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Champion Media

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Champion Media is a Media conglomerate headquartered in Mooresville, North Carolina.[1] It was founded in 2017.

History

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Champion Media was founded by Scott Champion and his son Corey Champion in 2017.[2]

According to the company's management, Champion was founded with the purpose of alleviating the decline of newspapers.[2] Specifically, by acquiring publications from large corporations. Then providing "back end support" such as accounting and human resources to the acquired papers, while leaving editorial and advertising to the paper's management.[2][3] It began by acquiring several papers from Civitas Media based in North and South Carolina.[2] That same year, they sold the Mount Airy based papers they had acquired to Adams MultiMedia. August of 2019, Avant Publications acquired the Times Leader;[4] Avant Publications is a joint partnership between Champion media and MIDTC.[5] Six years later, they acquired 4 South Dakota newspapers after the bankruptcy of News Media Corporation.[6] This was met with a largely positive response,[3] though some were concerned that Champion would make the same mistakes as NMC.[7]

In June of 2025, Champion Media paid a $102,500 settlement after a lawsuit by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, which alleged that they canceled an interview with a deaf job applicant, due to the candidate's deafness.[8]

Publications

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References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f g "WELCOME -". championcarolinas.com. Retrieved 2026-02-12.
  2. ^ a b c d Hult, John (2025-09-15). "Q&A: New owner hopes revived SD newspapers will 'continue forever,' if not always in print • South Dakota Searchlight". South Dakota Searchlight. Retrieved 2026-02-12.
  3. ^ a b c d Keene, C. J. (2025-08-20). "Champion Media buyout saves papers in Brookings, Flandreau, Redfield and Huron". SDPB. Retrieved 2026-02-12.
  4. ^ a b Halpin, James (2019-08-02). "Times Leader Newspaper Sold To North Carolina-based Media Company". AP News. Retrieved 2026-02-12.
  5. ^ "Champion Media, Coastal Bend Publishing, Shoreline Media and Avant Publications Add CuratorCrowd™ to Digital Properties". Editor and Publisher. 2021-01-04. Retrieved 2026-02-12.
  6. ^ Schultz, Ray. "South Dakota Presses On: 4 More News Media Corp. Papers Are Saved". www.mediapost.com. Retrieved 2026-02-12.
  7. ^ Heidelberger, Cory Allen (2025-08-17). "So Much for Local Control: North Carolina Publisher Snaps up Register, Three Other Shuttered SD Papers". Dakota Free Press. Retrieved 2026-02-12.
  8. ^ "Champion Media Agrees to Pay $102,500 to Employee in EEOC Disability Discrimination Suit". U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. Retrieved 2026-02-12.