Essex Media Group

We think of Essex Media Group as a 140-year-old start-up.

EMG was formed in 2014 to purchase The Daily Item, which had been a family-owned newspaper since its inception in 1877. While the Item, which publishes six days a week, remains the flagship publication, it is no longer an only child.

In less than four years, EMG has accomplished an impressive portfolio expansion, introducing three magazines – 01907, 01945, and 01940 – and a Spanish-language newspaper, La Voz. They also successfully reinstated the renowned North Shore Golf magazine and strategically acquired Lynnfield Weekly News, Peabody Weekly News, and Suburban Real Estate News. In late August of 2022, EMG further expanded its reach by developing and publishing the first issue of Marblehead Weekly News, adding another notable achievement to its dynamic and growing media presence.

EMG, comprised of seven investors with direct ties to Lynn and the North Shore, has 26 full-time employees based in downtown Lynn. Its multi-media portfolio that includes ten publications and EMG's digital readership has also seen tremendous growth with itemlive.com's vibrant online offerings.

The continued growth is central to EMG’s goal of re-shaping and re-imagining how news and information are delivered to readers in its coverage area, which includes Lynn, Lynnfield, Marblehead, Nahant, Peabody, Saugus, and Swampscott.

Our Publications

Founded in 1877 by Civil War veteran Horace Hastings and three of his sons, the Item was owned and operated by the Hastings and Gamage families until 2014 when Essex Media Group purchased it.

Published six-days-a-week, the Item’s primary coverage area includes Lynn, Lynnfield, Marblehead, Nahant, Peabody, Revere, Saugus, and Swampscott.

While the print publication is the foundation, the Item’s online presence at itemlive.com has been significantly enhanced in order to deliver news and information in a medium that increases in popularity every day. The website is subscription based and receives on average approximately 1.5 million page views per month. We have a daily email newsletter called Daily Digest that reaches opt-in 10,000 subscribers each day.

Distributed: Monday to Saturday
Circulation: 6,600
Website: itemlive.com

Launched in 2022, The Marblehead Weekly News is a complimentary weekly newspaper that is delivered to all homes in town. The newspaper contains thorough coverage of the town’s government, school department, sports, businesses, and culture in general. It contains schedules updated each week for different services each week and multiple lifestyle columns written by residents of Marblehead.

Distributed: Every Thursday
Circulation: 9,600
Website: MarbleheadWeeklyNews.com

Founded in 1957, the Lynnfield Weekly News is historically the go-to media outlet in the town, now distributed free to every household in town. The newspaper provides in-depth coverage of local government, schools, businesses and sports, including features on people who make news in the town.

The companion paper to the Lynnfield weekly, the Peabody Weekly News has also been publishing for 60 years. The paper covers all things Peabody, with a focus on local government, business, education and culture. The Weekly News is distributed to a controlled circulation list of subscribers and targeted high value/high income residents.

Distributed: Every Thursday
Combined Circulation: 10,900
Website: weeklynews.net

One of the most well-established industry publications north of Boston, Suburban Real Estate News has been covering the local real estate scene since 1971. With a circulation of 12,500, the publication features listings across Massachusetts, New Hampshire’s Lakes Region, and Southern Maine. Its companion website provides in-depth MLS information on hundreds of properties in the region.

Distributed: Monthly
Circulation: 6,000
Website: suburbanrealestatenews.com

Named for the zip code of the town it covers, Swampscott, 01907 is a glossy magazine that is published quarterly and mailed to every home in Swampscott and Nahant, and distributed at local businesses. The magazine, which started publishing in 2015, includes features on current and former Swampscott residents, as well as stories on local dining, shopping, real estate, culture and the social scene. It presents a unique vehicle to reach every household in these two towns.

Distributed: Quarterly
Circulation: 8,000
Website: 01907themagazine.com

01940 The MAGAZINE covers the people, lifestyles and interests of consumers residing in Lynnfield. This full-color glossy quarterly magazine features insightful locally-relevant articles, as well as delivering profiles and stories on local notables representing this target audience.

Distributed: Quarterly
Circulation: 5,400
Website: 01940themagazine.com

Launched in the summer of 2018, 01945 is a companion to the neighboring 01907. This quarterly magazine focuses on seaside Marblehead and is distributed to every household in this town, which has one of the highest income and property values in Essex County. While published independently of 01907, advertisers can take advantage of attractive combination pricing for these two publications and very effectively deliver their message to these two coastal towns.

Distributed: Quarterly
Circulation: 9,600
Website: 01945themagazine.com

Launched by EMG in November 2016, La Voz is a Spanish-language newspaper designed to reach a demographic that has historically been underserved by media outlets. La Voz takes readers inside the Latino culture in Lynn, Salem and Revere, while including stories on local government, business and education.

Distributed: Every other Thursday
Circulation: 6,000
Website: noticiaslavoz.com

Relaunched by EMG in 2016, North Shore Golf is a glossy magazine that is distributed at more than 60 private and public golf courses and golf and sporting goods outlets north of Boston. The magazine takes readers inside the ropes at their local courses, with features on amateurs and professionals, the latest in equipment, and tournaments.

Distributed: Spring, Summer, and Fall
Circulation: 6,000
Website: northshoregolfmagazine.com