By Mike Dougherty

WOODBURY, N.J. (CBS) — Three area newspapers are merging to form one regional paper covering a big chunk of South Jersey.

The News of Cumberland County, Today’s Sunbeam in Salem County, and the Gloucester County Times will combine operations and launch the South Jersey Times just before this November’s election.

“We have an opportunity to take the best of all three papers and provide an even better local news and advertising source to the entire region,” says general manager Joseph Owens, who adds that everyone’s job at the papers is safe.

“We hear so much about diminishing returns in the news business, and this is a story about investment and taking it another level,” he tells KYW Newsradio.

The South Jersey Times will also have a strong online presence at nj.com.