With Addition of Ellsworth American, Maine Entrepreneur Will Now Own 19 Weeklies

Maine Public | By Fred Bever

Published July 25, 2018 at 3:13 PM EDT

Maine's media magnate can put two more notches on his belt, with the purchase of the Ellsworth American and the Mt. Desert Islander newspapers.

These additions will bring Reade Brower's local news stable to a total of 25 Maine newspapers, including the Portland Press Herald.

Alan Baker, the 88-year-old owner of the two Hancock County weeklies, says multiple news presses in multiple communities can't stay viable in the age of internet advertising and publishing.

"So you will continue to see, I believe, intelligent consolidation,” he says.

Baker says Brower is no William Randolph Hearst, and has a deserved reputation for keeping his hands off newsrooms' daily operations.

Brower could not be reached for comment.

Tags

Maine Reade Brower

Fred Bever

A Columbia University graduate, Fred began his journalism career as a print reporter in Vermont, then came to Maine Public in 2001 as its political reporter, as well as serving as a host for a variety of Maine Public Radio and Maine Public Television programs. Fred later went on to become news director for New England Public Radio in Western Massachusetts and worked as a freelancer for National Public Radio and a number of regional public radio stations, including WBUR in Boston and NHPR in New Hampshire.

See stories by Fred Bever