Ian Johanson, former associate publisher, along with his wife and attorney Christa Johanson, purchased Wisconsin Newspress Inc., from former publishers Barry and Christie Johanson, Ian’s parents, effective Jan. 1, 2026.
A story about the sale appeared in a recent issue of The Review. According to the story:
The family-owned business publishes The Review, The Sheboygan Falls News, The Sheboygan Beacon, The Xtra, and The Plymouth Review Current. Ian, 55, will assume the title of publisher while maintaining his responsibilities as managing editor of the papers.
Robert Johanson, Barry’s father, purchased The Review in 1963, and ran the paper with his wife Margaret until 1985. Barry started working for the paper in 1969; soon after, his wife Christie joined them. Subsequently, Barry and Christie purchased and operated the business from 1985-2025.
“Christa and I are enthusiastic and proud to continue the Johanson family’s stewardship of our community’s newspapers,” Ian said. “While someone has to have financial and legal responsibility for a newspaper, I hope people in some sense think of their local newspaper as belonging to them.
“It is, after all, your government, your schools, your work, your play, your businesses and your organizations that we report on,” Ian continued, “and it is only with the community’s appreciation, involvement, and support that these community papers continue not just to survive, but thrive.
“The cities, villages and towns of Sheboygan County continue to grow in strength and vibrancy, and we are grateful for the opportunity and challenge for these papers to reflect that in every issue,” Ian said.
Ian has been involved with every aspect of the business since starting full time in 1997, initially as data analyst. He oversaw the installation of the paper’s full-color press unit in 2000, eventually learning to operate the 6-unit press line when filling in as pressman. Over the years, the company printed numerous small newspapers for other publishers, including ones for Russian, Spanish, Welsh, Mohican and county school readers.
Ian also oversaw the ending of printing operations at the paper’s facility at 113 E. Mill St. Plymouth in 2017. The papers are now printed on state-of-the-art presses in Janesville by Adams MultiMedia.
Ian adopted the role of managing editor in 2018, overseeing the full and part-time reporting staff as well as writing for the paper, specializing in crime and legal reporting.
Ian is a graduate of UW-Madison with a bachelor’s degree in philosophy and will continue to oversee the day-to-day operations of Wisconsin Newspress Inc. Christa has a bachelor’s degree from UW-Milwaukee in health sciences, and an MBA and J.D. from The Ohio State University. She will continue her law practice in Sheboygan while also serving in a supporting role as co-owner of the business with Ian. Both will continue to provide their insights and perspectives gained from 56 years of commitment to community journalism at The Review.
Established in 1895, The Review is Plymouth’s oldest continuously operating business, and the legal newspaper of record for Sheboygan County and many of the county’s school districts, cities, villages and townships.
