Hearst acquires Austin magazines, launches new media unit

Hearst Newspapers, owner of the San Antonio Express-News, is continuing its expansion into Austin with the acquisition of two magazines and associated websites.

The company, which earlier this year launched Austin Daily, a newsletter and online product reporting on Austin’s culture and politics, has acquired Austin Monthly and Austin Home magazines from Open Sky Media. Terms were not disclosed.

All three brands will operate as Hearst Texas Austin Media, a new organization created for the company’s Austin push.

“With a total staff of 13, HTA Media will provide local journalism ranging from in-depth explainers on weather to traditional beat reporting on growth, infrastructure and development to features coverage celebrating the culture, food, events and unique Texas architecture of Austin,” Express-News Publisher Mark Medici said.

The new unit is overseen by Randi Stevenson, who had been executive producer of ExpressNews.com, the newspaper’s subscriber website. Stevenson will report to Medici as general manager of Hearst Texas Austin Media.

Medici said that more than 15% of Express-News digital traffic now originates from readers in Austin, and nearly 30% of its total traffic is from readers in the Interstate 35 corridor between San Antonio and Austin. A desire to continue building its audience and advertising revenue in the fast-growing region is a chief driver of Hearst’s Austin expansion.

“On the advertising side, we are experiencing a marked increase in digital ad revenue from New Braunfels, San Marcos and Austin,” Medici said. “The opportunity to increase our audience reach and advertising revenue by acquiring a storied lifestyle journalism brand in Austin Monthly was too good to pass up.”

The magazine, which was founded in 1992, has gained a loyal following for its coverage of the city’s culture, neighborhoods and lifestyle. Austin Home, which was founded more recently, puts its focus on residential real estate in Austin and the Hill Country.

As general manager of the new unit, Stevenson has responsibility for editorial content, sales, strategy and operations of the company’s Austin brands and has relocated to Austin from San Antonio. She joined the Express-News in 2019 from the Chicago Tribune.

Stevenson is assisted in her new role by Kate Weber, the Express-News’ chief revenue officer; Marc Duvoisin, the paper’s editor-in-chief; and Thomas Nork, director of operations and distribution.

The magazine acquisitions are Hearst’s second and third from Open Sky in recent months. In December, the company purchased San Antonio Magazine, which is being operated by the Express-News. The three magazines and Austin Daily join existing Express-News brands: the San Antonio Express-News, ExpressNews.com and MYSA.com, a free, advertising-supported website.