• by Ray Schultz , August 3, 2023

The National Trust for Local News has concluded its deal to purchase 22 Maine newspapers, including five dailies and 17 weeklies. 

Terms were not disclosed. 

The nonprofit group purchased the papers, including The Portland Press Herald and The Sun Journal of Lewiston, from Masthead Maine.

Masthead Media will be rebranded as Maine Trust for Local News, according to The Bangor Daily News, which says it is the only independently owned daily left in Maine.

Reade Brower, now the former owner of the newspapers, is left with six weeklies, mostly along Maine’s northern coast, The Bangor Daily News writes. They will be operated under the MaineStay Media brand. 

The Maine Trust for Local News is registered as a Maine-based L3C company, and a wholly owned subsidiary of the national trust, The Bangor Daily News continues.