Bonner County Daily Bee

What Bonner County Daily Bee does

Bonner County Daily Bee is a daily local newspaper serving Bonner County and the broader North Idaho region (Bonner, Kootenai, Boundary, Shoshone, and Benewah counties). Founded in 1965 by Ernest "Pete" Gale and Adell "Dellie" Thompson as a four-page paper originally named "The Beehive," the publication has operated continuously for over 60 years and is now owned by Hagadone Media Group. It provides local news, sports, lifestyle, opinion, and community information — including obituaries, legal notices, and event coverage — to local residents and SMB advertisers in its service area.

The publication operates a multi-platform product suite built on a traditional newspaper core. The print edition is delivered five days per week through a carrier network. Digital products include the main website (bonnercountydailybee.com), an e-Edition via NewsMemory, the 7Bee Podcast hosted on Buzzsprout, photo galleries, an events calendar, and a classifieds marketplace. Community engagement is supported through contests (Second Street App) and reader submissions (JotForm). Underlying technology includes Ellington CMS for content management, Syncronex for subscription management, and various SaaS integrations for forms, contests, and digital edition delivery. No AI/ML capabilities are evidenced in the product stack.

The business model combines recurring subscription revenue with advertising and classifieds. Print and digital subscriptions are priced at $9.95 per 4 weeks for digital-only access and $31.45 per 12 weeks for bundled print and digital carrier delivery, converting to $54.60 per 13 weeks. Advertising revenue is generated through display ads, sponsored content, and marketing consultant-led sales, with regional advertising direction managed by Kari Packer. Classified revenue derives from obituaries, special occasions, legal notices, and general classifieds. Customer segments are geographically defined — local residents and regional SMBs — and the publication distributes through direct-to-consumer channels including carrier delivery, website, email newsletter, social media (Facebook), and podcast streaming.

Name

Bonner County Daily Bee

Legal name

Bonner County Daily Bee

Website

https://bonnercountydailybee.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1965

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Bonner County Daily Bee is a daily local newspaper serving Bonner County and broader North Idaho since 1965, operating under Hagadone Media Group. It delivers print, digital, e-edition, podcast, and classifieds products to local residents and SMB advertisers across a five-county region.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Local Newspaper Publishing

NAICS

Newspaper, Periodical, Book, and Directory Publishers (5131)

SIC

Newspapers: Publishing Or Publishing & Printing (2711)

akta.pro primary industry

Local & Regional Newspapers (Print & Digital) (MPAJADAB)

Keywords

• Local newspaper publishing
• Community news coverage
• Print and digital subscriptions
• Classified advertising
• Local journalism services

Headquarters

HQ city

Sandpoint

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Digital Commerce or Content

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Print Subscriptions: The newspaper generates revenue through print subscriptions with free five-day-a-week delivery through a network of carriers, as established when founded in 1965.
2. Digital Subscriptions: Revenue generated from digital-only access subscriptions and bundled print/digital packages. Pricing: $9.95 per 4 weeks for unlimited digital access, $31.45 for 12 weeks print and digital carrier delivery.
3. Advertising: Local and regional advertising revenue including display ads, sponsored content, and marketing services offered through marketing consultants.
4. Classified Advertising: Revenue from classified advertisements including obituaries, special occasions, legal notices, and general classifieds.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Bonner County Daily Bee is a daily local newspaper serving Bonner County and North Idaho, delivering community news, sports, opinion, lifestyle, obituaries, legal notices, and classifieds in both print and digital formats. Revenue is generated through print and digital subscriptions, display advertising, classified advertising, and sponsored content, with marketing consultants selling advertising. Companion digital products include an e-Edition replica, a podcast, classifieds portal, and community contests.

Product overview

Bonner County Daily Bee operates as a multi-platform local news organization offering a traditional print newspaper combined with comprehensive digital services. The core product is the daily newspaper providing local Bonner County and North Idaho news coverage since 1965. This is complemented by the Daily Bee Website as the primary digital platform for news delivery. The e-Edition provides a digital replica of the print edition through NewsMemory, while the 7Bee Podcast extends content into audio format via Buzzsprout. Additional services include an online Classifieds marketplace, community Contests through Second Street App, Photo Galleries showcasing local photography, an Events Calendar for community activities, and Subscription Services for both print and digital access. The publication is organized into major content sections covering News, Sports, Entertainment, Lifestyle, Opinion, and Records (including obituaries and legal notices), all accessible through the main digital platform.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Bonner County Daily Bee (Daily Newspaper) A daily local newspaper covering Bonner County and North Idaho, delivering local news, sports, opinion, lifestyle, obituaries, legal notices, and classifieds across print and digital formats. Targeted at local residents of Bonner County and the broader North Idaho region.
• e-Edition (Digital Replica Edition) Digital replica of the print newspaper accessible online via the NewsMemory platform, allowing subscribers to view the full printed edition electronically on desktop, tablet, or mobile devices. For subscribers who want the print experience online.
• 7Bee Podcast An audio podcast offering local news content and storytelling for the Bonner County community, hosted on Buzzsprout and available via major podcast directories. Targeted at readers and listeners interested in on-demand audio coverage of local topics.
• Classifieds Advertising Platform Online classifieds platform where individuals and businesses can place and browse classified ads across categories including obituaries, special occasions, legal notices, and general listings (jobs, vehicles, real estate, etc.). Sold to advertisers and accessed by local readers.
• Display and Sponsored Content Advertising Sold by in-house marketing consultants and a regional advertising director, this offering provides display ads, sponsored content, and marketing services targeted at local and regional businesses that want to reach Bonner County and North Idaho readers.

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration5 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Kootenai HealthcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 24 June 2026Hagadone Corporation partnered with Kootenai Health to open the Hagadone Medical Clinic at The Resort Plaza Shops. The clinic provides everyday care, chronic condition management, preventive care including annual physicals and screenings. Jamie Smith, CEO of Kootenai Health, described the relationship as 'kindred spirits' between the regional medical center and Hagadone Corporation.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Emerging players

• BoiseDev: Digital-first local news outlet covering Boise and broader Idaho business and development news. Represents the emerging digital-native model competing for regional advertising and reader attention that traditional dailies must adapt to.

Broad incumbents

• The Spokesman-Review: Long-established regional daily based in Spokane, WA, covering the broader Inland Northwest including North Idaho. Competes for advertising dollars and reader attention with the Daily Bee at the regional level.

Direct peers

• Moscow-Pullman Daily News: Daily newspaper serving the Moscow, Idaho and Pullman, Washington communities, including the adjacent university markets. Similar community-newspaper profile with print + digital subscriptions and regional advertising.
• Coeur d'Alene Press: Sister daily newspaper within the Hagadone Media Group serving the Kootenai County / Coeur d'Alene market of North Idaho. Operates an identical model (print + digital subscriptions, regional advertising, carrier delivery), making it the most directly comparable peer.
• Sandpoint Reader: Alternative weekly newspaper serving the same Sandpoint / Bonner County market. Directly competes for local-news attention and advertising spend in the same coverage area, though positioned as a free weekly rather than paid daily.
• Magic Valley Times-News: Daily newspaper serving Twin Falls and the Magic Valley region of southern Idaho. Closely mirrors the Daily Bee's print + digital subscription and local-advertising model in another mid-sized Idaho community.
• Post Register: Daily newspaper serving Idaho Falls and eastern Idaho. Similar community-daily model with print and digital subscriptions plus display/classified advertising across an analogous regional footprint.
• Idaho Press: Daily newspaper covering the Treasure Valley (Nampa, Caldwell, Boise suburbs). Comparable scale and revenue mix to the Daily Bee, with print + digital subscriptions and strong local advertising orientation.
• Lewiston Tribune: Family-owned daily newspaper serving the Lewiston-Clarkston market on the Idaho-Washington border. Closely comparable as a privately held, multi-generational regional daily with print + digital subscription and local advertising revenue mix.
• Idaho State Journal: Daily newspaper serving Pocatello and southeastern Idaho. Comparable regional daily operating print + digital subscriptions, e-edition, classifieds, and local display advertising for a mid-sized Idaho market.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/dailybee
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/bonner-county-daily-bee

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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

M&A

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about Bonner County Daily Bee