Hoskins Announces Additional Purchases

By Pamela Rensing

Better Newspapers, Inc.

Greg Hoskins, publisher of Better Newspapers, Inc., is proud to announce the acquisition of two Illinois newspapers: The Breeze Courier and The Shopping Spree, both located in Taylorville, Illinois.

Based in Mascoutah, Illinois, Better Newspapers, Inc. is a family-owned company now operating  26 publications in Illinois and Missouri. The Breeze Courier is the first daily newspaper in the Better Newspapers, Inc. group.

“This is an exciting time for us,” Hoskins stated.  “My staff and I are looking forward to the challenges  and, more importantly, meeting the needs of the community.”

Hoskins bought his first group of newspapers in Mascoutah when he formed Better Newspapers, Inc. on May 1, 1991, and the newspapers included: the Mascoutah Herald, Clinton County News, Fairview Heights Tribune, and Scott Flier (which serves Scott Air Force Base).

Since that time, Hoskins has purchased Altamont News, Arthur Graphic Clarion, Record-Herald News in Arthur, Bond and Fayette County Shopper, The Shoppers Review in Highland, The Nashville News, The Troy Times-Tribune, The Journal and the Tri-County Journal both in Tuscola, The Leader Union in Vandalia, Southern Champaign County Today in Villa Grove, Illinois and the Illinois Business Journal (a monthly business publication).

Missouri publications include: Wayne County Journal-Banner and Reynolds County Courier both in Piedmont, Ste. Genevieve Herald, Ozark Horse Trader in West Plains, the Mountain Echo and Mountain Echo Extra in Ironton, and the Douglas County Herald in Ava.

In 2012, Hoskins expanded his corporation by building a regional press plant in Altamont, Illinois.  This plant not only prints publications owned by Better Newspapers but also a variety of other newspapers in the area.