Osage, Iowa — October 27, 2025 — Nelson Media Company is proud to announce the acquisition of the Mitchell County Press News, securing the future of local journalism in Mitchell County and preventing the loss of another community newspaper. This purchase demonstrates Nelson Media Company’s commitment to preserving and enhancing rural news coverage across Iowa.
“For several years, this has been a newspaper I’ve been passionate about reviving,” said Chris Nelson, Owner of Nelson Media Company. “We are incredibly thankful for the strong partnership we have developed with Lee Enterprises to help make this deal happen. Together, we are ensuring that Osage and Mitchell County continue to have access to strong, reliable community journalism.”
Nelson Media Company recognizes the excellent work the Enterprise Journal has done in covering both Mitchell and Howard Counties. This important regional reporting will continue to serve the community well. The revitalized Mitchell County Press News aims to complement that coverage by providing hyper-local focus on Osage, the county seat.
“Every county seat deserves its own newspaper—one that’s rooted in the daily lives of its residents,” Nelson said. “That’s what we are bringing back to Osage.”
While Osage-centric coverage will be at the core of the newspaper’s mission, readers can still expect meaningful county-wide news—particularly major events, county government coverage, and stories affecting all residents of Mitchell County.
In the coming months, the publication will undergo a full transformation and rebranding as The Osage Oracle, celebrating Osage’s identity, tradition, and future.
The newspaper will increase storytelling around the Osage Community School District, building on Nelson Media Company’s existing digital work with the district and expanding into more newspaper features, student highlights, sports coverage, and classroom-focused reporting. City and county government coverage will remain a priority, delivered through both traditional reporting and innovative, community-focused story formats.
“Our goal is simple: ensure that Osage and Mitchell County continue to receive great, local news,” Nelson added. “This community deserves a newspaper that celebrates its successes, informs its residents, and reflects the pride of the people who call Osage home.”
Nelson Media Company will share updates as the transition to The Osage Oracle progresses.
About Nelson Media Company
Nelson Media Company is a growing Midwest media organization rooted in community journalism and digital storytelling. The company owns seven weekly newspapers, a summer collegiate baseball team in Indiana, and operates a flagship video production and marketing agency—which already partners with multiple organizations in Osage and Mitchell County and dozens more across North Iowa, Iowa, and the Midwest. Nelson Media Company is actively expanding through acquisitions and strategic news growth to fill critical gaps in local coverage and support the continued vitality of Iowa communities.
Media Contact:
Chris Nelson
Nelson Media Company
📧 cnelson@nelsonmediacompany.com
📱 507-272-5857
🌐 nelsonmediacompany.com