Adding Louisiana State Newspapers to our newspaper in Hammond gives us a significant footprint in Louisiana,
said David Holgate, group president of Paxton Media Group.
Paxton Media Group expanded its footprint in the state by acquiring 14 community publications and a regional printing facility from Louisiana State Newspapers, Biz New Orleans reported. The transaction, announced Nov. 2, unites two family-owned publishing companies and adds publications concentrated in Acadiana and south Louisiana to Paxton’s existing operation, The Daily Star in Hammond. Terms of the purchase were not disclosed.
The deal covers 14 newspapers spanning several southern parishes. These publications include the Abbeville Meridional in Abbeville, Kaplan Herald in Kaplan, Eunice News in Eunice, Church Point News in Church Point, Ville Platte Gazette in Ville Platte, Basile Weekly in Basile, Kinder Courier in Kinder, Oakdale Journal in Oakdale, Morgan City Review in Morgan City, Franklin Banner-Tribune in Franklin, Bayou Pioneer in Pierre Part, Rayne Acadian-Tribune in Rayne, Crowley Post-Signal in Crowley, and The Teche News, which serves St. Martin Parish.
The agreement also includes Louisiana State Printing, LLC. Established in 2001 in Eunice as the production division for the newspaper group, the facility prints all 14 acquired publications alongside more than a dozen other newspapers for regional publishers.
We are pleased to welcome these publications and their employees to Paxton Media Group,
said Jamie Paxton, president and CEO of Paxton Media Group. Louisiana State Newspapers has a long history of serving its communities, and we look forward to building on that tradition.
Acting on behalf of Louisiana State Newspapers during the deal was Dirks, Van Essen & April, a firm specializing in media mergers and acquisitions located in Santa Fe, New Mexico.
Decades of Family Ownership Precede the Sale
LSN Publishing Company, LLC traces its origins to 1963, when Braxton “B.I.” Moody III purchased the Rayne Acadian-Tribune and Church Point News. The business incorporated as Louisiana State Newspapers in 1973 and expanded over more than six decades into the largest newspaper chain in the state by publication count, at one point owning 33 newspapers.
For generations, LSN has been built on a simple belief: local communities deserve strong, dependable journalism that reflects the people, businesses, schools, and institutions that make them unique,
said Darrell Guillory, president and chief operating officer of LSN Publishing Company. As we begin this new chapter with Paxton Media Group, we are confident our publications will remain rooted in the communities they serve while benefiting from the resources and long-term commitment of a family-owned media company.
Kevin Moody, chairman and CEO of LSN Publishing Company, noted that the sale identifies the right steward to carry forward the work, relationships, and public-service role of the Louisiana publications. This transaction reflects our responsibility to protect the future of the local newspapers and employees that have been central to LSN’s mission,
he said.
Kentucky-Based Parent Company Expands Regional Footprint
Headquartered in Paducah, Kentucky, Paxton Media Group is a family-owned media enterprise founded in 1896. Managed by fifth-generation family member Jamie Paxton, the company publishes more than 120 community newspapers across 15 states, including Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia, according to nolanewswire.com. The company also operates WPSD-TV, an NBC-affiliated television station based in Paducah.
The companies did not disclose whether the transition will prompt changes to staffing, printing operations, or production schedules for the acquired titles. These publications will maintain their commitment to their local areas by providing news, advertising, and information through both digital and print channels.