Home News Enterprises, which publishes five community newspapers in Indiana, announced today that it has purchased the Seymour Tribune, a six-day-a-week newspaper in Jackson County, from Freedom Communications Inc.
Freedom Communications, based in Irvine, Calif., has owned the 6,500-circulation paper since 1973.
“It’s really a logical extension for our company to grow,” Home News President Jeff Brown said. “Seymour is a great community, and we look forward to building a trusting relationship with the readers of the Tribune in Seymour and in Jackson County.”
The Tribune has been printed for several years at the Home News printing plant off Interstate 65.
“We’re pleased that The Tribune and its associates will be joining a company that shares our commitment to serving the local community,” said Freedom Chief Executive Officer Mitch Stern.
Home News is a family-owned multimedia company, publishing and owning newspapers, magazines, Web sites and specialty publications. Home News has been owned by the same family since 1872.
Home News is the parent company of The Republic in Columbus, the Daily Journal in Franklin, the Brown County Democrat, the Daily Reporter in Greenfield and the Times-Post in Pendleton.
“We feel very strongly that community newspapers still play critical roles in their communities, especially in a community like Seymour,” Brown said.
“A good newspaper can help a community grow and solve problems by providing a forum for idea sharing and debate. I also still think print is very much of a viable medium.”
Brown said the Tribune fits a cluster operating model because it is in a contiguous market.
The clustering will allow for some sharing of resources with other Home News papers, Brown said, but the Tribune’s emphasis will remain on reporting local events, telling personal stories, serving its watchdog role and promoting the community in general.
“We want to build local relationships and maintain our feet on the street,” Brown said.