MOORESVILLE – Champion Media announced last week that it has acquired The Laurinburg Exchange as part of the North Carolina and South Carolina print, digital and local assets of Heartland, a Civitas Media company.
The acquisition includes six daily newspapers, The Laurinburg Exchange, Robesonian, Mount Airy News, Rockingham Daily Journal, Clinton Sampson Independent, and Jefferson Post as well as 16 weekly newspapers.
The announcement was made by Champion Media CEO Scott T. Champion. Financial terms were not disclosed.
The acquisition expands Champion Media Newspapers’ stable of news properties to six dailies and 21 weeklies in North Carolina, South Carolina, Ohio, Minnesota, and Virginia.
“This investment strengthens Champion Family Newspapers’ commitment to the local communities of North Carolina, South Carolina, and Virginia, serving as a local news source,” Champion said. “The strength of local newspapers is as vital today as they were fifty years ago. We are proud of all the employees that come together each day to bring their communities a credible news product, being either in print or digital.”
The new properties have a combined weekly circulation of approximately 225,000 households and a monthly digital reach of over 4 million unique visitors.
The weekly newspapers include, Your Carolina Connection, Elizabethtown Bladen Journal, Wadesboro Anson Record, Surry Scene, Elkin Tribune, Elkin Advertiser, Yadkin Ripple, Stokes News, Pilot Mountain News, Carroll News, Union Times, Union Grapevine.
Most of the newspapers have a rich history of serving their communities for well over 100 years.
“Civitas Media is a leading community newspaper group servicing many local markets in 11 states,” Champion said. “Civitas newspapers have been providing leading news coverage for decades and we intend engaging with its employees to continue enhancing our content coverage and important service across the North Carolina and South Carolina communities.”
Lior Yahalomi, Civitas CEO said the company was “delighted to have Champion, the former COO and a leading media executive in the United States, acquire Civitas’ North Carolina and South Carolina properties
“I would like to personally thank all of our Civitas North Carolina and South Carolina employees for the many years of dedicated and professional service,” Yahalomi said. “I wish them a great transition becoming an important part of the Champion Media newspaper business.”
Champion Media of Mooresville is a new entity formed by Scott Champion and his son, Corey.
Scott Champion has more than 40 years of experience in the newspaper industry, educated by his family operating competitive shoppers dating back to the mid 1960’s. In his career, Scott Champion has operated both small and large newspaper companies including American Publishing, Liberty Group Publishing, GateHouse Media and OCM. Scott Champion’s current portfolio includes MCM Media, MCM Ohio and now Champion Media.
Corey Champion graduated from The University of Iowa with his Bachelors in Business Finance and Entrepreneurship along with his Masters in Accounting. Corey Champion started his career with Kohler Company in Kohler, Wisconsin before his relocation to North Carolina. Corey Champion is joining Champion Media as the controller.
