Springfield News-Leader announces move of print production to Columbia, reporting will remain local

The Springfield News-Leader is moving its newspaper printing and production operation from Springfield to a sister facility in Columbia, which also produces the Columbia Daily Tribune. The News-Leader news and advertising teams will remain in Springfield and are deeply committed to serving Springfield and the Ozarks, as the News-Leader has done for more than 150 years.

“As our industry continues to evolve and transform, we are forced to make changes that allow us to be competitive in the future marketplace. This is without a doubt one of the most difficult decisions we’ve had to make to date,” said Allen Jones, upper Midwest regional president. “We must strategically invest in quality, local journalism and the digital experience we provide our readers and business partners.”

The consolidation of production operations has become increasingly common within the newspaper industry. The change in Springfield is scheduled for late March.

This move will not affect the daily publication of the News-Leader. Subscribers to the print edition will continue to receive home delivery at the usual time, and the news team will continue to be based at the newspaper’s offices on Boonville Avenue in Springfield.

The company will work to connect employees with local resources to assist with seeking new employment, and opportunities will be made available to them, if possible, at other company locations.

“The individuals who have brought color and life to the pages of the News-Leader throughout so many years are devoted and incredibly talented,” said Jones. “We are so appreciative for their many years of service and dedication.”

The anticipated last newspaper to be produced in Springfield will be on March 29, for the March 30 edition.

“We will miss the hum of the press next to our newsroom and the visceral satisfaction of seeing bundles of papers roll out of the lot,” said Amos Bridges, the News-Leader’s editor-in-chief. “But the shift in printers won’t change the content of the News-Leader our readers receive each morning or our commitment to accurate, thoughtful coverage of the Ozarks that holds local government and institutions accountable and provides insight and understanding that move our community forward.”