• by Ray Schultz , Yesterday

Better Newspapers, Inc. has sold 15 newspapers in Illinois and Missouri to Paxton Media Group  (PMG).

The terms were not disclosed. 

Founded in 1991 by Greg Hoskins, Better Newspapers eventually had over 40 publications and radio stations in Illinois and Missouri.

But Scott Hoskins, who took over as president after Greg Hoskins died in 2024, says, “It is time for our family to move on, and we believe we found the best steward for our family legacy in Jamie Paxton and Paxton Media Group.”

“We are very excited to add these newspapers into the PMG portfolio,” said Jamie Paxton, president and CEO of PMG. “PMG believes strongly in the value of local newspapers and the vital role they play in the communities that they serve.”

The Hoskins family was represented by Cribb & Associates in the transaction.

Included in the sale were the following Illinois newspapers:

• The Morning Sentinel, Centralia
  
• Union Banner, Carlyle 
• Washington County News, Nashville
• Greenville Advocate, Greenville
• Salem Times Commoner, Salem
• The Breeze Courier, Taylorville
• The Daily Record, Robinson
• Daily News, Robinson

The Missouri newspapers included: 

• The Daily Journal, Park Hills
• The Democrat News, Fredericktown 
• The Farmington Press, Farmington 
• Wayne County Journal Banner, Piedmont 
• Reynolds County Courier
• The Mountain Echo, Ironton
• The Ste. Genevieve Herald, Ste. Genevieve