Tuesday, May 2, 2023— The Graphic Printing Company of Portland, Indiana, announced today that it has purchased The
News-Gazette (Winchester) and The News Times (Hartford City) from Community Media Group of West
Frankfort, Illinois.

Red Ball, a weekly free distribution publication, was also part of the purchase.

Ray Cooney, who runs the day-to-day operations of The Graphic Printing Company as editor and publisher

“We’re excited about the opportunity for The Graphic Printing Company to grow with the purchase of these publications. We believe in the importance of local news and we’re looking forward to expanding our journalistic vision in Randolph County, Blackford County and the surrounding areas.” The Graphic Printing Company publishes The Commercial Review, a five-day-a-week newspaper covering Jay County and the surrounding area, and The News and Sun, a weekly newspaper focused on
the Dunkirk and Redkey area. It also offers commercial printing services.

The News-Gazette publishes twice a week on Tuesdays and Thursdays. The News Times publishes weekly on Wednesdays.

Community Media Group president and CEO Mark J. Perrotto

“We are pleased to transfer management and ownership of these newspapers to long-time area community newspaper operators Louise Ronald, board president, and Ray Cooney, publisher, of The Commercial Review.”

The Graphic Printing Company’s board of directors approved the purchase last week. Paperwork was signed Friday, with the sale closing Monday.

Louise Ronald, Jack’s sister and president of the company’s board of directors.

“From its beginning, The Graphic Printing Company has combined a commitment to high-quality local journalism with a love of east central Indiana. We look forward to serving readers — both old and new — throughout the region. As primary shareholders, the Ronald family is excited to have this opportunity to further expand upon the vision that has guided us for more than 75 years.”

The Graphic Printing Company sees the acquisition of the newspapers as a natural progression of the vision of longtime president Jack Ronald, who led the company for 37 years prior to his death in 2022. He had considered forays into the Randolph and Blackford county communities previously.

Connie Ronald, Jack’s widow and the largest shareholder of the company

“Jack’s driving force was to produce a newspaper that served its community; to highlight the people and activities that made the community special; to inform the readers what was happening in their hometown and why; and to serve as a place to exchange thoughts and opinions. In a time when local news faces greater challenges than ever before, I think he would be pleased to have Ray and the Graphic staff expand that vision to the Randolph County and Blackford County communities.”

Advertisement