Closure of Midwest-based newspaper chain leaves dozens of communities without a news source
August 7, 2025
News Media Corp., an Illinois-based publisher, has announced the abrupt closure of dozens of newspapers across five states due to financial problems. The company said Thursday that it will shut down 14 operations in Wyoming, seven in Illinois, five in Arizona, four in South Dakota and one in Nebraska. This move affects small-town newspapers that were often the primary news source, worsening the issue of news deserts in rural areas. The closure comes amid a decades-long decline in local newspapers, with the U.S. losing over a third of its print newspapers since 2004. Employees expressed shock and disappointment at the sudden announcement.