Shaw Media is reviving four Illinois newspapers that ceased publication Aug. 6 as Rochelle-based News Media Corporation closed down.
CEO John Rung announced in a column published Aug. 28 on Shaw Local that the Rochelle News-Leader, Ogle County Life, Mendota Reporter and Amboy News are making a comeback under the Shaw banner. These were among two dozen weekly newspapers in five states that News Media had shuttered.
“Local newspapers are a vital part of the fabric of a community, and when they go silent, something important goes missing,” Rung wrote. “That’s why I’m proud to share that Shaw Media has acquired the rights to publish these papers. Beginning with this edition on Aug. 27, they will once again serve the readers and communities that rely on them.”
The Rochelle News-Leader, Ogle County Life and Mendota Reporter have resumed publication, Rung wrote. The Amboy News will restart publication in the next few weeks.
Rung did not immediately respond to an email seeking comment for this story.
He warned that it could take some time for the quality of the newspapers to get back up to speed as they are reconstituted after going dark. Subscriptions will continue to be honored and readers are expected to get access to expanded coverage and more photos via ShawLocal.com, Rung said.
Founded in Dixon in 1851, Shaw Media publishes in dozens of in Illinois and Iowa communities, operating the Northwest Herald in Crystal Lake, The Daily Chronicle in DeKalb and the Kane County Chronicle in St. Charles among many others. Rung said the company acquired nine northern Illinois radio stations in 2023 and 2024.
“We look forward to working with readers, advertisers, and community leaders in Rochelle, Ogle County and Mendota,” Rung wrote. “We plan to be here for the long haul — as stewards of these publications, partners in your communities and believers in the power of local news.”
Jeff Kolkey writes about government, economic development and other issues for the Rockford Register Star. He can be reached via email at jkolkey@rrstar.com and on X @jeffkolkey.
This article originally appeared on Rockford Register Star: Shaw Media is reviving four shuttered newspapers in northern Illinois
Reporting by Jeff Kolkey, Rockford Register Star / Rockford Register Star
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