"The Charlottesville & Albemarle Observer, a weekly newspaper, announced Tuesday that it has been purchased by Suffolk-based Main Street Media Co. for an undisclosed amount."

"Jeffrey M. Peyton, president and chief executive officer of Main Street Media, will serve as publisher and general manager of the Observer, a free publication that reports a circulation of 25,000. Peyton, a former employee of the Christian Coalition [and graduate of Regent University], has more than 15 years media experience."

"Main Street Media, which was incorporated in January, effectively purchased the Observer from JGF Media Inc., the owner of six other Virginia newspapers, on Saturday."

"'It's going to be a better paper.' Peyton said Tuesday. 'It's going to be a more-read paper, a more-respected paper and more community-oriented.'"

"Peyton, 32, served both as the grassroots communications director and as national director of publishing and creative services for the Christian Coalition [where he covered religious liberty issues]. He described himself as conservative-minded, and a 'big fan of family values.'"

"He added that the newspaper would be taking a more active role in the community."

"'We don't consider ourselves detached observers,' he said. 'We don't pretend to be unbiased on some issues. For instance, civic participation is not a thing - it's a good thing'" (Reed Williams, The Daily Progress, March 29, 2000)."

"J. Gray Ferguson, owner of JGF Media, purchased the weekly from William L. Lescure in 1991."

"Jay Ferguson, a vice president of JGF and son of J. Gray Ferguson, wished the Observer future success. 'We certainly hope the Observer stays a premier paper in the community,' he said."

"The paper was founded in 1978 by Catherine 'Kay' Peaslee, who has been a monthly Observer columnist since 1997. Peaslee sold the paper to Lescure in 1988" (Reed Williams, The Daily Progress, March 29, 2000)."