ROCKINGHAM — The Anson Record is under new ownership.
Champion Media announced June 14 that it has acquired the North Carolina and South Carolina print, digital and local assets of Heartland, a Civitas Media company.
In addition to the Record, the acquisition includes the following daily and weekly newspapers: the Richmond County Day Journal, Lumberton Robesonian, Mount Airy News, Clinton Sampson Independent, Laurinburg Exchange, Jefferson Post, Your Carolina Connection, Elizabethtown Bladen Journal, Surry Scene, Elkin Tribune, Elkin Advertiser, Yadkin Ripple, Stokes News, Pilot Mountain News, Carroll News, Union Times, Union Grapevine, Newberry Observer, Newberry Shopper, Easley Progress, and Pickens Sentinel.
The announcement was made by Champion Media CEO, Scott T. Champion. Financial terms were not disclosed.
The acquisition expands Champion Media Newspapers’ stable of news properties to six dailies and 21 weeklies in North Carolina, South Carolina, Ohio, Minnesota and Virginia.
“This investment strengthens Champion Family Newspapers’ commitment to the local communities of North Carolina, South Carolina and Virginia, serving as a local news source,” Champion said. “The strength of local newspapers is as vital today as they were 50 years ago. We are proud of all the employees that come together each day to bring their communities a credible news product, being either in print or digital.”
The new properties have a combined weekly circulation of approximately 225,000 households and a monthly digital reach of over 4 million unique visitors. Most of the newspapers have a rich history of serving their communities for well over 100 years.
“Civitas Media is a leading community newspaper group servicing many local markets in 11 states,” Champion added. “Civitas newspapers have been providing leading news coverage for decades and we intend engaging with its employees to continue enhancing our content coverage and important service across the North Carolina and South Carolina communities.”
“We are delighted to have Scott Champion, our former COO and a leading media executive in the United States, acquire Civitas’ North Carolina and South Carolina properties,” Lior Yahalomi, Civitas CEO, stated.
“I would like to personally thank all of our Civitas North Carolina and South Carolina employees for the many years of dedicated and professional service,” Yahalomi added. “I wish them a great transition becoming an important part of the Champion Media newspaper business.”