Forum Communications Company

What Forum Communications Company does

Forum Communications Company is a family-owned, privately held multimedia news company headquartered in Fargo, North Dakota, operating since 1878. It runs a network of 32 media outlets across the Upper Midwest — spanning daily newspapers (Forum of Fargo-Moorhead, Grand Forks Herald, Duluth News Tribune, Post Bulletin), digital news sites (InForum, Sioux Falls Live, St. Cloud Live), niche publications (Agweek, Prairie Business), and a broadcast television station (NewsCenter1) — reaching 50 million+ users annually across North Dakota, Minnesota, South Dakota, and surrounding states.

The company is built on a multi-platform content and distribution technology stack that delivers content across print, web, and broadcast channels, with a network-wide subscription product that grants a single login to all sites. Beyond consumer news, FCC operates a business-services division (advertising.forumcomm.com) providing digital and display advertising, commercial printing and direct mail, professional video and audio production, and integrated marketing agency services to mid-market regional clients.

FCC's revenue model combines four streams: recurring digital subscriptions across its 20+ news sites; multi-channel advertising sold against its 50M+ user audience; commercial printing and mailing contracts with regional businesses; and agency/video production engagements. The company is privately held under North Dakota corporate law, with no external institutional, PE, or VC ownership disclosed in the source materials, and has remained under family control since Norman B. Black purchased The Forum in 1917.

Name

Forum Communications Company

Legal name

Forum Communications Company

Website

https://forumcomm.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1878

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1,001–5,000 employees

Short description

Forum Communications Company is a family-owned Upper Midwest multimedia news company operating 32 newspapers, digital sites, and broadcast outlets serving consumers and regional advertisers across North Dakota, Minnesota, and South Dakota since 1878.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Regional Newspaper and Digital Media

NAICS

Information (51), Broadcasting and Content Providers (516), Advertising, Public Relations, and Related Services (5418), Media Streaming Distribution Services, Social Networks, and Other Media Networks and Content Providers (5162)

SIC

Periodicals: Publishing Or Publishing & Printing (2721), Television Broadcasting Stations (4833), Services-Advertising Agencies (7311), Services-Direct Mail Advertising Services (7331)

akta.pro primary industry

Syndication, Licensing & Content Partnerships (Columns, Features, Photos) (MPAJADAI)

akta.pro secondary industries

News & Content Aggregation Portals (BPAMAAAI), Content Distribution & Syndication Services (BPAFAIAK)

Keywords

• Local news publishing
• Regional newspaper media
• Commercial printing services
• Digital news subscriptions
• Broadcast television news

Headquarters

HQ city

Fargo

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Subscription Revenue: FCC generates subscription revenue from its network of 20+ news sites including Grand Forks Herald, Duluth News Tribune, InForum, and others. Subscribers pay for unlimited access to content across the entire network.
2. Advertising Services: FCC offers advertising services across its expansive network of news sites, reaching 50 million+ annual users. Services include digital advertising, display ads, and targeted audience reach.
3. Commercial Printing: FCC provides commercial printing services including direct mail, magazines, and other printing and mailing needs for business clients.
4. Video Production & Agency Services: FCC offers video production and agency services to help brands create visual storytelling content and connect with audiences through various channels.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Forum Communications Company operates a multi-platform regional media network spanning more than 30 newspapers, digital news sites, niche publications, and a broadcast television station serving communities across the Upper Midwest (North Dakota, Minnesota, South Dakota, and surrounding states). Subscribers access the entire content network through a single login, while the company also sells advertising, commercial printing, video production, and integrated agency services to regional business clients.

Product overview

Forum Communications Company operates a multi-platform media network across the Upper Midwest, combining print, digital, and broadcast channels. The company manages 32+ news, niche, and broadcast media brands spanning newspapers, digital news sites, niche publications, and television stations serving communities across North Dakota, Minnesota, South Dakota, and surrounding states. Subscribers receive unlimited access to the entire network through a single login. The company's business solutions division provides advertising services, commercial printing, video production, and agency services to commercial clients. The portfolio reaches 50 million+ annual users across digital platforms and serves K+ subscribing members across all properties.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• InForum: News website covering multiple Midwest markets
• Agweek
• Grand Forks Herald
• Alexandria Echo Press
• Duluth News Tribune
• Post Bulletin
• NewsCenter1
• Prairie Business

Products and services

• Alexandria Echo Press Local newspaper serving Alexandria, Minnesota, providing community news, sports, business, and entertainment coverage.
• Bemidji Pioneer Local newspaper serving Bemidji, Minnesota, covering regional news, sports, and community events.
• Brainerd Dispatch Local newspaper serving Brainerd, Minnesota, providing news, sports, and community coverage.
• Dickinson Press Local newspaper serving Dickinson, North Dakota, covering local news, business, and sports.
• DL-Online Digital news platform serving Detroit Lakes, Minnesota, and surrounding areas.
• Duluth News Tribune Major daily newspaper serving Duluth, Minnesota, providing comprehensive regional news coverage.
• The Globe Local newspaper serving the Worthington, Minnesota area, covering community news and events.
• Grand Forks Herald
• InForum Digital news platform covering news, sports, business, and entertainment across the Upper Midwest.
• The Jamestown Sun Local newspaper serving Jamestown, North Dakota, providing community news and sports coverage.
• Mitchell Republic Local newspaper serving Mitchell, South Dakota, covering local news, sports, and business.
• NewsCenter1 Television news station providing broadcast news coverage in the Midwest region.
• Park Rapids Enterprise Local newspaper serving Park Rapids, Minnesota, covering community news and events.
• Perham Focus Local newspaper serving Perham, Minnesota, providing community-focused news coverage.
• Pine Journal Local newspaper serving Cloquet, Minnesota, and surrounding areas, covering local news and sports.
• Pine and Lakes Echo Journal Local newspaper serving the Pine River area of Minnesota, covering community news.
• Post Bulletin Local newspaper serving Rochester, Minnesota, providing news, sports, and community coverage.
• Sioux Falls Live Digital news platform serving Sioux Falls, South Dakota, and surrounding areas.
• St. Cloud Live Digital news platform serving St. Cloud, Minnesota, and surrounding communities.
• Superior Telegram Local newspaper serving Superior, Wisconsin, covering local news and community events.
• Wadena Pioneer Journal Local newspaper serving Wadena, Minnesota, providing community news and sports coverage.
• West Central Tribune Local newspaper serving Willmar, Minnesota, covering local news, sports, and business.
• Agweek Agricultural news publication covering North Dakota, Minnesota, South Dakota and surrounding states, focusing on farming and agribusiness news.
• Advertising Services Multi-platform advertising solutions leveraging an expansive network of sites and skilled media specialists to help brands reach larger, engaged audiences across FCC's properties.
• Commercial Printing Services Print and mailing services including direct mail, magazines, and various printed materials for businesses.
• Video Production Services Professional photo, video, and audio production services for visual storytelling and brand content.
• Agency Services Integrated marketing services connecting brands with audiences across multiple channels, including digital, print, and broadcast.

Quantifiable outcome

• 50 million+ annual users across network of sites

Named customers5 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Hearst Corporation: Hearst is a private media conglomerate owning newspapers (Houston Chronicle, San Francisco Chronicle), broadcast TV stations, magazines, and business information services. Comparable to FCC's diversified print + broadcast + business services structure, though at much larger scale across more states.
• Gannett Co. Gannett is the largest U.S. newspaper publisher, operating USA TODAY and hundreds of local news properties with subscription and advertising monetization. It is a broad incumbent operating at much greater scale than FCC but in the same core business of community news publishing and digital subscriptions.
• Advance Publications: Advance Publications is a privately held media company owning Condé Nast publications, Reddit, and a portfolio of regional newspapers. Comparable to FCC's diversified family-controlled media operations, though operating at much greater scale and with significant national magazine holdings.

Direct peers

• Community Newspaper Holdings Inc. (CNHI): CNHI is a privately held publisher of community newspapers and digital news sites across the United States. Directly comparable to FCC in business model focused on small-market local journalism, subscription monetization, and regional advertising sales.
• Tribune Publishing: Tribune Publishing operates regional daily newspapers and digital news sites including the Chicago Tribune and New York Daily News. Comparable to FCC as a multi-market regional newspaper operator with subscription and advertising revenue across print and digital channels.
• Schurz Communications: Schurz Communications was a family-owned regional media company operating newspapers, broadcast stations, and digital properties in the Midwest and South before divesting most assets. Highly comparable to FCC in family-ownership structure, Upper Midwest heritage, and multi-platform local media strategy.
• McClatchy Company: McClatchy operates regional newspapers and digital news properties across the U.S. and emerged from bankruptcy under Chatham Asset Management ownership. Comparable to FCC in regional newspaper portfolio model and digital subscription focus, though FCC remains family-owned and operationally diversified.
• Ogden Newspapers: Ogden Newspapers is a family-owned chain of community newspapers and digital news properties operating across multiple states. Directly comparable to FCC as a private, multi-generational family-owned regional newspaper operator with similar subscription and local-advertising business model.
• Lee Enterprises: Lee Enterprises operates a publicly traded network of local newspapers and digital news sites across the United States. It is the closest direct comparable to FCC in terms of community-newspaper portfolio structure, subscription/advertising revenue mix, and ongoing digital transformation strategy.
• MediaNews Group (Alden Global): MediaNews Group, controlled by Alden Global Capital, operates a large portfolio of daily and community newspapers and digital sites. Comparable to FCC in regional newspaper portfolio and digital subscription strategy, though it pursues a more cost-cutting operational approach under hedge-fund ownership.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/forumcomco
• Facebookfacebook.com/forumcommunicationscompany
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/forum-communications

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Subsidiaries4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A2 records

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Forum Communications Company