Observer Media Group, Inc. (OMG) is a media company that publishes local newspapers and magazines in the U.S. state of Florida. The company publishes seven newspapers, nine quarterly magazines and maintains four news websites.
Observer Media Group started when Matt Walsh and Lisa Walsh purchased the Longboat Observer in 1995 from Ralph and Claire Hunter, with the help of Lisa's parents and a small group of other investors. The Hunters had started the Longboat Observer in 1978.[2][1]
Since then, Observer Media Group established new local newspapers, such as the Sarasota Observer in 2004, and acquired other older newspapers, such as the 100+ year-old West Orange Times in 2014 and Financial News & Daily Record in 2017.[2][3][4] OMG maintains journalistic offices in Tampa, Clearwater, Lakeland, Sarasota, Fort Myers, Naples, New Port Richey, Winter Garden, Lakewood Ranch and Port Charlotte.[1] The name was changed to Observer Media Group in 2012 from The Observer Group.[1][5]
Observer Media acquired Pelican Press from Wisconsin-based Journal Media Group in 2011.[6][7] Pelican Press serves the Siesta Key area of Florida and in 2013, OMG renamed the paper to Siesta Key Observer to fit its overall branding.[2]
In 2012, The Observer attempted to publish the Palm Coast Observer twice a week, on Wednesdays and Saturdays. With a circulation of 25,000, OMG abandoned the idea and returned to a Thursday-only publishing schedule. The move, however, saw circulation increase to 30,000. "At first glance it looks like we may have an overall increase in ad revenue. And lower delivery cost," observed CEO Matt Walsh at the time. "In any business manual it is a wonderful thing to increase revenue and reduce cost at the same time."[8] August 1, 2013, saw the launch of the Plant City Times & Observer with an initial run of 15,000 copies, the publication was sold to a group of local investors in December, 2018.[9]
In 2016, Emily Walsh was named publisher of several of OMG's assets, including East County Observer, Longboat Observer, Sarasota Observer, Siesta Key Observer, YourObserver.com, Season magazine and LWR Life magazine. As the daughter of the founders, Emily Walsh has worked most of her career for OMG.[10] Ms. Walsh became president in 2021.[11]
Altogether our newspapers, magazines and websites reach more than 412,400 readers a week.[12]
As of 2025,[update] Observer Media Group owns seven newspapers (directly or indirectly), nine magazines and four websites in support of the print editions, reaching more than 412,400 readers per week.[2] OMG works with Press Reader the largest digital newsstand, to publish online digital copies of its print material.
| Name | Since | Format | Frequency | Area served | Paid or free | Circulation | Website | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Business Observer[13] | 1997 | Tabloid | Weekly | Southwest Florida | Paid | 5,222 | https://www.businessobserverfl.com/ | Formerly known as Gulf Coast Business Review[2] |
| East County Observer[14] | 1998 | Broadsheet | Weekly | Sarasota-Bradenton | Free | 18,161 | https://www.yourobserver.com/east-county | |
| Jacksonville Daily Record[15] | 1912 | Tabloid | Daily | Jacksonville | Paid | 4,895 | https://www.jaxdailyrecord.com/ | |
| Longboat Observer[16] | 1978 | Broadsheet | Weekly | Longboat Key | Free | 10,573 | https://www.yourobserver.com/longboat-key | First publication owned by OMG |
| LWR Life[17] | 2014 | Magazine | Quarterly | Lakewood Ranch | Free | 24,000 | None, but digital editions available here | Partnership with Schroeder-Manatee Ranch, Inc., a land management company[2] |
| Ormond Beach Observer[18] | 2013 | Broadsheet | Weekly | Ormond Beach | Free | 6,000 | https://www.ormondbeachobserver.com/ | The newspaper was sold to the McMillan Group in 2023.[19] |
| Palm Coast Observer'[20] | 2010 | Broadsheet | Weekly | Palm Coast | Free | 12,000 | https://www.palmcoastobserver.com/ | The newspaper was sold to the McMillan Group in 2023.[19] |
| Plant City Times & Observer[21] | 2012 | Tabloid | Weekly | Plant City | Free | 13,500 | https://www.plantcityobserver.com/ | Joint venture with Times Publishing Company[9] The paper was sold in 2019 to local ownership.[22] |
| Port Orange Observer[23] | 1987 or 2017 | Tabloid | Monthly | Port Orange | Free | 2,500 | https://www.portorangeobserver.com/ | July 13, 2017 edition is called "Volume 1, No. 1" so it may be titled same as a defunct paper[24] |
| Siesta Key Observer[25] | 1969 | Broadsheet | Weekly | Siesta Key | Free | 5,520 | https://www.yourobserver.com/siesta-key | Formerly known as Pelican Press[7] |
| Season[2] | 2000 | Magazine | Quarterly | Sarasota area | Free | 53,600 | None, but digital editions available here | |
| Sarasota Observer[26] | 2004 | Broadsheet | Weekly | Sarasota | Free | 21,891 | https://www.yourobserver.com/sarasota | |
| West Orange Times & Observer[27] | 1904 | Broadsheet | Weekly | Western Orange County | Free | 8,846 | https://www.orangeobserver.com/west-orange-times-observer | |
| Southwest Orange Observer[28] | 2015 | Broadsheet | Weekly | Windermere | Free | 7,240 | https://www.orangeobserver.com/windermere-observer | |
| Winter Park-Maitland Observer[29] | 1989 | Tall tabloid | Weekly | Suburbs of Orlando | Free | 12000 | https://www.orangeobserver.com/winter-park-maitland-observer | This paper was closed permanently after the May 17, 2019 issue, marking the end of its 30-year run.[30] |
