New Media Investment Group Inc. announced today that it has reached an agreement to buy Stephens Media LLC  for $102.5 million in cash. Stephens owns the Ames Tribune, Dallas County News, the Boone News-Republican, the Nevada Journal and six other Iowa publications and websites.  Stephens’ properties have an average daily circulation of approximately 221,000 and 244,000 on Sunday. The company includes eight daily newspapers, more than 65 weekly and niche publications and more than 50 websites. New Media as of September owned 450 community publications and more than 370 related websites. Read more