The National Trust for Local News, a nonprofit organization that owns most of Maine’s newspapers, recently announced the sale of 21 of its newspapers in Colorado to Times Media Group, a company based in Tempe, Arizona. This strategic move is part of a broader restructuring effort aimed at enhancing the organization’s long-term sustainability while continuing to support local journalism in Colorado.
According to Will Nelligan, the chief growth officer at the National Trust, this decision is intended to “reduce our footprint in greater Denver without reducing local journalism there,” while allowing them to focus on areas in Colorado where their model is most needed. Despite these intentions, media observers, including the Neiman Journalism Lab, have raised concerns regarding Times Media Group’s reputation for making cuts in local newsrooms.
The National Trust has been active in preserving local journalism in Maine since 2023, when it acquired a number of important publications, including the Portland Press Herald and the Lewiston Sun Journal. This acquisition was celebrated as a commitment to safeguarding local news at a time when many small newspapers are being taken over by private equity firms, potentially leading to reduced local news coverage.
However, the organization has faced challenges in its operations, including recent layoffs of 49 positions and a reduction in print services. Notably, this sale of the Colorado newspapers was announced just one day after the appointment of a new CEO, Tom Wiley, following the resignation of co-founder Elizabeth Hansen Shapiro earlier this year.
The ongoing transition reflects a significant shift in how local news is managed, and it highlights the critical need for sustainable journalism models that prioritize community needs. While some may view the sale and recent layoffs as setbacks, others might see them as necessary adjustments for long-term resilience in a challenging media landscape. Maintaining a focus on local journalism will remain vital for communities, especially as the industry continues to evolve.