UPDATE: John Robinson adds more info, including a PDF of the chairman of Landmark’s letter to employees. #

Landmark Communications, owner of the Roanoke Times, Virginian-Pilot, the Greensboro News & Record and a bunch of community newspapers, is looking to sell the Weather Channel, and possibly break up the company. #

The three newspapers listed above have been some of the more innovative over the past few years in their use of multimedia and the Internet. John Robinson, editor of the N&R, was an early adopter of blogging as a platform to tell the story of the newspaper. The Roanoke.com crew have pushed the multimedia envelope. And the Virginian-Pilot’s online site is an example of community-building to be admired. #

Here’s the V-P story, an NY Times story, and Robinson’s blog post on the story. #

Any media company would do well to invest in those three newspaper properties, at least, if they’re interested in innovation. #

Interestingly, analysts are saying the Weather Channel alone might fetch $5 billion, which is close to the price Rupert Murdoch paid for the entire Wall Street Journal company! #

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