Shaw Media acquires Record Newspapers
DIXON, Ill. — Shaw Media, owner of the Newton Daily News, plans to close a deal to acquire Record Newspapers, which includes the Putnam County Record and the Tonica News, at the end of the month, expanding its reach in northwestern Illinois.
Sam Fisher, publisher of Shaw’s Bureau County Republican in Princeton, will oversee the operations.
The deal between the Arnold family, which has operated Record Newspapers since 1878, and Shaw Media is scheduled to close November 30. The BCR has been printing the two papers at its Princeton press facility for more than 10 years, Fisher noted, and a good working relationship developed.
“Just like the Arnolds, the BCR as an organization is committed to serving its communities and its customers. Given the proximity of the markets, we have a tremendous opportunity to leverage existing resources to the benefit of the Record and News and also to the Bureau County Republican. It’s a great fit,” Fisher said.
Those resources include print, website and niche publications, as well as a staff of professionals whose goal is to provide excellent customer service. Both the News office in Tonica and the Record office in Granville will remain at their present locations.
Tom Shaw, president and CEO of Shaw Media, said Shaw Media is pleased to bring Record Newspapers into its growing family of dedicated, community-based, information companies.
“We absolutely look forward to a long and mutually beneficial relationship with these new communities we will be serving,” Shaw said.
Shaw Media, which has been owned by the Shaw family since it was founded in 1851, currently operates properties in suburban Chicago, northern Illinois and Iowa.
