Carpenter Media Group
| Type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Media |
| Genre | Publishing |
| Headquarters | Tuscaloosa, Alabama, U.S. |
| Key people | Todd Carpenter (chairman) |
Carpenter Media Group (CMG) is an American media conglomerate based in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. The company operates more than 250 outlets around the United States and Canada and is the fourth-largest American newspaper company.[1][2]
History
[edit]CMG was founded in 2023 after separating from Boone Newsmedia, an American newspaper company with publications across the American South. The company took ownership of ten of Boone's newspapers.[1][3]
Over the next two years, CMG embarked on an acquisition spree, focusing on acquiring struggling companies that operated multiple publications.[2] In March 2024, the company purchased Black Press Media, which owned over 150 newspapers across Washington, western Canada, and Hawaii, including the Honolulu Star-Advertiser, Hawaii's largest daily newspaper.[4] Three months later, in June 2024, CMG purchased Pamplin Media Group, which published over two dozen papers across Oregon, including the Portland Tribune.[5] In October 2024, Carpenter acquired EO Media Group.[6] In its State of Local News Report from that year, the Local News Initiative at Northwestern University noted that within a year, CMG had become the fourth-largest American newspaper company, owning 138 publications in 2024 after just 54 in 2023.[7]
Carpenter has faced criticism for laying off staff after acquiring newspapers.[1][2]
References
[edit]- 1 2 3 Parshley, Lois (January 26, 2026). "Carpenter Media's ominous takeover of local news". Columbia Journalism Review. Retrieved September 12, 2026.
- 1 2 3 "Growing publisher is buying Missouri newspapers, driving consolidation, raising questions". www.fultonsun.com. March 2, 2025. Retrieved September 12, 2026.
- ↑ "Boone Newsmedia, Carpenter Newsmedia announce separation plans". Boone Newspapers. October 30, 2023. Archived from the original on May 29, 2024. Retrieved September 12, 2026.
- ↑ Carpenter Media Group (March 26, 2024). "Carpenter Media Group completes acquisition of Black Press Media". Editor & Publisher (Press release). Archived from the original on March 29, 2024. Retrieved September 12, 2026.
- ↑ Rogoway, Mike (June 3, 2024). "Pamplin Media, Portland Tribune's owner, sells to Carpenter Media". The Oregonian/OregonLive. Retrieved September 12, 2026.
- ↑ Rogoway, Mike (October 23, 2024). "Oregon newspaper chain EO Media sells itself to Mississippi company". The Oregonian/OregonLive. Retrieved September 12, 2026.
- ↑ Metzger, Zach (October 23, 2024). "The State of Local News: 2024 Report". Local News Initiative. Retrieved September 12, 2026.