as macroeconomic conditions, industry and market conditions, cost factors, and overall financial performance as well as 
company and specific reporting unit specifications. If after performing this assessment we conclude it is more likely than not 
that the fair value of a reporting unit is less than its carrying amount, then we are required to perform a two-step quantitative 
test. In the first step of the quantitative test, we are required to determine the fair value of each reporting unit and compare it to 
the carrying amount of the reporting unit. Fair value of the reporting unit is determined using various techniques, including 
multiple of earnings and discounted cash flow valuation techniques. If the carrying amount of the reporting unit exceeds the 
fair value of the reporting unit, we perform the second step of the impairment test. In the second step of the impairment test, we 
determine the implied fair value of the reporting unit's goodwill. If the carrying value of a reporting unit's goodwill exceeds its 
implied fair value, then an impairment of goodwill has occurred, and we must recognize an impairment loss for the difference 
between the carrying amount and the implied fair value of goodwill. 

In determining the reporting units, we consider the way we manage our businesses and the nature of those businesses. As 

of December 31, 2017, our reporting units consist of Domestic Publishing, the U.K. Group, and ReachLocal.

For indefinite-lived intangible assets, we perform an impairment test annually or more often if circumstances dictate. 
Intangible assets that have definite useful lives are amortized over those useful lives and are evaluated for impairment as 
described above. We recognized impairment charges on intangible assets each year from 2015 through 2017. See Note 4 — 
Restructuring activities and asset impairment charges and Note 5 — Goodwill and other intangible assets for additional 
information.

Customer relationships, which include subscriber lists and advertiser relationships, are amortized on a straight-line basis 
over their useful lives. Developed technology consists of digital marketing solutions and other technology acquired as part of 
the ReachLocal and SweetIQ transactions and is amortized on a straight-line basis over their useful lives. Other intangibles are 
primarily definite lived trade names and are amortized on a straight-line basis over their useful lives. The useful lives of our 
definite-lived intangible assets range from three to 11 years.

59

Investments and other assets: Investments in entities for which we do not have control but have the ability to exercise 
significant influence over operating and financial policies are accounted for under the equity method. Our share of net earnings 
and losses from these ventures is included in Other non-operating items, net in the Consolidated and combined statements of 
income. See Note 6 — Investments for additional information. We account for non-marketable investments under the cost 
method. We regularly review our investments for impairment, including when the carrying value of an investment exceeds its 
related market value. If it has been determined that an investment has sustained an other-than-temporary decline in its value, 
the investment is written-down to its fair value. The factors we consider in determining an other-than-temporary decline in 
value has occurred include (i) the market value of the security in relation to its cost basis, (ii) the financial condition of the 
investee, and (iii) our intent and ability to retain the investment for a sufficient period of time to allow for recovery in the 
market value of the investment.

Accounts payable and accrued expenses: A breakout of accounts payable and accrued expenses is presented below:

In thousands 
Compensation

Taxes (primarily property and sales taxes)

Benefits

Other

Total accrued liabilities

Accounts payable

December 31,
2017

December 25,
2016

$

85,530

$

105,402

20,175

42,995

73,370

222,070

165,336

22,995

36,114

90,943

255,454

183,270

438,724

Total accrued liabilities and accounts payable

$

387,406

$

Retirement plans: Pension and other postretirement benefit costs under our defined benefit retirement plans are actuarially 

determined. For plans with frozen benefits, we recognize the cost of postretirement benefits such as pension, medical, and life 
insurance benefits on an accrual basis over the average life expectancy of employees expected to receive such benefits. For 
active plans, costs are recognized over the estimated average future service period. 

Equity-based employee compensation: We grant restricted stock units as well as performance shares to our employees as a 

form of compensation. The expense for such awards is based on the grant date fair value of the award and is recognized on a 
straight-line basis over the requisite service period, which is generally the four-year incentive period for restricted stock units 
and the three-year incentive period for performance shares. Expense for performance share awards granted to participants 
meeting certain retirement eligibility criteria as defined in the equity compensation plan is recognized using the accelerated 
attribution method. See Note 11 — Supplemental equity information for further discussion.

Income taxes: Income taxes are accounted for under the asset and liability method. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are 

recognized for the future tax consequences attributable to differences between the financial statement carrying amounts of 
existing assets and liabilities and their respective tax basis and operating loss and tax credit carryforwards. Deferred tax assets 
and liabilities are measured using enacted tax rates expected to apply to taxable income in the years in which those temporary 
differences are expected to be recovered or settled. The effect on deferred tax assets and liabilities of a change in tax rates is 
recognized in income in the period that includes the enactment date. See Note 10 — Income taxes for further discussion. 

We also evaluate any uncertain tax positions and recognize a liability for the tax benefit associated with an uncertain tax 
position if it is more likely than not that the tax position will not be sustained on examination by the taxing authorities upon 
consideration of the technical merits of the position. The tax benefits recognized in the financial statements from such positions 
are measured based on the largest benefit that has a greater than 50% likelihood of being realized upon ultimate settlement. We 
record a liability for uncertain tax positions taken or expected to be taken in a tax return. Any change in judgment related to the 
expected ultimate resolution of uncertain tax positions is recognized in earnings in the period in which such change occurs.

Loss contingencies: We are subject to various legal proceedings, claims, and regulatory matters, the outcomes of which are 

subject to significant uncertainty. We determine whether to disclose or accrue for loss contingencies based on an assessment of 
whether the risk of loss is remote, reasonably possible, or probable and whether it can be reasonably estimated. We accrue for 
loss contingencies when such amounts are probable and reasonably estimable. If a contingent liability is only reasonably 
possible, we will disclose the potential range of the loss if material and estimable.

Foreign currency translation: The statements of income of foreign operations have been translated to U.S. dollars using 

the average currency exchange rates in effect during the relevant period. The balance sheets have been translated using the 

60

currency exchange rates as of the end of the accounting period. The impact of currency exchange rate changes on the 
translation of the balance sheets are included in Comprehensive income (loss) in the Consolidated and combined statements of 
comprehensive income and are classified as Accumulated other comprehensive loss in the Consolidated balance sheets and 
Consolidated and combined statements of equity.

Concentration of risk: Due to the distributed nature of our operations, we are not subject to significant concentrations of 

risk relating to customers, products, or geographic locations. Our foreign revenues, principally from businesses in the U.K. and 
ReachLocal operations, totaled approximately $390.7 million in 2017, $371.7 million in 2016, and $416.9 million in 2015. Our 
long-lived assets in foreign countries, principally in the U.K. and ReachLocal operations, totaled approximately $338.0 million 
at December 31, 2017, $354.4 million at December 25, 2016, and $330.3 million at December 27, 2015.

Supplementary cash flow information: Supplementary cash flow information, including non-cash investing and financing 

activities, are as follows:

In thousands
Cash paid for taxes, net of refunds

Cash paid for interest

Accrued capital expenditures

Dividends payable

Parent, net investment activity subsequent to separation

Fair value of noncontrolling equity interests in TNP and CNP

Pre-acquisition carrying value of TNP

December 31,
2017

December 25,
2016

December 27,
2015

$

$

$

$

$

$

$

(18,887)

16,912

5,886

$

$

$

25,719

10,081

5,639

$

$

$

— $

— $

— $

— $

— $

— $

— $

— $

38,707

2,995

3,251

18,501

31,762

60,954

39,155

New accounting pronouncements adopted: The following are new accounting pronouncements which we have adopted in 

fiscal year 2017:

Inventory: We adopted Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) guidance that requires entities using the first-in, 
first-out inventory costing method to subsequently value inventory at the lower of cost or net realizable value. Net realizable 
value is defined as the estimated selling price in the ordinary course of business, less reasonably predictable costs of 
completion, disposal, and transportation. The impact of adopting this guidance was not material to our consolidated financial 
results.

Compensation—Retirement Benefits: We adopted FASB guidance requiring changes to the presentation of net periodic 

pension and other postretirement benefit costs. Specifically, this guidance requires entities to classify the service cost 
component of the net benefit cost in the same income statement line item as other employee compensation costs while all other 
components of net benefit cost must be presented as non-operating items. The guidance further requires such classification 
changes to be retrospectively applied beginning in the interim period in which the guidance is adopted. 

As a result of adopting this guidance, total operating expenses decreased $10.3 million in 2016 and increased $4.9 million 

in 2015 with offsetting changes to other non-operating items, net. Cost of sales decreased $6.1 million in 2016 and increased 
$3.0 million in 2015, while selling, general, and administrative expenses decreased $4.2 million in 2016 and increased $1.9 
million in 2015. Net income, retained earnings, and earnings per share for both years remained unchanged.

New accounting pronouncements not yet adopted: The following are new accounting pronouncements that we are 

evaluating for future impacts on our financial position:

Revenue from Contracts with Customers: In August 2014, the FASB issued a new revenue standard, "Revenue from 
Contracts with Customers," which prescribes a single comprehensive model for entities to use in the accounting of revenue 
arising from contracts with customers. The new guidance will supersede virtually all existing revenue guidance under U.S. 
GAAP and is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2017. The core principle contemplated by this new 
standard is that an entity should recognize revenue to depict the transfer of promised goods or services to customers in an 
amount reflecting the consideration to which the entity expects to be entitled in exchange for those goods or services. New 
disclosures about the nature, amount, timing, and uncertainty of revenue and cash flows arising from contracts with customers 
are also required. 

In April and May 2016, the FASB also issued clarifying updates to the new standard specifically to address certain core 

principles including the identification of performance obligations, licensing guidance, the assessment of the collectability 

61

criterion, the presentation of taxes collected from customers, non-cash considerations, contract modifications, and completed 
contracts at transition. 

We have evaluated the impact of this new standard and have concluded that our financial statements will not be materially 

impacted upon adoption; however, we expect to expand certain disclosures as required. 

We will adopt the new revenue recognition standard using the modified retrospective approach in the fiscal year beginning 
January 1, 2018. This approach consists of recognizing the cumulative effect of initially applying the standard as an adjustment 
to opening retained earnings. As part of the modified retrospective approach, we will also amend our disclosures to reflect 
results under "legacy GAAP" for the initial year of adoption. 

Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities: In January 2016, the FASB issued guidance which revises the classification and 

measurement of investments in equity securities and the presentation of certain fair value changes in financial liabilities 
measured at fair value. The new guidance is effective for annual and interim reporting periods beginning after December 15, 
2017. We are evaluating the provisions of the updated guidance and expect the impact of adopting this guidance to not be 
material to our consolidated financial results.

Leases: In February 2016, the FASB issued updated guidance modifying lease accounting for both lessees and lessors to 

increase transparency and comparability. Lessees are required to recognize lease assets and lease liabilities for those leases 
classified as operating leases under previous accounting standards and to disclose key information about leasing arrangements. 
This guidance is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018, with early adoption permitted. We are evaluating 
the provisions of the updated guidance and assessing the impact on our consolidated financial statements.

Cash and Cash Equivalents, including Statement of Cash Flows and Restricted Cash: In November 2016, the FASB issued 

updated guidance requiring entities to explain, in their statements of cash flows, the change during the period in the total of 
cash, cash equivalents, and amounts generally described as "restricted cash" or "restricted cash equivalents." As a result, 
restricted cash and restricted cash equivalents must now be included within the total of cash and cash equivalents when 
reconciling the beginning and end of period totals shown on the statement of cash flows. This guidance is effective for fiscal 
years and interim periods within those years beginning after December 15, 2017, with early adoption permitted. We will adopt 
this guidance effective January 1, 2018. The adoption of this guidance will not be material to our consolidated financial 
statements.

Intangibles—Goodwill and Other: In January 2017, the FASB issued new guidance which simplifies the subsequent 
measurement of goodwill. The guidance permits an entity to perform its goodwill impairment test by comparing the fair value 
of a reporting unit with its carrying amount and recognizing an impairment charge for the amount by which the carrying 
amount exceeds the reporting unit’s fair value, with such losses not exceeding the total amount of goodwill allocated to that 
reporting unit. This guidance is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019, with early adoption permitted. We 
are evaluating the provisions of the updated guidance and assessing the impact on our consolidated financial statements.

Business Combinations—Definition of a Business: In January 2017, the FASB issued new guidance that changes the 
definition of a business to assist entities with evaluating when a set of transferred assets and activities is a business. The 
guidance requires an entity to evaluate if substantially all of the fair value of the gross assets acquired is concentrated in a 
single identifiable asset or a group of similar identifiable assets; if so, the set of transferred assets and activities is not a 
business. This guidance is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2017, with early adoption permitted. We are 
evaluating the provisions of the updated guidance and assessing the impact on our consolidated financial statements.

Reclassification of Certain Tax Effects from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income: In February 2018, the FASB 
issued new guidance that allows a reclassification from accumulated other comprehensive income to retained earnings for the 
tax effects of items within accumulated other comprehensive income, generally described as stranded tax effects, resulting from 
the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. This guidance is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018, with early adoption 
permitted. We are evaluating the provisions of the updated guidance and assessing the impact on our consolidated financial 
statements.

62

NOTE 3 — Acquisitions

2017 Acquisitions

SweetIQ: In April 2017, our ReachLocal subsidiary completed the acquisition of SweetIQ, a location and customer 
engagement software provider, for approximately $31.8 million, net of cash acquired. SweetIQ's customers include businesses 
with multi-location brands and agencies that target local marketing.

The allocation of the purchase price is preliminary pending the finalization of the fair value of the acquired net assets and 
liabilities assumed, deferred income taxes, and assumed income and non-income based tax liabilities. As of the acquisition date, 
the purchase price was assigned to the acquired assets and assumed liabilities as follows: goodwill of $18.8 million, intangible 
assets of $15.2 million (comprised of trade names, customer relationships, and developed technology), noncurrent assets of 
$0.6 million, noncurrent liabilities of $1.8 million, and positive net working capital of $0.3 million. Goodwill is calculated as 
the excess of the consideration transferred over the fair value of the identifiable net assets acquired and represents the future 
economic benefits expected to arise from other intangible assets acquired that do not qualify for separate recognition, including 
assembled workforce and non-contractual relationships as well as expected future synergies. Goodwill associated with the 
acquisition of SweetIQ is allocated to the ReachLocal segment. We do not expect the purchase price allocated to goodwill and 
intangibles to be deductible for tax purposes.

Other: During 2017, we completed other immaterial acquisitions.

2016 Acquisitions

ReachLocal: In August 2016, we completed the acquisition of 100% of the outstanding common stock of ReachLocal for 

approximately $162.5 million, net of cash acquired. 

ReachLocal offers online marketing, digital advertising, software-as-a-service, and web presence products and solutions to 
small and medium sized businesses. It delivers its suite of products and solutions to local businesses through a combination of 
its proprietary technology platform, its sales force, and select third-party agencies and resellers.

The allocation of the purchase price was based upon estimated fair values. The determination of the fair value of the assets 

acquired and liabilities assumed has been completed and the final allocation of the purchase price is as follows:

In thousands

Cash acquired

Other current assets

Property, plant and equipment

Developed technology

Customer relationships

Other intangible assets

Goodwill

Other noncurrent assets

Total assets acquired

Current liabilities

Noncurrent liabilities

Total liabilities assumed

Net assets acquired

$

13,195

14,612

13,486

54,000

22,500

12,000

120,165

9,852

259,810

63,005

21,062

84,067

$

175,743

Acquired property, plant, and equipment is depreciated on a straight-line basis over the assets' respective estimated 

remaining useful lives. Goodwill is calculated as the excess of the consideration transferred over the fair value of the 
identifiable net assets acquired and represents the future economic benefits expected to arise from other intangible assets 
acquired that do not qualify for separate recognition, including assembled workforce and non-contractual relationships as well 
as expected future synergies. Goodwill associated with the acquisition of ReachLocal is allocated entirely to the ReachLocal 
segment. We do not expect the purchase price allocated to goodwill and trade names to be deductible for tax purposes.

63

ReachLocal, including SweetIQ, is a separate segment, and its results of operations are provided in NOTE 14 — Segment 

reporting.

Assets of North Jersey Media Group: In July 2016, we completed the acquisition of certain assets of NJMG for 
approximately $38.6 million. NJMG is a media company with print and digital publishing operations serving primarily the 
northern New Jersey market. Its brands include such established names as The Record (Bergen County) and The Herald. 

The allocation of the purchase price was based upon estimated fair values. The determination of the fair value of the assets 
acquired and liabilities assumed has been completed, and the final allocation of the purchase price is as follows: property, plant, 
and equipment of $26.0 million, goodwill of $7.4 million, intangible assets of $7.2 million (comprised largely of mastheads, 
customer relationships, and non-compete agreements), noncurrent assets of $1.0 million, noncurrent liabilities of $0.3 million, 
and net negative working capital of $1.7 million. Goodwill is calculated as the excess of the consideration transferred over the 
fair value of the identifiable net assets acquired and represents the future economic benefits expected to arise from other 
intangible assets acquired that do not qualify for separate recognition, including assembled workforce and non-contractual 
relationships as well as expected future synergies. Goodwill related to the acquisition of NJMG is allocated to the publishing 
segment. We expect the purchase price allocated to goodwill and mastheads will be deductible for tax purposes.

Journal Media Group: In April 2016, we completed the acquisition of 100% of the outstanding common stock of JMG for 
approximately $260.6 million, net of cash acquired. Further, approximately $2.3 million of the purchase price paid was treated 
as post-acquisition expense for accounting purposes. 

JMG is a media company with print and digital publishing operations serving 15 U.S. markets in nine states, including the 
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, the Knoxville News Sentinel, and The Commercial Appeal in Memphis. The acquisition expanded 
our print and digital publishing operations domestically. 

The allocation of the purchase price was based upon estimated fair values. The determination of the fair value of the assets 

acquired and liabilities assumed has been completed and the final allocation of the purchase price is as follows:

In thousands

Cash acquired

Other current assets

Property, plant and equipment

Mastheads

Customer relationships

Goodwill

Other noncurrent assets

Total assets acquired

Current liabilities

Noncurrent liabilities

Total liabilities assumed

Net assets acquired

$

$

36,825

54,571

264,357

30,440

12,440

25,258

3,825

427,716

71,519

61,151

132,670

295,046

Acquired property, plant, and equipment is depreciated on a straight-line basis over the assets' respective estimated 

remaining useful lives. Goodwill is calculated as the excess of the consideration transferred over the fair value of the 
identifiable net assets acquired and represents the future economic benefits expected to arise from other intangible assets 
acquired that do not qualify for separate recognition, including assembled workforce and non-contractual relationships as well 
as expected future synergies. Any goodwill recognized related to the acquisition of JMG was allocated to the publishing 
segment. We expect the purchase price allocated to goodwill and mastheads will not be deductible for tax purposes.

Other: During 2016, we completed other immaterial acquisitions.

64

Pro forma information: The following table sets forth unaudited pro forma results of operations assuming the 
ReachLocal, NJMG and JMG acquisitions, along with transactions necessary to finance the acquisitions, occurred at the 
beginning of 2015:

In thousands, except per share amounts

Total revenues

Net income

Earnings per share - diluted

Unaudited

2016

3,409,111

47,485

0.40

$

$

$

2015

3,800,074

65,038

0.56

$

$

$

This pro forma financial information is based on historical results of operations, adjusted for the allocation of the purchase 

price and other acquisition accounting adjustments, and is not necessarily indicative of what our results would have been had 
we operated the businesses since the beginning of the periods presented. The pro forma adjustments reflect depreciation 
expense and amortization of intangibles related to the fair value adjustments of the assets acquired, additional interest expense 
related to the financing of the transactions, the elimination of acquisition-related costs, and the related tax effects of the 
adjustments.

2015 Acquisitions

Texas-New Mexico Partnership: In June 2015, we completed the acquisition of the remaining 59.4% interest in the TNP 
that we did not own from Digital First Media. We completed the acquisition through the assignment of our 19.5% interest in the 
California Newspapers Partnership (CNP), valued at $34.4 million, additional cash consideration, net of cash acquired, of $5.2 
million, and $1.9 million in deferred consideration. As a result, we own 100% of TNP and no longer have any ownership 
interest or continuing involvement in CNP. Through the transaction, we acquired print and digital publishing operations serving 
11 U.S. markets in Texas, New Mexico and Pennsylvania. 

The purchase price was allocated to the tangible assets and identified intangible assets acquired based on their estimated 

fair values. As of the acquisition date, the purchase price assigned to the acquired assets and assumed liabilities is summarized 
as follows:

In thousands

Current assets

Property, plant and equipment

Intangible assets

Goodwill

Total assets acquired

Current liabilities

Noncurrent liabilities

Total liabilities assumed

Net assets acquired

$

$

12,310

20,672

28,440

30,703

92,125

10,860

14,211

25,071

67,054

On the acquisition date, the fair value of our 40.6% interest in TNP was $26.6 million, and the fair value of our 19.5% 
interest in CNP was $34.4 million. The pre-acquisition carrying value of TNP and CNP was $39.2 million. We recognized 
a $21.8 million pre-tax non-cash gain on the transaction in the second quarter of 2015. 

Acquired property, plant, and equipment are being depreciated on a straight-line basis over the assets' respective estimated 

remaining useful lives. Goodwill is calculated as the excess of the consideration transferred over the fair value of the 
identifiable net assets acquired and represents the future economic benefits expected to arise from other intangible assets 
acquired that do not qualify for separate recognition, including assembled workforce and non-contractual relationships as well 
as expected future synergies. We expect the purchase price allocated to goodwill and mastheads will be deductible for tax 
purposes. Goodwill related to the acquisition of TNP is allocated to the publishing segment. 

Romanes Media Group: In May 2015, our U.K. subsidiary, Newsquest, paid $23.4 million, net of cash acquired, to 
purchase 100% of the shares of RMG. RMG publishes local newspapers in Scotland, Berkshire, and Northern Ireland, and its 

65

portfolio comprises one daily newspaper, 28 weekly newspapers, and their associated websites. Goodwill related to the 
acquisition of RMG is allocated to the publishing segment. 

NOTE 4 — Restructuring activities and asset impairment charges 

Over the past several years, we have engaged in a series of individual restructuring programs designed to right size our 

employee base, consolidate facilities, and improve operations, including those of recently acquired entities. 

Severance-related expenses: In 2017, we recorded severance-related expenses of $37.0 million. Of these expenses, $30.1 

million related to the publishing segment and $5.9 million related to the corporate and other segment. The remainder is 
captured within our ReachLocal segment. 

In 2016, we recorded severance-related expenses of $43.5 million. Of these expenses, $42.8 million related to the 
publishing segment and $0.6 million related to the ReachLocal segment. The remainder is captured within our corporate and 
other segment. 

In 2015, we recorded severance-related expenses of $72.3 million. Of these expenses, $67.0 million related to the 

publishing segment and $5.3 million related to the corporate and other segment.

All severance-related charges are reported in restructuring costs on the Consolidated and combined statements of income. 

The activity and balance of severance-related liabilities are as follows:

In thousands

Balance at December 27, 2015

Payments

Expense

Adjustments

Balance at December 25, 2016

Payments

Expense

Adjustments

Balance at December 31, 2017

Severance
Activities

43,780

(68,422)

43,526

(233)

18,651

(45,102)

37,013

—

10,562

$

$

$

Facility consolidation charges: In 2017, we recorded facility consolidation charges of $7.3 million. In addition, we 
incurred accelerated depreciation of $44.0 million, which is included in depreciation expense. These expenses were related to 
the publishing segment.

In 2016, we recorded charges for facility consolidations of $2.3 million. In addition, we incurred accelerated depreciation 

of $3.2 million, which is included in depreciation expense. These expenses were related to the publishing segment.

In 2015, we recorded charges for facility consolidations of $5.1 million. No accelerated depreciation was incurred in 2015. 

These expenses were related to the publishing segment.

Asset impairment charges: Facility consolidation and other cost savings plans led us to recognize asset impairment 
charges. As part of our plans, we are selling certain assets which we have classified as held-for-sale and for which we have 
reduced the carrying values to equal the fair values less costs to dispose. In addition, we had impairments of intangible assets 
which were principally a result of cash flow projections which were lower than expected. 

In 2017, we recorded charges for asset impairments of $46.8 million, which includes impairment charges of $40.3 million 

for property, plant and equipment, $3.1 million for indefinite lived intangibles and $3.4 million for definite lived intangibles. 
These expenses were related to the publishing segment.

In 2016, we recorded charges for asset impairments of $55.9 million, which includes impairment charges of $31.5 million 
for property, plant and equipment, $14.5 million for indefinite lived intangibles and $9.9 million for definite lived intangibles. 
These expenses were related to the publishing segment.

66

In 2015, we recorded charges for asset impairments of $29.1 million, which includes impairment charges of $9.7 million 
for property, plant and equipment, $0.9 million for indefinite lived intangibles and $18.5 million for definite lived intangibles. 
These expenses were related to the publishing segment.

NOTE 5 — Goodwill and other intangible assets 

Goodwill, indefinite lived intangible assets, and definite lived intangible assets consist of the following:

In thousands

December 31, 2017

Goodwill

Indefinite lived intangibles:

Mastheads and trade names

Definite lived intangible assets:

Developed technology

Customer relationships

Other

Total

December 25, 2016

Goodwill

Indefinite lived intangibles:

Mastheads and trade names

Definite lived intangible assets:

Developed technology

Customer relationships

Other

Total

Gross

Accumulated
Amortization

Net

$

737,716

$

— $

737,716

46,156

—

46,156

$

$

$

$

68,853

89,616

13,591

955,932

698,288

47,410

54,000

89,785

12,800

(26,139)

(47,945)

(4,478)

42,714

41,671

9,113

(78,562) $

877,370

— $

698,288

—

47,410

(6,621)

(41,495)

(1,235)

47,379

48,290

11,565

$

902,283

$

(49,351) $

852,932

Intangible amortization expense was $30.6 million in 2017, $14.9 million in 2016 and $11.6 million in 2015. The increase 

is due to the full year amortization of the intangibles acquired as a result of our 2016 acquisitions as well as the intangibles 
acquired as a result of our 2017 acquisitions. The weighted average remaining amortization periods for customer relationships, 
acquired technology, and other amortizable intangibles are approximately 7.0, 3.1 and 2.8 years, respectively. 

The projected annual amortization expense related to amortizable intangibles as of December 31, 2017 is as follows:

In thousands

2018

2019

2020

2021

2022

$

$

$

$

$

30,688

24,173

11,083

7,562

6,295

67

The balances and changes in the carrying amount of goodwill by segment are as follows:

In thousands

Balance at December 27, 2015:

Goodwill

Accumulated impairment losses

Net balance at December 27, 2015

Activity during the year:

Acquisitions & adjustments

Foreign currency exchange rate changes

Total

Balance at December 25, 2016:

Goodwill

Accumulated impairment losses

Net balance at December 25, 2016

Activity during the year:

Acquisitions & adjustments

Foreign currency exchange rate changes

Total

Balance at December 31, 2017:

Goodwill

Accumulated impairment losses

Net balance at December 31, 2017

Publishing

ReachLocal

Consolidated

$

$

$

$

$

$

7,297,752

(6,722,067)

575,685

$

$

— $

7,297,752

—

(6,722,067)

— $

575,685

36,532

(33,410)

119,481

—

3,122

$

119,481

$

156,013

(33,410)

122,603

6,925,236

(6,346,429)

119,481

—

7,044,717

(6,346,429)

578,807

$

119,481

$

698,288

3,238

15,421

19,451

1,318

18,659

$

20,769

$

22,689

16,739

39,428

7,116,038

(6,518,572)

140,250

—

7,256,288

(6,518,572)

597,466

$

140,250

$

737,716

In fiscal years 2017, 2016 and 2015, we performed quantitative step one analyses of each of our reporting units as part of 
the annual goodwill impairment evaluation and determined that the fair values were in excess of the individual reporting units' 
carrying values, and, accordingly, step two analyses were not required and no goodwill impairment was recorded.

NOTE 6 — Investments 

We have a number of investments accounted for under the equity method. Principal among these are the following:

% Owned at
December 31, 
2017

TNI Partners
Albuquerque Publishing Company (a)
NextGen Solutions, LLC

Spirited Media, Inc.

Digg, Inc.

Ponderay Newsprint Company
(a)  Per the terms of our contract, the ownership percentage fluctuates marginally from month to month. Closing balance is in a liability position.

50.00%

40.00%

25.00%

23.48%

15.00%

13.50%

The aggregate carrying value of investments recorded under the equity method was $3.1 million at December 31, 2017 and 

$7.5 million at December 25, 2016. Certain differences exist between our investment carrying value and the underlying equity 
of the investee companies principally due to the fair value measurement at the date of investment acquisition and due to 
impairment charges we recorded for certain investments. Furthermore, there are certain equity investments with negative 
carrying values that are presented as liabilities within the Consolidated Balance Sheets. 

We also have other investments recorded at cost. The aggregate carrying value of these investments, net of impairment, 

was $7.9 million at December 31, 2017 and $6.7 million at December 25, 2016. 

The carrying values of certain investments in which we own a noncontrolling interest were written down to fair value 

because the business underlying the investments experienced sustained operating losses, leading us to conclude the investments 

68

were impaired. These impairments, which were recorded in the Other non-operating items, net line item of the Consolidated 
and combined statements of income, totaled $0.4 million, $3.0 million, and $5.3 million in 2017, 2016, and 2015, respectively.

NOTE 7 — Revolving credit facility

We maintain a secured revolving credit facility pursuant to which we may borrow up to an aggregate principal amount of 
$500 million (credit facility). Under the credit facility, we may borrow at an applicable margin above the Eurodollar base rate 
(LIBOR loan) or the higher of the Prime Rate, the Federal Funds Effective Rate plus 0.50%, or the one month LIBOR rate plus 
1.00% (ABR loan). The applicable margin is determined based on our total leverage ratio but differs between LIBOR loans and 
ABR loans. For LIBOR-based borrowing, the margin varies from 2.00% to 2.50%. For ABR-based borrowing, the margin 
varies from 1.00% to 1.50%. Up to $50 million of the credit facility is available for issuance of letters of credit. The credit 
facility matures on June 29, 2020.

Customary fees related to the credit facility, including commitment fees on the undrawn commitments of between 0.30% 
and 0.40% per annum, are payable quarterly in arrears, and are based on our total leverage ratio. Borrowings under the credit 
facility are guaranteed by our wholly-owned material domestic subsidiaries. All obligations of Gannett and each subsidiary 
guarantor under the credit facility are or will be secured by first priority security interests in our equipment, inventory, accounts 
receivable, fixtures, general intangibles and other personal property, mortgages on certain material real property, and pledges of 
the capital stock of each subsidiary guarantor.

Under the credit facility, our consolidated interest coverage ratio cannot be less than 3.00:1.00, and our total leverage ratio 
cannot exceed 3.00:1.00, in each case as of the last day of the test period consisting of the last four consecutive fiscal quarters. 
We were in compliance with these financial covenants as of December 31, 2017.

The credit facility also contains a number of covenants that, among other things, limit or restrict our ability, subject to 
certain exceptions, to: (i) permit certain liens on current or future assets, (ii) enter into certain corporate transactions, (iii) incur 
additional indebtedness, (iv) make certain payments or declare certain dividends or distributions, (v) dispose of certain 
property, (vi) make certain investments, (vii) prepay or amend the terms of other indebtedness, or (viii) enter into certain 
transactions with our affiliates. We were in compliance with these covenants as of December 31, 2017.

As of December 31, 2017, we had $355.0 million in outstanding borrowings under the credit facility and $15.0 million of 

letters of credit outstanding, leaving $130.0 million of availability.

NOTE 8 — Retirement plans

Defined benefit retirement plans: We, along with our subsidiaries, have various defined benefit retirement plans, including 

plans established under collective bargaining agreements. The disclosure tables below include the assets and obligations of the 
Gannett Retirement Plan (GRP), the Newsquest and Romanes Pension Schemes in the U.K. (U.K. Pension Plans), the 
Newspaper Guild of Detroit Pension Plan, the 2015 SERP, and a supplemental non-qualified retirement plan we assumed 
pursuant to our acquisition of JMG (JMG Plan). We use a December 31 measurement date convention for all retirement plans.

Pursuant to our adoption of new guidance surrounding the presentation of net periodic benefit costs as discussed in 

NOTE 2 — Summary of significant accounting policies, net periodic benefit costs other than service costs are now included in 
the Other non-operating items, net line item in the Consolidated and combined statements of income.

69

 
Our pension costs, which include costs for our qualified and non-qualified plans, are presented in the following table:

In thousands

Operating expenses:

2017

2016

2015

Service cost—benefits earned during the period

$

2,300

$

3,066

$

7,993

Non-operating expenses:

Interest cost on benefit obligation

Expected return on plan assets

Amortization of prior service costs

Amortization of actuarial loss

Total non-operating expenses (benefit)
Pension cost for our plans and our allocated portions of former 
parent-sponsored retirement plans
Participant data corrections

Settlement charge

Total expense for retirement plans

111,272

(169,700)

125,903

(183,697)

6,670

72,656

20,898

23,198

—

—

6,677

61,740

10,623

13,689

(145)

(49)

$

23,198

$

13,495

$

131,149

(196,774)

6,893

56,722

(2,010)

5,983

—

1,254

7,237

70

 
The following table provides a reconciliation of pension benefit obligations (on a projected benefit obligation measurement 

basis), plan assets and funded status, along with the related amounts that are recognized in the Consolidated Balance Sheets.

In thousands

Change in benefit obligations

Benefit obligations at beginning of year

Service cost

Interest cost

Plan amendments and participant contributions

Actuarial (gain) loss

Foreign currency translation

Gross benefits paid

Acquisitions

Transfers out

Settlements

Participant data corrections

Benefit obligations at end of year

Change in plan assets

Fair value of plan assets at beginning of year

Actual return on plan assets

Employer and participant contributions

Gross benefits paid

Transfers out

Settlements

Foreign currency translation

Fair value of plan assets at end of year

Funded status at end of year

Amounts recognized in Consolidated Balance Sheets

Noncurrent assets

Accrued benefit cost—current

Accrued benefit cost—noncurrent

December 31,
2017

December 25,
2016

$

3,161,581

$

3,184,795

2,300

111,272

—

(24,356)

89,915

(203,279)

—

—

(254)

—

3,137,179

2,411,007

365,597

53,990

(203,279)

—

(254)

72,776

2,699,837

437,342

2,103

$

$

$

$

$

3,066

125,903

504

266,925

(187,624)

(211,882)

4,736

(1,242)

—

(23,600)

3,161,581

2,558,627

117,162

88,344

(211,882)

(1,242)

—

(140,002)

2,411,007

750,574

919

(17,569) $

(12,230)

(421,876) $

(739,263)

$

$

$

$

$

$

$

The funded status (on a projected benefit obligation basis) of our plans at December 31, 2017, is as follows:

In thousands

GRP
SERP (a)
U.K. Pension Plans

Newspaper Guild of Detroit Plan
JMG Plan (a)

Total
(a)  The SERP and JMG Plans are unfunded, unsecured liabilities.

Fair Value of
Plan Assets

Benefit
Obligation

Funded
Status

$

1,764,525

$

1,974,458

$

—

835,283

100,029

—

112,763

937,578

108,866

3,514

(209,933)

(112,763)

(102,295)

(8,837)

(3,514)

$

2,699,837

$

3,137,179

$

(437,342)

71

The following table presents information for our retirement plans for which accumulated benefits exceed assets:

In thousands

Accumulated benefit obligation

Fair value of plan assets

December 31,
2017

December 25,
2016

$
$

3,132,445
2,699,837

$
$

3,153,811
2,411,007

The following table presents information for our retirement plans for which projected benefit obligations exceed assets:

In thousands

Projected benefit obligation

Fair value of plan assets

December 31,
2017

December 25,
2016

$
$

3,137,179
2,699,837

$
$

3,161,581
2,411,007

The following table summarizes the pre-tax amounts recorded in Accumulated other comprehensive loss that are currently 

unrecognized as a component of pension expense for our retirement plans as of the dates presented. 

In thousands

Net actuarial losses

Prior service cost

Amounts in accumulated other comprehensive loss

December 31,
2017

December 25,
2016

$

$

(1,540,698) $
(22,593)

(1,825,167)
(29,263)

(1,563,291) $

(1,854,430)

The actuarial loss amounts expected to be amortized from Accumulated other comprehensive loss into net periodic benefit 

cost in 2018 are $61.3 million. The prior service cost amounts expected to be amortized from Accumulated other 
comprehensive loss into net periodic benefit cost in 2018 are $1.9 million.

Changes in plan assets and benefit obligations recognized in Other comprehensive income consist of the following:

In thousands

Current year actuarial gain

Amortization of actuarial loss

Amortization of prior service costs

Foreign currency loss

Total

2017

$

(221,526)

(72,656)

(6,671)

29,546

$

(271,307)

Pension costs: The following assumptions were used to determine net pension costs:

Discount rate

Expected return on plan assets

Rate of compensation increase

2017

3.63%

7.24%

2.95%

2016

4.24%

7.60%

2.95%

2015

4.17%

7.63%

2.95%

The expected return on plan assets assumption was determined based on plan asset allocations, a review of historic capital 

market performance, historical plan asset performance and a forecast of expected future plan asset returns.

Benefit obligations and funded status: The following assumptions were used to determine the year-end benefit 

obligations:

Discount rate

Rate of compensation increase

December 31,
2017

December 25,
2016

3.34%

2.95%

3.63%

2.95%

72

During 2017, we contributed $25.5 million to the GRP, $8.5 million to the SERP and $0.3 million to the JMG Plan. In 
addition to any other contributions that may be required, we will make additional contributions of $25.0 million during 2018 
through 2020 and $15.0 million in 2021 for the GRP. Our expected 2018 contributions for Gannett's SERP and JMG Plan are 
$16.9 million and $0.3 million, respectively. During 2017, we made contributions of $19.4 million to the U.K. Pension Plans. 
We also expect to contribute approximately £15.0 million per year to the U.K. Pension Plans from 2018 through 2022.

Plan assets: The target asset allocation of our plans for 2018 and allocations at the end of 2017 and 2016, by asset 

category, are presented in the table below: 

Equity securities

Debt securities
Alternative investments (a)
Total
(a)  Alternative investments include real estate, private equity and hedge funds.

Target Allocation

Allocation of Plan Assets

2018

46%

37%

17%

100%

2017

46%

40%

14%

100%

2016

44%

38%

18%

100%

The primary objective of company-sponsored retirement plans is to provide eligible employees with scheduled pension 

benefits; the "prudent man" guideline is followed with regard to the investment management of retirement plan assets. 
Consistent with prudent standards for preservation of capital and maintenance of liquidity, the goal is to earn the highest 
possible total rate of return while minimizing risk. The principal means of reducing volatility and exercising prudent investment 
judgment is diversification by asset class and by investment manager; consequently, portfolios are constructed to attain prudent 
diversification in the total portfolio, each asset class, and within each individual investment manager's portfolio. Investment 
diversification is consistent with the intent to minimize the risk of large losses. All objectives are based upon an investment 
horizon spanning five years so that interim market fluctuations can be viewed with the appropriate perspective. The target asset 
allocation represents the long-term perspective. Retirement plan assets will be rebalanced periodically to align them with the 
target asset allocations. Risk characteristics are measured and compared with an appropriate benchmark quarterly; periodic 
reviews are made of the investment objectives and the investment managers. Our actual investment return on our Gannett 
Retirement Plan assets was 20.2% for 2017, 0.4% for 2016 and 1.9% for 2015.

Retirement plan assets include approximately 0.6 million shares of our common stock valued at approximately $7.2 

million at the end of 2017. The plan received dividends of approximately $0.4 million on these shares in 2017.

Cash flows: We estimate the following benefit payments will be made from retirement plan assets, which reflect expected 

future service, as appropriate. The amounts below represent the benefit payments for our plans.

In thousands
2018

2019

2020

2021

2022

2023 - 2027

401(k) savings plan

$

$

$

$

$

$

219,689

204,839

201,739

199,787

196,157

951,526

Generally, employees who are scheduled to work at least 1,000 hours during the year are eligible to participate in our 

principal defined contribution plan, The Gannett Co., Inc. 401(k) Savings Plan (the 401(k) Plan). Employees covered under 
collective bargaining agreements are eligible to participate in the 401(k) Plan only if participation has been bargained. 
Employees can elect to save up to 50% of compensation on a pre-tax basis subject to certain limits.

For most participants, the plan's matching formula is 100% of the first 5% of employee contributions. We also make 

additional employer contributions on behalf of certain long-term employees. Compensation expense related to 401(k) 
contributions was $29.0 million in 2017, $28.8 million in 2016, and $25.8 million in 2015. We settle the 401(k) employee 
match obligation payable in company stock by buying our stock in the open market and depositing it in the participants' 
accounts.

73

In connection with our acquisitions of JMG and ReachLocal, as discussed in Note 3 — Acquisitions, we assumed 401(k) 
savings plans. The JMG 401(k) savings plan (JMG Plan) continued to cover former JMG employees until the JMG plan was 
merged with the 401(k) Plan in March 2017. For most participants in this plan, the matching formula was 50% of the first 7% 
of employee contributions, and the employer match obligation is settled in cash. Additionally, starting in July 2017, ReachLocal 
employees were able to transfer assets into the 401(k) Plan.

Multi-employer plans that provide pension benefits

We contribute to a number of multi-employer defined benefit pension plans under the terms of collective-bargaining 
agreements (CBAs) that cover our union-represented employees. The risks of participating in these multi-employer plans are 
different from single-employer plans in the following aspects:

•  We play no part in the management of plan investments or any other aspect of plan administration.

•  Amounts we contribute to the multi-employer plan may be used to provide benefits to employees of other participating 

employers.

• 

If a participating employer stops contributing to the plan, the unfunded obligations of the plan may be borne by the 

remaining participating employers.

• 

If we choose to stop participating in some of our multi-employer plans, we may be required to pay those plans an 

amount based on the unfunded status of the plan, referred to as a withdrawal liability.

Our participation in these plans for the annual period ended December 31, 2017, is outlined in the table below. The "EIN/

Plan Number" column provides the Employee Identification Number (EIN) and the three-digit pension plan number. Unless 
otherwise noted, the two most recent Pension Protection Act (PPA) zone statuses available are for the plan's year-end at 
December 31, 2017 and December 25, 2016. The zone status is based on information that we received from the plan and is 
certified by the plan's actuary. Among other factors, plans in the red zone are generally less than 65% funded; plans in the 
orange zone are both a) less than 80% funded and b) have an accumulated/expected funding deficiency in any of the next six 
plan years, net of any amortization extensions; plans in the yellow zone meet either one of the criteria mentioned in the orange 
zone; and plans in the green zone are at least 80% funded. The "FIP/RP Status Pending/Implemented" column indicates plans 
for which a financial improvement plan (FIP) or a rehabilitation plan (RP) is either pending or has been implemented. The last 
column lists the expiration date(s) of the collective-bargaining agreement(s) to which the plans are subject.

We make all required contributions to these plans as determined under the respective CBAs. For each of the plans listed 

below, our contribution represented less than 5% of total contributions to the plan. This calculation is based on the plan 
financial statements issued at the end of December 31, 2016. At the date we issue our financial statements, Forms 5500 were 
unavailable for the plan years ending after December 31, 2016.

We incurred no expenses for multi-employer withdrawal liabilities in 2017, $2.0 million in 2016 and $6.1 million in 2015. 
We released withdrawal liabilities of $7.8 million in 2017 and none for 2016 and 2015. Current liabilities on the Consolidated 
Balance Sheets include $2.9 million and $3.3 million at December 31, 2017, and December 25, 2016, respectively, and other 
noncurrent liabilities on the Consolidated Balance Sheets include $33.0 million and $40.2 million at December 31, 2017, and 
December 25, 2016, respectively, for such withdrawal liabilities. 

Multi-employer Pension Plans

Pension Plan Name
CWA/ITU Negotiated Pension Plan

GCIU—Employer Retirement Benefit Plan 
(a)

IAM National Pension Plan (a)

Teamsters Pension Trust Fund of 
Philadelphia and Vicinity (a)

EIN Number/

Plan Number
13-6212879/001

Zone Status
Dec. 31,

2017
Red

2016
Red

FIP/RP Status
Pending/
Implemented

Implemented

Contributions 
(in thousands)
2017
2015
2016
$ 431 $ 478 $ 411

91-6024903/001

Red

Red

Implemented

51-6031295/002

Green

Green

NA

30

241

30

278

43

352

Surcharge 
Imposed

No

Yes

NA

Expiration 
Dates of 
CBAs

4/10/2019

4/30/2019

4/30/2019

23-1511735/001 Yellow

Yellow

Implemented

1,347

1,473

1,452

NA

(b)

Central Pension Fund of the International 
Union of Operating Engineers and 
Participating Employers (a)

36-6052390/001

Green as 
of Jan. 
31, 2017

Green as 
of Jan. 
31, 2016

NA

82

86

99

NA

4/30/2019

Total
(a)  This plan has elected to utilize special amortization provisions provided under the Preservation of Access to Care for Medicare Beneficiaries and Pension 

$ 2,131 $2,345 $2,357

Relief Act of 2010.

74

(b) 

In February 2018, an interim agreement was executed to maintain the terms and contributions of the plan past the expiration date of 12/21/2017. This 
agreement is subject to additional negotiation. 

NOTE 9 — Postretirement benefits other than pension

We provide health care and life insurance benefits to certain retired employees who meet age and service requirements. 

Most of our retirees contribute to the cost of these benefits and retiree contributions are increased as actual benefit costs 
increase. 

The cost of providing retiree health care and life insurance benefits is actuarially determined. Our policy is to fund benefits 

as claims and premiums are paid. We use a December 31 measurement date for these plans.

Postretirement benefit cost for health care and life insurance included the following components:

In thousands

Operating expenses:

2017

2016

2015

Service cost – benefits earned during the period

$

151

$

202

$

301

Non-operating expenses:

Interest cost on net benefit obligation

Amortization of prior service credit

Amortization of actuarial (gain) loss

Participant data corrections 

Total non-operating cost (benefit)

3,605

(3,648)

103

—

60

4,038

(4,794)

415

(350)

(691)

Net periodic postretirement expense (benefit)

$

211

$

(489) $

4,019

(9,615)

1,426

—

(4,170)

(3,869)

The table below provides a reconciliation of benefit obligations and funded status of our postretirement benefit plans:

In thousands

Change in benefit obligations

Net benefit obligations at beginning of year

Service cost

Interest cost

Plan participants' contributions

Plan amendments

Actuarial (gain) loss

Gross benefits paid

Acquisitions

Participant data corrections

Net benefit obligations at end of year

Change in plan assets

Fair value of plan assets at beginning of year

Employer contributions

Plan participants' contributions

Gross benefits paid

Fair value of plan assets at end of year

Benefit obligation at end of year

Amounts recognized in Consolidated Balance Sheets
Accrued benefit cost—current

Accrued benefit cost—noncurrent

75

December 31,
2017

December 25,
2016

$

99,661

$

97,508

151

3,605

1,014

—

(2,210)

(9,855)

—

—

92,366

$

— $

8,841

1,014

(9,855)

— $

92,366

$

(9,022) $

(83,344) $

202

4,038

1,239

502

1,193

(10,505)

8,255

(2,771)

99,661

—

9,266

1,239

(10,505)

—

99,661

(9,527)

(90,134)

$

$

$

$

$

$

The following table summarizes the pre-tax amounts recorded in Accumulated other comprehensive loss that are currently 

unrecognized as a component of net periodic postretirement benefit credit as of the dates presented:

In thousands

Net actuarial losses

Prior service credit

Amounts in accumulated other comprehensive loss

December 31,
2017

December 25,
2016

$

$

(3,233) $

19,063

15,830

$

(4,472)

22,711

18,239

The actuarial loss and prior service credit estimated to be amortized from Accumulated other comprehensive loss into net 

periodic benefit cost in 2018 are $0.4 million and $3.5 million, respectively.

Changes in plan assets and benefit obligations recognized in Other comprehensive loss consist of the following:

In thousands

Current year actuarial gain

Amortization of actuarial loss

Amortization of prior service credit

Total

2017

(1,561)

(103)

3,648

1,984

$

$

Postretirement benefit costs: The following assumptions were used to determine postretirement benefit cost:

Discount rate

Health care cost trend rate assumed for next year

Ultimate trend rate

Year that ultimate trend rate is reached

2017

2016

2015

4.01%

5.80%

5.00%

2022

4.27%

5.70%

4.77%

2019

4.11%

6.18%

5.00%

2018

Benefit obligations and funded status: The following assumptions were used to determine the year-end benefit obligation:

Discount rate
Health care cost trend rate assumed for next year

Ultimate trend rate
Year that ultimate trend rate is reached

December 31,
2017

December 25,
2016

3.60%
5.80%
5.00%
2022

4.01%
5.70%
4.77%
2019

Assumed health care cost trend rates have an effect on the amounts reported for the health care plans. The effect of a 1% 

change in the health care cost trend rate would result in a change of approximately $0.3 million in the 2017 postretirement 
benefit obligation and no measurable change in the aggregate service and interest components of the 2017 expense.

Cash flows: We expect to make the following benefit payments, which reflect expected future service. The amounts below 

represent the benefit payments for our plans.

In thousands

2018

2019

2020

2021

2022

2023 - 2027

Benefit
Payments

9,022

8,209

7,605

7,129

6,788

29,009

$

$

$

$

$

$

76

The amounts above exclude the participants' share of the benefit cost. Our policy is to fund benefits as claims, stipends and 

premiums are paid. We expect no subsidy benefits for 2018 and beyond.

NOTE 10 — Income taxes 

The provision (benefit) for income taxes consists of the following:

In thousands

2017
Federal

State and other

Foreign

Total

In thousands

2016
Federal

State and other

Foreign

Total

In thousands

2015
Federal

State and other

Foreign

Total

Current

Deferred

Total

2,210

$

28,775

$

(787)

920

(4,652)

7,388

2,343

$

31,511

$

30,985

(5,439)

8,308

33,854

Current

Deferred

Total

(7,094) $

8,278

$

(528)

5,606

262

7,194

(2,016) $

15,734

$

1,184

(266)

12,800

13,718

Current

Deferred

Total

(5,383) $

36,489

$

(560)

6,447

4,046

6,845

504

$

47,380

$

31,106

3,486

13,292

47,884

$

$

$

$

$

$

The components of net income before income taxes consist of the following:

In thousands

Domestic

Foreign

Total

2017

2016

2015

$

$

4,006

36,735

40,741

$

$

19,349

47,079

66,428

$

$

128,316

65,659

193,975

In December 2017, the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (the Tax Act) was signed into law. The Tax Act contains significant changes 

to corporate taxation, including reducing the corporate tax rate from 35% to 21%. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are 
measured using enacted tax rates expected to apply to taxable income in the years in which those temporary differences are 
expected to be recovered or settled. We recorded $42.8 million as additional income tax expense in the fourth quarter of 2017 to 
reduce the value of our deferred tax assets as a result of the reduction in the federal income tax rate.

As of December 31, 2017, we had not completed our accounting for the tax effects of enactment of the Tax Act; however, 

where possible, as described herein, we made a reasonable estimate of the effects on our existing deferred tax balances and 
related items and other tax liabilities. We remeasured our deferred tax assets and liabilities based on the rates at which they are 
expected to reverse in the future, which is generally 21% for U.S. federal tax purposes. The provisional amount recorded 
related to the remeasurement of our deferred tax assets and liabilities of $42.8 million. The Tax Act also establishes a partial 
territorial system and one-time transition tax on historical foreign earnings. We have made a reasonable estimate that we do not 
have historical foreign earnings that are subject to the transition tax. These estimates are as of the enactment date of the Tax Act 
and our existing analysis of the numerous complex tax law changes in the Tax Act. As we finalize our analysis of the tax law 
changes in the Tax Act, including the impact on our current year tax return filing positions, throughout 2018, we will update our 
provisional amounts for this remeasurement.

During the third quarter of 2017, we made an election to treat one of our ReachLocal international subsidiaries as a 

disregarded entity for U.S. federal income tax purposes, which resulted in a worthless stock and bad debt deduction. As a result 
of this election, we incurred a tax loss that resulted in a $20.1 million tax benefit, net of reserve for uncertain tax positions. An 

77

additional state tax benefit of $0.9 million for this item was recorded in the fourth quarter. We expect our domestic operations 
to generate sufficient taxable income to fully utilize the tax benefit of the loss. This tax loss may be subject to audit and future 
adjustment by the IRS, which could result in a reversal of none, part, or all of the income tax benefit or could result in a benefit 
higher than the net amount recorded. If the IRS rejects or reduces the amount of the income tax benefit related to the worthless 
stock and bad debt deduction, we may have to pay additional cash income taxes, which could adversely affect our results of 
operations, financial condition, and cash flows. We cannot guarantee what the ultimate outcome or amount of the benefit we 
receive, if any, will be.

For 2017 and 2016, net income generated in foreign jurisdictions was 90% and 71%, respectively, where the income tax 
rate is lower than in the U.S., whereas 34% of our 2015 net income was generated in foreign jurisdictions. The lower domestic 
net income is attributable to higher expenses domestically for corporate expenses related to restructuring charges, asset 
impairments, and public company costs as compared with foreign jurisdictions. The recent changes in the mix of income 
generated from lower tax rate foreign jurisdictions relative to U.S. domestic net income have had the effect of decreasing our 
tax expense. 

The provision for income taxes varies from the U.S. federal statutory tax rate as a result of the following differences:

U.S. statutory tax rate

Increase (decrease) in taxes resulting from:

State/other income taxes net of federal income tax

Statutory rate differential and permanent differences in earnings in foreign
jurisdictions
Impact of rate change in U.S. and foreign tax jurisdictions

Valuation allowance

Net of additional reserves and lapse of statutes of limitations

Impact of accounting method change

Domestic manufacturing deduction

Meals and entertainment
Stock-based compensation (a)
Worthless stock and bad debt deduction

Transaction costs

Other, net

Effective tax rate

2017

2016

2015

35.0%

35.0%

35.0%

(0.7)

(17.5)

105.3

20.0

29.1

—

—

5.1

(3.9)

(90.0)

—

0.9

83.3%

(3.8)

(10.7)

1.6

3.5

3.3

—

—

2.7

(12.3)

—

3.4

(2.0)

20.7%

2.4

(6.3)

1.9

—

(1.1)

(3.4)

(1.4)

—

—

—

—

(2.4)

24.7%

(a)  We adopted new accounting guidance related to employee stock-based compensation in the fourth quarter of 2016. The adoption reduced our 2016 full year 

combined income tax provision for federal, state, and foreign by $8.9 million and the tax rate by approximately 13.5%. 

Deferred income taxes reflect temporary differences in the recognition of revenue and expense for tax reporting and 
financial statement purposes. Deferred tax liabilities and assets are adjusted for enacted changes in tax laws or tax rates of the 
various tax jurisdictions. The amount of such adjustments for 2017 was $42.2 million compared to 2016 adjustments of $1.1 
million and 2015 adjustments of $3.8 million. The adjustments for 2017 are related to the statutory rate reduction in the United 
States, and the adjustments in 2016 and 2015 were due to rate reductions in U.K. statutory tax rates. 

Our deferred tax assets were further reduced for the establishment of valuation allowances related to two of our publishing 

properties of $7.7 million and state net operating losses of $3.4 million, which was recorded as additional income tax expense 
in 2017.  

78

Deferred tax liabilities and assets were composed of the following at the end of 2017 and 2016:

In thousands

Liabilities

Accelerated depreciation

Total deferred tax liabilities

Assets

Accrued compensation costs

Pension and postretirement benefits

Basis difference and amortization of intangibles

Federal tax benefits of uncertain state tax positions

Partnership investments including impairments

Loss carryforwards

Other

Total deferred tax assets

Valuation allowance

Total net deferred tax assets

Noncurrent deferred tax assets (net of deferred tax liabilities of $1,209 and $0 at December 31,
2017 and December 25, 2016, respectively)

December 31, 
2017

December 25, 
2016

$

(69,048) $

(69,048)

(152,551)

(152,551)

25,596

144,837

57,012

2,026

9,171

68,914

33,539

29,670

302,565

95,653

7,015

21,670

55,335

53,789

341,095

(170,764)

565,697

(194,914)

101,283

$

218,232

101,283

$

218,232

$

$

As of December 31, 2017, we had approximately $52.5 million of U.S. federal net operating loss carryforwards, $6.6 

million of other business tax credits, $4.1 million of foreign tax credits, $7.2 million of state credits, $266.9 million of 
apportioned state net operating loss carryforwards, $255.0 million of foreign net operating loss carryforwards, and $33.1 
million of foreign capital loss carryforwards. The U.S. federal net operating losses, the foreign tax credits, the state tax credits, 
and the state net operating loss carryovers expire in various amounts beginning in 2018 through 2037. The countries where we 
have foreign net operating loss carryovers allow for these losses to be carried forward indefinitely except for Canada, Japan, 
and the Netherlands. Net operating loss carryovers in Canada, Japan, and the Netherlands expire in various amounts beginning 
in 2020 through 2037. Our foreign capital losses can be carried forward indefinitely. 

Included in total deferred tax assets are valuation allowances of approximately $170.8 million in 2017 and $194.9 million 

in 2016, primarily related to unamortizable intangible assets, foreign tax credits, state net operating losses, state credits, and 
foreign losses available for carry forward to future years. We recorded valuation allowances of $7.7 million related to 
unamortizable intangible assets for two of our publishing properties and $3.4 million related to state net operating losses during 
2017. The decrease in the valuation allowance from 2016 to 2017 is primarily related to the tax rate change. The valuation 
allowance is based on an analysis of future sources of taxable income and other sources of positive and negative evidence and 
whether it is more likely than not that the identified deferred tax assets will not be realized before their expiration. The 
following table summarizes the activity related to our valuation allowance for deferred tax assets for the year ended 
December 31, 2017:

In thousands

Balance at
Beginning of
Period

Additions/
(Reductions)
Charged to
Expenses

Additions/
(Reductions) for
Acquisitions/
Dispositions

Other (Deductions
from)/Additions to
Reserves

Foreign Currency
Translation

Balance at 
End of Period

$

194,914

$

11,131

$

71

$

(40,979) $

5,627

$

170,764

Realization of deferred tax assets for which valuation allowances have not been established is dependent upon generating 

sufficient future taxable income. We expect to realize the benefit of these deferred tax assets through future reversals of our 
deferred tax liabilities, through the recognition of taxable income in the allowable carryback and carryforward periods, and 
through implementation of future tax planning strategies. Although realization is not assured, we believe it is more likely than 
not that all deferred tax assets for which valuation allowances have not been established will be realized.

79

The following table summarizes the activity related to unrecognized tax benefits, excluding the federal tax benefit of state 

tax deductions:

In thousands

Change in unrecognized tax benefits

Balance at beginning of year

Additions based on tax positions related to the current year

Additions for tax positions of prior years

Reductions for tax positions of prior years

Settlements

Reductions due to lapse of statutes of limitations

Balance at end of year

December 31, 
2017

December 25, 
2016

December 27,
2015

$

23,890

$

17,032

$

15,850

136

—

(4,727)

(2,165)

125

9,416

(792)

—

(1,891)

$

32,984

$

23,890

$

10,919

2,021

6,713

—

—

(2,621)

17,032

The total amount of unrecognized tax benefits that, if recognized, would impact the effective tax rate was $30.1 million as 

of December 31, 2017, $17.3 million as of December 25, 2016, and $11.3 million as of December 27, 2015. Additions to 
current year positions of $14.6 million and prior year positions of $4.3 million are recorded as reductions to deferred tax assets 
as unrecognized tax benefits. Remaining amounts are recorded as an income tax liability and include the federal tax benefit of 
state tax deductions. 

We recognize interest and penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits as a component of income tax expense. We also 

recognize interest income attributable to overpayment of income taxes and from the reversal of interest expense previously 
recorded for uncertain tax positions which are subsequently released as a component of income tax expense. We recognized 
income from interest and the release of penalty reserves of $5.3 million in 2017, $0.6 million in each of 2016 and 2015. The 
amount of accrued interest and payables related to unrecognized tax benefits was $0.9 million as of December 31, 2017, $3.8 
million as of December 25, 2016, and $3.4 million as of December 27, 2015.

We file income tax returns in the United States, various states, and certain foreign jurisdictions. The tax years 2013 through 

2016 generally remain subject to examination by the Internal Revenue Services and other foreign tax authorities. Tax years 
prior to 2013 remain subject to examination by certain states due to ongoing audits.

It is reasonably possible the amount of unrecognized benefit with respect to certain of our unrecognized tax positions will 
significantly increase or decrease within the next 12 months. These changes may be the result of settlement of ongoing audits, 
lapses of statutes of limitations, or regulatory developments. At this time, we estimate the amount of our gross unrecognized tax 
positions may decrease by up to approximately $3.3 million within the next 12 months primarily due to lapses of statutes of 
limitations and settlement of ongoing audits in various jurisdictions.

In connection with the spin-off, we entered into a tax matters agreement with our former parent which states each 

company's rights and responsibilities with respect to payment of taxes, tax return filings, and control of tax examinations. We 
are generally responsible for taxes allocable to periods (or portions of periods) beginning after the spin-off. Although any 
changes with regard to additional income tax liabilities which relate to periods prior to the spin-off may impact our effective tax 
rate in the future, we may be entitled to seek indemnification for these items from our former parent under the tax matters 
agreement.

80

NOTE 11 — Supplemental equity information

Earnings per share

Our earnings per share (basic and diluted) for each fiscal year is presented below:

In thousands, except per share amounts

Net income

2017

2016

2015

$

6,887

$

52,710

$

Weighted average number of common shares outstanding (basic)

113,047

116,018

Effect of dilutive securities

Restricted stock units (RSUs)

Performance shares (PSUs)

Stock options

1,515

928

120

1,475

881

251

146,091

115,165

728

582

220

Weighted average number of common shares outstanding (diluted)

115,610

118,625

116,695

Earnings (loss) per share (basic)

Earnings (loss) per share (diluted)

$

$

0.06

0.06

$

$

0.45

0.44

$

$

1.27

1.25

The diluted earnings per share amounts exclude the effects of approximately 0.7 million, 0.4 million, and 0.1 million shares 

outstanding for 2017, 2016 and 2015, respectively, as their inclusion would be antidilutive. 

Share repurchase program

In July 2015, our Board of Directors approved a share repurchase program authorizing us to repurchase shares with an 
aggregate value of up to $150 million over a three-year period. Shares may be repurchased at management's discretion, either in 
the open market or in privately negotiated block transactions. Management's decision to repurchase shares will depend on share 
price and other corporate liquidity requirements. 

During 2017, we repurchased two million shares at a cost of $17.4 million. As of December 31, 2017, approximately 5.8 

million shares have been repurchased under this program at a total cost of $50.0 million. 

Equity-based awards

We established the Gannett Co. Inc. 2015 Omnibus Incentive Compensation Plan (the Plan) for the purpose of granting 
equity-based and cash-based awards to Gannett employees and directors. The Plan permits the granting of non-qualified stock 
options, incentive stock options, stock appreciation rights, restricted stock, stock awards, restricted stock units (RSUs), 
performance shares, performance share units (PSUs), and cash-based awards. Awards may be granted to our employees and 
members of the Board of Directors. The Executive Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors administers the plan 
and initially reserved 11.0 million shares of our common stock for issuance. In 2017, our shareholders approved a new total 
reserve of shares available for issuance of 18.0 million. The Plan provides that shares of common stock subject to awards 
granted become available again for issuance if such awards are canceled or forfeited. We currently issue stock-based 
compensation to employees in the form of PSUs and RSUs. We currently issue stock-based compensation to members of our 
Board of Directors in the form of RSUs. Award grants to our employees are generally made on January 1, and grants to 
members of our Board of Directors are generally made in connection with the date of our annual meetings or commencement of 
service for a new member.

PSU awards generally have a three-year vesting period with the number of shares earned (0% to 200% of the target award) 

determined based upon how our total shareholder return (TSR) compares to the TSR of a peer group of media companies 
during the three-year period. PSUs generally vest on a pro rata basis if an employee terminates before the end of the 
performance period due to death, disability, or retirement. Non-vested PSUs are generally forfeited upon termination for any 
other reason. The fair value and compensation expense of each PSU is determined on the date of grant by using a Monte Carlo 
valuation model. Each PSU is equal to and paid in one share of our common stock but carries no voting or dividend rights. 

RSU awards generally have a four-year incentive period and grant one share of common stock for each RSU granted. 
Subject to special vesting rules that apply to terminations due to death, disability, or retirement, RSUs issued prior to 2014 vest 
at the end of the incentive period. For awards granted after 2014, RSUs generally vest 25% per year over the four-year 
incentive period. For all RSU grants, expense is recognized on a straight-line basis over the incentive period based on the grant 
date fair value.

81

Compensation expense for PSU and RSU awards is recognized net of forfeitures. When estimating forfeitures, voluntary 

termination behavior as well as analysis of actual forfeitures is considered. Forfeitures are estimated throughout the period and 
adjusted to actuals at the end of the year.

Members of our Board of Directors receive grants of RSUs as well as cash compensation. Director RSUs generally vest in 

quarterly installments over one year. Expense is recognized on a straight-line basis over the vesting period based on the grant 
date fair value. 

The Executive Compensation Committee may grant other types of awards that are valued in whole or in part by reference 

to or that are otherwise based on the fair market value of our common stock or other criteria which they establish such as the 
achievement of performance goals. The maximum aggregate grant of PSU and RSU awards that may be awarded to any 
participant in any fiscal year cannot exceed 500,000 shares of common stock, and the maximum aggregate amount of cash-
based awards that may be awarded to any participant in any fiscal year cannot exceed $10 million.

Determining fair value of PSUs

Valuation and amortization method – We determine the fair value of PSUs using the Monte Carlo valuation model. This 
model projects probable future stock prices for us and our peer group companies subject to certain price caps at the conclusion 
of the three-year incentive period. Key inputs into the Monte Carlo valuation model include expected term, expected volatility, 
expected dividend yield, and the risk-free rate. Each assumption is discussed below.

Expected term – The expected term represents the period that our stock-based awards are expected to be outstanding. The 

expected term for PSU awards is based on the incentive period of three years. 

Expected volatility – The fair value of stock-based awards reflects volatility factors calculated using historical market data 
for our common stock and the common stock of our peer group when the Monte Carlo method is used. The time frame used is 
equal to the expected term.

Expected dividend – The dividend assumption is based on our expectations about our dividend policy on the date of grant.

Risk-free interest rate – The risk-free interest rate is based on the yield to maturity at the time of the award grant on zero-

coupon U.S. government bonds having a remaining life equal to the award's expected term.

The following assumptions were used to estimate the fair value of PSU awards that were granted:

Expected term

Expected volatility

Risk-free interest rate

Expected dividend yield

Determining fair value of RSUs

2017

3 yrs.

39.90%

1.47%

6.59%

2016

3 yrs.

42.20%

1.31%

3.93%

2015

3 yrs.

32.00%

1.10%

2.51%

For RSUs, the grant-date fair value is calculated at the share price on the date of grant less the present value of estimated 

dividends which will be granted during the vesting period.

Stock-based compensation expense

Stock-based compensation expense for Gannett employee participants in both plans have been included within selling, 
general, and administrative expense within the Consolidated and combined statements of income. Prior to the distribution date, 
stock-based compensation expense for Gannett participants in the former parent plan was allocated to us. 

82

The following table shows the stock-based compensation related amounts recognized in the Consolidated and combined 

statements of income for equity awards:

In thousands

Restricted stock and RSUs

Performance shares

Stock options

Total stock-based compensation

Restricted stock and RSUs

2017

2016

2015

$

$

13,135

$

12,889

$

7,206

—

7,687

—

20,341

$

20,576

$

12,235

9,478

29

21,742

As of December 31, 2017, there was $19.5 million of unrecognized compensation cost related to non-vested restricted 
stock and RSUs. This amount will be adjusted for future changes in estimated forfeitures and recognized on a straight-line basis 
over a weighted average period of 2.4 years. As of December 25, 2016, there was $23.4 million of unrecognized compensation 
cost related to non-vested restricted stock and RSUs with a weighted average period remaining of 2.4 years. As of 
December 27, 2015, there was $20.2 million of unrecognized compensation cost related to non-vested restricted stock and 
RSUs with a weighted average remaining period of 2.4 years. 

A summary of restricted stock and RSU awards is presented below:

Outstanding and unvested at June 29, 2015

Granted

Settled

Canceled

Outstanding and unvested at December 27, 2015

Granted

Settled

Canceled

Outstanding and unvested at December 25, 2016

Granted

Settled

Canceled

Outstanding and unvested at December 31, 2017

PSUs

Shares

2,885,994

$

203,061

(136,658)

(174,190)

2,778,207

$

1,483,127

(1,066,056)

(376,442)

2,818,836

$

2,251,936

(2,373,277)

(433,482)

2,264,013

$

Weighted
Average
Fair Value

10.86

11.31

10.35

10.98

10.91

13.36

10.06

11.81

12.40

8.04

11.36

10.37

9.55

As of December 31, 2017, there was $3.7 million of unrecognized compensation cost related to non-vested PSUs. This 
amount will be adjusted for future changes in estimated forfeitures and recognized over a weighted average period of 1.7 years. 
As of December 25, 2016, there was $4.9 million of unrecognized compensation cost related to non-vested PSUs with a 
weighted average period remaining of 1.7 years. As of December 27, 2015, there was $4.6 million of unrecognized 
compensation cost related to non-vested PSUs with a weighted average period remaining of 1.7 years.

83

A summary of the PSU awards is presented below:

Outstanding and unvested at June 29, 2015

Vested

Canceled

Outstanding and unvested at December 27, 2015

Granted

Vested

Canceled

Outstanding and unvested at December 25, 2016

Granted

Vested

Canceled

Outstanding and unvested at December 31, 2017

Target
Number of
Shares

Weighted 
Average 
Fair Value

926,138

$

(31,158)

(101,306)

793,674

$

373,658

(265,110)

(128,075)

774,147

$

1,012,030

(209,838)

(426,048)

1,150,291

$

15.48

15.51

15.21

15.52

19.30

13.83

16.34

17.82

10.86

17.67

14.58

12.92

Stock Options: As of December 31, 2017, December 25, 2016, and December 27, 2015, all stock options were fully vested. 
Options were exercised with an intrinsic value of approximately $0.6 million, $0.9 million, and $4.7 million in 2017, 2016, and 
2015, respectively.

A summary of our stock option awards is presented below:

Outstanding and exercisable at June 29, 2015

Exercised

Canceled

Outstanding and exercisable at December 27, 2015

Exercised

Canceled

Outstanding and exercisable at December 25, 2016

Exercised

Canceled

Outstanding and exercisable at December 31, 2017

Weighted
Average
Exercise
Price

Weighted
Average
Remaining
Contractual
Term
(in years)

Aggregate
Intrinsic
Value

6.80

7.53

12.61

5.58

5.46

9.40

5.37

5.18

5.52

5.56

2.5

$

7,901,831

2.6

$

4,378,900

1.9

$

1,304,798

1.2

$

901,207

Shares

1,078,289

$

(662,304)

(4,102)

411,883

$

(102,842)

(18,774)

290,267

$

(140,699)

(170)

149,398

$

84

Accumulated other comprehensive loss

The elements of our Accumulated other comprehensive loss consisted of pension, retiree medical and life insurance 
liabilities and foreign currency translation. The following tables summarize the components of, and changes in, Accumulated 
other comprehensive loss, net of tax:

In thousands

2017

Balance at beginning of year

Other comprehensive income before reclassifications

Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive loss

Balance at end of year

In thousands

2016

Balance at beginning of year

Other comprehensive loss before reclassifications

Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive loss

Balance at end of year

In thousands

2015

Balance at beginning of year

Other comprehensive loss before reclassifications

Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive loss

Balance at end of year

Retirement
Plans

Foreign
Currency
Translation

Total

$

(1,183,196) $

300,284

$

(882,912)

133,623

48,782

43,990

—

177,613

48,782

$

(1,000,791) $

344,274

$

(656,517)

Retirement
Plans

Foreign
Currency
Translation

$

(1,058,234) $

384,810

$

(166,253)

41,291

(84,526)

—

Total

(673,424)

(250,779)

41,291

$

(1,183,196) $

300,284

$

(882,912)

Retirement
Plans

Foreign
Currency
Translation

Total

$

(1,082,312) $

404,200

$

(678,112)

(12,010)

36,088

(19,390)

—

(31,400)

36,088

$

(1,058,234) $

384,810

$

(673,424)

Accumulated other comprehensive loss components are included in the computation of net periodic postretirement costs 
(see Note 8 — Retirement plans and Note 9 — Postretirement benefits other than pension for more detail). Reclassifications out 
of Accumulated other comprehensive loss related to these postretirement plans include the following:

In thousands

Amortization of prior service credit

Amortization of actuarial loss

Total reclassifications, before tax

Income tax effect

Total reclassifications, net of tax

2017

2016

3,023

$

72,759

75,782

(27,000)

48,782

$

1,883

62,155

64,038

(22,747)

41,291

$

$

85

NOTE 12 — Commitments, contingencies and other matters

Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA) litigation: In January 2014, a class action lawsuit was filed against Gannett 

in the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey (Casagrand et al v. Gannett Co., Inc., et al). The suit claims various 
violations of the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA) arising from allegedly improper telemarketing calls made to 
consumers by one of our vendors. The plaintiffs sought to certify a class that would include all telemarketing calls made by the 
vendor or us. The TCPA provides for statutory damages of $500 per violation ($1,500 for willful violations). In April 2016, we 
agreed to settle all claims raised. The settlements are reflected in our financial statements as of December 31, 2017, and were 
not material to our results of operations, financial position, or cash flows. 

Environmental contingency: In March 2011, the Advertiser Company (Advertiser), a subsidiary that publishes the 

Montgomery Advertiser, was notified by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) that it had been identified as a 
potentially responsible party (PRP) for the investigation and remediation of groundwater contamination in downtown 
Montgomery, Alabama. The Advertiser is a member of the Downtown Environmental Alliance, which has agreed to jointly 
fund and conduct all required investigation and remediation. In 2015, the Advertiser and other members of the Downtown 
Environmental Alliance reached a settlement with the U.S. EPA regarding the costs the U.S. EPA spent to investigate the site. 
The U.S. EPA has transferred responsibility for oversight of the site to the Alabama Department of Environmental 
Management, which has approved the work plan for the additional site investigation that is currently underway. The 
Advertiser's final costs cannot be determined until the investigation is complete, a determination is made on whether any 
remediation is necessary, and contributions from other PRPs are finalized. 

Other litigation: We are defendants in judicial and administrative proceedings involving matters incidental to our business.

While the ultimate results of these proceedings cannot be predicted with certainty, we expect the ultimate resolution of all
pending or threatened claims and litigation will not have a material effect on our consolidated results of operations, financial 
position, or cash flows.

Leases: Future minimum lease commitments for non-cancellable operating leases (primarily real-estate) are as follows:

In thousands

2018

2019

2020

2021

2022

Later years

Total

$

$

58,459

52,190

45,501

41,845

37,477

193,315

428,787

Expected future sublease income on these lease commitments is expected to be approximately $8.6 million. Total rent 

expense was $54.2 million in 2017, $48.7 million in 2016, and $39.7 million in 2015.

Purchase obligations: We have future expected purchase obligations of $833.4 million related to wire services, interactive 

marketing agreements, professional services, paper distribution agreements, printing contracts, and other legally binding 
commitments. Amounts which we are liable for under purchase orders outstanding at December 31, 2017, are reflected in the 
Consolidated balance sheets as Accounts payable and accrued liabilities and are excluded from the amount referred to above. 

Self-insurance: We are self-insured for most of our employee medical coverage and for our casualty, general liability, and 

libel coverage (subject to a cap above which third party insurance is in place). The liabilities are established on an actuarial 
basis with the advice of consulting actuaries and totaled $66.4 million as of December 31, 2017 and $71.5 million as of 
December 25, 2016.

86

 
NOTE 13 — Fair value measurement 

Fair value measurement

We measure and record certain assets and liabilities at fair value in the accompanying consolidated and combined financial 
statements. Guidance surrounding the valuation of assets and liabilities establishes a hierarchy for those instruments measured 
at fair value. This hierarchy distinguishes between assumptions based on market data (observable inputs) and our own 
assumptions (unobservable inputs) and consists of three levels:

Level 1 – Quoted market prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities;

Level 2 – Inputs other than Level 1 inputs that are either directly or indirectly observable; and

Level 3 – Unobservable inputs developed using our own estimates and assumptions, which reflect those that a market 

participant would use.

As of December 31, 2017 and December 25, 2016, assets and liabilities recorded at fair value and measured on a recurring 

basis primarily consist of pension plan assets. As permitted by U.S. GAAP, we use net asset values as a practical expedient to 
determine the fair value of certain investments. These investments measured at net asset value have not been classified in the 
fair value hierarchy. The revolving credit facility is recorded at carrying value in the Consolidated balance sheets and is 
classified as Level 3. The carrying value in the revolving credit facility approximates fair value.

The amounts presented in the table below are intended to permit reconciliation to the amounts presented in the 

Consolidated balance sheets.

87

The following tables set forth, by level within the fair value hierarchy, the December 31 measurement date fair values of 

our pension plans assets relating to the GRP, the U.K. Pension Plans, and the Newspaper Guild of Detroit Pension Plan:

Pension Plan Assets/Liabilities

In thousands

Fair value measurement as of December 31, 2017

Assets:

Cash and cash equivalents

Corporate stock - Gannett Co., Inc.

Corporate stock - other

Real estate

Interest in common/collective trusts:

Equities

Fixed income

Interest in registered investment companies

Partnership/joint venture interests

Hedge funds

Real estate funds

Interest in common/collective trusts:

Equities

Fixed income

Interest in registered investment companies

Partnership/joint venture interests

Hedge funds

Total assets at fair value

Liabilities:

Derivative liabilities

Total liabilities at fair value

Derivative contracts
Total assets at fair value excluding those measured 
at net asset value
Instruments measured at net asset value using the practical expedient:

$

Level 1

Level 2

Level 3

Total

$

22,496

$

2,953

$

— $

652,066

—

—

—

—

108,416

—

—

—

—

—

—

306,967

301,181

—

—

—

—

—

—

112,374

—

—

—

75,907

132,554

23

25,449

652,066

—

112,374

306,967

301,181

108,416

75,907

132,554

23

782,978

$

611,101

$

320,858

$

1,714,937

12,583

258,867

634,060

38,747

42,810

339

$

2,702,343

$

$

— $

— $

(498) $

(498) $

(2,008) $

(2,008) $

(2,506)

(2,506)

88

In thousands

Fair value measurement as of December 25, 2016

Assets:
Cash and cash equivalents
Corporate stock - Gannett Co., Inc.
Corporate stock - other
Real estate
Interest in common/collective trusts:

Equities(b)
Fixed income

$

Interest in registered investment companies
Partnership/joint venture interests
Hedge funds
Derivative contracts
Total assets at fair value excluding those measured 
at net asset value
Instruments measured at net asset value using the practical expedient:
Real estate funds
Interest in common/collective trusts:

$

Equities
Fixed income

Interest in registered investment companies
Partnership/joint venture interests
Hedge funds
Total assets at fair value
Liabilities:
Derivative liabilities
Total liabilities at fair value

Level 1

Level 2

Level 3

Total

42,439
6,031
577,120
—

—
—
102,412
—
—
—

$

$

4,499
—
—
—

— $
—
—
83,522

235,384
253,959
—
—
—
2

—
—
—
75,967
173,937
33

46,938
6,031
577,120
83,522

235,384
253,959
102,412
75,967
173,937
35

728,002

$

493,844

$

333,459

$

1,555,305

15,730

204,822
515,313
32,066
4,821
85,456
2,413,513

$

$
$

— $
— $

(498) $
(498) $

(2,008) $
(2,008) $

(2,506)
(2,506)

Valuation methodologies used for assets and liabilities measured at fair value are as follows:

•  Other government and corporate bonds are mainly valued based on institutional bid evaluations using proprietary 

models, using discounted cash flow models or models that derive prices based on similar securities.

•  Corporate stock is valued primarily at the closing price reported on the active market on which the individual 

securities are traded. 

• 

• 

• 

• 

Investments in direct real estate have been valued by an independent qualified valuation professional in the U.K. using 
a valuation approach that capitalizes any current or future income streams at an appropriate multiplier. Investments in 
real estate funds are mainly valued utilizing the net asset valuations provided by the underlying private investment 
companies or through proprietary models with varying degrees of complexity. 

Interests in common/collective trusts and interests in 103-12 investments are primarily equity and fixed income 
investments valued either through the use of a net asset value as provided monthly by the fund family or fund 
company or through proprietary models with varying degrees of complexity. Shares in the common/collective trusts 
are generally redeemable upon request. 

Interests in registered investment companies are primarily valued using the published net asset values as quoted 
through publicly available pricing sources or through proprietary models with varying degrees of complexity. 
Additionally, the interests are redeemable on request.

Investments in partnerships and joint venture interests classified in Level 3 are valued based on an assessment of each 
underlying investment, considering items such as expected cash flows, changes in market outlook and subsequent 
rounds of financing. These investments are included in Level 3 of the fair value hierarchy because exit prices tend to 
be unobservable and reliance is placed on the above methods. Most of the partnerships are general leveraged buyout 
funds, others include a venture capital fund, a fund formed to invest in special credit opportunities, an infrastructure 
fund and a real estate fund. Interest in partnership investments could be sold on the secondary market but cannot be 
redeemed. Instead, distributions are received as the underlying assets of the funds are liquidated. There are $9.3 

89

million in unfunded commitments related to partnership/joint venture interests. One of the Plan's investments in 
partnerships and joint venture interests represents a limited partnership commingled fund valued using the net asset 
value as reported by the fund manager.

• 

Investments in hedge funds consist of investments that were formed to invest in mortgage and trading opportunities 
and are valued at the net asset value as reported by the fund managers. Additionally, there is an investment that 
consists of a fund of hedge funds whose strategy is to produce a return uncorrelated with market movements. This 
fund is classified as a Level 3 because its valuation is derived from unobservable inputs and a proprietary assessment 
of the underlying investments. Shares in the hedge funds are generally redeemable twice a year or on the last business 
day of each quarter with at least 60 days written notice subject to a potential 5% holdback. 

•  Derivatives primarily consist of forward and swap contracts. Forward contracts are valued at the spot rate, plus or 
minus forward points between the valuation date and maturity date. Swaps are valued at the mid-evaluation price 
using discounted cash flow models. Items in Level 3 are valued based on the market values of other securities for 
which they represent a synthetic combination.

We review appraised values, audited financial statements and additional information to evaluate fair value estimates from 

our investment managers or fund administrator. The following tables set forth a summary of changes in the fair value of our 
pension plan assets and liabilities that are categorized as Level 3:

Level 3 Pension Plan Assets/Liabilities

In thousands

For the year ended December 31, 2017

Actual Return on Plan 
Assets

Relating to
Assets Still
Held at
Report
Date

Relating to
Assets Sold
During the
Period

Balance at
Beginning
of Year

Purchases

Sales

Settlements

Transfers 
In and/or 
Out of
Level 3 (a)

Balance at
End of 
Year

$

83,522

$

12,735

$

— $

16,117

$

— $

— $

— $

112,374

75,967

173,937

33

9,763

8,617

(10)

—

—

—

14,152

(1,740)

—

—

—

—

(22,235)

(50,000)

—

—

—

—

75,907

132,554

23

$ 333,459

$

31,105

$

— $

30,269

$

(1,740) $

(72,235) $

— $

320,858

Assets:

Real estate
Partnership/joint
venture interests

Hedge funds

Derivative contracts
Total

Liabilities:

Derivative liabilities $

(2,008) $

— $

— $

— $

— $

— $

— $

(2,008)

(a)  Our policy is to recognize transfers in and transfers out as of the beginning of the reporting period.

90

In thousands
For the year ended December 25, 2016

Actual Return on Plan 
Assets

Relating
to Assets
Still Held
at Report
Date

Relating
to Assets
Sold
During the
Period

Balance 
at
Beginning
of Year

Purchases

Sales

Settlements

Transfer
from
parent

Transfers 
In and/or 
Out of 
Level 3(a)

Balance at
End of 
Year

Assets:

Real estate
Partnership/
joint venture
interests
Hedge funds
Derivative
contracts
Total

Liabilities:

Derivative
liabilities

$ 103,746

$

(19,027) $

— $

1,697

$ (2,894) $

— $

— $

— $

83,522

99,449

168,209

(9,075)

5,728

40

(7)

—

—

—

4,257

—

—

—

—

—

(18,664)

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

75,967

173,937

33

$ 371,444

$

(22,381) $

— $

5,954

$ (2,894) $

(18,664) $

— $

— $

333,459

$

(2,008) $

— $

— $

— $

— $

— $

— $

— $

(2,008)

(a)  Our policy is to recognize transfers in and transfers out as of the beginning of the reporting period.

There were no transfers between Levels 1 and 2 for the year ended December 31, 2017 and $2.5 million of such transfers 

for the year ended December 25, 2016. 

Certain assets are measured at fair value on a nonrecurring basis; that is, the instruments are not measured at fair value on 

an ongoing basis but are subject to fair value adjustments only in certain circumstances (for example, when there is evidence of 
impairment). Our assets that are measured on a nonrecurring basis are assets held for sale (Level 3), which are evaluated by 
using executed purchase agreements, letters of intent or third party valuation analyses when certain circumstances arise.

The following table summarize the non-financial assets measured at fair value on nonrecurring basis in the accompanying 

Consolidated Balance Sheet:

Non-Financial Assets

In thousands

Fair value measurement as of December 31, 2017

Asset held for sale

Fair value measurement as of December 25, 2016

Asset held for sale

$

$

— $

— $

18,916

— $

— $

4,522

$

$

18,916

4,522

Level 1

Level 2

Level 3

Total

NOTE 14 — Segment reporting 

We define our reportable segments based on the way the chief operating decision maker (CODM), currently the Chief 
Executive Officer, manages the operations for purposes of allocating resources and assessing performance. Our reportable 
segments include the following:

• 

Publishing, which consists of our portfolio of local, regional, national, and international newspaper publishers. The 
results of this segment include retail, classified, and national advertising revenues consisting of both print and digital 
advertising, circulation revenues from the distribution of our publications on our digital platforms, home delivery of 
our publications, single copy sales, and other revenues from commercial printing and distribution arrangements. The 
publishing reportable segment is an aggregation of two operating segments: Domestic Publishing and the U.K.

•  ReachLocal, which consists of our ReachLocal digital marketing solutions subsidiaries and SweetIQ. The results of 
this segment include advertising revenues from our search and display services and other revenues related to web 
presence and software solutions provided by ReachLocal.

91

 
In addition to the above operating segments, we have a corporate and other category that includes activities not directly 

attributable to a specific segment. This category primarily consists of broad corporate functions and includes legal, human 
resources, accounting, finance, and marketing as well as activities such as tax settlements and other general business costs. 

In the ordinary course of business, our reportable segments enter into transactions with one another. While intersegment 

transactions are treated like third-party transactions to determine segment performance, the revenues and expenses recognized 
by the segment that is the counterparty to the transaction are eliminated in consolidation and do not affect consolidated results.

The CODM uses adjusted EBITDA to evaluate the performance of the segments and allocate resources. Adjusted EBITDA 

is a non-GAAP financial performance measure we believe offers a useful view of the overall operation of our businesses and 
may be different than similarly-titled non-GAAP financial measures used by other companies. Adjusted EBITDA is defined as 
net income before (1) income taxes, (2) interest expense, (3) equity income, (4) other non-operating items, (5) restructuring 
costs, (6) acquisition-related expenses (including integration expenses), (7) asset impairment charges, (8) other items (including 
certain business transformation costs, litigation expenses, multi-employer pension withdrawals and gains or losses on certain 
investments), (9) depreciation, and (10) amortization. When adjusted EBITDA is discussed in this report, the most directly 
comparable GAAP financial measure is net income.

Management considers adjusted EBITDA to be the appropriate metric to evaluate and compare the ongoing operating 
performance of our segments on a consistent basis across reporting periods as it eliminates the effect of items which we do not 
believe are indicative of each segment's core operating performance.

The following table presents our segment information:

In thousands

2017

Publishing

ReachLocal

Corporate and
Other

Intersegment
Eliminations

Consolidated

Advertising - external sales

$

1,472,325

$

319,345

$

(52) $

— $

1,791,618

Advertising - intersegment sales

Circulation

Other - external sales

Other - intersegment sales

Total revenues

Adjusted EBITDA

2016

Advertising

Circulation

Other

Total revenues

Adjusted EBITDA

2015

Advertising

Circulation

Other

Total revenues

Adjusted EBITDA

25,948

1,120,739

189,853

3,378

2,812,243

432,420

$

$

—

—

39,383

—

358,728

16,553

$

$

—

—

4,887

—

(25,948)

—

—

(3,378)

—

1,120,739

234,123

—

4,835

$

(29,326) $

3,146,480

(89,040) $

— $

359,933

1,603,515

$

100,280

$

— $

— $

1,703,795

1,133,676

195,904

2,933,095

444,108

$

$

—

9,864

—

4,235

—

—

1,133,676

210,003

110,144

$

4,235

$

— $

3,047,474

(5,852) $

(78,361) $

— $

359,895

1,611,445

$

— $

— $

— $

1,611,445

1,060,118

209,655

2,881,218

468,999

$

$

—

—

—

3,794

—

—

1,060,118

213,449

— $

3,794

$

— $

2,885,012

— $

(82,410) $

— $

386,589

$

$

$

$

$

$

$

$

We changed certain corporate allocations at the beginning of fiscal year 2017 and retrospectively applied that change. 

The following table presents our reconciliation of adjusted EBITDA to net income:

92

In thousands

Net income (GAAP basis)

Provision for income taxes

Interest expense

Other non-operating items, net

Operating income (GAAP basis)

Depreciation and amortization

Asset impairment charges

Restructuring costs

Acquisition-related items

Other items

2017

2016

2015

$

6,887

$

52,710

$

146,091

33,854

17,142

9,688

67,571

13,718

12,791

10,151

89,370

191,885

132,964

46,796

44,284

5,202

4,195

55,940

45,757

32,683

3,181

47,884

4,562

(34,032)

164,505

107,552

29,130

77,414

—

7,988

Adjusted EBITDA (non-GAAP basis)

$

359,933

$

359,895

$

386,589

Asset information by segment is not a key measure of performance used by the CODM. Accordingly, we have not 
disclosed asset information by segment. Additionally, equity income in unconsolidated investees, net, interest expense, other 
non-operating items, net, and provision for income taxes, as reported in the consolidated and combined financial statements, are 
not part of operating income and are primarily recorded at the corporate level. 

NOTE 15 — Relationship with our former parent

Relationship with our former parent subsequent to the spin-off

Transition services agreement: In connection with the spin-off, we entered into a transition services agreement with our 
former parent, pursuant to which we and our former parent would provide certain specified services on a transitional basis, 
including various information technology, financial, and administrative services. Subsequent to separation, we provided certain 
IT, payroll and other services to our former parent in the amount of $0.9 million in 2017, $7.1 million in 2016 and $5.9 million 
in 2015. Our former parent provided certain services to us in the amount of $0.4 million in 2017, $5.7 million in 2016 and $3.7 
million in 2015. The transition services agreement terminated during 2017. 

Relationship with our former parent prior to the spin-off

  Allocation of costs from our former parent: Through the date of the spin-off, our former parent and its affiliates performed 
certain corporate activities on behalf of the company. Costs of these services that were allocated or charged to us were based on 
actual costs incurred. No such expenses were incurred in 2016 and 2017. During the year ended December 27, 2015, we 
incurred $33.0 million of expenses related to charges for services performed by our former parent and these expenses were 
recorded within Selling, general and administrative expenses in our Consolidated and combined statements of income as 
incurred. 

Centralized cash management: Prior to the spin-off, our former parent utilized a centralized approach to cash management 

and the financing of its operations, providing funds to its entities as needed. These transactions were recorded in Former 
parent's investment, net, when advanced and were reflected in the Combined statement of cash flows. Cash and cash 
equivalents prior to the spin-off represent cash held by us. 

Equity: Prior to the spin-off, the Consolidated and combined statements of equity includes the accumulated balance of 
transactions between us and our former parent, our paid-in-capital and our former parent's interest in our cumulative retained 
earnings, which are presented within Former parent's investment, net, and combined with Accumulated other comprehensive 
loss as the two components of equity. 

93

 
NOTE 16 — Quarterly statements of income (unaudited) 

Selected unaudited financial data for each quarter of the last two fiscal years is presented as follows:

In thousands, except per share amounts

Fiscal year ended December 31, 2017
Operating revenues

Operating income
Net income (loss)*

Per share computations
Net income per share—basic

Net income per share—diluted

Dividends per share

1st Quarter

2nd Quarter

3rd Quarter

4th Quarter

Total

$

$

$

$

$

$

773,457

1,033

$

$

(2,079) $

774,507

10,504

$

$

(487) $

744,274

11,778

23,044

(0.02) $

(0.02) $

0.16

$

(0.00) $

(0.00) $

0.16

$

0.20

0.20

0.16

$

$

$

$

$

$

854,242

44,256

$

$

(13,591) $

3,146,480

67,571

6,887

(0.12) $

(0.12) $

0.16

$

0.06

0.06

0.64

Weighted average number of shares outstanding
Basic

113,495

113,652

113,253

111,787

113,047

Diluted
115,610
*Net loss for the first quarter of 2017 includes restructuring costs of $12.6 million and accelerated depreciation of $9.8 million. Net loss for the second quarter 
of 2017 includes asset impairment charges of $14.7 million, restructuring costs of $9.8 million, and accelerated depreciation of $13.8 million. Net income for 
the third quarter of 2017 includes restructuring costs of $5.8 million and accelerated depreciation of $14.0 million. Net loss for the fourth quarter of 2017 
includes asset impairment charges of $26.8 million, restructuring costs of $16.1 million, and accelerated depreciation of $6.4 million. 

111,787

113,652

115,774

113,495

In addition to the items above, net income for the third quarter of 2017 includes a net tax benefit of $20.1 million related to a worthless stock and bad debt 
deduction for one of our ReachLocal international subsidiaries. Net loss for the fourth quarter of 2017 includes tax expense of $42.8 million resulting from the 
revaluation of deferred tax assets and liabilities in connection with the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, tax expense of $7.7 million related to the revaluation of a 
deferred tax asset associated with a deferred intercompany transaction, and an incremental tax benefit of $0.9 million related to the worthless stock and bad 
debt deduction.

In thousands, except per share amounts

Fiscal year ended December 25, 2016
Operating revenues

Operating income (loss)

Net income (loss)**

Per share computations
Net income per share—basic

Net income per share—diluted

Dividends per share

1st Quarter

2nd Quarter

3rd Quarter

4th Quarter

Total

$

$

$

$

$

$

659,368

50,203

39,596

0.34

0.33

0.16

$

$

$

$

$

$

748,791

25,989

12,481

0.11

0.10

0.16

$

$

$

$

$

$

772,321

$

866,994

(25,838) $

(23,961) $

39,016

24,594

(0.21) $

(0.21) $

0.16

$

0.21

0.21

0.16

$

$

$

$

$

$

3,047,474

89,370

52,710

0.45

0.44

0.64

Weighted average number of shares outstanding
Basic

116,311

116,516

116,556

114,688

116,018

Diluted
118,625
**Net income for the second quarter of 2016 includes acquisition related charges of $12.8 million and restructuring costs of $18.2 million. Net loss for the third 
quarter of 2016 includes asset impairment charges of $27.2 million, acquisition related costs of $14.4 million, and restructuring costs of $6.6 million. Net 
income for the fourth quarter of 2016 includes asset impairment charges of $25.0 million and restructuring costs of $16.7 million.

116,556

117,053

119,377

119,059

NOTE 17 — Subsequent events 

On February 5, 2018 we closed on the sale of one of two parcels of property in downtown Nashville, generating net 
proceeds of approximately $38.0 million. In conjunction with the sale, we entered into a 15-month rent-free leaseback 
agreement for the sold property.

During January and February 2018, we repaid $50.0 million on our revolving credit facility.

On February 28, 2018, the Board of Directors declared a dividend of $0.16 per share, payable on March 26, 2018, to 

shareholders of record as of the close of business March 12, 2018.

94

ITEM 9. CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS ON ACCOUNTING AND FINANCIAL 
DISCLOSURE 

None.

ITEM 9A. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES 

Conclusion Regarding the Effectiveness of Disclosure Controls and Procedures

Under the supervision and with the participation of our management, including our principal executive officer and principal 

financial officer, we conducted an evaluation of our disclosure controls and procedures, as such term is defined under Rule 
13a-15(e) promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the Exchange Act). Based on this evaluation, 
our principal executive officer and our principal financial officer concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures were 
effective as of the end of the period covered by this annual report.

Management's Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting

Our management is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting, as such 
term is defined in Exchange Act Rule 13a-15(f). Under the supervision and with the participation of our management, including 
our principal executive officer and principal financial officer, we conducted an evaluation of the effectiveness of our internal 
control over financial reporting based on the framework in Internal Control - Integrated Framework (2013 framework) issued 
by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission. Based on our evaluation, our management 
concluded that our internal control over financial reporting was effective as of December 31, 2017.

The effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2017, has been audited by Ernst & 
Young LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, as stated in its report which is included elsewhere in this item.

Changes in Internal Control Over Financial Reporting

There has been no change in our internal control over financial reporting that occurred during our fiscal quarter ended 
December 31, 2017 that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial 
reporting.

95

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

To the Shareholders and the Board of Directors of Gannett Co., Inc.

Opinion on Internal Control over Financial Reporting

We have audited Gannett Co., Inc.'s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2017, based on criteria 
established in Internal Control-Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway 
Commission (2013 framework) (the COSO criteria). In our opinion, Gannett Co., Inc. maintained, in all material respects, 
effective internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2017, based on the COSO criteria.

We also have audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) 
(PCAOB), the consolidated balance sheets of Gannett Co., Inc. as of December 31, 2017 and December 25, 2016, the related 
consolidated and combined statements of income, comprehensive income (loss), equity and cash flows for each of the three 
fiscal years in the period ended December 31, 2017, and the related notes, and our report dated February 28, 2018 expressed an 
unqualified opinion thereon.

Basis for Opinion

The Company's management is responsible for maintaining effective internal control over financial reporting and for its 
assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting included in the accompanying Management’s Report 
on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Company’s internal control 
over financial reporting based on our audit. We are a public accounting firm registered with the PCAOB and are required to be 
independent with respect to the Company in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and 
regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.

We conducted our audit in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the 
audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether effective internal control over financial reporting was maintained in all 
material respects.

Our audit included obtaining an understanding of internal control over financial reporting, assessing the risk that a material 
weakness exists, testing and evaluating the design and operating effectiveness of internal control based on the assessed risk, and 
performing such other procedures as we considered necessary in the circumstances. We believe that our audit provides a 
reasonable basis for our opinion.

Definition and Limitations of Internal Control Over Financial Reporting

A company’s internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the 
reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally 
accepted accounting principles. A company’s internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures 
that (1) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and 
dispositions of the assets of the company; (2) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit 
preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that receipts and 
expenditures of the company are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors of the 
company; and (3) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, or 
disposition of the company’s assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements.

Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also, 
projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate 
because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.

/s/ Ernst & Young LLP

Tysons, Virginia
February 28, 2018

96

PART III

ITEM 10. DIRECTORS, EXECUTIVE OFFICERS, AND CORPORATE GOVERNANCE 

The information captioned "The Nominees," "Audit Committee," and "Nominating and Public Responsibility Committee" 

under the heading "PROPOSAL 1 –ELECTION OF DIRECTORS" and the information under the headings "ETHICS 
POLICY" and "SECTION 16(a) BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP REPORTING COMPLIANCE" in our 2018 proxy statement is 
incorporated herein by reference.

The following sets forth information regarding our executive officers as of the date of this Form 10-K.

Robert J. Dickey
President and Chief Executive Officer (June 2015-present). Formerly, prior to the separation: President, U.S. Community Publishing 
(February 2008-2015); Senior Group President, Gannett's Pacific Group and Chairman of Phoenix Newspapers Inc. (2005-2008). 
Age 60.

Alison K. Engel
Senior Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer (June 2015-present). Formerly: Senior Vice President, Chief Financial 
Officer and Treasurer of A. H. Belo Corporation (2008-2014). Age 47.

David Harmon
Chief People Officer (July 2015-present). Formerly: Deputy Director and Chief Human Capital Officer of Federal Reserve Board 
(2012-2015); and Executive Vice President, Human Resources of AOL Inc. (2007-2011). Age 50.

Jamshid Khazenie
Chief Technology Officer (July 2015-present). Formerly, prior to the separation: Vice President, Digital Technology and Operations 
(2014-2015); Vice President, Digital Media Technologies of Turner Broadcasting Systems (2011-2014). Age 55.

Sharon Rowlands
President, USA TODAY NETWORK Marketing Solutions (November 2017-present) and Chief Executive Officer of ReachLocal 
(April 2014-present). Formerly: Chief Executive Officer of Altegrity (2011-2014); Chief Executive Officer of Penton Media 
(2008-2011); Chief Executive Officer and President of Thomson Financial (2005-2008). Age 59.

Maribel Perez Wadsworth
President, USA TODAY NETWORK (November 2017-present). Formerly: Senior Vice President and Chief Transformation Officer 
(January 2017-November 2017) and Senior Vice President and Chief Strategy Officer (June 2015-December 2016). Formerly, prior to 
the separation: Vice President, Strategic Initiatives, U.S. Community Publishing (2014-2015); Vice President, Audience Development 
and Engagement, U.S. Community Publishing (2012-2014). Age 45.

Henry Faure Walker
Chief Executive Officer of Newsquest Media Group (April 2014-present). Formerly: Digital Director of Johnston Press plc 
(2010-2014); General Manager of Scotsman Publications Ltd. (2006-2010). Age 45.

Barbara Wall
Senior Vice President and Chief Legal Officer (June 2015-present). Formerly, prior to the separation: Vice President, Senior Associate 
General Counsel and Chief Ethics Officer (2009-2015). Age 63.

Andy Yost
Chief Marketing Officer (June 2015-present). Formerly, prior to the separation: Senior Vice President, Consumer Marketing 
(2014-2015); Senior Vice President, Marketing and Customer Relationship Management of Viacom Media Networks (2010-2014). 
Age 52.

John Zidich
President of Domestic Publishing (June 2015-present). Formerly, prior to the separation: Chief Executive of Republic Media and 
Publisher of The Arizona Republic (2010-2015); President and Publisher of Reno (Nev.) Gazette-Journal (2000-2001). Age 63.

97

ITEM 11. EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION 

The information under the headings "EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION," "DIRECTOR COMPENSATION," 
"OUTSTANDING DIRECTOR EQUITY AWARDS AT FISCAL YEAR-END," "COMPENSATION COMMITTEE 
INTERLOCKS AND INSIDER PARTICIPATION" and "RELATED TRANSACTIONS" in our 2018 proxy statement is 
incorporated herein by reference.

ITEM 12. SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT AND RELATED 
STOCKHOLDER MATTERS 

The information captioned "EQUITY COMPENSATION PLAN INFORMATION" and "SECURITIES BENEFICIALLY 
OWNED BY DIRECTORS, EXECUTIVE OFFICERS AND PRINCIPAL SHAREHOLDERS" in our 2018 proxy statement is 
incorporated herein by reference.

ITEM 13. CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS AND DIRECTOR INDEPENDENCE 

The information captioned "Director Independence" under the heading "PROPOSAL 1 – ELECTION OF DIRECTORS" 
and the information under the headings "COMPENSATION COMMITTEE INTERLOCKS AND INSIDER PARTICIPATION" 
and "RELATED TRANSACTIONS" in our 2018 proxy statement is incorporated herein by reference.

ITEM 14. PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTANT FEES AND SERVICES 

The information under the heading "PROPOSAL 2 - RATIFICATION OF APPOINTMENT OF INDEPENDENT 

REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM" in our 2018 proxy statement is incorporated herein by reference.

ITEM 15. EXHIBITS AND FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES 

PART IV

(a)  Financial Statements, Financial Statement Schedules and Exhibits.

(1)  Financial Statements.

As listed in the Index to Financial Statements and Supplementary Data on page 50.

(2)  Financial Statement Schedules.

All schedules are omitted as the required information is not applicable or the information is presented in the consolidated 

and combined financial statements or related notes.

(3)  Exhibits.

Exhibit
Number

Exhibit

2-1

3-1

3-2

10-1

10-2

10-3

Separation and Distribution Agreement, dated as of June 26,
2015, by and between Parent and the Company.

Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the
Company.

Amended and Restated Bylaws of the Company, effective
December 31, 2017.

Transition Services Agreement, dated as of June 26, 2015, by
and between Parent and the Company.

Tax Matters Agreement, dated as of June 26, 2015, by and
between Parent and the Company.

Employee Matters Agreement, dated as of June 26, 2015, by
and between Parent and the Company.*

Location

Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 2-1 to the 
Company's Registration Statement on Form S-3, filed by the 
Company with the SEC on June 29, 2015.

Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 3-1 to the 
Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter 
ended June 26, 2016.

Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 3-1 to the 
Company's Current Report on Form 8-K, filed by the 
Company with the SEC on December 14, 2017.

Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10-1 to the Company's 
Current Report on Form 8-K, filed by the Company with the 
SEC on June 30, 2015.

Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10-2 to the Company's 
Current Report on Form 8-K, filed by the Company with the 
SEC on June 30, 2015.

Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10-1 to the 
Company's Registration Statement on Form S-3, filed by the 
Company with the SEC on June 29, 2015.

98

10-4

10-5

10-6

10-7

10-8

10-9

10-10

Master Transaction Agreement, dated as of July 30, 2014, by
and among The E. W. Scripps Company, Scripps Media, Inc.,
Desk Spinco, Inc., Scripps NP Operating, LLC (f/k/a Desk
NP Operating, LLC), Desk NP Merger Co., Desk BC
Merger, LLC, Journal Communications, Inc., Boat Spinco,
Inc., Boat NP Merger Co., and Journal Media Group, Inc. (f/
k/a Boat NP Newco, Inc.)

Incorporated by reference to Annex A to the Registration 
Statement on Form S-4, SEC File No. 333-200388, filed by 
The E.W. Scripps Company on November 20, 2014.

Scripps Tax Matters Agreement, dated July 30, 2014, by and
among The E. W. Scripps Company, Desk Spinco, Inc. and
Journal Media Group, Inc. (f/k/a Boat NP Newco, Inc.)

Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10-2 to the Current 
Report on Form 8-K filed by Journal Communications, Inc. 
on July 31, 2014.

Journal Tax Matters Agreement, dated July 30, 2014, by and
among Desk BC Merger, LLC, Journal Communications,
Inc., Boat Spinco, Inc. and Journal Media Group, Inc. (f/k/a
Boat NP Newco, Inc.)

Credit Agreement among the Company, the several lenders
from time to time party thereto, JPMorgan Chase Bank,
N.A., as Administrative Agent, PNC Bank, N.A. and U.S.
Bank, National Association, as Co-Syndication Agents, dated
as of June 29, 2015.

Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10-3 to the Current 
Report on Form 8-K filed by Journal Communications, Inc. 
on July 31, 2014.

Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10-4 to the Company's 
Current Report on Form 8-K, filed by the Company with the 
SEC on June 30, 2015.

Security Agreement, made by the Company and certain of its
Subsidiaries, in favor of JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as
Administrative Agent, dated as of June 29, 2015.

Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10-5 to the Company's 
Current Report on Form 8-K, filed by the Company with the 
SEC on June 30, 2015.

Trademark Security Agreement, dated as of June 29, 2015,
by the Company and certain of its Subsidiaries, in favor of
JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as Administrative Agent.

Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10-6 to the Company's 
Current Report on Form 8-K, filed by the Company with the 
SEC on June 30, 2015.

Guarantee Agreement made by the Subsidiary Guarantors
listed on the signature page thereto in favor of JPMorgan
Chase Bank, N.A., as Administrative Agent, dated as of June
29, 2015.

Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10-7 to the Company's 
Current Report on Form 8-K, filed by the Company with the 
SEC on June 30, 2015.

10-11

Form of Mortgage.

10-12

Form of Deed of Trust.

10-13

Schedule of Mortgages or Deeds of Trust Granted by
Gannett Subsidiaries.

10-14

First Amendment to the Credit Agreement.

10-15

10-16

10-17

10-18

10-19

2015 Deferred Compensation Plan Rules for Pre-2005
Deferrals.*

Amendment No. 1 to 2015 Deferred Compensation Plan
Rules for Pre-2005 Deferrals.*

2015 Deferred Compensation Plan Rules for Post-2004
Deferrals.*

Amendment No. 1 to 2015 Deferred Compensation Plan
Rules for Post-2004 Deferrals.*

Amendment No. 2 to 2015 Deferred Compensation Plan
Rules for Post-2004 Deferrals.*

10-20

2015 Supplemental Retirement Plan.*

10-21

Supplemental Executive Medical Plan.*

10-22

Gannett Co., Inc. Supplemental Executive Medical Plan.*

Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10-24 to the Company's 
Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended 
September 27, 2015.

Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10-25 to the Company's 
Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended 
September 27, 2015.

Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10-1 to the Company's 
Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended 
September 25, 2016.

Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10-27 to the Company's 
Annual Report on Form 10-K, filed by the company with the 
SEC on February 25, 2016.

Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10-8 to the Company's 
Current Report on Form 8-K, filed by the Company with the 
SEC on June 30, 2015.

Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10-2 to the Company's 
Current Report on Form 8-K, filed by the Company with the 
SEC on June 6, 2017.

Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10-9 to the Company's 
Current Report on Form 8-K, filed by the Company with the 
SEC on June 30, 2015.
Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10-1 to the Company's 
Current Report on Form 8-K filed by the Company with the 
SEC on December 2, 2016.

Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10-1 to the Company's 
Current Report on Form 8-K, filed by the Company with the 
SEC on June 6, 2017.

Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10-10 to the Company's 
Current Report on Form 8-K, filed by the Company with the 
SEC on June 30, 2015.

Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10-11 to the Company's 
Current Report on Form 8-K, filed by the Company with the 
SEC on June 30, 2015.

Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10-12 to the Company's 
Current Report on Form 8-K, filed by the Company with the 
SEC on June 30, 2015.

99

10-30

10-31

10-32

10-33

10-34

10-35

10-23

Amendment No. 1 to Supplemental Executive Medical Plan
for Retired Executives.*

10-24

2015 Key Executive Life Insurance Plan.*

10-25

2015 Key Executive Life Insurance Plan Participation
Agreement.*

10-26

2015 Omnibus Incentive Compensation Plan.*

10-27

Amendment No. 1 to 2015 Omnibus Incentive
Compensation Plan.*

10-28

Letter Agreement with Robert J. Dickey.*

10-29

Letter Agreement with Alison K. Engel.*

Letter Agreement between Gannett Co., Inc. and Sharon T.
Rowlands.*

Amendment No. 1 to Letter Agreement between Gannett
Co., Inc. and Sharon T. Rowlands.*

Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10-20 to the Company's 
Annual Report on Form 10-K, filed by the Company with 
the SEC on February 22, 2017.

Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10-13 to the Company's 
Current Report on Form 8-K, filed by the Company with the 
SEC on June 30, 2015.

Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10-14 to the Company's 
Current Report on Form 8-K, filed by the Company with the 
SEC on June 30, 2015.

Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4-1 to the 
Company's Registration Statement on Form S-3, filed by the 
Company with the SEC on June 29, 2015.

Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10-1 to the Company's 
Current Report on Form 8-K, filed by the Company with the 
SEC on May 11, 2017.

Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10-15 to the Company's 
Registration Statement on Form 10, filed by the Company 
with the SEC on June 9, 2015.

Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10-16 to the Company's 
Registration Statement on Form 10, filed by the Company 
with the SEC on June 9, 2015.

Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10-29 to the Company's 
Annual Report on Form 10-K, filed by the Company with 
the SEC on February 22, 2017.

Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10-1 to the Company's 
Current Report on Form 8-K, filed by the Company with the 
SEC on November 13, 2017.

Employment Letter between ReachLocal, Inc. and Sharon T.
Rowlands, dated March 31, 2014.*

Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10-1 of the Current 
Report on Form 8-K filed by ReachLocal, Inc. with the SEC 
on April 2, 2014.

Amendment to Employment Letter between ReachLocal,
Inc. and Sharon T. Rowlands, dated November 1, 2015.*

Amendment to Employment Letter between ReachLocal,
Inc. and Sharon T. Rowlands, effective August 9, 2016.*

Employment Contract between Newsquest Media Group
Limited and Henry Faure Walker.*

10-36

Termination Benefits Agreement with Lawrence S. Kramer.*

10-37

Agreement and Release with Lawrence S. Kramer.*

10-38

Form of Director RSU Award Agreement.*

10-39

10-40

10-41

10-42

Form of Executive Officer Restricted Stock Unit Award
Agreement (2015).*

Form of Executive Officer Restricted Stock Unit Award
Agreement (2016).*

Form of Executive Officer Restricted Stock Unit Award
Agreement (2018).*

Form of Executive Officer Performance Share Unit Award
Agreement (2016).*

100

Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10-1 of the Quarterly 
Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 
2015 filed by ReachLocal, Inc. with the SEC on November 
9, 2015.

Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10-32 to the Company's 
Annual Report on Form 10-K, filed by the Company with 
the SEC on February 22, 2017.

Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10-36 to the Company's 
Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended 
December 27, 2015.

Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10-19 to the Company's 
Registration Statement on Form 10, filed by the Company 
with the SEC on June 9, 2015.

Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10-20 to the Company's 
Registration Statement on Form 10, filed by the Company 
with the SEC on June 9, 2015.

Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10-1 to the Company's 
Current Report on Form 8-K filed by the Company with the 
SEC on July 30, 2015.

Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10-2 to the Company's 
Current Report on Form 8-K filed by the Company with the 
SEC on July 30, 2015.

Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10-3 to the Company's 
Current Report on Form 8-K filed by the Company with the 
SEC on December 14, 2015.

Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10-2 to the Company's 
Current Report on Form 8-K filed by the Company with the 
SEC on December 14, 2017.

Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10-4 to the Company's 
Current Report on Form 8-K filed by the Company with the 
SEC on December 14, 2015.

10-43

10-44

10-45

10-46

Form of Executive Officer Performance Share Unit Award
Agreement (2018).*

Form of Executive Officer Cash Performance Unit Award
Agreement (2018).*

Form of Retention RSU Award Agreement with Sharon T.
Rowlands.*

Form of Retention Cash Award Agreement with Sharon T.
Rowlands.*

10-47

2015 Change in Control Severance Plan, as amended.

10-48

Executive Severance Plan, as amended

10-49

Form of Indemnification Agreement.

10-50

Gannett Co., Inc. Clawback Policy, effective December 9,
2015.

10-51

Letter Agreement with Joanne Lipman.*

10-52

Form of TSR Award Agreement for U.K. Employees.*

10-53

Summary of Non-Employee Director Compensation.*

Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10-1 to the Company's 
Current Report on Form 8-K filed by the Company with the 
SEC on December 14, 2017.

Attached Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10-3 to the 
Company's Current Report on Form 8-K filed by the 
Company with the SEC on December 14, 2017.

Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10-42 to the Company's 
Annual Report on Form 10-K, filed by the Company with 
the SEC on February 22, 2017.

Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10-43 to the Company's 
Annual Report on Form 10-K, filed by the Company with 
the SEC on February 22, 2017.

Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10-3 to the Company's 
Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed by the Company with 
the SEC on August 3, 2017.

Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10-4 to the Company's 
Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed by the Company with 
the SEC on August 3, 2017.

Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10-1 to the Company's 
Current Report on Form 8-K filed by the Company with the 
SEC on December 14, 2015.
Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10-2 to the Company's 
Current Report on Form 8-K filed by the Company with the 
SEC on December 14, 2015.

Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10-28 to the Company's 
Annual Report on Form 10-k, filed by the Company with the 
SEC on February 22, 2017

Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10-41 to the Company's 
Annual Report on Form 10-k, filed by the Company with the 
SEC on February 22, 2017

Incorporated by reference to the Company's definitive Proxy 
Statement on Schedule 14A filed by the Company with the 
SEC on March 24, 2017

21-1

23

31-1

31-2

32-1

32-2

101

List of subsidiaries.

Attached.

Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm.

Attached.

Attached.

Attached.

Attached.

Attached.

Attached.

Rule 13a-14(a) Certification of CEO.

Rule 13a-14(a) Certification of CFO.

Section 1350 Certification of CEO.

Section 1350 Certification of CFO.

The following financial information from Gannett Co., Inc.
Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December
31, 2017, formatted in XBRL includes: (i) Consolidated
Balance Sheets at December 31, 2017 and December 25,
2016; (ii) Consolidated and Combined Statements of Income
for the 2017, 2016 and 2015 fiscal years; (iii) Consolidated
and Combined Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss)
for the 2017, 2016 and 2015 fiscal years; (iv) Consolidated
and Combined Cash Flow Statements for the 2017, 2016 and
2015 fiscal years; (v) Consolidated and Combined
Statements of Equity for the 2017, 2016 and 2015 fiscal
years; and (vi) the Notes to Consolidated and Combined
Financial Statements.

We agree to furnish to the Commission, upon request, a copy of each agreement with respect to long-term debt not filed 
herewith in reliance upon the exemption from filing applicable to any series of debt which does not exceed 10% of our total 
consolidated assets.

* Asterisks identify management contracts and compensatory plans or arrangements.

ITEM 16. FORM 10-K SUMMARY 

None.

101

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused 

this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.

Dated: February 28, 2018 GANNETT CO., INC. (Registrant)

By:

/s/ Alison K. Engel
Alison K. Engel

Senior Vice President, Chief

Financial Officer and Treasurer
(principal financial officer)

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this report has been signed below by the following 

persons on behalf of the registrant in the capacities and on the dates indicated.

Dated: February 28, 2018

Dated: February 28, 2018

Dated: February 28, 2018

/s/ Robert J. Dickey
Robert J. Dickey

President and Chief Executive

Officer (principal executive
officer)

/s/ Alison K. Engel
Alison K. Engel

Senior Vice President, Chief

Financial Officer and Treasurer
(principal financial officer)

/s/ Lori C. Locke
Lori C. Locke

Vice President and Controller

(principal accounting officer)

Dated: February 28, 2018

/s/ Matthew W. Barzun

Matthew W. Barzun, Director

Dated: February 28, 2018

/s/ John E. Cody

John E. Cody, Director

Dated: February 28, 2018

/s/ Stephen W. Coll

Stephen W. Coll, Director

Dated: February 28, 2018

/s/ Robert J. Dickey

Robert J. Dickey, Director

Dated: February 28, 2018

/s/ Donald E. Felsinger

Donald E. Felsinger, Director

Dated: February 28, 2018

/s/ Lila Ibrahim

Lila Ibrahim, Director

Dated: February 28, 2018

/s/ Lawrence S. Kramer

Lawrence S. Kramer, Director

Dated: February 28, 2018

/s/ John Jeffry Louis

John Jeffry Louis

Director, Chairman

Dated: February 28, 2018

/s/ Tony A. Prophet

Tony A. Prophet, Director

Dated: February 28, 2018

/s/ Debra A. Sandler

Debra A. Sandler, Director

Dated: February 28, 2018

/s/ Chloe R. Sladden

Chloe R. Sladden, Director

102

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SHAREHOLDER SERVICES

GANNETT STOCK

Gannett Co., Inc. shares are traded on the New York Stock Exchange with the 
symbol GCI. The company’s transfer agent and registrar is Equiniti Trust 
Company. General inquiries and requests for enrollment materials for the 
programs described below should be directed to EQ Shareowner Services, 
P.O. Box 64854, St. Paul, MN 55164-0854, by telephone at 800-778-3299, or at 
shareownersonline.com. 

ANNUAL MEETING

The annual meeting of shareholders will be held at 10 a.m. (ET), Tuesday, May 8, 
2018, at Gannett headquarters. 

CORPORATE GOVERNANCE

We have posted on our web site (www.gannett.com) our principles of corporate 
governance, ethics policy and the charters for the audit, transformation, 
nominating and public responsibility, and executive compensation committees 
of our board of directors, and we intend to post updates to these corporate 
governance materials promptly if any changes (including through any 
amendments or waivers of the ethics policy) are made. This site also provides 
access to our annual report on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q and 
current reports on Form 8-K as filed with the SEC. Our chief executive officer and 
our chief financial officer have delivered, and we have filed with our 2017 Form 
10-K, all certifications required by the rules of the SEC. Complete copies of our 
corporate governance materials and our Form 10-K may be obtained by writing 
our Secretary at our corporate headquarters. 

FOR MORE INFORMATION 

News and information about Gannett is available at www.gannett.com. Quarterly 
earnings information will be available in May, August and November 2018. 
Shareholders who wish to contact the company directly about their Gannett 
stock should call Shareholder Services at Gannett headquarters, 703-854-6960. 

GANNETT HEADQUARTERS

7950 Jones Branch Drive 
McLean, VA 22107 
703-854-6000 

INVESTOR RELATIONS

Stacy Cunningham 
Vice President, Financial Planning & Investor Relations 
investors@gannett.com 
703-854-3168

FINANCE

Ali Engel

Senior Vice President,  

Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer

MEDIA RELATIONS

Amber Allman

Vice President, Corporate Events 

and Communications

THIS REPORT WAS WRITTEN  

AND PRODUCED BY  

EMPLOYEES OF GANNETT.

Printing
Action Printing, Fond du Lac, WI

Printed on recycled paper.

Photo Credits
Cover: Jack Gruber, USA TODAY; Kris 
Wartelle, The Daily Advertiser; Rodney 

White, Register Media; Amber Hunt/

Michael Nyerges, The Cincinnati 

Enquirer; Nick Ling, Lansing State 

Journal; Grateful Ventures
Page 2: Michael Chow, The Arizona 
Republic; Michael Zamora, The Des 

Moines Register; John Froelich, Special 

to the Detroit Free Press

This report was printed using  

soy-based inks. The entire report  

contains 10 percent total recovered 

fiber/all post-consumer waste.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

01 | Company Profile
02 | Letter to Shareholders
04 | Board of Directors

 
 
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Gannett Co., Inc.
7950 Jones Branch Dr.
McLean, VA 22107

gannett.com