• by Sara Guaglione , August 31, 2017

Hearst has acquired local Illinois papers The Telegraph and Journal-Courier, the oldest continuously published newspaper in the state, from Civitas Media.

The Journal-Courier was founded in 1830 in Jacksonville and The Telegraph was established in 1836 in Alton. Together, the newspapers have a circulation of more than 30,000 in the southwestern Illinois region.

The two newspapers will add to Hearst’s local coverage in the state, thanks to its ownership of the daily Edwardsville Intelligencer, which it bought in 1979.

“Combined with our Edwardsville Intelligencer media assets, the additions of The Telegraph and Journal-Courier will enable us to upgrade our enterprise reporting across the region, while serving advertisers with the most comprehensive media solutions,” stated Hearst Newspapers president Mark Aldam.

The deal also includes the two papers’ digital assets, including its websites.

Jeff Bergin, Hearst Newspapers' vice president of vertical strategy development, will oversee business and news operations for The Telegraph and Journal-Courier.

The previous owner, Civitas, is headquartered in Davidson, North Carolina, and is a portfolio company of Philadelphia-based private equity investment firm Versa Capital Management. Civitas was formed when Versa bought the two newspapers from Freedom Communications in 2012.

Hearst has recently acquired a number of local newspapers, including 21st Century Media Newspaper, a subsidiary of Digital First Media, and its three daily newspapers, eight weekly newspapers and Connecticut Magazine  in June, and the Pioneer Group in Michigan in January.

Hearst Newspapers now owns 24 dailies and 64 weeklies across the U.S., including the Houston Chronicle, San Francisco Chronicle, San Antonio Express-News and Albany Times Union.