Former Murphy McGinnis Media employee Tim Franklin has purchased his third newspaper in central Minnesota. On June 30, Franklin purchased the assets of the "Askov American," based in Pine County, which was owned by Marlana Benzie-Lourey. He also owns the "Pine County Courier," located in Sandstone, along with the "Hinckley News." He also publishes the "Minnesota Flyer" magazine, which comes out monthly and focuses on aviation in the Upper Midwest.
Franklin is a 1984 graduate of Austin High School. Before buying the Courier and Flyer, Franklin was the online editor for Murphy McGinnis Media and was previously the publisher of the Cook County News-Herald in Grand Marais, Minn. While at the University of Minnesota Duluth, he was editor-in-chief of the UMD Statesman in 1990. He got his first newspaper job at the Pine Knot in Cloquet. He also has worked at newspapers in Kansas, Louisiana, and South Dakota before moving back to Minnesota.
"The Askov American is a great newspaper and I am excited to be involved in its ownership," said Franklin.
The Askov American was started in 1914 by Hjalmar Petersen, who later became the governor of Minnesota in 1936.
Franklin is married to the former Mary Fisher of Carlton.
