Lee Enterprises buys Great Falls Tribune in Montana expansion

What's the deal? Lee EnterprisesDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom → has acquired the Great Falls TribuneDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom →, a Montana newspaper, in a deal announced in September 2026. Terms were not disclosed.

What's the endgame? The purchase deepens Lee's footprint in Montana journalism. The company said the move magnifies its "ability to serve readers" across the region, part of a wider acquisition of four newspapers spanning Montana and South Dakota.

Why now? Local newspapers across the US have faced falling print revenue and shrinking newsrooms. Consolidation under larger operators has become a common route to keep regional titles running.

The signal: Lee's latest buy underscores the continued rollup of local US papers under a handful of chains. For Montana readers, ownership shifts to a larger group; for the industry, it is another step in a long consolidation trend.

Read more: billingsgazette.com