Grasslands News Group is a locally owned and operated Saskatchewan media company dedicated to telling the stories that matter most to rural communities.
With a network of community newspapers — the Fort Qu’Appelle Times, Indian Head-Wolseley News, Kipling Clipper, Melville Advance, Quad Town Forum, Whitewood Herald Sun, Yorkton Marketplace, and Yorkton This Week — Grasslands News delivers trusted local journalism to tens of thousands of readers each week across southeast Saskatchewan.
From council chambers and school gyms to hockey rinks and harvest fields, our reporters cover the issues, people and events that shape daily life in the communities we serve. We believe strong local journalism builds stronger communities.
Grasslands News proudly employs more than 20 editorial, advertising and production staff, along with over 25 carriers and distribution team members who ensure each edition reaches homes, businesses and newsstands across the region. Our team is deeply rooted in the communities we cover, providing authentic storytelling, reliable reporting and meaningful local engagement.
Community newspapers are more than a weekly publication — they are the only permanent record of history for the communities they serve. Generations from now, residents will look back through our pages to understand how their towns grew, celebrated, faced challenges and moved forward.
In print and online, Grasslands News remains committed to being the voice of rural Saskatchewan — connecting neighbours, celebrating local success and preserving the history of our communities.
Your Community. Your Stories. For Generations.
Our History
Grasslands News Group (GNG) was founded in October 2013 and is owned by three publishing partners: Chris Ashfield of Whitewood, Saskatchewan; Greg Nesbitt of Shoal Lake, Manitoba; and Ryan Nesbitt of Brandon, Manitoba.
The company began operations with three established community newspapers — the Melville Advance, Whitewood Herald and Fort Qu’Appelle Times. Since then, GNG has steadily expanded its footprint across eastern Saskatchewan.
In September 2016, the company acquired the Grenfell Sun and Broadview Express, merging the two publications into the Grenfell & Broadview Sun Express. In August 2017, the Sun Express was consolidated with the Whitewood Herald to create the Whitewood-Grenfell Herald Sun.
Growth continued in September 2021 with the launch of the Kipling Clipper. In December 2021, GNG assumed publication of the Indian Head-Wolseley News. The company expanded again in October 2023 with the acquisition of the Quad Town Forum. Most recently, in January 2026, Grasslands News Group added Yorkton This Week and the Yorkton Marketplace — a free-distribution publication — to its portfolio.
Today, Grasslands News Group publishes seven paid weekly newspapers with a combined readership exceeding 15,000 readers each week. The free-distribution Marketplace reaches 25,000 people weekly, further strengthening the company’s regional presence.
Several GNG publications boast deep historical roots within their communities. The Whitewood Herald (now part of the Whitewood-Grenfell Herald Sun) has been in continuous publication since 1893. The Melville Advance began in 1928, the Fort Qu’Appelle Times in 1951, and the Indian Head-Wolseley News has served readers since 1912. The Yorkton Marketplace dates back to 1978, and Yorkton This Week has published since 1975. The Quad Town Forum was established in 2014.
Beyond newspaper publishing, GNG News provides a full range of commercial printing services. Products include business cards, flyers, posters, brochures, booklets, tickets, carbonless forms, letterhead, envelopes and large-format printing such as coroplast signage, ACM panels, banners, arena board decals, vehicle graphics and window decals. The company also offers office and stationery supplies from its offices in Melville and Whitewood.
Grasslands News Group remains committed to delivering trusted local journalism while supporting the business and communication needs of the communities it serves.
