Pioneer News Group selling media division to Adams Publishing Group

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The Pioneer News Group Co. today announced that it is selling its media division assets

to family-owned Adams Publishing Group. The sale will include 22 daily and weekly

newspapers in Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana and Utah along with a newspaper and

commercial print facility, various shoppers and websites. The sale is expected to be finalized

on November 1, 2017. Terms were not disclosed.

The Pioneer News Group is a family media business owned by members of the Scripps

family. The Scripps family has a long history in newspapers, starting with EW Scripps who

started the Detroit Evening News in 1873 and the Cleveland Penny Press in 1878, which led to

a bigger chain of newspapers that included the St. Louis Chronicle and Cincinnati Post.

Pioneer Newspapers was formed by James G. Scripps in 1986. The company is owned by

Leighton Wood and his children Stedem, Marnie, Heather, Laura and eight next-generation

family members. Marnie Roozen is Chairwoman of the company’s Board of Directors.

“It has been an honor for my family to serve our communities over these many

generations,” said Roozen. “We cherish the friendships we have created with our employees

and truly feel we are a family. It is because of our dedication to our communities and

employees that we are so pleased that Adams Publishing Group is purchasing our media

division. Adams shares our values as well as a deep commitment to the future of community

newspapers. It is heartening to know our papers will be in very capable hands.”

The company was recently renamed Pioneer News Group to reflect its expansion to

produce news and advertising, both in print and expanding digital formats. Mike Gugliotto is

president and CEO of Pioneer.

“I’m very proud of the outstanding work Pioneer employees have produced as our industry

continues to evolve, facing related challenges and exciting new opportunities,” said Gugliotto.

“It’s been a privilege to work with some of the most dedicated, determined and creative people

in the business, with the unwavering support of the Wood family.”

Adams Publishing Group owns and operates 100 community newspapers in 11 states,

including the acquisition of five newspaper publishing companies in 2016. The company is

based in Minneapolis, MN. In addition to its community newspaper company, the Adams family

owns radio stations, outdoor advertising companies, a wine distribution business, label printing

companies, and a large interest in Camping World Holdings, a publicly traded national network

of RV dealers, affinity programs, the Good Sam Club, and other RV related products and

services.

“We’re very excited to welcome the Pioneer group of community newspapers, commercial

print facilities, and other print and digital products and services to APG. We’re especially

pleased to welcome Pioneer’s over 500 dedicated associates to our community newspaper

group,” said Steve Adams of the Adams Publishing Group. “The Wood family, along with

Pioneer’s dedicated employees and management team, has done a stellar job of creating new

and compelling products and services, both in print and digital, in the face of an ever changing

media landscape. We commend their efforts, and look forward to continuing their proud

journalistic tradition in the communities Pioneer serves.”

Pioneer newspapers in the sale include The Ellensburg Daily Record, The Klamath Falls

Herald and News, The Lake County Examiner, The Klamath Falls Nickel, The Skagit Valley

Herald, The Anacortes American, The Burlington Argus, The Sedro-Woolley Courier-Times,

The Stanwood Camano News, The Logan Herald Journal, The Tremonton Leader, The

Bozeman Daily Chronicle, The Belgrade News, The Idaho Press Tribune, The Idaho State

Journal, The Kuna Melba News, The Meridian Press, The Emmett Messenger Index, The

Montpelier News-Examiner, The Preston Citizen, The Rexburg Standard Journal and The

Teton Valley News.

Cribb, Greene & Cope represented the Pioneer News Group Co. in this transaction.

For more information contact Jeff Wampler at 206-284-4424 or by email at jwampler@pioneernewsgroup.com