The Local Media Playbook

An Inside Look at O’Rourke Media Group

There’s a narrative that local newspapers are dying.

We don’t see it that way.

Last week’s transfer of ownership of five community newspapers in the Chicago suburbs marked our fourth acquisition since August 2025 and 17th since December 2018. Today, O’Rourke Media Group operates in nine states, 45 markets, with 64 local community publications and websites.

We’re still buying newspapers—and we’re doing it with conviction.

Why We’re Still Buying Newspapers

We buy them because we see opportunity.

In many markets, the fundamentals are still there:

• strong local brands
• loyal readership
• deep community ties

What’s often missing is the right model.

We’re unwavering in our belief in the OMG playbook.

Our approach is simple:

• Build and invest in a top-performing sales organization
• Operate lean and efficiently
• Stay committed to strong community journalism
• Grow a digital agency alongside the publishing business
• Help local businesses succeed with modern marketing solutions

We don’t have geographic boundaries. We have a playbook—supported by data, discipline, and a focus on people.

Building a Scalable Platform

Our operating results are strong, but like any business, we face headwinds and challenges. The biggest factor in our success is our people—and at the same time, our greatest challenge is attracting and hiring more talent.

This business isn’t about print vs. digital, subscription vs. advertising, AI bots stealing our content, or big digital companies monopolizing ad revenue. It’s about building a model that works—and executing it consistently.

We’re finishing Q1 with solid revenue and bottom-line performance. That puts us in a strong position in 2026 to:

• service and reduce debt
• explore and close on refinancing opportunities
• continue investing in growth

We’re building something durable—with a clear path toward 100 markets through acquisitions and new market launches.

Company Highlights

Revenue Growth
Total advertising revenue in March finished +30% vs. prior year (+23% YTD). Same-store digital advertising revenue was +27% in March (+29% YTD).

Special recognition to our top revenue producers this month:
Joe Paul (All), Jade Lewandowski (All), Erica McNamee (Philly), Michele Swain (DE), Bobbie Duft (CO), Pam Mathes and Sharon Schneider (WI).

Outstanding work as well to our teams in Minnesota, Wisconsin, Arizona, and Pagosa Springs for exceeding their monthly targets. Markets that fell short still made meaningful contributions—thank you for the continued effort across the board.

Community Connect
Launched in November 2025 and led by Caleb Anderson, Community Connect is a multi-platform solution combining print, digital, sponsored content, social, and newsletters to drive ROI for advertisers.

To date:

• $425K+ in new recurring revenue
• Nearly 60% of sellers participating (on track for full adoption)

The execution and support behind this program have been exceptional.

News Team Spotlight – Chaffee County
Our news teams across the company are producing impactful community journalism every day.

This month, I want to recognize Cailey McDermott and the team in Salida and Chaffee County:

• 1,700+ original stories in 2025
• 450+ letters to the editor published

That level of output and engagement reflects exactly what strong local journalism looks like.

Employee Updates
Welcome to the team members who joined OMG in Q1:
Alicia Burgos (AE – Philly), Reed Nye (Reporter – VT), JJ Tompkins (Publisher – WI), Ashley Harding (Office/Sales – Gunnison), Cameron Barnard (Reporter – CO), Alex Putz (AE – MN), Cat Carroll (Reporter – WI), and Stephanie Preston (AE – AZ).

Colorado Printing Transition
In March, we made the difficult decision to outsource printing in Salida, Colorado, to the Santa Fe New Mexican. Pat Dorsey and his team run a first-class operation.

I want to personally thank Morris Christensen, Kirby Miller, Sherri Miller, Jenny Barton, and the entire team for their years of dedication.

At the same time, we transitioned The Mountain Mail to a weekly Thursday publication. Thanks to the strong work of Jeff Wolfe, Cailey McDermott, Jenny Barton, Sally Shepherd, Chad Richardson, Stephanie Wagner, Kirby Miller, and others, the transition is going well.

This move allows us to better focus on:

• revenue growth
• community journalism
• audience expansion

Acquisition Integration
We’re excited to welcome another group of employees and five community newspapers in the Chicago suburbs to OMG.

Pete Kruger and Rock Valley Publishing built a strong foundation, and we see significant opportunity ahead—particularly in digital revenue and audience growth in this market.

Looking Ahead

Our priorities are clear:

• Increase advertising goal attainment across all markets
• Launch Employee of the Month and Newspaper of the Month recognition programs
• Integrate our Philadelphia news team to strengthen our Metro presence
• Accelerate new business development and build a stronger second lane of growth

Final Thought

This business isn’t easy. It’s competitive, evolving, and requires constant adaptation.

But it matters.

Every day, across our markets, our teams are producing journalism that informs communities, supports local businesses, and keeps people connected.

Strong local journalism still has value—and we’re building a company that proves it.

Thank you to everyone across O’Rourke Media Group for your hard work, commitment, and belief in what we’re building.

— Jim O’Rourke