Courier-Index in Marianna under new ownership effective March 12
by March 11, 2026 10:33 pm 211 views
The Courier-Index, owned by Johnson Media Group, has been sold to Helena World Chronicle, LLC, Publisher Tamara Johnson announced on Wednesday (March 11).
Johnson Media Group also publishes the Times-Herald in Forrest City.
“We are excited for the new owners to take over this publication and continue providing news that is important to residents of Marianna and all of Lee County,” said Johnson.
Instead of being distributed on Wednesday, the Courier-Index will now be published on Thursday, according to Andrew Bagley, co-owner and publisher of the Helena World.
Bagley said he and his business partner, Chuck Davis, are excited about the purchase of the Lee County newspaper. Davis and Bagley also publish the Monroe County Argus.
“Chuck and I are strong believers in the importance of community newspapers to rural communities. We look forward to getting involved in Marianna and the rest of Lee County to make sure that the news, sports and information important to the community continues to be covered in a way that only community newspapers can,” said Bagley.
“I want to thank Ashley at the Arkansas Press Association for her hard work facilitating the sale,” he continued. “I also want to thank my friends, Rob and Tamara Johnson, for their efforts to preserve the Courier-Index and entrusting its future to our company so that future generations will continue to get the first rough draft of the history of Marianna and Lee County from the Courier-Index, which had been delivering the news since 1873.”
“Tamara and Rob have been good stewards of the Courier-Index as well as with the Times-Herald in Forrest City. I am delighted that the Courier-Index will stay under local ownership. Andrew and Chuck have done a wonderful job with the community newspapers in Phillips and Monroe counties, and I know that will be the case in Lee County as well,” said APA Executive Director Ashley Kemp Wimberley.
“We have enjoyed serving Marianna and Lee County throughout the years,” said Johnson. “We wish the new owners well in this endeavor and hope for their success with this publication.”