Founded in 1862, The Pioneer Group is a privately held publishing, printing and communications firm. It publishes two daily newspapers, including The Pioneer and the Manistee News Advocate. Additionally, the firm publishes various weekly newspapers, shopping guides and niche publications. It also operates a yellow page division, phone directory services, which produces and supplies local phone directories to more than 275,000 people throughout Michigan. Its newspapers provide a variety of local and international news on health, entertainment, sports, community, weather and business. It has a classifieds section that includes cars, homes, jobs, shopping, businesses and personals. The Pioneer Group s printing division specializes in printing journals, mini tabloids, real estate guides and calendars. It is located in Big Rapids, Mich.