• by Ray Schultz , February 5, 2024

The Anamosa Journal-Eureka, a weekly that seemed headed for closure only last week, may survive. Nelson Media Company, which owns a video production unit and marketing agency, has reached a tentative agreement to acquire the Iowa paper from Woodward Community Media. 

Last Thursday’s edition was to be its final one unless a buyer came forward.

“This was an acquisition I wanted to get done as soon as I could,” says Chris Nelson, president and CEO of the Nelson Media Company. “The Anamosa Journal-Eureka has a long-standing relationship with the community, and frankly, with the state of Iowa. We stepped in to help save a newspaper which predated the Civil War.”

The newspaper will continue to run as is pending the transfer. Nelson hopes to retain as many employees as possible. 

“We want to dive head first into the community and make this paper shine,” Nelson says. “Our commitment is always to journalism; telling great stories in the community, being a partner to businesses and organizations, and making sure we have a viable product to share to our subscribers, customers, and citizens of Anamosa and Jones County.” 

“Financially, we’ve also lost a significant amount of money, so it was not in a sustainable situation,” said Bob Woodward, recently vice president of Woodward Community Media, last week, according to cbs2Iowa.com.