Phillips Media Group, LLC have purchased the Quincy Herald-Whig and Hannibal Courier Post. No financial details of the transaction were disclosed. However, the deal is expected to close March 1, 2021. Dirks, Van Essen & April represented Quincy Media in the deal.
The Quincy Herald-Whig, based in Quincy, Illinois, covers Northeast Missouri and West-Central Illinois. The Hannibal Courier-Post newspaper is located in Hannibal, Mo. It is Missouri’s oldest daily newspaper, serving since 1838.
Quincy Media has owned the Herald-Whig for almost 95 years. The Hannibal Courier Post was purchased in 2019.
Quincy Media until recently owned WGEM AM-FM-TV television and radio stations. They sold those to Gray Television. That deal is expected to close in Q2 or Q3 2021.
“The newspaper business is changing dramatically. That, along with our decision to leave the media business entirely is the driving force in this decision. While it was certainly a difficult decision for us, we are very pleased to sell these important newspapers to a longtime publisher such as Phillips Media. It is a great outcome for our region and for the employees who will continue on with Phillips.”
Ralph M. Oakley, president and CEO of Quincy Media
Quincy Media began as Quincy Newspapers, Inc. in 1926. That year saw the merger of The Quincy Herald and Quincy Whig-Journal. That deal brought the Oakley and Lindsay families together. Descendants continue to be involved in ownership, the company’s board or in working at the company.
