Sale of Freedom, TCN completed
The sale of the Marysville-Yuba City Appeal-Democrat and its parent company, Freedom Communications, to the media company 2100 Trust LLC was completed on Wednesday.
The four Tri-County Newspapers — Colusa County Sun-Herald, Corning Observer, Orland Press-Register and Willows Journal — also are part of the sale.
With new ownership continuing to operate the company under the name Freedom Communications, the newspapers will be part of a chain of newspapers in California, Arizona and Colorado.
"I couldn't be more enthusiastic and excited," said Appeal-Democrat Publisher Larry Riley. "The new owners recognize we're good at community journalism, and, if anything, they want to let us continue to do what we do best."
The sale of the chain was first announced in mid-June, after Freedom had sold several other papers and television stations in North Carolina, Texas and Florida to other buyers. Terms of the sale completed Wednesday, including purchase price, were not disclosed.
Outgoing Freedom CEO Mitchell Stern said in a statement that the company's long-standing reputation for high-quality journalism and commitment to its local communities will continue under the new owners.
"We're very pleased that the name is being passed to new ownership that firmly believes newspapers continue to play an essential role in providing the news and information that is so vital in the lives of the communities they serve," he said.
Incoming CEO Aaron Kushner added in the same statement that he was happy to have acquired newspapers with strong, positive reputations for journalism and local commitment.
The purchase includes the flagship Orange County Register, Barstow Daily Dispatch, Porterville Recorder and Victorville Daily Press in California, the Gazette in Colorado Springs, Colo. and The Sun in Yuma, Ariz., and their associated nondaily publications, and specialty publications and digital properties that include TCN. The company will continue to have its headquarters in Irvine.
The original version of this story first appeared on the Appeal-Democrat website Wednesday and in the Appeal-Democrat on Thursday.
