Independent Newsmedia, Inc., USA, continues to expand its footprint in the Phoenix Metro market.
The Arizona group, home of the Phoenix Daily Independent at YourValley.net, and the Fountain Hills Times Independent at FHTimes.com acquired EG Publishings' four community newspapers The Upper Westsider, Scottsdale North News, North Tatum Times and Paradise Valley View.
INI President & CEO Charlene Bisson, who grew up in Arizona, believes the business and community news publications are a good fit for INI because they are in ZIP Codes that the company has not served yet. Also, she continues to have a strong business relationship with former owners Natasha and Brian Beal.
"The Beals are well-known in the North Phoenix market," Bisson said. "They have been excellent business associates and we look forward to a working relationship in years to come with them."
The Beals will continue to publish Epic Kids as well as the Good Deeds Guide, a nonprofit guide that EG Publishing distributes each March and November.
Multimedia Advertising Consultants Kris Marler and Jim Bounds joined the INI family as well as graphic designers Erica Odello and Shannon Carrillo.
"I believe this is an excellent opportunity for my past, present, and future clients and am excited to be a part of their growth. I look forward to joining forces with Independent Newsmedia," Marler said.
Bisson noted the Independent is committed to expanding throughout the Phoenix market, so there are no news deserts in our Arizona cities and towns.
"We have ambitious plans in 2025, and we're blessed to have great people at INI to excute the plans," she added.
Independent Newsmedia has been publishing in Arizona since 1970.
The company opened two newspapers during the pandemic – Florence and Mesa – and expanded its Scottsdale circulation October 2022. The Arizona group launched the Tempe Independent in April 2022, then acquired JG Media National’s Phoenix operations, which included Community Impact of Chandler, Gilbert and Tempe in July 2022. In October 2024, it acquired Tempe's longest circulating newspaper the Wrangler News.
Independent Newsmedia owns Valley Newspapers, a state-of-the-art commercial printing plant that is located near Deer Valley Airport. The company also publishes community newspapers in Delaware, the Eastern Shore of Maryland and Florida and owns a press in Delaware.
The company is owned by a nonprofit journalistic trust designed to maintain independence. The organization has no owners or shareholders, no dividends are paid, and all after-tax profits are reinvested in its mission of impartial community journalism.
