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Adams Publishing Group

{{Short description|American newspaper publisher, founded 2013}}

{{use mdy dates|date=March 2022}}

{{Infobox company

| name = Adams Publishing Group LLC

| logo =

| type = Private, LLC

| industry = newspaper, printing, multimedia

| fate =

| predecessor =

| successor =

| founded = 2013

| founder =

| defunct =

| hq_location = 4095 Coon Rapids Blvd
Coon Rapids, Minnesota 55433

| hq_location_city =

| hq_location_country = United States

| area_served =

| key_people = {{unbulleted list|Mark Adams CEO|Nickolas Monico COO}}

| products = {{Unbulleted list|Newspapers|magazines|marketing|tourism & travel|printing|events|digital media}}

| owner =

| num_employees =

| num_employees_year =

| parent =

| website = {{Official URL}}

}}

Adams Publishing Group LLC (APG) is a company that provides publishing services, including newspapers, periodicals, and website publishing in the United States. Its corporate headquarters is located in Coon Rapids, Minnesota. Mark Adams, son of late billionaire philanthropist Stephen Adams and his first wife, Virginia Ridgway (granddaughter of Ameriprise Financial (formerly American Express Financial Advisors) co-founder John Ridgway), founded Adams Publishing Group in late 2013 after a career in private equity. In March 2014, APG began to acquire newspapers and media related businesses. As of 2022, it owned more than 127 newspapers in 20 states and the District of Columbia.{{cite web|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/profile/company/1106269D:US|title=Adams Publishing Group LLC|website=Bloomberg|accessdate=February 7, 2020}}{{cite web |author= |title=Our Markets |quote=Select a market to learn more about the newspapers we offer in your region. |publisher=Adams Publishing Group |url=https://adamspg.com/markets/ |access-date=2025-01-31}}

Acquisitions

In 2014, Adams Publishing Group acquired 34 publications from American Consolidated Media.{{Cite web | title=APG acquires three newspaper divisions from ACM | accessdate = 2014-08-22 | url = http://www.dirksvanessen.com/press_releases/view/178/apg-acquires-three-newspaper-d/|website=Dirks Vaneseen}} Later in 2014, Adams Publishing acquired newspapers in southern Minnesota from Huckle Publishing including{{Cite web| website = ADAMSPUBGRadmin| title = Adams Publishing Group, LLC acquires Huckle Media LLC| accessdate = 2018-02-19| url = http://adamspg.com/adams-publishing-group-llc-acquires-huckle-media-llc/| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20180220033217/http://adamspg.com/adams-publishing-group-llc-acquires-huckle-media-llc/| archive-date = 2018-02-20| url-status = dead}} Chronotype Publishing in Rice Lake, Wisconsin and Athens News (Athens, Ohio).{{Cite web| title = Adams Publishing Group, LLC acquires Chronotype Publishing Company| accessdate = 2018-02-19| url = http://adamspg.com/adams-publishing-group-llc-acquires-chronotype-publishing-company/| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20180220033152/http://adamspg.com/adams-publishing-group-llc-acquires-chronotype-publishing-company/| archive-date = 2018-02-20| url-status = dead}} In 2015, Adams Publishing Group purchased the Dundalk Eagle in Maryland.{{cite news|last1=Wells|first1=Carrie|title=Weekly Dundalk Eagle newspaper sold|url=http://www.baltimoresun.com/business/bs-bz-dundalk-eagle-sold-20150106-story.html|accessdate=7 October 2015|newspaper=The Baltimore Sun|date=6 January 2015}}

In 2015, Adams purchased Southern Maryland Newspapers and Comprint Military Publications from The Washington Post.{{Cite web| last = Hammer| first = Barb| title = Adams Publishing Group acquires The Post Community Media Group's Southern Maryland Newspapers and Comprint Military Publications| accessdate = 2018-02-19| url = http://adamspg.com/adams-publishing-group-acquires-the-post-community-media-groups-southern-maryland-newspapers-and-comprint-military-publications/| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20180220033325/http://adamspg.com/adams-publishing-group-acquires-the-post-community-media-groups-southern-maryland-newspapers-and-comprint-military-publications/| archive-date = 2018-02-20| url-status = dead}} In October 2015, Adams purchased the newspapers of the McCraken Newspaper Group, which included the Wyoming Tribune Eagle and the Laramie Boomerang.{{Cite web| last = Hammer| first = Barb| title = Adams Publishing Group, LLC acquires McCraken Newspaper Group| accessdate = 2018-02-19| url = http://adamspg.com/adams-publishing-group-llc-acquires-mccraken-newspaper-group/| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20180220033238/http://adamspg.com/adams-publishing-group-llc-acquires-mccraken-newspaper-group/| archive-date = 2018-02-20| url-status = dead}} In November 2015, Adams purchased the Post Company, which published the daily Idaho Post Register and weekly newspapers Shelley Pioneer, Challis Messenger, and Jefferson Star.{{cite news |title=Adams Publishing Group buys Post Register, weekly publications |date=October 7, 2015|work=Post Register |author=Luke Ramseth|url=http://www.postregister.com/articles/featured-news-daily-email/2015/10/07/adams-publishing-group-buys-post-register-weekly}} In December 2015, Adams purchased The Crescent-News in Defiance, Ohio.{{Cite web| last = Hammer| first = Barb| title = Adams Publishing Group, LLC acquires Defiance Publishing Company, LLC| accessdate = 2018-02-19| url = http://adamspg.com/adams-publishing-group-llc-acquires-defiance-publishing-company-llc/| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20180220092211/http://adamspg.com/adams-publishing-group-llc-acquires-defiance-publishing-company-llc/| archive-date = 2018-02-20| url-status = dead}} In 2016, Adams purchased ECM Publishers, Inc, a Minnesota-based publisher of 50 community newspapers, and Jones Media, a Tennessee-based publisher of 10 community newspapers.{{Cite news| issn = 0190-8286| last = Harwell| first = Drew| title = Gazette papers in Montgomery, Prince George's to close| work = The Washington Post| accessdate = 2015-07-02| date = 2015-06-12| url = https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/economy/gazette-papers-in-montgomery-prince-georges-to-close/2015/06/12/1ffc315e-112f-11e5-9726-49d6fa26a8c6_story.html}}

In 2017, Adams acquired a group of newspapers in Mount Airy, North Carolina and The Carroll News in Virginia from Champion Media.{{Cite web |last= |date=2017-10-26 |title=Adams Publishing Group acquires Mount Airy Group from Champion Media |url=https://www.mtairynews.com/news/local/adams-publishing-group-acquires-mount-airy-group-from-champion-media/article_8d04cf9f-a62a-59fd-be62-d6a58363cabb.html |access-date=2024-10-20 |website=The Mount Airy News |language=en}} In October 2017, Adams announced its acquisition of the Pioneer News Group.{{Cite web| last = Hammer| first = Barb| title = Pioneer News Group selling media division to Adams Publishing Group| access-date = 2018-02-19| url = http://adamspg.com/pioneer-news-group-selling-media-division-to-adams-publishing-group/| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20180220092256/http://adamspg.com/pioneer-news-group-selling-media-division-to-adams-publishing-group/| archive-date = 2018-02-20| url-status = dead}}

In 2018, Adams acquired Cooke Communications.{{Cite web| title = APG acquires Cooke Communications| work = Grand Rapids Herald-Review| accessdate = 2020-04-05| url = https://www.grandrapidsmn.com/free_press/apg-acquires-cooke-communications/article_2b0c2360-b2c1-11e8-9822-ff374743eaa0.html}} In June 2019, Adams purchased the Janesville Gazette and the Marinette Eagle Herald in Wisconsin from Bliss Communications.{{Cite web |last=Romell |first=Rick |title=The Gazette, Janesville's daily newspaper, will be sold after 136 years in the Bliss family |url=https://www.jsonline.com/story/money/business/2019/06/03/janesville-gazette-newspaper-sold-adams-publishing-group/1334912001/ |access-date=2023-04-05 |website=Journal Sentinel |language=en-US}}

In late 2022, Adams bought 13 small Montana newspapers from the Yellowstone Newspapers chain.{{Cite web |last=Dietrich |first=Eric |date=2022-10-24 |title=Adams Publishing purchases Yellowstone Newspapers chain |url=http://montanafreepress.org/2022/10/24/adams-publishing-group-purchases-yellowstone-newspapers-chain/ |access-date=2023-04-19 |website=Montana Free Press |language=en-US}} Adams already owned the Bozeman Daily Chronicle and Belgrade News in Montana.

Disputes

Adams Publishing Group fired the news editor of Athens (Ohio) News in February 2022 for running a warning that an advertisement placed by Adam's national ad desk for a collectible coin operation could be fraudulent.{{Cite web |title=Firing of Athens NEWS editor sparks backlash |url=https://www.thenewpolitical.com/news/7dpp2wynn8zo5dsec2pb55vgtes54z |access-date=2022-03-03 |website=The New Political |language=en-US}} Adams Publishing Group disputed the claims of the former editor of Athens (Ohio) News regarding the reasons surrounding the dismissal. {{Cite web |title=A note from the APG Ohio president and publisher |url=https://www.athensmessenger.com/comment/editorials/a-note-from-the-apg-ohio-president-and-publisher/article_5ecf7860-9c14-11ec-8521-6b452c447bae.html |access-date=2022-05-02 |website=The Athens Messenger |language=en}}

In 2021, editorial staff at the Bozeman Daily Chronicle formed a union, the Yellowstone News Guild, to address low pay, high cost of living, ongoing furloughs and other disputes.{{Cite web |date=2022-05-18 |title=Bozeman journalists vote for Yellowstone News Guild |url=https://newsguild.org/bozeman-journalists-vote-for-yellowstone-news-guild/ |access-date=2023-04-19 |language=en-US}} As of early 2023, the union was still negotiating with the company for its first contract.{{Cite web |last=Ehrlick |first=Darrell |date=2023-02-16 |title=Bozeman Daily Chronicle journalists say company won't budge on pay, work hours |url=https://dailymontanan.com/2023/02/16/bozeman-daily-chronicle-journalists-say-company-wont-budge-on-pay-work-hours/ |access-date=2023-04-19 |website=Daily Montanan |language=en-US}}

Adams family

Mark Adams, CEO, is a third generation media person. His grandfather, Cedric Adams, was active in CBS radio, television, and the Minneapolis Star/Tribune. His father, Stephen Adams, graduated from Yale and Stanford Business School in 1962 and owned numerous companies that specialized in advertising, publishing, bottling, banking, broadcasting, outdoor advertising, and the largest shareholder of publicly traded Camping World Holdings. {{cite web|url=https://www.poynter.org/business-work/2017/who-are-the-adams-family-and-why-are-they-buying-newspapers-by-the-dozen/|title=Who are the Adams Family and Why are they buying newspapers by the dozen?|website=Poynter.org|accessdate=February 11, 2020|date=October 23, 2017|author=Edmonds, Rick}}

Media publications

Adams Publishing Group has three Divisions: East (Nickolas Monico, Divisional President), Central (Jeff Patterson, Divisional President), and West (Tim Gruber, Divisional President). The newspapers owned by APG in each division are listed below, along with the location of the newspaper and its publication frequency. APG also publishes numerous magazines and advertising publications.{{cite web|url=https://issuu.com/adamspg/docs/apg_newsletter_19.08|title=APG Newsletter, August 2019|website=issuu.com|accessdate=February 11, 2020}}

=APG East=

{{columns-list|colwidth=25em|

Delaware

  • Newark Post, Newark, DE, Weekly{{cite web|url=https://www.newarkpostonline.com/site/about.html|title=Newark Post|website=newarkpostonlin|accessdate=February 11, 2020}}

Florida{{cite web|url=https://flpress.com/members/member-directory/#!directory/map|title=Member Directory|website=Florida Press Association|accessdate=February 11, 2020}}

  • The Arcadian, Arcadia, FL, Weekly
  • The Charlotte Sun, Port Charlotte, FL, Daily
  • Charlotte Sun Times, Port Charlotte, FL, Weekly
  • The Englewood Sun, Englewood, FL, Daily
  • The Florida Keys Free Press, Tavernier, FL, Weekly
  • The Key West Citizen, Key West, FL, Monday-Saturday
  • The North Port Sun, North Port, FL, Daily
  • The Punta Gorda Herald, Port Charlotte, FL, Weekly
  • The Venice Gondolier Sun, Venice, FL, Twice Weekly
  • West Villages Sun, North Port, FL, Weekly

Maryland

Michigan

  • The Gladwin County Record and Beaverton Clarion, Gladwin, MI, Weekly

North Carolina

Ohio:

  • The Athens Messenger, Athens, OH, Daily
  • The Athens News, Athens, OH, Twice weekly
  • Circleville Herald, Logan, OH, Daily
  • The Crescent-News, Defiance, OH, Daily
  • The Logan Daily News, Logan, OH, Daily
  • Perry County Tribune, New Lexington, OH, Weekly
  • The Pike County News Watchman, Waverly, OH, Twice weekly
  • The Vinton County Courier, McArthur, OH, Weekly

Tennessee:

Virginia:

  • Carroll News, Hillsville, VA, Weekly
  • Pentagram, Fort Myer, VA, Weekly

}}

=APG West=

{{columns-list|colwidth=25em|

Idaho:

Montana:

  • Belgrade News, Belgrade, MT, Weekly
  • Bozeman Daily Chronicle, Bozeman, MT, Daily
  • Livingston Enterprise, Livingston, MT
  • Miles City Star, Miles City, MT
  • Glendive Ranger-Review, Glendive, MT
  • Lewistown News-Argus, Lewistown, MT
  • Dillon Tribune, Dillon, MT
  • Big Timber Pioner, Big Timber, MT
  • Laurel Outlook, Laurel, MT
  • Carbon County News, Red Lodge, MT
  • Big Horn County News, Hardin, MT
  • Stillwater County News, Columbus, MT
  • Terry Tribune, Terry, MT
  • Independent Press, Forsyth, MT
  • Judith Basin Press, Judith Basin, MT

Oregon:

Utah:

Washington:

Wyoming:

}}

=APG Central=

{{columns-list|colwidth=25em|

Minnesota{{cite web|url=http://mna.org/assets/2019-MNA-Directory-August.pdf|title=Minnesota Newspaper Association, Directory|website=Minnesota Newspaper Association|accessdate=February 7, 2020}}

Wisconsin:

  • Antigo Daily Journal, Antigo, WI, Daily
  • Ashland Daily Press, Ashland, WI, Weekly
  • Beloit Daily News, Beloit, WI, Daily
  • Cambridge News & Deerfield Independent, Cambridge & Deerfield, WI, Weekly
  • The Chronotype, Rice Lake, WI, Weekly
  • The Country Today, Eau Claire, WI, Weekly
  • The Courier, Waterloo & Marshall, WI, Weekly
  • Daily Jefferson County Union, Fort Atkinson, WI, Daily
  • DeForest Times-Tribune, DeForest, WI, Weekly
  • Eagle Herald, Marinette, WI, Daily
  • The Gazette, Janesville, WI, Daily
  • Herald-Independent & McFarland Thistle, Cottage Grove, Monona & McFarland, WI, Weekly
  • Lake Mills Leader, Lake Mills, WI, Weekly
  • Leader-Telegram, Eau Claire, WI, Daily, Weekdays only
  • Lodi Enterprise & Poynette Press, Lodi & Poynette, WI, Weekly
  • Milton Courier, Milton, WI, Weekly
  • Price County Review, Park Falls, Phillips, WI, Weekly
  • Sawyer County Record, Hayward, WI, Weekly
  • Spooner Advocate, Spooner, WI, Weekly
  • Sun Prairie Star, Sun Prairie, WI, Twice Weekly
  • Watertown Daily Times, Watertown, WI, Daily
  • Waunakee Tribune, Waunakee, WI, Weekly

}}

References

{{reflist}}

Category:Newspaper companies of the United States

Category:Companies based in Tennessee

Category:2013 establishments in Minnesota