Todd Carpenter’s Carpenter Media is to acquire the ten newspapers and three shoppers of Nebraska-based Enterprise Media.

Headquartered in Blair, Nebraska, and founded more than 150 years ago as a single weekly newspaper, EMG now is now a network of newspapers and websites reaching more than 40,000 readers across eastern Nebraska and western Iowa.

The Nebraska-based publications include The Enterprise, Pilot-Tribune, Arlington Citizen, Oakland Independent, Lyons Mirror-Sun, West Point News, and Wisner News Chronicle, while those in Iowa are Mapleton Press, Missouri Valley Times-News, and The Dunlap Reporter. The group also offers digital and full-colour printing services, graphic design and direct mail solutions.

A six-generation family-owned company led by Mark Rhoades and his son, Chris, EMG is represented by a media merger and acquisition firm Dirks, Van Essen & April

CMG chairman Carpenter (pictured) emphasised the critical role of local journalism in fostering strong, connected communities while offering solutions that empower businesses to thrive. “We are pleased to succeed the Rhoades family in responsibility for these news organisations that are vital to the people they serve,” he said.

Since separating CMG from Boone Newsmedia last year, Carpenter Media Group has grown to more than 250 publications across the US and Canada. It acquired family-owned EO Media Group – which has roots in the Pacific Northwest – in October and Texas-based M. Roberts Media in December.