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Editor's note: This article published in The Ogle County Life on July 29, 2024.
ROCHELLE
Carpenter Media Group (CMG) and News Media Corporation (NMC) announced today plans for CMG to manage, and with an option to acquire, NMC.
Illinois publications — Rochelle News-Leader, Ogle County Life, Mendota Reporter and Amboy News are all owned by News Media Corporation, and are now part of the management agreement with Carpenter Media Group.
Longtime NMC leaders J.J. Tompkins and Billy McMacken will assume leadership roles with CMG, and the transition will begin immediately.
News Media Corporation was founded in 1975 by John C. Tompkins. John began his career as a paperboy at The Hammond Times, where his father was the publisher. Eager to learn, he continued to work his way through every department at The Times with Howard Publications. At the age of twenty-one, Tompkins purchased his first newspaper, The Rochelle News-Leader, in rural Illinois.
Under John Tompkins' leadership, News Media grew to over seventy publications across ten states. NMC serves communities, of roughly 5,000-50,000 population, in isolated rural trade centers, focusing mainly on weekly newspapers. It has always been News Media's top priority to provide quality local journalism to the unique communities it serves. NMC currently has twenty-five publications located in Illinois, South Dakota, Wyoming, Nebraska, and Arizona.
"We have worked with JJ and his father, John, over the years. We have a long friendship and deep respect for the company they built and its exceptional team of community media professionals," said CMG Chairman Todd Carpenter. "We look forward to building on the foundations put down by John and others as we develop the products, people and communities served."
"This is a unique opportunity to partner with Todd Carpenter and CMG," JJ Tompkins said. "The Tompkins family has always deeply respected Todd and has a friendship spanning multiple generations and family companies. We have a unique history and friendship, which began with my father many years ago, and will continue into the future and for the next phase of News Media Corporation."
"We are thrilled about this partnership with Carpenter Media Group and its potential for the future success of our family's legacy and the communities we serve. As a company deeply rooted in people, we are confident that this partnership will uphold our values and lead us to a bright future," Tompkins added.
CMG owns and manages over 200 community and metro media titles in the U.S. and Canada and is dedicated to preserving and building community journalism and marketing services to develop and improve each community served.
NMC and the Tompkins family was represented by John Cribb of Cribb, Cope & Potts. CCP is a leading merger and acquisition firm with offices in Montana, California and Arkansas.
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: March 24, 2025 Contact Information: Ride Illinois Dave Simmons, executive director (630) 216-9282 dave@rideillinois.org
Illinois Bike & Walk Summit coming to Springfield
Creating Connected Livable Thriving communities: Illinois Bike & Walk Summit Fosters Learning and Lobbying Among Advocates and Practitioners
Ride Illinois and its partner organizations are pleased to announce the 2025 Illinois Bike & Walk Summit. Three hundred advocates, professionals, and public officials will gather in Springfield (May 7-8, 2025) for an important conference to help shape the future of biking and walking across the state. The conference will take place over two days in Springfield. Day One - May 7 ● A welcome from Springfield Mayor Misty Buscher ● Breakout sessions with topics including: ○ Completing the Great American Rail Trail ○ Developing Low-Stress Bike Networks ○ Bike/walk legislation at the state and federal level: 2025 and beyond ● Keynote Speaker: Tom Flood ○ A bold and visionary advocate who uses striking design and messaging to challenge car-centric culture, and a champion spokesman of safer streets for all. ○ Flood's Presentation Topic: Reframing Road Safety. This presentation will highlight his work and its importance in challenging the narrative around active transportation and road safety.
Day Two - May 8 ● Lobby Day ● Workshops focused on: ○ Advocacy training ○ Trail development ○ Best practices for the planning, design, and incorporation of complete streets into transportation projects. ○ CM and PDH credits available. Dave Simmons, executive director of Ride Illinois, emphasized the new format of lobbying and advocacy: “It’s important that elected officials hear from their constituents. Lobby Day is an opportunity for Illinois residents to voice their concerns related to biking and walking in their community.” The legislative goals of Lobby Day include advocating for bills that will increase safety for pedestrians and bicyclists. Springfield Mayor Misty Buscher shared, “I am honored to greet attendees to the 2025 Illinois Bike & Walk Summit. I look forward to the summit and also look forward to making Springfield a more bike/walk friendly community.” With a strong foundation built on the educational and empowering sessions of day one, the day of lobbying will bring a buzz to Springfield with the hope of creating safer, more accessible active transportation options for all ages and backgrounds. The end goal being that active transportation becomes a viable and welcoming choice for everyone. Conference Details ● Illinois Bike & Walk Summit to convene in Springfield, May 7-8 with a focus on creating connected, livable, thriving communities. ● Highlights of the event include: ○ Keynote speaker Tom Flood ○ Inaugural lobby day ○ Breakout sessions ○ Workshops ○ Networking opportunities ● The 2025 Illinois Bike & Walk Summit will take place at the Wyndham Springfield City Center, conveniently located in the heart of Illinois’ state capital. ● Registration for the conference starts at the affordable price of $20! ● For more information and to register for this event, visit IllinoisBikeWalkSummit.org.
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