The Iowa-based publisher of several small-town newspapers that are at risk of closing says efforts are underway to keep some of them in business. Mid-America Publishing in Hampton plans to stop publishing more than 20 newspapers this week. President Matt Grohe says rising costs and declining circulation forced the decision, but he says talks are underway to sell the papers.
Grohe says Mid-America Publishing will instead focus on its commercial printing business. The company has agreed to continue printing six publications next week while a sale is finalized. Those include the Wright County Monitor, Eagle Grove Eagle and Ida County Courier.
Becky Vonnahme, with the Western Iowa Journalism Foundation, says the non-profit is working to keep some of the newspapers from folding.
Over the past five years, the foundation has provided more than one-million dollars in assistance to 11 newsrooms. The list of the impacted newspapers can be found here at www.midamerica.news/corporate/publications/.
