April 2026 Notebook

Maryville Forum returns to Cobb Publishing

Phil and Chaundee Cobb reacquired the Maryville Forum and The Post from Ken Garner’s Garner Media Holdings in February. The Cobbs previously owned the Forum from 2013-2021, when they sold it to Garner and exited the newspaper industry.

Garner, who had been serving as a director on the Missouri Press Association Board, also owned the Grant City Times-Tribune in Worth County, which was shuttered during the changing of ownership. He resigned his position as a director just prior to the board’s February meeting.

Phil Cobb told readers he is excited to get back into the business that is in his blood.

“It feels good to be back in the driver’s seat,” Cobb said. “It’s been four and a half years since the paper sold and during that time, I’ve been able to fully realize that this is who I am and what I am supposed to do.”

The Times-Tribune had been printed and delivered with The Forum since Garner Media purchased The Times-Tribune from Pearl Publishing in 2022. Though the 97-year-old Times-Tribune will no longer be printed, Cobb said The Forum will continue to cover some news and sports in Worth County.

Fayette Advertiser starts countdown to closing

Justin Addison has been advertising his Fayette newspaper for sale for several years with no luck. He told readers that he is now counting down until a last planned edition on March 31, 2027.

Addison told readers that small-town economics combined with higher-than-ever costs for the newspaper industry have made it impossible for independent newspapers like his to exist.

Adding to the problem, social media has eroded interest in newspapers at all levels, despite dubious accuracy of posts, Addison said.

“Fayette will be the latest community without a newspaper after March 31, 2027,” Addison told readers. “This means that you, the citizen, must stay on top of what is happening on your own. When governments and other elected bodies run unchecked, things tend to get ugly and very expensive. If you think the spending is absurd now, just wait until there is no local journalism exposure.”

The newspaper remains listed for sale with Missouri Press’ online Marketplace and through other means. Contact information for Addison is available with the ad at www.mopress.com/marketplace/.

Associated Press closing its Kansas City office space

Last month, staffers of the Associated Press’ Kansas City bureau gathered to bid farewell to the offices in the city’s Crown Center district. Paul Stevens, a Missouri Press Foundation Board member and former AP bureau chief, shared a report of the gathering in his Connecting newsletter.

Across the street from the iconic Union Station, the offices had been AP’s home since 1984, the same year Stevens became its bureau chief. The AP’s was first established in Kansas City in 1884, and prior to its relocation 42 years ago, was housed in The Kansas City Star’s building for 60 years.

The AP’s Kansas City bureau will remain operational after the office lease ends in May, but like many other journalism organizations, the method for how it conducts business is changing. Staff will work entirely remotely and no changes to staffing levels are expected, according to an AP spokesperson.