www.TheWyoNews.net
Local newspaper acquires Cowboy State Free Press
THURSDAY, 06 OCTOBER 2011 05:17 PAUL WALLEM
http://www.basinsradio.com/basin/local/local-news/community-interest/19639-local-newspaper-purchases-cowboy-state-free-press.html
PATRIOT PUBLISHING OWNER NICK DE LAAT, ANNOUNCED TODAY THAT HIS COMPANY PURCHASED THE COWBOY STATE FREE PRESS. BRN PHOTO/ILLUSTRATION BY NATHAN KOBIELUSZ.
Patriot Publishing, L.L.C., the parent company of the Campbell County Observer, announced today that they purchased the Cowboy State Free Press, a respected online news service that reports on Wyoming state government and politics.
The acquisition means the Cowboy State Free Press will be transitioning to a new management, a new legal structure, and a promising long-term future of providing the open, transparent news that Wyoming citizens have come to depend on.
"Today we are delighted to announce," says founder Sue Wallis, "that after extensive discussion and consideration that the Cowboy State Free Press will continue with the same mission--but a new legal structure, and under the renewed enthusiasm, vision, and ambition of new leadership."
The Cowboy State Free Press was founded as a unique nonprofit model in the fall of 2009. When sufficient Wyoming based long-term financial support for the nonprofit was not obtained, the organization faced limited options.
"We are excited," said Patriot Publishing owner Nicholas De Laat, "Cowboy State Free Press has been a valuable news source for Wyoming, and will continue to be so."
The transition of ownership will take place over the next three months and be finalized on the first of January. Bill McCarthy, the current editor, will stay and continue to be based in Cheyenne. Although the Cowboy State Free Press will be evolving over the coming months, Mr. De Laat confirmed that the online news service will go in two different directions that do not exist in Wyoming today, and will grow to be a powerful media source.
“Just like when we started the Campbell County Observer, we took a direction that is not the status quo, and it worked,” says De Laat. “Now it is time to take some of Patriot Publishing’s ideas to a whole new level. We are the future.”
De Laat hopes to work with all the other media sources around the state including other newspapers, radio, and TV. “Some companies are afraid to work with someone in the same field, but with the Campbell County Observer, we have worked with many other publishing and news companies, Basin Radio [Network] being one of them. When competing companies work together, they help each other grow.”
State Representative Sue Wallis, the previous owner, is just as excited. “I am looking forward to concentrating on the ranch, my family, and on my elected position, but I also wanted the Cowboy State Free Press to continue and be successful,” she says. “Nick will take the news service to a whole new level, and will make us all proud of what we worked so hard for.”
She went on to say that “It is a good deal for the company, the employees of the Cowboy State Free Press, and for the people of Wyoming who pay close attention to state government and happenings. Nick’s innovative ideas are just what it needs, and combined with the talent of Editor-in-chief Bill McCarthy, you will start seeing something special.”
The Cowboy State Free Press will be in transition until January 1. “After that, you will see many new concepts that will be incorporated and drive the Cowboy State Free Press into the future of media," said De Laat. "Just like with our first newspaper, the Campbell County Observer, other companies will see what we are doing and start benefiting from our innovation."
De Laat says that starting in January, Wyoming will see his company publish a statewide newspaper.
“This is a completely different copy. The people of Campbell County will still be reading the Campbell County Observer that they know and that they love,” explains De Laat. “The Cowboy State Free Press will be a completely different entity, a completely different newspaper. We’re also going to ramp up the website with some very innovative ideas that has not been accomplished yet in the entire country.”
De Laat is also expanding in to television. Local residents can see his new show, Campbell County Live, on Gillette Public Access channel 31 beginning at 9:00 p.m. Thursdays. The show also features co-host Glenn Woods, host of the conservative radio talk show Bold Republic on News/Talk 1270-AM KIML that airs each weekday from 6:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. Basin Radio Network sports director Ted Ripko also has a segment on the show.
Thursday’s premier includes an interview with Wyoming House District 52 Representative Sue Wallis where they discuss, among other things, consumer’s ability to purchase raw milk from individual suppliers. During the show, Glenn Woods even tastes raw milk for the first time.
For more information on the Cowboy State Free Press, visit their website athttp://thewyonews.net. For more information on the Campbell County Observer, visit their website at http://www.campbellcountyobserver.net.
