The landscape of local news in south-central Iowa is getting a fresh update! Effective May 1, 2026, J. Louis “Louie” Mullen—through his company Harlan Publishing, LLC—officially acquired Creston Publishing Company (CPC) from Shaw Media.
This transaction marks a significant changing of the guard for several beloved local publications, ensuring that community-focused journalism remains in strong, capable hands.
What’s Changing Hands? The acquisition brings a robust portfolio of south-central and southwest Iowa publications under Mullen’s umbrella. The newly acquired titles include:
- The Creston News Advertiser (A daily online and twice-weekly print publication serving a seven-county region)
- Osceola Sentinel-Tribune (Serving Clarke County)
- The Weekly (A total-market shopper)
- Adair County Free Press
- The Fontanelle Observer
A Strategic Shift for Shaw Media For Shaw Media, this sale represents a heartfelt farewell to the Hawkeye State. The company, which is based in Dixon, Illinois, and ranks as the third oldest continuously owned and operated family newspaper company in the U.S., has deep roots in Iowa. In fact, they have owned the Creston News Advertiser since 1946!
However, as Shaw Media looks to the future, they are sharpening their strategic focus on their core markets in Illinois, where they operate a massive multi-platform media portfolio spanning print, digital, and radio.
“With our business expanding elsewhere we wanted to ensure a great future for our products in the Creston region,” said Don T. Bricker, Chief Administrative Officer at Shaw Media. “We believe Louie Mullen and his commitment to journalism and business in local communities will be a great fit.”
(Note: Dirks, Van Essen & April, a media merger and acquisition firm based in Santa Fe, New Mexico, represented Shaw Media in the transaction.)
Who is Louie Mullen? If you follow the local newspaper industry, Louie Mullen is a familiar name. Coming from a second-generation newspaper family, Mullen is deeply invested in the survival and success of local news. He currently owns more than 40 newspapers across seven states and serves on the board of the National Newspaper Association.
With his extensive background, the CPC publications are poised for an exciting future under Harlan Publishing, LLC.
“I’d like to thank Shaw Media and Don Bricker, in particular for their stewardship of local journalism in Iowa,” Mullen shared regarding the acquisition. “They have been a great leader in continuing the legacy of our industry. I look forward to the new challenges and the future as we move forward.”
Looking Ahead As the media landscape continues to evolve, keeping local journalism alive and thriving is more important than ever. With Shaw Media passing the baton to a dedicated newspaper veteran like Louie Mullen, south-central Iowa residents can look forward to continued coverage of the stories, people, and events that matter most to their communities.
