The News-Gazette
The News-Gazette is a privately held regional news media company serving East Central Illinois with local news, Illini and prep sports, classifieds, and a 12-station radio network, distributed across print, digital, and mobile channels.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1852
- HeadquartersChampaign, United States
- Headcount251–500
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingServices
What The News-Gazette does
The News-Gazette is a privately held regional news media company headquartered in Champaign, Illinois, that has operated continuously since 1852. Operating under the legal entity Champaign Multimedia Group LLC, the company produces local news, sports coverage, classifieds, and community information for East Central Illinois, including Champaign, Urbana, Danville, and surrounding counties (Douglas, Ford, Piatt, Vermilion). Its core editorial franchise is built around University of Illinois athletics ("Illini Sports"), high school prep sports, local government, courts, and community news.
The company's product portfolio is multi-platform and includes a paid digital subscription to news-gazette.com, an E-Edition digital replica of the print newspaper, native iOS and Android mobile applications, email newsletters, podcasts (including the Ag Check Network), photo galleries, and video content. Distribution is further extended through the Central Illinois Radio Network, a group of 12 owned-and-operated radio stations spanning news/talk, sports, classic rock, country, adult contemporary, and top 40 formats across Champaign, Decatur, and Danville. The digital platform is built on the TownNews content management system, with Legacy.com powering obituary listings.
The business model is a hybrid of subscription recurring revenue (print and digital subscriptions, automatic renewal, non-refundable), advertising revenue (display, classified, legal announcements across print, digital, and radio), and transaction-fee revenue from the online classifieds marketplace. Go-to-market is direct-to-consumer, serving two primary segments: local residents seeking news/sports/community information and local SMB advertisers seeking regional reach. No public revenue or financial disclosures exist, and the company is not owned by any institutional investor or parent holding company.
The News-Gazette firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- The News-Gazette
- Legal name
- Champaign Multimedia Group LLC
- Website
- https://news-gazette.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1852
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 251–500 employees
- Short description
- The News-Gazette is a privately held regional news media company serving East Central Illinois with local news, Illini and prep sports, classifieds, and a 12-station radio network, distributed across print, digital, and mobile channels.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
The News-Gazette industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Local News Media
- NAICS
- Newspaper Publishers (513110), Radio Broadcasting Stations (51611)
- SIC
- Newspapers: Publishing Or Publishing & Printing (2711), Radio Broadcasting Stations (4832)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Local & Regional Newspapers (Print & Digital) (MPAJADAB)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- News/Talk Radio Networks (MPABABAD), Local Radio Station Groups (Owned & Operated/Station Chains) (MPABACAC)
Keywords
Where The News-Gazette is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Champaign
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
The News-Gazette business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Supply Chain
Revenue model
- Newspaper Subscriptions: Paid subscriptions for print and digital newspaper access, including home delivery and digital-only options. Subscriptions automatically renew and are non-refundable.
- Advertising: Display advertising, classified advertising, legal announcements, and digital advertising placed by local businesses and national advertisers through the newspaper and website
- Classifieds and Marketplace: Revenue from classified listings including real estate, jobs, garage sales, merchandise, vehicles, business services, and legal announcements
- Radio Broadcasting: Revenue from the Central Illinois Radio Network including multiple station formats (news/talk, sports, lite rock, classic rock, country, adult contemporary, top 40)
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Monthly | Digital Subscription |
| Subscription | Monthly | Print + Digital Subscription |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels6 records
The News-Gazette product offering
Product offeringCore offering
The News-Gazette is a regional news media company that publishes a daily newspaper and operates a multi-platform digital, mobile, and radio network serving East Central Illinois. Its primary revenue-generating offerings are paid subscriptions to print and digital news access (including an e-edition replica and mobile apps) and advertising services (display ads, classifieds, legal announcements, local offers) sold to local businesses. The company also owns and operates the Central Illinois Radio Network, a group of 12 regional radio stations providing additional advertising inventory and local reach.
Product overview
The News-Gazette is a regional news media company serving East Central Illinois, operating a multi-platform content distribution network. The core offering is the News-Gazette Digital Subscription providing online access to local news coverage, supplemented by the E-Edition digital replica of the print newspaper. The company distributes content through native mobile applications for iOS and Android, email newsletters, podcasts, photo galleries, and video content. The News-Gazette also operates the Central Illinois Radio Network comprising multiple radio stations, and provides classified advertising, local offers, and special section magazines. Content spans local news, University of Illinois sports, prep sports, business, living/arts coverage, and classifieds across Douglas, Ford, Piatt, and Vermilion counties.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Digital News Subscription
Companies that use The News-Gazette
Customer profileSegments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
The News-Gazette technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration5 records
Feature3 records
The News-Gazette partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Three partnerships are on record, tiered core.
- TownNewscoreTownNews provides the content management system and digital publishing platform powering news-gazette.com and related digital properties. The platform enables the newspaper's website, mobile apps, and e-edition functionality.
- Local Business AdvertiserscoreLocal businesses advertise through The News-Gazette's print, digital, and radio platforms, including classifieds, display advertising, legal announcements, and local offer sections.
- Central Illinois Radio NetworkcoreNetwork of 12 radio stations including WDWS (News/Talk/Sports), WHMS (Lite Rock), WKIO (Classic Rock), The Rooster 107.9 (Hot Country), D102 (Adult Contemporary), WDAN (News/Talk/Sports), KROCK 94.9 (Classic Rock), 95Q (Country), Y103 (Top 40), WSOY (News/Talk/Sports), and Fox Sports 1050 (Sports).
Scale indicators2 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights3 records
The News-Gazette competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Lee Enterprises: Major US newspaper chain operating daily and weekly local publications across multiple states. Highly comparable as a multi-title, mid-market regional newspaper operator with similar subscription and advertising economics.
- Schurz Communications: Privately held regional media company operating newspapers, radio, and TV stations in the Midwest. Highly comparable as a family/privately owned multi-platform regional media operator with similar geographic profile.
- Townsquare Media: Operator of local radio stations and digital media properties in mid-sized US markets. Comparable on the radio network and local digital advertising side of The News-Gazette's Central Illinois Radio Network.
- Emmis Communications: Indianapolis-based radio broadcasting and publishing company operating local radio stations. Comparable as a privately held, regional radio broadcaster with local-market advertising economics similar to the Central Illinois Radio Network.
- McClatchy: US newspaper publisher operating daily and community newspapers, now private under Chatham Asset Management. Comparable business model with subscription, advertising, and digital platform dynamics similar to The News-Gazette.
- Adams Publishing Group: Family-owned community newspaper and media company operating local publications, radio, and digital properties across the Midwest and Mid-Atlantic. Closely comparable as a privately held, multi-platform community media operator in mid-sized US markets.
Broad incumbents
- Gannett: Largest US newspaper publisher (USA Today Network) operating hundreds of local publications. Comparable as a multi-platform local news and subscription business, though substantially larger and publicly traded.
- Tribune Publishing: Operator of major metropolitan dailies and digital platforms. Comparable in operating model (print + digital subscriptions + advertising), though skews to larger urban markets than The News-Gazette's regional base.
- Hearst: Diversified media conglomerate with newspapers, TV stations, and digital assets. Comparable as a major media owner operating local newspapers and broadcast stations, though at a significantly larger scale and broader portfolio.
- Cumulus Media: One of the largest US radio operators with hundreds of stations across news/talk, sports, and music formats. Comparable on the radio broadcasting revenue model that powers the Central Illinois Radio Network.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
The News-Gazette social profiles
Digital presenceThe News-Gazette financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
The News-Gazette leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
The News-Gazette funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
The News-Gazette M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about The News-Gazette
What does The News-Gazette do?
The News-Gazette is a regional news media company that publishes a daily newspaper and operates a multi-platform digital, mobile, and radio network serving East Central Illinois. Its primary revenue-generating offerings are paid subscriptions to print and digital news access (including an e-edition replica and mobile apps) and advertising services (display ads, classifieds, legal announcements, local offers) sold to local businesses. The company also owns and operates the Central Illinois Radio Network, a group of 12 regional radio stations providing additional advertising inventory and local reach.
Is The News-Gazette a public or private company?
The News-Gazette is a private company. It is classified as unknown and is currently operating.
When was The News-Gazette founded?
The News-Gazette was founded in 1852. It employs 251 to 500 people.
Where is The News-Gazette based?
The News-Gazette is headquartered in Champaign, United States, in the North America region.
How does The News-Gazette make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Newspaper Subscriptions are the primary driver. The others are advertising, classifieds and Marketplace and radio Broadcasting.
Who are The News-Gazette's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Lee Enterprises, Schurz Communications, Townsquare Media, Emmis Communications, McClatchy and Adams Publishing Group. Broad incumbents are Gannett, Tribune Publishing, Hearst and Cumulus Media.
Does The News-Gazette have an API?
No public API is recorded for The News-Gazette.
What industry is The News-Gazette in?
The News-Gazette's product category is Local News Media. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPAJADAB, Local & Regional Newspapers (Print & Digital), with a secondary code of MPABABAD, News/Talk Radio Networks. Its NAICS code is 513110 and its SIC code is 2711.