Texas Company Buys Hoosier-Owned Media Group
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As a subscriber you can listen to articles at work, in the car, or while you work out. Subscribe NowColumbus-based Home News Enterprises LLC, which has a portfolio that includes four daily and two weekly newspapers, has been acquired by Texas owners. AIM Media Management LLC says all HNE employees will keep their current positions with the newly-formed AIM Media Indiana LLC.
The publications involved, along with their websites, include:
- The Republic in Columbus
- The Daily Reporter in Greenfield
- The Daily Journal in Franklin
- The Tribune in Seymour
- The Times Post in Pendleton
- The Brown County Democrat in Nashville
HME also has a commercial printing business and shopper publications. The company traces its origins back more than 140 years and during that time it has transitioned through six generations of leadership from the Brown family. Isaac Brown founded the original publication, The Columbus Republican, in 1872.
Jeff Brown became president in 1998 and AIM says he will retain his current operational responsibilities. Brown says "there comes a point in time in older multi-generational family businesses where family members, many of whom are in or near retirement, need to exit from their ownership in order to pursue other interests. AIM came to us with a compelling offer that helps to preserve HNE’s local autonomy. We came to appreciate AIM’s focus on the importance of local newspapers and our commercial printing operations. AIM brings the potential to continue HNE’s growth in both media properties and commercial printing services. Our family is incredibly appreciative of the support of our communities and our customers through the years. It’s been a great run and we know that AIM will continue in that same tradition."
The chairman and chief Executive officer of AIM is Jeremy Halbreich, who previously served in the same capacity for Sun-Times Media LLC in Chicago and is former president and general manager of The Dallas Morning News. He calls HME "one of the most respected and admired publishing and media companies in the United States" and says "the Brown family has demonstrated extraordinary commitment, support and leadership to these local communities throughout their six generations of ownership. It is our goal and strongest desire to continue this community service and we look forward to providing the guidance and direction necessary for these publications to engage their local audiences and set the civic agenda and discourse in both online and print for the communities they serve. These are important, impactful and attractive businesses located in an extraordinary and unique group of towns in southern Indiana."