Historic mastheads such as the Quincy Herald Whig are among the 16 titles just acquired from Phillips Media Group by Carpenter Media.

The deal to acquire mastheads across Arkansas, Missouri and Illinois, also includes print facilities at Nowata Printing in Springfield, Missouri.

Dirks, Van Essen & April represented Phillips Media in the transaction, terms of which were not disclosed.

The titles acquired include the Quincy (IL) Herald Whig, Baxter (AR) Bulletin, Harrison (AR) Daily Times, Newton County (AR) Times, Big Nickel, Bolivar (MO) Herald-Free Press, Buffalo (MO) Reflex, Cedar County (MO) Republican, Christian County (MO) Headliner News, Kirksville (MO) Daily Express, the Marshfield (MO) Mail, NEMO Trader, Sedalia (MO) Democrat, Warrensburg (MO) Star-Journal, the West Plains (MO) Daily Quill, and the Hannibal (MO) Courier Post.

PMG president and chief executive Rupert Phillips said it had been a pleasure to own and operate the great publications, “Their future will be in good hands with Carpenter Media Group, a company focused on continuing the tradition of providing a quality newspaper for their local communities.”

For his part, CMG chairman Todd Carpenter said they felt fortunate to succeed Rupert Phillips and his team in these communities. To work with a group like this is a pleasure and privilege because of the quality of the company, the people and the good foundations they put down.”

Prior to chairing CMG, Carpenter was a longtime chief executive and director of Boone Newsmedia, which, including CMG’s holdings along with its own, managed 85 newspaper titles, various magazines, websites and other businesses in 12 states.

The CMG holdings were separated from BNI last year and with recent acquisitions, CMG now owns and manages over 250 titles in the US and Canada.