Investments
 6 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2012
Equity Method Investments and Joint Ventures [Abstract]  
Investments

Note 6. Investments

 Investments consisted of the following at June 30, 2012, and December 31, 2011 (in thousands):
             
   Accounting  Percent  June 30,  December 31,
   Method  Ownership  2012  2011
 The Detroit Legal News Publishing, LLC Equity  35.0% $ 10,923 $ 11,334
 Other Equity  19.5%   539   567
  Total      $ 11,462 $ 11,901

             
 For the three and six months ended June 30, 2012, and 2011 , the equity (loss) in earnings of affiliates is as
 follows (in thousands):           
   Three Months Ended  Six Months Ended
   June 30,  June 30,
   2012  2011  2012  2011
 The Detroit Legal News Publishing, LLC$ 609 $ 459 $ 1,051 $ 1,216
 Other  (10)   (18)   (27)   (27)
  Total$ 599 $ 441 $ 1,024 $ 1,189

The Detroit Legal News Publishing, LLC:  The Company owns a 35% membership interest in The Detroit Legal News Publishing, LLC (“DLNP”). DLNP publishes ten legal newspapers, along with one quarterly magazine, all located in southern Michigan. The Company accounts for this investment using the equity method. Under DLNP's membership operating agreement, the Company receives quarterly distributions based on its ownership percentage.

 

The difference between the Company's carrying value and its 35% share of the members' equity of DLNP relates principally to an underlying customer list at DLNP that is being amortized over its estimated economic life through 2015.

 

The following tables summarize certain key information relating to the Company's investment in DLNP as of June 30, 2012, and December 31, 2011, and for the three and six months ended June 30, 2012 and 2011 (in thousands):

 

             
  As of June 30, As of December 31,
  2012 2011
Carrying value of investment$10,923 $11,334
Underlying finite-lived customer list, net of amortization 5,152  5,906
             

             
  Three Months Ended Six Months Ended
  June 30, June 30,
  2012 2011 2012 2011
Equity in earnings of DLNP, net of amortization            
 of customer list$609 $459 $1,051 $1,216
Distributions received 763  700  1,463  2,100
Amortization expense 377  377  754  754