GREEN BAY, March 31, 2020 (Multi Media Channels) — The Wisconsin Free Press, based in Mayville, has merged with Multi Media Channels.
The Wisconsin Free Press family of publications includes the (Mayville) Dodge County Pionier, Campbellsport News, and Kewaskum Statesman.
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The Dodge County Pionier originated in 1876 to serve the German-speaking people of Dodge County. In 1891, a building was constructed to serve as home to the publication; the publication remains there to this day.
One year later, the same publishing company began The Mayville News to serve the English-speaking population. The two publications later operated out of the same building. In 1945, the Pionier was dropped due to the effects of World War II.
In 1988, Andrew and Laura Johnson purchased The Mayville News and the Horicon Reporter. During the 2008-09 recession, the two weeklies were combined to form the new Pionier.
“We kept the spelling ‘ier’ at the end of Pionier. The word is a German military term used to describe an army sapper,” recalled Andrew Johnson, a Wisconsin Newspaper Hall of Fame member and past president of the WNA and WNA Foundation boards. “These are the engineers who go out in front of the troops to figure out the best way to go. In the same way, the Pionier is out in front of the communities it serves. The long time motto of the paper that is published on the front page every week is ‘A Hometown Paper Read by Hometown Folks.’
“The history of the Campbellsport News and Kewaskum Statesman is similar to that of most 100-year-old rural weekly newspapers in Wisconsin owned by various families.”
Today, the Dodge County Pionier serves the communities of Mayville, Horicon, and Lomira. The Kewaskum Statesman serves the Kewaskum community and the counties of Washington and Fond du Lac. The Campbellsport News serves that community, as well as the county of Fond du Lac.
MMC began its work in community newspaper publishing in Denmark, Wis., in 1953. Under the leadership of founder, Frank Wood, the business expanded into other markets.
Today, the company remains in the Wood family, working with nearly 30 print publications — including 22 weeklies — and 17 digital channels that serve the central, northern, and eastern portions of the state.
“Transferring ownership of our three weekly newspapers to the Wood family this week was good for all concerned,” Andrew Johnson said. “This is a very special and unique merger of family newspapers working together not only to survive but thrive in the future. Both of our families have been in the newspaper business for two generations and realize what it is going to take to produce a quality community newspaper in print and online now and in the coming years. Our families share the same personal values: the importance of family, integrity, faith and the importance of helping those in need when possible. This is truly a win, win for both families.”
