Former NNBW owner Swift Communications sells to Ogden Newspapers

Screenshot of the cover of the Nov. 26 print edition of the Tahoe Daily Tribune, based in South Lake Tahoe.

Screenshot of the cover of the Nov. 26 print edition of the Tahoe Daily Tribune, based in South Lake Tahoe.

NNBW staff report

Thursday, December 2, 2021

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Swift Communications — the parent company of the Sierra Sun and Tahoe Daily Tribune newspapers in Truckee-Tahoe and former owners of the Northern Nevada Business Weekly in Reno — is selling its local media and publishing businesses to West Virginia-based Ogden Newspapers, the companies announced Tuesday morning.

Ogden Newspapers is a fifth-generation, family-owned and operated newspaper company founded in 1890 by H.C. Ogden. Based in Carson City, the second- and third-generation, family-owned Swift Communications was founded in 1975 by Philip Swift.

According to the Nov. 30 announcement, the deal is scheduled to close Dec. 31.

Financial terms were not disclosed.

“The publications, communities and most of all the great people who have been a part of our company since its founding in 1975 will be very much missed,” Bill Waters, CEO and chairman of the Board of Swift Communications, said in a press release. “We know the time has come to pass the baton of stewardship to new owners who can carry forward the important mission.”

Swift Communications for years owned the NNBW, as well as the Nevada Appeal, The Record-Courier and Lahontan Valley News, prior to selling the publications in August 2019 to Seattle-based Pacific Publishing Company, which operates them under its Nevada News Group division. A few months later, Swift sold the Greeley Tribune in Greeley, Colorado, to MediaNews Group in March 2020.

Aside from news publications, Swift currently operates two press facilities in Carson City and Gypsum, Colorado, both of which will be included in the sale, according to the Nov. 30 release. The press in Carson City prints most of Northern Nevada’s publications, including the NNBW, Nevada Appeal and Reno Gazette Journal.

“We also are excited for the opportunity to work with and serve the businesses in these markets to help them continue to get their message in front of customers,” Robert Nutting, CEO of Ogden Newspapers and The Nutting Company, said in a statement. “Our company’s goal is to be a positive force in the communities we serve — celebrating each market’s unique strengths while also working to provide realistic solutions to areas of concern.

“We believe that strong, responsible and connected local newspapers are critically important to building and supporting strong communities now more than ever.”

Ogden will continue to operate existing Swift publications under the name Swift Communications, according to the announcement. After the close date, Swift will change its name to Questor Corp. Acres USA and Breaking Ground Institute will be part of Questor along with a portfolio of commercial and residential real estate properties in various states.

With the acquisition, Ogden Newspapers will publish 54 daily newspapers and a number of weekly newspapers and magazines in 18 states. The publications included in the sale are as follows:

  • Sierra Sun, Truckee, California
  • Tahoe Daily Tribune, South Lake Tahoe, California
  • The Union, Grass Valley, California
  • Craig Press, Craig, Colorado
  • Eagle Valley Enterprise, Eagle, Colorado
  • Glenwood Springs Post Independent, Glenwood Springs, Colorado
  • Snowmass Sun, Snowmass, Colorado
  • Sky-Hi News, Grand County, Colorado
  • Steamboat Pilot & Today, Steamboat Springs, Colorado
  • Summit Daily News, Frisco, Colorado
  • The Aspen Times, Aspen, Colorado
  • The Citizen Telegram, Rifle, Colorado
  • Vail Daily, Vail, Colorado
  • The Fencepost, Greeley, Colorado
  • Backyard Poultry Magazine, Greeley, Colorado
  • Countryside & Small Stock Journal, Greeley, Colorado
  • Goat Journal, Greeley, Colorado
  • The Park Record, Park City, Utah
  • Tri-State Livestock News, Belle Fourche, South Dakota
  • Farmer & Rancher Exchange, Belle Fourche, South Dakota

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