News-Press & Gazette Company partnering with KQTV to strengthen local news coverage
ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) – St. Joseph based News-Press & Gazette Company (NPG) and Heartland Media have announced a partnership, effective today, that will combine broadcast news resources under the KQ2 Hometown News brand.
The media companies have entered into a Shared Services Agreement to strengthen local journalism in St. Joseph and across the Midland Empire. “Our goal is to be smarter about how we cover the community,” said Rall Bradley, Executive Vice President of Broadcast at NPG. “By bringing together our teams, we can deliver deeper, more consistent local coverage while ensuring that every story adds something new to the conversation.”
The combined newsroom will incorporate a beat coverage approach with reporters assigned to city government, crime and courts, general assignment and additional local forecasting.
Current KQTV Vice President and General Manager Dirk Allsbury will continue to oversee the combined broadcast team. He emphasized the shared values of integrity, community, and the importance of local news between NPG and KQ2, saying, “Together, we’re ensuring that commitment endures for the future.”
The partnership will also extend to select content sharing between KQTV and the News-Press and Gazette newspaper. NPG’s Stacey Hill will continue to lead the company’s work in print and online, and said that the partnership will include “joint reporting projects when those opportunities arise.”
The combined newsroom will begin operating out of KQTV’s offices at 4000 Faraon Street in St. Joseph, and eventually move into NPG’s headquarters at 825 Edmond Street.
NPG Chairman and Chief Executive Officer David Bradley shared his thoughts on the partnership in a special News-Press and Gazette column entitled Changing Times, which you can read here.
Click here to see KQTV’s schedule for the ABC television network.
Click here to see NPG’s schedules for the CBS, FOX, CW and Telemundo television networks.
