• by Ray Schultz , May 25, 2022

Ogden Newspapers is acquiring KPC Media, the publisher of numerous publications in northeast Indiana, the firm has announced. Terms were not disclosed. 

Conducted in partnership with Journal Gazette Co. and its Fort Wayne Newspapers, the purchase follows Ogden’s acquisition last year of Swift Communications, publisher of newspapers in Colorado, Utah and California markets. 

The KPC purchase includes three dailies: The News Sun, Kendallville; The Herald Republican, Angola; and The Star, Auburn. 

In addition, the deal includes The Post and Mail, Columbia City; The Garrett Clipper, Garrett; Albion New Era, Albion; Churubusco News, Churubusco; Greater Fort Wayne Business Weekly, Fort Wayne; and Indiana/Fort Wayne Community Newspapers (including The Aboite News, The Northwest News, and The New Haven News). 

Also part of the transaction is KPC Phone Books and Directories, and commercial printing/specialty publishing outfit KPC Direct, Digital Services, and its Events division.

KPC’s editors and reporters publications in will continue working in their individual markets, says Cameron Nutting Williams, vice president and CRO of The Ogden Newspapers. and vice president of America’s Newspapers.

The company hopes to continue publishing "both in print and on our digital media platforms community-centric newspapers that cover the issues most important to the residents,” Williams adds. 

Ogden, based in Wheeling, West Virginia, says it will build on the legacy of the Witwer family, which owned KPC publications for 50 years. 

Ogden owns a majority interest in Fort Wayne Newspapers, according to the local inkFreeNews.

Fort Wayne Newspapers operates the Fortwayne.com site and publishes Fort Wayne Magazine. In addition, it is the business agent for The Journal Gazette newspaper. 

The Journal Gazette newsroom operates independently of Fort Wayne Newspapers, and the new KPC acquisitions will operate separately and independently from The Journal Gazette.