For more than 66 years, the Parker family has owned the 14 weekly newspapers of the New Jersey Hills Media Group, which serves 50 communities in north central New Jersey. With a combined circulation of just under 100,000, it is the largest weekly newspaper group in the state.

When the current owners, Liz and Steve Parker, reached out to Grimes, McGovern & Associates to explore the possibility of sale, little did they know that an ensuing deal would be consummated that ended up creating a new non-profit entity that would eventually own and manage the group. With letters of intent now signed, the Corporation for NJ Local Media (CNJLM) will take over the operation and start a major fundraising initiative to achieve the goal of "building strong communities through journalism and civic engagement." Moreover, the two leaders of CNJLM: executive director Amanda Richardson and founding chair Nic Platt met each other as opposing candidates for a local election.

Learn more about how this transition took place and what plans are underway in converting this family-owned group to a non-profit local news entity as E&P publisher Mike Blinder interviews Richardson and Jim McDonald, senior associate for Grimes, McGovern & Associates.