Executives at Journal Register, echoing those at other companies that are buying newspapers, say efficient management will give their papers new life.

News accounts had portrayed the episode as a sign that Journal Register would compromise journalistic values in favor of its business interests.

Mr. Jelenic, president of Journal Register, said in a recent interview that some of the bad publicity came from worried competitors.

Within a few weeks of Journal Register's arrival, national and international news, which had long been featured prominently in The Press, was de-emphasized.

According to the Journal Register's 1994 annual report, the company has "arranged a credit facility of $645 million, which is available to us to continue to make strategic acquisitions."

The deal, which is expected to close June 30, was the Journal Register's fifth acquisition since December and its biggest to date.

The Journal Register owns 19 daily papers, with a total circulation of about 534,000, and 155 weeklies and shoppers.

The Journal Register, which did not disclose the purchase price, also publishes 22 daily newspapers and operates 132 Web sites.

Journal Register is based in Trenton.

The Register Citizen will become the second Connecticut newspaper to be owned by Journal Register.