Paxton Media Group has acquired nine community newspapers in the Murphy and Franklin regions of western North Carolina and north Georgia from Community Newspapers Inc., based in Athens, Ga.
The weekly publications included in the sale are the Murphy Region, which includes the Cherokee Scout, Clay County Progress in Hayesville, The Graham Star in Robbinsville, The News Observer in Blue Ridge, Ga., and Times-Courier in Ellijay, Ga. The Franklin Region includes the Franklin Press, The Highlander, Mitchell News-Journal in Spruce Pine and Smoky Mountain Times in Bryson City.
The acquisition expands PMG’s presence in the Southeast and reflects the company’s ongoing commitment to community journalism.
“We are excited to add these newspapers into the PMG portfolio,” President & CEO Jamie Paxton said. “PMG believes strongly in the value of local newspapers and the vital role they play in the communities that they serve. We appreciate being chosen to be the new stewards of these important community assets.”
The newspapers will continue to serve their communities with local news coverage, advertising and engagement across print and digital platforms.
“Newspapers are the core of local community information,” said Jana Thomasson, president of the Eastern Division of PMG. “We’re excited to keep serving the neighbors and local shops that make these vibrant communities what they are.”
Paxton Media Group brings a long history of community publishing to the acquisition. Based in Paducah, Ky., Paxton is a family owned company founded in 1896 and led by Jamie Paxton, a fifth-generation member of the Paxton family.
The company publishes more than 120 community newspapers across Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia. The company also operates WPSD-TV, an NBC-affiliated television station in Paducah.
The acquisition highlights ongoing consolidation and investment in the community newspaper sector, as experienced operators expand their portfolios and reinforce their commitment to local markets.