Springfield printing company, community newspapers bought in media acquisition

Courtesy Nowata Printing Co.

Nowata Printing Co., which operates in Partnership Industrial Center, is among the companies included in the acquisition.

A Springfield printing company and a handful of community newspapers in southwest Missouri have been purchased through a media acquisition.

Carpenter Media Group announced in a news release the purchase of Phillips Media Group LLC for undisclosed terms.

The deal includes Harrison, Arkansas-based Phillips Media Group's Nowata Printing Co. in Springfield and 16 community newspapers in Missouri, Arkansas and Illinois. The Bolivar Herald-Free Press, Buffalo Reflex, Cedar County Republican, Christian County Headliner News and The Marshfield Mail are among the newspapers changing hands in the deal. No planned staffing changes are noted in the release.

"It has been a pleasure to own and operate these great publications," said Rupert Phillips, president and CEO of Phillips Media Group, in the release. "Their future will be in good hands with Carpenter Media Group, a company focused on continuing the tradition of providing a quality newspaper for their local communities."

Carpenter Media Group owns and operates more than 250 titles in the United States and Canada. The company is reportedly based in Mississippi.

“We feel fortunate to succeed Rupert Phillips and his team in these communities with these newspapers that are so important to each one,” said Todd Carpenter, chair of Carpenter Media Group, in the release. “To work with a group like this is a pleasure and privilege because of the quality of the company, the people and the good foundations they put down.”

Phillips Media Group purchased Nowata Printing Co. and myriad community newspapers in 2015 from Community Publishers Inc., according to past reporting.

Editor's note: Springfield Business Journal uses Nowata Printing Co. to print its weekly edition and special publications.