Local newspapers change ownership

New owners, familiar faces

Publisher purchases CC Press

By Amie Johansen

amie@charlescitypress.com

Charles City Press Owners Gene and Cathy Hall have sold the Press to Publisher Christopher Hall and his wife Kristin.

Gene Hall purchased the Press in 1987 and became the publisher. In 1988 he sold the Press — staying on as publisher — and bought it again in 2009. Now he has sold it once more to his youngest son. After being in charge for the last 29 years, handing over the business is not easy.

“It’s extremely difficult,” Gene said. “But all things have their time. This is the right thing for us as a family.”

This opportunity is not one Christopher Hall expected when he left for college.

“I did not see myself coming back,” he said. “I was going to the big cities with my master’s degree. After a couple years I decided the big city was not for me and I convinced my father to give me a job as a pressman.”

Christopher has been the publisher of the Charles City Press for the past three years, which he believes will ease the ownership transition.

“I know all the employees and they know me and my expectations,” he said.

Although the Press is staying in the Hall family, there will be challenges in taking over.

“We are honored and grateful for the opportunity to have ownership of the Charles City Press. Gene and Cathy Hall have set the bar incredibly high and we realize we have large shoes to fill,” Kristin said. “The present staff at The Press are not only dedicated and hardworking, but also ambitious, diligent, and conscientious. We are appreciative of the team that we have which encompasses so many aspects of the day-to-day operation.”

Christopher agreed that living up to these standards will be difficult, however, it is a challenge he looks forward to meeting and excelling far into the future.

“We will be around for a long time putting out a great product,” he said. “Whether that be in print or digital or podcast — however the population would like to consume the news is what the Charles City Press will provide for its readers.”

New Hampton, Nashua papers join Hallmark Integrated Media

Staff report

In a separate transaction, the senior Halls purchased the New Hampton Tribune and Nashua Reporter along with their web sites and ancillary products.

“It’s a good fit and since we owned these papers before, we know the territory.  It should give us many more opportunities to expand news and advertising for all north central Iowa. Our readers and advertisers deserve continuity and undivided attention to what is important in their lives,” Gene Hall said.

The Halls owned New Hampton previously, but sold it to Dave and Lori Stanley in 2010.  

“The Stanleys have been great stewards of the papers, expanded them and made them better. I am pleased to report that David will stay on as publisher,” Gene said.

All employees will be retained and the transition should be seamless to readers.

Gene and Cathy own the Algona Upper Des Moines, Algona Reminder, the Nashua Reporter and the New Hampton Tribune and Advertiser.