LNP Media Group

LNP Media Group is a privately held local-media organization based in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. Formerly known as Lancaster Newspapers, Inc., it publishes LNP, a daily newspaper serving Lancaster County, and operates LancasterOnline, the group’s digital news and subscription platform. The organization’s publishing lineage reaches back to The Lancaster Journal, first issued in 1794, giving its principal newspaper one of the longest continuous histories among American newspapers. The group’s portfolio includes several community newspapers in Lancaster County. In addition to LNP, these include The Lititz Record Express, The Ephrata Review, and The Elizabethtown Advocate. Its specialty titles include La Voz Lancaster, a bilingual-community-oriented publication issued every other month for Lancaster County’s Hispanic and Latino population, and Fly After 5, a bi-monthly publication focused on nightlife and entertainment. The organization has also been associated with The Caucus, a weekly investigative publication covering Pennsylvania politics. LNP’s current identity developed through the consolidation and rebranding of older Lancaster newspapers. The Intelligencer Journal traced its roots to the 1794 Lancaster Journal and became a major local daily. The Lancaster New Era, founded in 1877 as a newspaper intended to challenge Pennsylvania’s Republican political machine, later competed with the Steinman-owned papers before being acquired by the Steinman family and eventually merged into the Intelligencer Journal. The New Era published its final afternoon edition in June 2009 as declining readership and rising production costs made the separate afternoon operation less viable. The Sunday News, established in 1923 as Lancaster County’s first local Sunday newspaper, was renamed Sunday LNP in 2014. In October 2014, the organization introduced the LNP masthead and the tagline “Always Lancaster,” bringing together newsroom and publishing functions associated with the Intelligencer Journal, Lancaster New Era, and Sunday News. Historically, the Intelligencer was regarded as center-left in its editorial orientation while the New Era was more conservative. For several years after their combination, the merged publication maintained separate editorial pages, but in 2014 the organization adopted a single independent editorial stance. LancasterOnline extends the company’s reach beyond print. The site provides digital access to newspaper content, online news coverage, and a searchable archive of historical material. The reference material describes the site as attracting more than one million monthly readers, although the exact measurement period and methodology are not specified here. LNP Media Group is part of Steinman Communications, a family-controlled holding company associated with descendants of Andrew Jackson Steinman, who acquired the Intelligencer in 1866. Steinman Communications also has interests in commercial printing, contract printing and publishing, broadcasting, real estate, and energy. In April 2023, Steinman Communications announced plans to donate most of LNP Media Group’s holdings to WITF, a public broadcaster based in Harrisburg. After the acquisition, WITF’s parent organization, Pennon, announced plans to transfer LNP Media Group to Always Lancaster, a nonprofit founded by former NPR journalist David Greene. The proposed transfer was described as awaiting approval from Pennsylvania’s attorney general. The organization therefore remains a locally focused news publisher whose ownership and nonprofit structure were undergoing significant transition.

LNP Media Group’s publishing history begins with The Lancaster Journal, first published in 1794 in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. The title later became the Intelligencer Journal, which developed into the region’s principal morning newspaper and remained notable for retaining its name over a long period. The newspaper was connected to the Steinman family after Andrew Jackson Steinman purchased the Intelligencer in 1866. Descendants of Steinman later controlled the broader communications group that became the parent of Lancaster Newspapers and, subsequently, LNP Media Group. A second important strand of the company’s history is the Lancaster New Era. Founded in 1877, the New Era was established in opposition to the dominant Republican political organization in Pennsylvania. In 1920 it merged with The Examiner, another Republican newspaper. Paul Block Sr. acquired the resulting New Era-Examiner in 1923 and attempted to position it against the Steinman-owned Intelligencer and New Journal. That effort did not succeed; in 1928 Block sold the paper to the Steinmans. The Steinman organization subsequently consolidated the Intelligencer and Journal into the morning Intelligencer Journal while continuing to publish the New Era as an afternoon newspaper. The New Era became a significant Pennsylvania afternoon newspaper. Its Saturday edition was discontinued in 2007, with related material moved into the Saturday morning edition of the Intelligencer Journal. By 2009, the New Era had the largest circulation among Pennsylvania afternoon newspapers, according to the reference material. Its journalism received repeated Pennsylvania NewsMedia Association Sweepstakes Awards. Coverage of the 2006 West Nickel Mines School shooting in eastern Lancaster County received multiple state and national honors, including the Pulliam National Journalism Writing Award and the Nieman Foundation’s Taylor Award for Fairness. On June 26, 2009, Lancaster Newspapers published the last afternoon edition of the New Era. The company cited the combination of increasing costs and declining readership. The New Era’s columns, comics, and syndicated material were incorporated into the Intelligencer Journal. This marked a major step in the company’s transition from separately operated print titles toward a more consolidated newspaper model. The Sunday News, founded in 1923 as Lancaster County’s first local Sunday newspaper, became another important part of the group. In October 2014 it was renamed Sunday LNP. That same period brought a broader reorganization of the company’s newspaper identity. Under the LNP masthead, first published in October 2014, the organization brought together journalists and content associated with the Intelligencer Journal, New Era, and Sunday News. The new identity used the tagline “Always Lancaster.” The editorial character of the group also changed during this consolidation. The Intelligencer had traditionally been viewed as center-left, while the New Era had a more reliably conservative editorial position. For five years after the papers were merged, the combined publication maintained two distinct editorial pages. In 2014, Lancaster Newspapers moved to a single editorial page and described its stance as independent. Alongside the main daily newspaper, the organization expanded a portfolio of local and specialty publications. The Lititz Record Express, The Ephrata Review, and The Elizabethtown Advocate serve individual communities within Lancaster County. La Voz Lancaster, formerly La Voz Hispana, is a bi-monthly publication focused on the county’s Hispanic community. Fly After 5, formerly Fly Magazine, is a bi-monthly title covering nightlife and entertainment. The Caucus has operated as a weekly watchdog publication focused on Pennsylvania politics. The company’s digital strategy is centered on LancasterOnline. The website provides online news coverage, access to the daily newspaper’s features, digital subscription services, and a searchable archive of historical newspaper content. This digital offering gives the organization a way to distribute local reporting beyond the printed newspaper and preserve access to its long publishing record. LNP Media Group remains part of Steinman Communications, whose other holdings have included Intelligencer Printing, Susquehanna Printing, Delmarva Broadcasting Company, real estate investments in Lancaster City, and energy interests in southern Virginia. In April 2023, Steinman Communications announced plans to donate most of LNP Media Group’s holdings to WITF, the Harrisburg public broadcaster. Following the acquisition, Pennon, the parent organization formed by WITF, announced plans to donate LNP Media Group to Always Lancaster, a nonprofit created by former NPR journalist David Greene. Pennon stated that operating the newspaper brought unanticipated financial challenges. The proposed transfer was reported as subject to approval by Pennsylvania’s attorney general, leaving the organization’s long-term ownership structure in transition.

1. 2025Pennon proposes transfer to Always Lancaster

   Pennon announced plans to donate LNP Media Group to Always Lancaster, subject to regulatory approval.

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2. 2023Planned donation to WITF is announced

   Steinman Communications announced plans to donate most of LNP Media Group’s holdings to WITF.

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3. 2014LNP identity is introduced

   The organization introduced the LNP masthead, renamed The Sunday News as Sunday LNP, and adopted the “Always Lancaster” tagline.

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4. 2009New Era afternoon edition ends

   The final afternoon edition of the New Era was published on June 26, after which the title’s content was merged into the Intelligencer Journal.

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5. 1928New Era returns to Steinman ownership

   After the competitive venture failed, Block sold the New Era to the Steinmans, who integrated it into their Lancaster newspaper portfolio.

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6. 1923Paul Block Sr. acquires the New Era-Examiner

   After the New Era merged with The Examiner in 1920, Paul Block Sr. purchased the combined paper and attempted to compete with Steinman-owned newspapers.

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7. 1877Lancaster New Era is founded

   The Lancaster New Era was established as a newspaper intended to challenge Pennsylvania’s Republican political machine.

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8. 1866Andrew Jackson Steinman acquires the Intelligencer

   Andrew Jackson Steinman purchased the Intelligencer, establishing the Steinman family connection to Lancaster newspaper publishing.

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9. 1794Lancaster Journal begins publication

   The newspaper lineage that ultimately leads to LNP begins with the first publication of The Lancaster Journal in Lancaster, Pennsylvania.

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A locally rooted, multi-platform news organization serving Lancaster County through daily journalism, community publications, digital subscriptions, specialty titles, and investigative reporting.

• LNPDaily newspaper2014

  LNP is the group’s principal daily newspaper serving Lancaster County. It emerged from the integration of the Intelligencer Journal, Lancaster New Era, and Sunday News operations and has used the “Always Lancaster” identity since 2014. Its coverage centers on local news, public affairs, community reporting, features, sports, and opinion.

• LancasterOnlineDigital news platform

  LancasterOnline is the organization’s digital news and subscription service. It provides access to newspaper content, online local reporting, digital features, and a searchable archive of material published across the newspaper’s history. The platform extends LNP’s local coverage beyond the print edition.

• The Lititz Record ExpressCommunity newspaper

  The Lititz Record Express is a local newspaper serving Lititz and surrounding communities in Lancaster County. It forms part of LNP Media Group’s portfolio of community publications and provides geographically focused reporting distinct from the group’s countywide daily.

• The Ephrata ReviewCommunity newspaper

  The Ephrata Review is a community newspaper serving Ephrata-area readers in Lancaster County. It is one of the group’s local titles, complementing LNP with reporting directed toward a specific municipal and regional audience.

• The Elizabethtown AdvocateCommunity newspaper

  The Elizabethtown Advocate is a community publication serving Elizabethtown and nearby areas of Lancaster County. It is part of LNP Media Group’s network of geographically targeted local newspapers.

• La Voz LancasterSpecialty community publication

  La Voz Lancaster, formerly known as La Voz Hispana, is issued every other month and focuses on Lancaster County’s Hispanic and Latino community. The title gives the group a dedicated platform for community news and subjects relevant to Spanish-speaking and Hispanic readers.

• Fly After 5Lifestyle and entertainment publication

  Fly After 5, formerly Fly Magazine, is a bi-monthly publication covering nightlife, entertainment, and leisure activity in Lancaster County. It broadens the group’s publishing portfolio beyond conventional hard-news and community newspaper coverage.

• The CaucusInvestigative weekly

  The Caucus is a weekly watchdog publication focused on investigative reporting about Pennsylvania politics. Its role within the portfolio emphasizes accountability journalism and statewide public-affairs coverage.

• 2025Proposed transfer to Always LancasterM&A

  After acquiring LNP Media Group, Pennon reported that operating the newspaper involved unanticipated financial challenges.

  What changed. Pennon announced plans to donate LNP Media Group to Always Lancaster, a new nonprofit founded by former NPR journalist David Greene.

  Aftermath. The proposed transfer remained subject to approval by Pennsylvania’s attorney general.

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• 2023Plan to donate most holdings to WITFM&A

  Steinman Communications announced a planned ownership transition for LNP Media Group.

  What changed. Steinman Communications announced plans to donate most of LNP Media Group’s holdings to WITF, a public broadcaster in Harrisburg.

  Aftermath. The announcement initiated a proposed move from family ownership toward nonprofit public-media ownership.

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• 2014Consolidate newspapers under the LNP identityStrategy

  The organization was integrating the Intelligencer Journal, Lancaster New Era, and Sunday News while adapting its editorial and publishing model.

  What changed. The company introduced the LNP masthead, renamed Sunday News as Sunday LNP, adopted the “Always Lancaster” tagline, and moved to a single independent editorial page.

  Aftermath. The LNP name became the group’s principal public-facing newspaper identity and unified previously distinct editorial operations.

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• 2009End the separate New Era afternoon editionStrategy

  The company faced rising production costs and declining readership in the afternoon newspaper market.

  What changed. Lancaster Newspapers published the final afternoon edition of the New Era on June 26 and merged its remaining content into the Intelligencer Journal.

  Aftermath. The change consolidated the company’s principal Lancaster newspaper operations and ended the New Era as a separate afternoon daily.

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• 2025Pennon announces planned transfer of LNP Media Group to Always Lancaster

  Pennon, the parent organization created after WITF’s acquisition, announced plans to donate LNP Media Group to Always Lancaster, a new nonprofit founded by former NPR journalist David Greene. The proposed transfer was reported as pending approval by Pennsylvania’s attorney general.

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• 2023Steinman Communications announces planned donation of most LNP Media Group holdings to WITF

  Steinman Communications announced that it intended to donate most of LNP Media Group’s holdings to WITF, a Harrisburg public broadcaster.

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• 2014LNP introduces its current masthead and Always Lancaster identity

  The organization launched the LNP masthead and adopted the “Always Lancaster” tagline as part of the integration of its major Lancaster newspaper operations.

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• 2009Lancaster New Era publishes final afternoon edition

  The New Era ended its separate afternoon edition and was combined with the Intelligencer Journal amid higher costs and declining readership.

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1. LNP Media Group