Harte Hanks Adds South Coast Shopper to Its Publications

Harte Hanks Communications Inc. said it purchased the South Coast Shopper, an Irvine-based weekly advertising publication, for an undisclosed amount.

Mel Skolnik, the Newport Beach businessman who owned the paper, will remain as president of the shopper, the company said.

With the purchase, the San Antonio-based media concern now has 220 separate shopper publications in Southern California, with a combined press run each week of 2.8 million copies--or half of Harte Hank’s nationwide shopper circulation.

The Southern California papers cover Orange, Los Angeles, San Bernardino and Riverside counties. Harte Hanks operates its Southern California shoppers from its regional headquarters in Brea.