Seven journalists and two other

full-time workers lost their jobs.

PORTLAND (AP) – Nassau Broadcasting completed the purchase of three radio stations on Tuesday and implemented changes that included the firing of the entire news staff of WMTW News Radio.

Nassau Broadcasting, based in Princeton, N.J., told employees it will roll out several programming changes next week.

WMTW Radio Group, which included WMTW (870 AM, 1470 AM, and 106.7 FM), WTHT (107.5 FM), and WMEK (99.9 FM), was sold by the Harron family. The family is also in the process of selling WMTW-TV.

David Kaufman, executive vice president of WMTW Broadcast Group, said he was disappointed that the WMTW News Radio news operation was eliminated.

But he said Nassau is focused more on entertainment, not news.

“I felt it was a great product. We had a great staff of journalists. It filled a need in this market,” Kaufman said.

Altogether, seven journalists and two other full-time employees lost their jobs because of the changes, he said.

A Nassau spokeswoman did not immediately return a call seeking comment.

Nassau is also in the process of purchasing a six-station classical music network in Maine from Mariner Broadcasting.

WMTW-TV is being sold to Hearst-Argyle. That deal is expected to close next month, Kaufman said.

AP-ES-04-06-04 1622EDT