Sale of Illinois newspapers puts new state law to the test

Employees and county clerks in several of the areas served by the recently sold newspapers say the buyer did not provide the 120 days’ notice required by the new law.

Instead, some said they learned about it when Better Newspapers Inc. announced earlier this month that it sold eight of its newspapers to Paxton Media Group — the fifth-largest newspaper company in the U.S. that is based in Paducah, Kentucky.

SPRINGFIELD – A newspaper publisher in central and southern Illinois has sold eight of its Illinois papers to a Kentucky-based company, testing a new state law designed to keep newspaper ownership local.

The Strengthening Community Media Act took effect on Jan. 1 as part of a package of legislation aimed at boosting local journalism. Its supporters said it was a response to growing news deserts that have been worsened by national media companies purchasing and downsizing local outlets.

The law requires Illinois media companies to provide the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, local county government, the company’s employees and any Illinois nonprofit that might be interested in buying the business with 120 days’ notice before the sale happens.

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