Michigan Independent Media Group acquires Tribune Recorder Leader, reuniting historic Thumb Area newspapers

Expositor Staff

SANDUSKY — Michigan Independent Media Group, or MIMG, announced today the acquisition of the Tribune Recorder Leader in Sandusky, reuniting two newspapers whose histories have been intertwined for nearly seven decades.

The acquisition marks the fifth newspaper owned by Michigan Independent Media Group and brings the Tribune Recorder Leader and the Yale Expositor back under common ownership for the first time in decades.

The connection between the two publications dates back to the late 1950s, when publisher Bill Irving owned both newspapers. After a devastating fire destroyed the Sandusky Republican Tribune building in 1958, the newspaper continued publishing from Yale while Sandusky rebuilt.

“For us, this isn’t simply another newspaper acquisition,” said Lonnie Scott, CEO of Buried Lede Media. “It’s an opportunity to reunite two newspapers with a remarkable shared history. When the Tribune’s building burned, the Yale Expositor helped keep it alive. Today, we’re honored to bring these publications back under the same umbrella and continue the legacy of serving the community with strong local journalism.”

The acquisition continues Michigan Independent Media Group’s investment in local journalism across the state. Through its operating company, Buried Lede Media, MIMG now publishes the Tribune Recorder Leader, Yale Expositor, Tri-City Times, City Pulse, and the Hamtramck Review. In addition, MIMG recently partnered with Civic Media to acquire five radio stations serving communities across Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, expanding its commitment to delivering trusted local news across print, digital, and broadcast platforms.

Since acquiring its first newspaper in 2025, Buried Lede Media has invested heavily in modernizing local news operations while preserving the community-focused reporting readers expect. Recent initiatives include launching new websites, expanding digital newsletters, implementing a modern content management system across its publications, growing newsroom staffing, and increasing local reporting capacity through partnerships such as Report for America.

The Tribune Recorder Leader will continue serving Sandusky and the surrounding communities while benefiting from shared technology, operational support, and collaboration across the Buried Lede Media network.

“Our philosophy has always been that strong local newspapers create stronger communities,” Scott said. “We’re not interested in cutting our way to survival. We’re investing in journalism, in technology, and most importantly, in the communities our newspapers serve.”