Nationally recognized student publication, The Daily Iowan, has acquired the Mount Vernon-Lisbon Sun and the Solon Economist, two weekly newspapers located near Iowa City. The acquisition marks the first of its kind for the Daily Iowan.
“We are excited for this opportunity and it’s a great fit for our organization,” said Daily Iowan publisher Jason Brummond, who will manage and serve as publisher of the acquired publications. “Community newspapers play an important and integral role in their communities, and we believe strongly in quality local journalism.”
The Daily Iowan is part of the Iowa City-based non-profit corporation Student Publications, Inc. of the University of Iowa. According to a press release, the recently acquired publications – previously owned by Dubuque-based Woodward Communications – will be jointly operated by UI’s School of Journalism and Mass Communication, giving student journalists experience with local reporting and the chance to contribute their own work while rubbing shoulders with veteran reporters.
“News-academic partnerships like this one are more important now than ever before as community newspapers reduce staff or close,” said Melissa Tully, professor and director of the School of Journalism and Mass Communication at the University of Iowa. “Investing in local journalism and working with nearby communities offers students a chance to produce meaningful work and gain professional experience while working alongside veteran journalists at the newspapers. I’m thrilled about the opportunity to collaborate with the Daily Iowan and the teams in Mount Vernon and Solon on this exciting venture.”
Current staff at the Sun and Economist will remain in Mount Vernon and Solon with operations continuing from the people who have been serving readers and advertisers in those communities, although The Daily Iowan’s professional staff will handle some business processes for the publications. The papers’ local editors will continue to lead the editorial direction as well.
Subscriptions will continue uninterrupted, and both will remain as weekly print publications distributed by mail on Thursdays. The Sun will retain its office in downtown Mount Vernon.
The transition of ownership will begin with the publication of the Feb. 8 editions.
