• by Fern Siegel , November 27, 2020

Two Louisiana newspapers were sold this week: the American Press in Lake Charles, Louisiana, and Southwest Daily News in Sulphur, Louisiana, a triweekly, by the Shearman Corp.

They were purchased by Carpenter Newsmedia, an affiliate of Boone newspapers, based in Natchez, Miss. Assets include the print publications, websites and a commercial printing business.

Financial terms were not disclosed.

Carpenter Newsmedia and Boone Newspapers own 74 newspapers in various states, including Alabama, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Virginia, North Carolina, Ohio, Tennessee and Texas.

They include Port Arthur News, The Natchez Democrat, Middlesboro Daily News, The Coastland Times and Michiana Life, among others.

American Press was founded in 1895. The Shearman family has owned it since 1943. Shearman also owns newspapers in Hobbs, N.M., and Trinidad, Colo.

“BNI shares our commitment to local journalism and represents everything we had hoped to find in the next steward of our newspapers,” stated Tom Shearman, American Press publisher:

Separately, in late October, Colorado Community Media bought various Denver-area newspapers from Landmark Community Newspapers.  

Those small-town pubs include: the Brighton Standard Blade, Fort Lupton Press, Commerce City Sentinel Express, Metro Advertiser, Canyon Courier, Clear Creek Courant and 285 Hustler, bringing CCM’s total to 22 weeklies, two monthlies and two direct-mail shoppers.

Twelve new employees also joined CCM as part of the acquisition.

“Small-deal activity increased significantly during the third quarter, with nearly 20 transactions closing since August,” wrote Santa Fe-based newspaper brokerage firm Dirks, Van Essen & April, which handled the sale, in its November newsletter.