Hoffmann adds to media holdings with purchase of Colorado newspaper

The Hoffmann Family of Cos. has reached an agreement to buy a Colorado newspaper company as it continues to expand its media empire.

The latest purchase is the Telluride Daily Planet, its sister publication The Norwood Post and lifestyle titles Telluride Style and Shelter Magazine.

The sale is expected to close Sept. 12. Terms of the agreement have not been disclosed. When the sale is complete, the Daily Planet will return to its “historic name,” the Telluride Times.

The Hoffmann Family of Cos., which is based in Naples, Chicago and St. Louis, bought the paper through its Hoffmann Media Group.

The company says the paper will continues to operate under its current local leadership and that it will “invest in enhanced digital capabilities and expanded local coverage, ensuring the publication remains a trusted source of news for generations to come.”

The Telluride Daily Planet was founded in 1898 as the Telluride Times. According to its website, it publishes three days a week and reaches 60,000 readers in print and online weekly. In addition to the Colorado city, it is distributed in Mountain Village, Ridgway, Norwood, Rico and other areas of San Miguel and Ouray counties.

Hoffmann, in a statement, says: “Renowned for its in-depth community reporting, coverage of local government, and dedication to preserving the unique voice and culture of the mountain town, the publication holds a special place in the region’s media landscape.”

The purchase is just the latest deal for a company that first broke into media in 2022. Since then, it has bought 14 media companies covering 30 markets including in Michigan, California and Florida. Late last year the company bought a 5% share of DallasNews Corp., the parent of The Dallas Morning News.

It is also one of the top shareholders in Davenport, Iowa-based Lee Enterprises, which owns The St. Louis Post-Dispatch, The Richmond Times-Dispatch and the Buffalo News, among other publications, including 350 weekly and specialty publications. Hoffmann is trying to buy the newspaper chain outright.

Prior to buying the Telluride Daily Planet, the company, in June, bought The Missourian in Washington, Missouri, company founders David and Jeri Hoffmann’s hometown newspaper.