Who We Are
The way you tell your story can make all the difference. And you can count on James River Media to help you tell it right. We are a locally-owned, growing media company that includes WLNI radio and HOME magazine. Our mission is to be a trusted resource by providing compelling content and producing great service, results and value to our clients. We also offer creative services to help you with your branding and marketing needs. Contact us today to learn more!
You never know where your life – or your sister - will take you!
In December of 2019, sisters Nell White King and Mari White Smallshaw hatched a plan over dinner in a New York City restaurant. Five months later, James River Media was born.
Nell and her husband, longtime Norfolk commercial real estate broker Billy King, were ready for a new challenge they could take on together. Mari and her colleague Rich Roth had spent years working together in local radio; while they had moved on to other occupations, they couldn’t quite get radio out of their blood. So why not buy a radio station together?
With their new company James River Media – named for the river that connects their cities – the four partners in early 2020 bought Lynchburg’s heritage talk station 105.9 WLNI from Roanoke-based Wheeler Broadcasting and began restoring its focus on Lynchburg. In April of 2022, James River Media purchased HOME Magazine, with Rich’s wife and accomplished graphic designer Trish Roth joining the team as the magazine’s publisher. In the summer of 2023, James River Media added to its growing portfolio by adding James River Media Creative Services.
Our locally-owned and growing media company has become a trusted community resource for valuable information for our audience and impressive results for our clients. James River Media: we’re about family, we’re about friends, we’re about HOME. Is there anything more important in life?
History of James River Media
Photo: Billy & Nell King, Managing Partners, James River Media