Startup founded to save local news acquires Modulist, expanding to obits, classifieds

A fast-growing public notice software platform with Kansas ties this week announced its acquisition of a North Dakota company built to serve publishers with paid celebrations, obituaries, and announcements.

Column — founded by Jake Seaton, a fifth-generation member of the Manhattan, Kansas-based Seaton newspaper family — is expected to expand its own platform with the Modulist deal, adding all its transaction categories to Column’s portfolio of offerings, along with new capabilities for classified advertising.

Financial details of Column’s transaction with Forum Communications were not disclosed.

“From our first conversation, it was clear that both teams shared the same core values and a mission to provide excellent software for categories of the media business that have historically been underserved and overlooked,” said Seaton.

Since its launch in 2020, Column has deployed its software platform across a network of more than 500 newspapers to facilitate the transaction of public notices and legal ads with tens of thousands of law firms, government agencies, and businesses.

“I grew up around the struggling newspaper business which has been dealing with all of the challenges in the age of the internet,” Seaton told Startland News previously.

From the archives: Paperboy to tech founder: How Jake Seaton returned to Kansas to help save the family business (and local news)

The company announced a $30 million Series A funding round in August 2022.

Column and Forum Communications finalized the acquisition agreement in late 2023. The companies have begun transitioning their internal operations by welcoming several Modulist employees to Column as part of the acquisition.

Column is a fully remote company.

Current customers and publishing partners of Modulist can expect a seamless and uninterrupted transition in their service, representatives of the companies said. 

“The opportunity for Modulist to join forces with Column arose when the nationally recognized software company began collaborating with newspaper companies, focusing on enhancing the experience of placing public notices in both print and online formats,” said Bill Marcil Jr., CEO of Forum Communications. “As we delved deeper into discussions with Column, it became evident that Modulist could seamlessly complement their offerings to newspapers, aligning perfectly with the categories in which Modulist excels.”