Six days after a media company shut down eight legacy Wyoming newspapers with no notice, a group of local buyers emerged to take over operations, keep all employees and resume publishing immediately.
Robb and Jen Hicks, the owners of the Buffalo Bulletin in Johnson County, and Rob Mortimore, the former publisher of the eight newspapers under their former owner, News Media Corp., announced in the Buffalo Bulletin on Tuesday that they have acquired the papers from the Illinois-based media company.
On Aug. 6, News Media Corp. shocked the region by shutting down Wyoming hometown newspapers and one in Nebraska. The papers included the Platte County Record-Times, Torrington Telegram, Pinedale Roundup, Guernsey Gazette, Lusk Herald, Uinta County Herald, Bridger Valley Pioneer and Kemmerer Gazette.
The Wyoming paper chain, which included The Business Famer in Scottsbluff, Nebraska, was just part of an overall shuttering of News Media Corp.’s news outlets in five states.
Twenty-one publications ceased operations overall last Wednesday due to “financial challenges,” according to a company statement, and “a significant economic downturn impacting our industry, revenue losses and increasing expenses,” as well as a failed attempt to sell the papers.
'The Wyoming Way'
Mortimore told Cowboy State Daily on Tuesday that the last week "has been a whirlwind" for the Wyoming newspapers and their staffs. He also had no notice about the shutdown.
"Obviously, it all started with the worst news possible for 30 employees," he said. "And from that moment, it was, 'What can we do? How can we keep this going? Because we're not done.'"
He said the employees didn't walk away. Instead, "everybody brainstormed a way to get it done."
The newspapers published print editions this week, he said, adding that the plan is for the sale to close by the end of the week.
That the solution is Wyoming ownership of the papers is the best outcome possible, Mortimore said.
"It's exciting news, and it's just something that had to be done for our communities and our newspapers in Wyoming," he said. "I think it's the perfect scenario for these properties in Wyoming — Wyoming owned, Wyoming operated. It's just the Wyoming way."
Mortimore will continue to be the group publisher of the eight newspapers, adding that the outpouring of support from the local towns and cities served by them has been "overwhelming and humbling."
He also said the response proves local print journalism isn't dead, and those who say it is "don't know what they're talking about."
Limbo
There were 30 employees with the Wyoming papers who were were caught completely off guard and were terminated immediately, without warning.
Some have spent the last few days cleaning out their desks or working to save and protect the publications’ archives, many of which had served their communities in Niobrara, Goshen, Platte, Sublette and Uinta counties for generations.
On Friday, Cowboy State Daily reported that employees of at least two of the papers were either close to securing financial backing to resume operations or, in the case of the Record-Times and Telegram, had found a potential buyer.
But the announcement Tuesday appears to have stabilized all eight of the Wyoming newspapers. The Nebraska paper was not mentioned as being part of the purchase.
Robb Hicks told the Buffalo Bulletin that all of the newspapers’ former staff members were being rehired and publication of all the papers were resuming immediately.
“We are honored to assume stewardship of these legacy community newspapers,” Robb Hicks said. “Our foremost priority has been to ensure that these counties are not left without a credible, enduring source of local journalism.”
An email to News Media Corp. seeking comment on the sale was not immediately returned.
Longtime News Family
Rob and Jen Hicks have owned and operated the Buffalo Bulletin since 1996, while their family has owned or worked at newspapers in the state for more than seven decades.
Mortimore said he and everyone at the eight newspapers are thankful for Rob and Jen Hicks and motivated to be back doing what they do best — report on their communities.
"We want to get back to writing the news," he said. "We don't want to be the news."
Justin George can be reached at justin@cowboystatedaily.com.
