Boone Newsmedia, Inc.

What Boone Newsmedia, Inc. does

Boone Newsmedia, Inc. (BNI) is a family-owned, privately held community media company headquartered in Selma, Alabama, that owns and operates 36 community newspapers, 28 lifestyle and niche magazines, free shopping guides, and associated digital news platforms across 91 communities in 7 U.S. states (Alabama, Georgia, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, North Carolina, and Virginia). The company's origins trace to 1951 via Tuscaloosa Newspapers, Inc., with its first acquisition under Jim Boone made in 1970; it was renamed from Boone Newspapers, Inc. to Boone Newsmedia, Inc. in October 2022. BNI generates approximately 68.2 million digital page views per year and reports that more than 70% of consumers in its served markets regularly read its publications.

BNI's product portfolio spans daily community newspapers (e.g., Selma Times-Journal with 8,400 daily circulation, The Albert Lea Tribune, The Austin Daily Herald, The LaGrange Daily News, The Argus-Press, The Natchez Democrat, The Vicksburg Post, The Washington Daily News), weekly community papers (Shelby County Reporter, The Lowndes Signal, The Luverne Journal), and lifestyle magazines (Shelby Living, Peach Living, Selma The Magazine, Lake Martin Living). Ancillary businesses include Post Printing, a regional commercial printing operation in Bainbridge, Georgia, plus sign-making and office supply services. Each newspaper property operates with its own sales team, website, and brand identity under a multi-LLC corporate structure of approximately 20 wholly owned subsidiaries.

BNI's revenue model is built on three streams: local print and digital advertising (driven by the claim that more than 60% of readers use its publications to make purchase decisions), subscription and single-copy sales (with 70%+ regular readership), and magazine/niche publication advertising. The company distributes content through direct sales forces at each local property, leveraging newspaper websites for organic search-driven digital traffic and print editions for subscription, single-copy, and free distribution. BNI pursues a roll-up strategy of acquiring legacy family-owned community newspapers where succession planning is a constraint, complemented by selective divestitures to rationalize its portfolio, as demonstrated by the 2024 multi-property divestiture, the June 2025 sale of four Alabama newspapers, and the April 2025 acquisition of The Argus-Press in Owosso, Michigan.

Name

Boone Newsmedia, Inc.

Legal name

Boone Newsmedia, Inc.

Website

https://boonenewsmedia.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1970

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Boone Newsmedia, Inc. is a family-owned community media company that owns and operates 36 community newspapers, 28 magazines, and digital platforms serving 91 communities across 7 U.S. states, generating revenue primarily through local advertising, subscriptions, and related printing services.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community Newspaper Publishing

NAICS

Newspaper Publishers (51311), Periodical Publishers (513120)

SIC

Newspapers: Publishing Or Publishing & Printing (2711), Periodicals: Publishing Or Publishing & Printing (2721)

akta.pro primary industry

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

akta.pro secondary industry

Newsstands & Periodicals Retail (Newspapers/Magazines) (CRALAAAG)

Keywords

• Community newspaper publishing
• Local news media
• Print advertising sales
• Newspaper subscriptions
• Digital news platforms

Headquarters

HQ city

Selma

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Print and Digital Advertising: Local businesses advertise in community newspapers and websites, generating revenue from display ads, classifieds, and digital advertising on newspaper websites. More than 6 out of 10 readers use the publications to make purchase decisions, indicating strong advertising value for local businesses.
2. Subscription and Single-Copy Sales: Newspapers are sold through subscriptions and single-copy sales at newsstands and retail locations. More than 7 out of 10 consumers report regularly reading the newspapers and websites.
3. Magazine and Niche Publications: The company publishes 28 magazines including lifestyle publications like Peach Living Magazine, Lake Martin Living, and various community magazines, generating additional subscription and advertising revenue.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Boone Newsmedia, Inc. owns and manages 36 community newspapers, 28 magazines, and free shopping guides across 91 communities in 7 states, with integrated digital news websites. The company delivers local journalism, advertising platforms, and related services (regional printing, sign-making, office supply) to residents and local businesses in small and mid-sized U.S. markets.

Product overview

Boone Newsmedia, Inc. (BNI) operates as a family-owned print and digital media company that owns and manages 29 newspapers, 28 magazines, shopping guides, and related digital products across seven states (Alabama, Georgia, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, North Carolina, Virginia). The core offering consists of community newspapers published in daily and weekly formats, complemented by lifestyle magazines (such as Shelby Living Magazine, Peach Living Magazine, and Selma The Magazine), free shopping guides, and 24/7 digital news websites. Related businesses include regional printing services, sign-making, and office supply operations. The company generates approximately 68 million digital page views annually, serving 91 communities with a focus on local journalism and community newspapers.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Clanton Newspapers, Inc. Community newspaper publishing entity operating The Clanton Advertiser and North Chilton Advertiser
• Greenville Newspapers, L.L.C.
• Selma Newspapers, Inc.
• Shelby County Newspapers, Inc.
• Owosso Newsmedia, LLC
• Outer Banks Newsmedia, LLC

Products and services

• The Selma Times-Journal Daily newspaper serving Selma, Alabama and Dallas County, published Tuesday through Sunday with daily circulation of 8,400.
• The Shelby County Reporter Weekly newspaper serving Shelby County, Alabama, published on Wednesdays with wide readership across 14 cities and towns; multiple General Excellence award winner.
• The Clanton Advertiser Daily newspaper serving Clanton and Chilton County, Alabama, published five days a week (Tuesday through Sunday).
• The Greenville Advocate Twice-weekly newspaper serving Greenville and Butler County, Alabama with 3,000 circulation; multiple General Excellence award winner.
• The Argus-Press Daily newspaper serving Owosso and Shiawassee County, Michigan, published continuously since 1854 (131st year).
• The Natchez Democrat Daily newspaper serving Natchez and Adams County, Mississippi.
• The Vicksburg Post Newspaper serving Vicksburg and Warren County, Mississippi.
• The Coastland Times Newspaper serving Manteo and the Outer Banks of North Carolina.
• Washington Daily News Daily newspaper serving Washington, North Carolina.
• Roanoke-Chowan News-Herald Newspaper serving Ahoskie and Gates County, North Carolina.
• Suffolk News-Herald Newspaper serving Suffolk, Virginia.
• The Tidewater News Newspaper serving Franklin, Virginia and western tidewater region.
• The Smithfield Times Newspaper serving Smithfield and Isle of Wight County, Virginia.
• The LaGrange Daily News Daily newspaper serving LaGrange, Georgia.
• The Albert Lea Tribune Daily newspaper serving Albert Lea and Freeborn County, Minnesota.
• The Austin Daily Herald Daily newspaper serving Austin and Mower County, Minnesota.
• Alexander City Outlook Daily newspaper serving Alexander City and Tallapoosa County, Alabama.
• The Troy Messenger Newspaper serving Troy and Pike County, Alabama.
• The Valley Times-News Newspaper serving Valley, Lanett, Alabama and West Point, Georgia.
• The Lowndes Signal Weekly newspaper serving Fort Deposit and Lowndes County, Alabama, published on Thursdays.
• Luverne Journal Weekly newspaper serving Luverne and Crenshaw County, Alabama, published on Thursdays.
• The Wetumpka Herald Newspaper serving Wetumpka and Elmore County, Alabama.
• The Alabaster Reporter Local news outlet serving Alabaster, Alabama.
• The Pelham Reporter Local news outlet serving Pelham, Alabama.
• 280 Reporter Community news platform serving the Highway 280 corridor in Shelby County, Alabama.
• Selma The Magazine Lifestyle magazine published as a supplement to The Selma Times-Journal.
• Shelby Living Magazine Lifestyle magazine serving Shelby County, Alabama.
• Peach Living Magazine Monthly lifestyles magazine serving Chilton County, Alabama.
• North Chilton Advertiser Free weekly newspaper focusing on the northern end of Chilton County, Alabama.
• Butler Express Free weekly publication serving Butler County, Alabama.
• Crenshaw Connections Free publication serving Crenshaw County, Alabama.
• Freeborn County Shopper Free shopper publication serving Freeborn County, Minnesota.
• Mower County Shopper Free shopper publication serving Mower County, Minnesota.
• Community Newspaper Websites Digital news platforms providing 24/7 breaking news and online reader interaction for all served communities, generating 68,243,835 annual page views.
• Post Printing Regional Printing Services Large regional printing company specializing in printing newspapers and shopping guide publications, operated as a related business.
• Sign-Making Services Sign-making business operated as a related service to BNI's newspaper operations.
• Office Supply Business Office supply business operated as a related service to BNI's newspaper operations.

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Carpenter Newsmedia, LLCcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2006Todd Carpenter, who served as BNI's president from 2004 to 2023, formed Carpenter Newsmedia, LLC (CNL) and began jointly acquiring newspapers with BNI in 2006. Beginning in 2013, CNL began wholly acquiring newspapers that operated as BNI affiliates via management contracts. CNL's transition to a stand-alone company was expected to be complete in 2024.
• Capital Cities Communications, Inc.minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1988For about 20 years, BNI had a partnership with what originally was Capital Cities Communications, Inc. BNI bought out those interests in 1997, bringing the partnership to a close.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves10 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• CNHI (Community Newspaper Holdings Inc.): Community newspaper holding company whose portfolio was largely acquired by Paxton Media Group in 2020. Historically one of the largest U.S. community newspaper operators and a near-direct competitor to BNI in size and multi-state footprint before its acquisition.
• Adams Publishing Group: Family-owned publisher of community newspapers, shoppers, and niche publications across the U.S. Midwest, Mid-Atlantic, and Southeast. Closely comparable to BNI as a multi-state community newspaper group with print, digital, and free shopper distribution.
• Ogden Newspapers: Family-owned newspaper chain based in West Virginia operating community dailies and weeklies across multiple states, including former Schurz Communications and Heartland Media community papers. Closely mirrors BNI's family-controlled, multi-state community newspaper roll-up strategy.
• CherryRoad Media: Private operator of community newspapers acquired primarily from Gannett in 2020 and other large chains, focused on small-market and rural community titles across the U.S. Directly comparable to BNI in target markets, asset class, and acquisition-driven growth model.
• Carpenter Newsmedia: Formed in 2006 by BNI's former president Todd Carpenter as a co-acquirer of community newspapers with BNI; completed its transition to a stand-alone operator of community newspapers in 2024. It is the closest operational and structural peer to BNI, having shared management contracts and acquisition pipeline for nearly two decades.
• Lee Enterprises: Publicly traded multi-state newspaper chain operating daily and weekly local newspapers, including BH Media Group assets acquired in 2020. Highly comparable to BNI in core product (community/local news) and business model (print + digital advertising and subscriptions), but at substantially larger scale and with urban-metro exposure.
• Paxton Media Group: Family-owned publisher of community newspapers and shopping publications across the South and Midwest, and acquirer of large community newspaper groups including CNHI assets. Directly comparable to BNI in scale, footprint, and acquisition-driven growth approach.

Broad incumbents

• Gannett: Largest U.S. newspaper chain and publisher of USA TODAY, with hundreds of community and daily newspapers across all 50 states plus digital platforms. Overlaps with BNI in community newspaper publishing but operates at vastly greater scale, with a broader portfolio and national digital ad network.
• Tribune Publishing (Tribune Media): Operator of legacy metropolitan daily newspapers (Chicago Tribune, New York Daily News, Baltimore Sun, etc.) before many properties were sold to Alden Global Capital-affiliated funds. Comparable to BNI only at the broad category level - both are U.S. newspaper publishers, but Tribune focuses on large-metro dailies rather than community papers.
• Hearst Newspapers: Division of Hearst Corporation operating daily and weekly newspapers in major and mid-sized U.S. markets (e.g., Houston Chronicle, San Francisco Chronicle, Albany Times Union). Overlaps with BNI on the local/community newspaper business but emphasizes larger metro dailies.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Subsidiaries20 records

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 Boone Newsmedia, Inc.