El Rito Media, LLC was founded in April 2022 when a group of New Mexico–based investors, led by Harvey E. Yates Jr., acquired the Rio Grande Sun in Española. From the start, the company has pursued a vision of sustainable, locally embedded journalism in rural markets. Under the leadership of Harvey Yates as Managing Member and Richard L. Connor as Publisher & Editor‑in‑Chief, the company has grown strategically—adding the Artesia Daily Press (2023), and in 2024, Alamogordo Daily News, Carlsbad Current‑Argus, and Ruidoso News. Today, El Rito Media owns more local newspapers than any other organization in New Mexico.
The company has remained committed to reviving and preserving community journalism—ensuring that each publication remains deeply connected to local communities while benefiting from shared strategic leadership and operational support.
El Rito Media, LLC was founded in April 2022 when a group of New Mexico–based investors, led by Harvey E. Yates Jr., acquired the Rio Grande Sun in Española. From the start, the company has pursued a vision of sustainable, locally embedded journalism in rural markets. Under the leadership of Harvey Yates as Managing Member and Richard L. Connor as Publisher & Editor‑in‑Chief, the company has grown strategically—adding the Artesia Daily Press (2023), and in 2024, Alamogordo Daily News, Carlsbad Current‑Argus, and Ruidoso News. Today, El Rito Media owns more local newspapers than any other organization in New Mexico.
The company has remained committed to reviving and preserving community journalism—ensuring that each publication remains deeply connected to local communities while benefiting from shared strategic leadership and operational support.
At El Rito Media, our mission is to restore strong, independent local journalism in New Mexico. We believe that a community newspaper belongs first to its residents—so we invest in local voices, institutional memory, and editorial independence. Our goal is to align business sustainability with public service: to operate efficient rural media outlets that serve as trusted platforms for news, connection, and civic engagement.
We envision a future where vibrant, informed communities thrive across rural New Mexico—supported by newspapers that reflect their unique identity, history, and needs. We aim to build agile, locally driven publications that stand the test of time: rooted in editorial excellence and community trust, powered by shared infrastructure, and guided by leadership committed to preserving local relevance across changing media landscapes.
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