Newspapers are rescued from closure in Wyoming and South Dakota as
buyers swoop in
[August 20, 2025] By
SARAH RAZA
SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (AP) — A dozen recently shuttered newspapers across
Wyoming and South Dakota are set to publish again, after buyers stepped
up within days to prevent the rural communities from becoming “news
deserts” where little or no local media remains.
The swift rescues stand out in an industry where roughly two and a half
newspapers disappear each week, according to a 2024 report from the
Medill School of Journalism. The editor at one revived paper said his
new owner saw ongoing profitability, while other outlets will be grabbed
by publishers motivated by a sense of civic duty.
“It’s a little overwhelming, to be honest,” said Kayla Jessen, general
manager of the Redfield Press, one of the rescued papers in South
Dakota. “We’re all excited that we can bring news back to the community
again.”
The turnarounds happened quickly. Illinois-based News Media Corporation
announced on Aug. 6 it was immediately closing 31 outlets in five states
because of financial problems. In less than two weeks, a publishing
group in Wyoming said it would buy eight papers in the state, while a
company in North Carolina said it would purchase four newspapers in
South Dakota. Both buyers say all staff will be offered a chance to
return.
The fate of other papers in Arizona, Illinois and Nebraska remains
unclear.
After the closures, journalists and their communities scrambled for
options to save the publications. In addition to regional news, many of
the papers serve as their towns' official outlet for legal notices.
Rural areas often don't have local radio or TV stations, said Benjy
Hamm, director at the University of Kentucky’s Institute for Rural
Journalism and Community Issues. That can leave a lone newspaper as the
only media outlet in the area.
"If it goes out, it has a significant impact on the community itself,
not just the media,” Hamm said.
The publishers in Wyoming said they stepped in because they couldn't
imagine more newspapers going dark in their state.
“We believe in the importance of a newspaper in a community,” said Jen
Hicks, co-publisher the Buffalo Bulletin. “We know that in communities
without newspapers, that civic engagement goes down and specifically,
voter participation goes down, which is a really tangible way to see the
decline in civic life.”
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The office of the Brookings Register newspaper is shown, Monday,
Aug. 18, 2025, in Brookings, S.D. (Tasha Redday via AP)
 Jen and her husband Robb Hicks said
they teamed up with Rob Mortimore, president of Wyoming Papers,
Inc., to enter into a purchase agreement with News Media Corporation
for its eight publications in the state. Hicks declined to share how
much they'll pay for the newspapers.
In South Dakota, Benjamin Chase, managing editor of the rescued
Huron Plainsman, said nearly a dozen offers came in to purchase one,
two or all four of the closed newspapers. Champion Media, the North
Carolina-based company, ultimately struck the deal.
"This was really an ideal situation because Champion works a lot
with community and local papers,” the editor said, adding that every
staff member was invited back.
Champion Media did not return requests for comment.
Chase credits buyers' interest to the fact that the South Dakota
papers have significant readership, with a combined circulation of
around 10,000. The Brookings Register covers a town of nearly 25,000
people that lost its radio station last year but is home to the
largest university in the state.
“This is a group of papers you’re going to immediately have audience
for, and all of them are profitable and working to keep costs down,”
Chase said. The Huron Plainsman and Brookings Register, which were
previously dailies, will now have a print edition only two days a
week.
Hamm, the professor, said it’s rare to find such speedy commitment
to reviving newspapers. “It occurs, but it’s a small number of
places that actually have people step forward,” he said.
Chris Kline, president of the Arizona News Media Association, said
the Arizona papers are currently exploring options for local and
out-of-state ownership.
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