• by Ray Schultz , April 28, 2024

Two central Minnesota counties that were about to lose their newspapers will soon have replacements. 

CherryRoad Media is launching The Hutchinson Station and The Litchfield Rail on May 9. These titles are replacements for The Hutchinson Leader and The Litchfield Independent Review that were set to be closed by Southwest News Media this week.  

The replacement papers will be led by the existing editorial and advertising staff led by Editor Brent Schacherer. 

“When we heard these comm unities would lose their papers, we quickly reacted,” says Jeremy Gulban, CEO of CherryRoad Media. “We don’t want to see these towns, and their citizens, fall into another news desert.” 

Gulban adds, “Hutchinson and Litchfield don’t know us yet, but they can look to International Falls for an answer as to what kind of partner we will be.”  

Southwest News Media announced on April 4 that it would close the newspapers, along with several others, including the Chaska Herald, Chanhassen Villager,Jordan Independent, Shakopee Valley News, Prior Lake American, Savage Pacer and Southwest Saturday

The company was acquired in 2020 by MediaNews Group, which is owned by Alden Global Capital.

Residents of Hutchinson, Litchfield and surrounding areas “will go one week without a local paper, but only one week,” says Lee Bachlet, COO of CherryRoad Media.