By Chris C. Nelson, Owner, The Osage Oracle
Change can happen fast — sometimes in a single month.
For those who know me, my love for media started early. As a kid, I’d grab a camera and photograph storms rolling into town. I spent afternoons walking through my hometown newspaper office, tagging along with my grandma and aunts who worked there. I was fascinated by every part of it — the press, the pagination, the smell of ink, the storytelling. By high school, I was making my own commercials and dreaming about a future in media.
That dream first took shape through weather. My curiosity about storms led me into broadcast meteorology, where I worked for television stations across both the Midwest and the West Coast. From my first internship to my final forecast, I loved informing and connecting with audiences — even when it meant standing in front of a camera during the toughest weather days. It takes a special kind of person to do that work — someone with passion, patience, and purpose.
But as the years went on, I wanted to shape the direction of the media I was part of. I wanted to create something rooted in community and driven by connection. On June 24, 2020, I left television news for good. I didn’t yet know what came next, only that I wanted to work for myself, make a difference, and continue telling meaningful stories.
That next chapter began right here, in Osage. Through Nelson Media Company, I started building partnerships with the Osage Community School District, Mitchell County Regional Health Center, and several Main Street businesses. Even while living in Rochester at the time, I knew Mitchell County was where I wanted to plant roots.
Over the years, Nelson Media Company grew from a small video outfit into a regional media organization serving schools, nonprofits, and businesses — locally and nationally. Along the way, my appreciation for community journalism never faded. In 2022, I purchased my hometown newspaper in Denmark, Wisconsin. That one decision set the stage for something much larger.
Today, our company owns seven newspapers across the Midwest — including The Osage Oracle. Each community has its own heartbeat, but the mission is the same: keep local journalism alive.
For years, I had my eye on the Mitchell County Press News. I knew its history and its struggles. Like many weeklies owned by large media corporations, it had lost some of its local voice — not out of neglect, but because the model no longer fit small-town realities. I reached out multiple times to buy it, but never found the right connection.
Then, a few weeks ago, longtime editor Jim Cross reached out to tell me the Press was closing. That news hit hard. A paper that had served Mitchell County for more than 150 years was about to go silent. I knew immediately: we had to do something.
After persistent calls and some good fortune, we reached the right people. Our team at Nelson Media Company made it official — we purchased the paper, reimagined it, and gave it a new name: The Osage Oracle. The name reflects what we want this paper to be — a trusted voice for Osage and Mitchell County, rooted in wisdom, storytelling, and truth.
In just a few short weeks, I’ve been reminded why this work matters. Dozens of residents have stopped me to share story ideas, memories, and words of encouragement. They’ve reminded me that every thriving town starts with strong schools, local businesses, and engaged citizens — all connected by shared stories.
That’s why I bought this newspaper. To make sure those stories — your stories — are told again. To rebuild a paper that belongs to this community, not to a distant company.
We’re committed to doing that with integrity, pride, and heart. That’s the power of local media. And that’s the power of loving where you live.
Thank you to everyone who has welcomed and supported us in this journey. Together, we can write the next great chapter of The Osage Oracle — one that honors its past and looks boldly toward its future.
— Chris Nelson
Owner, The Osage Oracle