Hanford Sentinel sold to Canadian newspaper executives committed to local journalism

The sale, in addition to The Sentinel, includes the Santa Maria Times, The Lompoc Record, along with other local publications.

According to a press release from Lee Enterprises, the three publications have a combined average daily circulation of 7,200, and their websites reach more than 500,000 unique visitors each month.

According to the Santa Maria Times, the Santa Maria News Media Inc. is a newly formed company led by a group of Canadian newspaper executives with a stated commitment to local journalism. The new owners have newspapers throughout Canada and the United States.

California newspapers include the Bakersfield Californian, Sonora Union Democrat, Porterville Recorder, Marysville Appeal-Democrat, Imperial Valley Press, Lodi News-Sentinel, and the Antelope Valley Press.