Michael Roston, Social Media Producer at NYTimes.com, says the Washington Post Company bought a zoo. We’re pretty sure Roston is joking, but the truth is almost as surprising:
The Washington Post Co. said Monday that it has agreed to acquire a majority stake in Celtic Healthcare, a provider of skilled home health-care and hospice services in the northeastern and mid-Atlantic regions.
The purchase price was not disclosed, but Donald E. Graham, chief executive of The Washington Post Co., said in a statement that the acquisition is “part of the Post Co.’s ongoing strategy of investing in companies with demonstrated earnings potential and strong management teams attracted to our long-term investment horizon.”
Twitter had a little fun with the news:
This brings new meaning to the gag that the newspaper industry is dying http://t.co/DO568uLy
— Ronan Price (@RonanPrice) October 1, 2012
WaPo Co. doing its part to help last remaining print readers exit this world with dignity. http://t.co/CwFXhrDC
— Chris Shea (@cshea4) October 1, 2012
https://twitter.com/mattyglesias/status/252790207672360961
Will they be the first patient? They could use some palliative care. Washington Post buys hospice firm. http://t.co/CIr69PVA
— dan wheeler (@itsdan) October 1, 2012
Washington Post buys a chain of hospices If it is to follow the Post's readers, the NYT should buy a cemetery or two. http://t.co/ohr8dvUh …
— Don Surber (@donsurber) October 1, 2012
Giving A New Meaning to Deadline, Washington Post Buys Hospice Firm http://t.co/1leGgyB2
— Jordan Rau (@jordanrau) October 1, 2012
On a more serious note, does it strike anyone else as odd that a company best known for its flagship newspaper is moving into health care? Why, yes. Yes it does:
https://twitter.com/sarahw/status/252797103066206208
This seems odd: RT @romenesko: Washington Post Co. buys majority stake in Celtic Heathcare for an undisclosed price. http://t.co/yTMYacg6
— matt carmichael (@mcarmichael) October 1, 2012
For real, it's seriously weird that a newspaper company just bought a hospice provider. http://t.co/6aPo39KP
— Jeffrey Young (@JeffYoung) October 1, 2012
What the hell? RT @romenesko
Washington Post Co. buys majority stake in Celtic Heathcare for an undisclosed price. http://t.co/QnrxMS7W— John Keilman (@JohnKeilman) October 1, 2012
Then again, the Washington Post Company is already pretty diversified. It owns Kaplan Inc., an education provider, as well as various newspapers and television stations. Perhaps it is taking its cue from Berkshire Hathaway, a remarkably successful conglomerate that grew through acquisitions and happens to be a substantial Washington Post Co. shareholder.
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