EO Media Group to Acquire Bend (OR) Bulletin and Redmond (OR) SpokesmanBack to News

Bend, OR – July 31, 2019 – A federal bankruptcy judge in Oregon has approved the sale of the Bend (OR) Bulletin and Redmond (OR) Spokesman to EO Media Group. EO Media also acquired two other newspapers from Western Communications earlier this month, the La Grande (OR) Observer and the Baker City (OR) Herald.

Dirks, Van Essen, Murray & April, a media merger and acquisition firm based in Santa Fe, New Mexico represented Western Communications in the transaction.

The 16,700-circulation daily Bend Bulletin was founded in 1903. Its sister paper, the weekly Redmond Spokesman, was founded in 1910.

Heidi Wright, EO Media Group’s chief operating officer, said the company appreciates the opportunity to continue Oregon ownership of the Bulletin and Redmond Spokesman.

“It’s reassuring for the future of community newspapers when a small independent company like EO Media Group can prevail, even when going up against the big companies that are buying up newspapers nonstop around the country,” she said.

The Bulletin and Spokesman acquisitions bring EO Media’s total number of newspapers and journals to 14. Wright explained why the purchases make sense for the family-owned business.

“First, the vibrant economy of Central Oregon, coupled with a fresh start for the Bulletin and Redmond Spokesman, bodes well for the future of these newspapers,” she said. “Second, we believe readers in Central Oregon will support our mission of producing content that is relevant, credible and reflective of the communities we serve.”

EO Media Group is headquartered in Salem, Oregon and owns daily newspapers in Astoria and Pendleton, Oregon, weekly newspapers in Oregon and southwest Washington, as well as Capital Press, a regional agricultural publication.

This month Western Communications also sold the Brookings (OR) Curry Coastal Pilot and Crescent City (CA) Del Norte Triplicate to Country Media Inc., and the Sonora (CA) Union Democrat to Rhode Island Suburban Newspapers.