Shaw Media to Acquire Kaneland Publications

Shaw Media will acquire Kaneland Publications, Inc. from owner Ryan Wells, the two companies announced today. The deal is expected to close the first week of April.

Kaneland Publications is the publisher of the Elburn Herald, Sugar Grove Herald and other niche publications. Shaw Media owns St. Charles-based Kane County Chronicle, and newspapers, websites and niche publications in the Chicago suburbs, northern Illinois and Iowa.

Shaw Media President John Rung said that the acquisition is part of the company’s strategy to expand its network of weekly newspapers in the Chicago suburbs.

“We believe that a vibrant local weekly newspaper – combined with an aggressive local digital strategy – is the ideal way to serve certain suburban communities,” Rung said.

Wells, publisher of the Elburn Herald and Sugar Grove Herald, said he was excited to join the Shaw Media network.

"I am looking forward to joining the Shaw Media team,” Wells said. “As friendly competitors in our local market for many years, I know how much they focus on community news, and I think this will be a great fit for all of us at Kaneland Publications."

Last June, Shaw acquired weekly newspapers in the suburban communities of Oswego, Yorkville, Plano and Sandwich. In October 2012, Shaw acquired 22 suburban Chicago weekly publications from GateHouse Media.

Shaw Media also announced it will be converting the Kane County Chronicle – currently published five times per week – into three weekly publications mailed to subscribers each Thursday. The St. Charles Chronicle, Geneva Chronicle and Batavia Chronicle will debut on April 14.

With the addition of the Elburn Herald and Sugar Grove Herald, and the conversion of the Kane County Chronicle to three separate weekly publications, Shaw will publish 31 weekly newspapers in the Chicago suburbs. Rung indicated that there would be no staff reductions associated with this move. “By reducing our print frequency in Kane County, we can create a showcase edition each week in print while devoting greater resources to our digital efforts,” he said.

Subscribers of the five weekly papers will receive Kane County Magazine, mailed with their newspaper, each month. Kane County Magazine covers local lifestyle topics, including dining, fashion and the social scene.