GateHouse Media Inc., owner of the Utica Observer-Dispatch and hundreds of other print and online publications around the country, said today it has filed for reorganization under Chapter 11 of U.S. Bankruptcy Law. The voluntary filing did not come as a surprise. GateHouse announced Sept. 11 that it had entered into an agreement with some secured lenders, including GateHouse affiliates, to restructure $1.2 billion of debt scheduled to come due in August 2014. According to Michael Reed, director and chief executive officer, the bankruptcy filing for prepackaged reorganization was a strategic decision. Pension, trade and all other unsecured creditors of GateHouse would not be affected under the plan, the company said. GateHouse's common stock would be canceled under the plan, and holders of secured debt would have the option of receiving a cash distribution of 40 percent of their claims or stock in New Media Investment Group Inc., a new holding company that will own GateHouse and Local Media Group.