Forum Communications to Acquire The Fergus Falls Daily Journal

The Fergus Falls Daily Journal building. (Dave Bishop, KBRF News)

Fergus Falls, MN – The Fergus Falls Daily Journal and Wahpeton Daily News will soon be under new ownership.

Forum Communications Company announced today (Wednesday, January 14) it has reached an agreement to acquire a portfolio of six Midwest newspapers and related assets from Wick Communications. The newspapers included in the transaction are the Sidney (MT) Herald, Williston (ND) Herald, Pierre (SD) Capital Journal, Madison (SD) Daily Leader, Fergus Falls (MN) Daily Journal, Wahpeton (ND) Daily News, and Hankinson (ND) News Monitor.

“We’re excited about the future of these community publications and the talented employees who work hard every day to produce local journalism and advertising for communities in the Upper Midwest,” said Josh O’Connor, CEO of Wick Communications. “Forum Communications will be a fantastic steward of these publications, as they fit perfectly into their existing local footprint of news coverage throughout the Upper Midwest.”

“These publications fit perfectly within our existing footprint of local news coverage and will allow us to continue expanding our impact throughout the Upper Midwest region,” said Bill Marcil, Jr., president and CEO of Forum Communications. “With the acquisition of these six news titles, Forum Communications will secure its place as the largest news-gathering organization in the Upper Midwest.”

Dirks, Van Essen & April, a media merger and acquisition firm based in Santa Fe, New Mexico, is representing Wick Communications in the transaction. Terms were not disclosed.

The newspapers will continue to serve their communities with local news, information, and coverage following the ownership transition.