Black Press Media's parent group, Carpenter Media Group, has acquired Nebraska-based Enterprise Media Group.
Carpenter Media Group announced the acquisition Thursday (Jan. 30) that it would be acquiring Enterprise's 10 weekly newspapers and three total market coverage shoppers in Nebraska and Iowa.
Enterprise Media Group was founded more than 150 years ago as a single newspaper, growing to reach more than 40,000 readers across eastern Nebraska and western Iowa. It's a sixth-generation family-owned company, led by Mark Rhoades and his son Chris.
鈥淲ith over 150 years of family ownership, this decision was not made lightly,鈥� president and publisher Mark Rhoades said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 important that our legacy of quality local journalism and community involvement continues into the future. We are confident that our staff will uphold the high standards our readers have come to expect.鈥�
Carpenter Media Group chair Todd Carpenter shared Enterprise's commitment to community journalism and aims to strengthen it through the acquisition.
鈥淲e are pleased to succeed the Rhoades family in responsibility for these news organizations that are vital to the people they serve,鈥� Carpenter said. 鈥淲e look forward to working with each team member to provide support in serving readers, businesses and each community long into the future. As journalists, ours is a mission critical role in making sure readers are equipped to participate in the important process of improving the places where they live. We take those obligations seriously and will work hard to meet each one.鈥�
The Nebraska-based publications include The Enterprise, Pilot-Tribune, Arlington Citizen, Oakland Independent, Lyons Mirror-Sun, West Point News and Wisner News Chronicle. The Iowa-based titles are Mapleton Press, Missouri Valley Times-News and The Dunlap Reporter.
Following the separation of Carpenter Media Group from Boone Newsmedia Inc. in 2023, and subsequent acquisitions, Carpenter Media Group now owns and manages more than 250 publications across the U.S. and Canada.
