NEWSPEOPLE

New hires, promotions and relocations across the industry .....

The Associated Press has announced that Nomaan Merchant has taken on a new assignment as U.S. politics editor, a role that is central to the AP’S mission of providing comprehensive, nonpartisan coverage of U.S. politics and elections. Merchant is well known inside the AP, where he’s held a variety of critical reporting roles over the past decade. He has worked in the Washington bureau since 2021, focusing on intelligence and national security reporting.

Woodward Communications, Inc., announced that, as part of a longterm succession planning process, Mike Fortman will succeed Bob Woodward as TH Media publisher and VP of Woodward Community Media (WCM) in January 2024. WCI is the parent company of TH Media and WCM, which owns and operates TH Media, eight weekly newspapers and five shopping news publications located in eastern Iowa, southwest Wisconsin and northwest Illinois. In his role, Fortman will have overall leadership responsibilities for the businesses, which include digital, print and event products and services. Fortman has been with the company for 13 years and was promoted to TH Media’s associate publisher and group director of advertising for WCM in July 2021. As part of Woodward’s semi-retirement plans, he will transition into a new role as director of Journalism Philanthropy and College Student Internships.

Sharon Sorg, a regional executive for CNHI, LLC — the parent company of The Daily Item and The Danville News — has been named the publisher of the two newspapers in Sunbury, Pennsylvania. Sorg is the publisher of three daily newspapers in Pennsylvania, one in Ohio and another in North Carolina. She has relinquished her duties as publisher of The

Meadville Tribune in Pennsylvania and the Star-beacon in Ashtabula, Ohio. In addition to her regional executive and publisher role in Sunbury, Sorg will remain the publisher of The

Sharon Herald and New Castle News, along with the Transylvania Times in North Carolina. She has been the regional executive for The Daily Item since former publisher Fred Scheller retired in June. She has held a regional role for CNHI since 2019.

James Briggs, general manageradvertising director of the Ashtabula (Ohio) Star Beacon, has been promoted to publisher of the newspaper.

Devon Stout, general managercirculation director of The Meadville (Pennsylvania) Tribune, has been promoted to publisher of the newspaper.

Jeff Funk, retired publisher of the Enid (Oklahoma) News & Eagle, has returned to the newspaper as publisher and editor. He replaces Cindy Allen, who retired from both positions to spend more time with her family. She succeeded Funk as publisher in January 2021.

Tom Mayer, editor of CNHI’S Alabama newspapers, including The Cullman Times, The News Courier in Athens and St. Clair News-aegis in Pell City, has been named general managereditor of the group. Mayer succeeds Alabama group publisher Katherine

Miller, who was recently named publisher of The Norman Transcript in Norman, Oklahoma, which is also owned by CNHI.

Robin Phelan,a long-time newspaper executive and advertising director, has been appointed publisher of The Joplin (Missouri) Globe. Phelan will also continue his role as publisher of Farm Talk, a weekly newspaper focusing on agriculture in the Four-state Area that is based in Parsons, Kansas.

Katie Drummond is the new top editor of Wired, overseeing the tech publication’s teams around the world. She joins Wired from Vice Media, where she was the senior vice president of global news and entertainment, in charge of Vice News and the company’s digital brands. She succeeds Gideon Lichfield, who was named global editorial director in March 2021 and announced his departure in May.

John Newby has joined Editor & Publisher as its new chief revenue officer. Newby is well known within the news publishing industry, having held publisher, senior sales and audience management positions at several media companies throughout North

America. Newby is also the founder of 360 Media Alliance and Truly-local, and writes a weekly column, “Building Main Street, not Wall Street” that appears in over 50 newspapers around the country. In his new role at E&P, Newby will be focusing on helping bring the many multimedia marketing solutions offered by E&P to the companies that serve the global news publishing industry. He also will be coordinating the industry events that E&P sponsors and participates in.

Chris Cho has joined Gannett Co. Inc. as president of Digital Marketing Solutions to accelerate the growth and expansion of Localiq, a digital marketing growth platform that helps businesses find, convert and keep customers with a suite of proprietary software. Cho brings over two decades of experience to this role, most recently as the chief product officer at Axiom, a recruiting technology platform for legal talent resources, where he oversaw product, platform technology and goto-market strategy.

David Mcchesney has joined Wick Communications as publisher of the Mat-su Valley Frontiersman in Wasilla, Alaska. Mcchesney brings a unique perspective to the role having worked on the newspaper side and on the vendor side focusing on digital tools for the industry.

Daphne Kwon has been named NPR’S chief financial officer. Kwon is an experienced finance executive with a strong track record of business development and transformation at media organizations such as Meredith Corporation, Oxygen Media and Disney/abc.

Frank Perea has joined the Williston (North Dakota) Herald and Sidney (Montana) Herald as publisher.

Perea brings a wealth of leadership experience with community newspaper groups throughout the Northwest, Plains states and Colorado with a focus on overall and digital revenue growth. He previously was vice president of Mullen Newspaper Company.

Derek Brower has been named U.S. political news editor of the Financial Times in New York. In his new role, Brower will oversee the FT’S 2024 presidential election coverage and manage the FT’S Washington, D.C., bureau. He also will oversee political reporting from the FT’S broader U.S. network, including from bureaus in Los Angeles, Chicago, New York and Houston.

Mark Walker, a veteran Kentucky newspaper executive, has been appointed publisher of the Richmond Register. He succeeds Gary Tyler, who served as the newspaper’s manager and publisher for five years. Walker already was the CNHI Kentucky group publisher for The Commonwealth Journal in Somerset, The Sentinelecho in London and the Timestribune in Corbin. The Richmond Register becomes the fourth paper under his oversight.

The Atlanta Journalconstitution has hired acclaimed Georgia broadcaster Bill Nigut to co-host “Politically Georgia” alongside the AJC’S awardwinning team of Greg Bluestein, Patricia Murphy and new co-host, AJC Washington Correspondent, Tia Mitchell. The show will expand to five days a week.

Longtime Tribune Chronicle and Vindicator General Manager Ted Snyder has taken the reins in the top leadership role at the local newspapers (Warren, Ohio) following Publisher Charles Jarvis’ retirement. Snyder has worked his entire career in the newspaper industry, including 37 years in the local newspaper office.

Mark Grant will be joining The Associated Press this month as vice president for global security and safety. He’s spent the last decade developing safety and security programs that enable journalists to cover breaking news stories in highrisk environments, most recently at Sky News, where he’s served as head of high risk, safety and security.

Wisconsin Watch has hired Jack Kelly as its new statehouse reporter. Kelly joins Wisconsin Watch after two years as a statehouse reporter for the Capital Times based in Madison.

Financial Times reporter Myles Mccormick is expanding his beat beyond energy to include the wider corporate, economic and political scene in Texas. Mccormick has been covering energy since 2020 and previously covered breaking news for the FT.

The Dallas Morning News has promoted reporter Kyle Arnold to assistant business editor. He has been with the paper since May 2019 and previously covered aviation. Arnold previously was a business reporter at the Orlando Sentinel, where he covered real estate, retail and restaurants.

A longtime journalist and public relations specialist has been named managing editor of the Mississippi Business Journal. Joshua Wilson, a resident of Hattiesburg and native of Brookhaven, previously worked as an advertising agency writer and headed marketing and public relations activities for numerous organizations, including his alma mater, William Carey University. He is an adjunct professor and student media adviser for the University of Southern Mississippi School of Media and Communication.

Laura Jarrett has been named co-anchor of NBC News’ Saturday TODAY. Jarrett will begin her new role Sept. 9, alongside co-anchor Peter Alexander. She will continue in her role as NBC News senior legal correspondent and Alexander will continue his role as chief White House correspondent.

SCS has hired Winter Goodman as an applications developer and Ryan Johnson as a sales and marketing analyst.

Fernanda Camarena has joined the faculty of the Poynter Institute. Camarena, who previously worked with NBC News as manager of standards and practices, will deepen Poynter’s expertise in journalism ethics, craft, leadership and partnerships, and expand Poynter’s Spanish-language training capacity.

Mark Maassen, executive director of the Missouri Press Association, has been elected president of Newspaper Association Managers.

Mcclatchy has named Carlos Virgen as senior editor at The Modesto (California) Bee. He has spent the past 10 years as assistant managing editor for audience development at The Day of New London, Connecticut.

Lisa Thompson has been named the new executive editor of the Northwest Arkansas Democrat-gazette (Fayetteville). She has been filling that position since Rusty Turner’s retirement in May.

Bradford Publishing Co. announced Sara Eddy Furlong has been named managing editor at The Bradford (Pennsylvania) Era. Furlong started work at The Bradford Era as a parttime sportswriter in February 2002 and was named the first full-time female sportswriter in the paper’s history in 2005. In April 2007, she joined the

Olean Times Herald as special sections editor and was promoted to city editor in October the same year.

The Durango (Colorado) Herald recently welcomed its new deputy editor, Matt Hollinshead, who started his duties July 28 after spending the last year as assistant editor of the Beaumont Enterprise in Beaumont, Texas.

Blanca Begert has joined POLITICO as its inaugural California climate reporter.

She will anchor the new California Climate newsletter, chronicling how climate change is driving political and policy shifts, reshaping industries and impacting the environment in the Golden State.

Mitch Harle, an experienced communications and fundraising professional in Washington, D.C., has joined the National Press Club Journalism Institute as its development manager. Harle will oversee and expand the Institute’s fundraising and donor relations operation.

The Beacon, an independent, nonprofit news network with newsrooms in Kansas City and Wichita, announces the appointment of Scott

Canon as its first editor-in-chief. For the past five years, Canon has led the Kansas News Service, a collaboration of newsrooms across Kansas, based at KCUR-FM, Kansas City’s National Public Radio affiliate.

Jeffrey Goldberg, the editor in chief of The Atlantic, is the new moderator of Washington Week. The Atlantic will join Newshour and WETA as an editorial partner on the show, to be rebranded as Washington Week with The Atlantic.

Edith Chapin has been named senior vice president of News and editor in chief overseeing NPR’S journalism and journalists around the world and across platforms. Chapin had been serving as interim head of news since November 2022.

Michael Powell and Zoë Schlanger have joined The Atlantic as staff writers. Powell has been a reporter at The New York Times since 2007. Schlanger will start this fall, covering issues of climate and writing the newsletter The Weekly Planet, which tells the story of life on a changing planet.

Megan Ivey has been promoted to digital marketing fulfillment director with O’rourke Media Group. She joined the company a little over two years ago.

Samantha Matsumoto has joined LION Publishers as community engagement manager, where she will facilitate peer learning and relationship building across the LION membership.

Publisher Jill Hunt has named Jason Elmquist as managing editor of the Stillwater (Oklahoma) News Press. Elmquist has been sports editor at the News Press for the past 11 years covering some of the biggest moments for Oklahoma State, Stillwater and area athletics.

The Chatham (Virginia) Star-tribune has hired Bobby Allen Roach to lead the newsroom as editor. Roach is well acquainted with the 154-year-old publication, having previously worked as a reporter and assistant editor from 2015 to 2016. Additionally, he interned with the newspaper in 2007 shortly after graduating from Tunstall High School.

Steven Portnoy is returning to ABC News as national correspondent for ABC News Radio. He will join the ranks of its political team based in Washington, D.C.

Journalist Jo Ling Kent has been named senior business and technology correspondent for CBS News. Kent brings to CBS News 15 years of experience covering the intersection of technology and business in the U.S., as well as the emergence of China as a global economic power. She joins CBS News after six years as the business and tech correspondent for all NBC News and MSNBC platforms.

Metro Market Media has hired a veteran newspaper leader to serve as the company’s director of revenue.

Eugene Jackson will lead sales and marketing efforts for three Georgia newspapers — The Gainesville Times, Dawson County News and Forsyth County News. Jackson recently served as vice president of sales and marketing and market leader for Gannett/usa TODAY in Ohio for the Columbus Dispatch and additional northeast Ohio markets.

FOX Weather, FOX News Media’s free ad-supported streaming television (“FAST”) weather service, has signed meteorologist Bob Van Dillen as onair host. Most recently, Van Dillen was the meteorologist for HLN’S “Morning Express with Robin Meade.”

With the recent opening for managing editor for the Tahoe Daily Tribune and Sierra Sun, the Tribune (South Lake Tahoe, California) has hired Laney Griffo to become the new editor for both publications. Griffo has been a part of the Tahoe Tribune staff since 2019, where she began as a reporter.

Matthew Ballinger is now the deputy editor for content business strategy at the Los Angeles Times. He has been with the paper since 2008.

Rachel Hulin has joined the Los Angeles Times as deputy director of photography, focusing on entertainment, features and lifestyle coverage. She previously was photo editor for Rolling Stone, Radar magazine and People magazine.

FROM CNN:

Jamal Simmons is joining CNN as an on-air political commentator. He joins CNN after most recently serving as deputy assistant to President Joe Biden and communications director to Vice President Kamala Harris.

Tim Carter has been named executive producer of CNN Newsroom with Jim Acosta. He will continue to work from CNN’S Washington, D.C., bureau in his new role. Previously, Carter served as supervising producer for The Situation Room with Wolf Blitzer. He has worked for that team for five years.

Kate Bedingfield has joined CNN as an on-air political commentator. Bedingfield joins CNN after serving for two years as White House communications director under President Joe Biden.

Kayla Tausche has joined CNN Worldwide as a senior White House correspondent. She joins CNN after more than a decade at CNBC, most recently serving as anchor and senior White House correspondent reporting on the Biden administration, Cabinet agencies and elections and filling in as anchor for all CNBC programs.

FROM NEXSTAR MEDIA GROUP INC.:

Nexstar Media Group, Inc. has announced the appointment of Mitzi Coleman as vice president and general manager of its broadcast and digital operations serving Wheeling, West Virginia (DMA #163), Steubenville, Ohio, and parts of western Pennsylvania, including WTRF-TV (CBS) and wtrf.com, and their related mobile apps and social media channels. Coleman is taking over for Roger Lyons, who is retiring.

Nexstar Media Group, Inc. has announced the appointment of media executive Michael Biard as president and chief operating officer. In conjunction with his appointment, Biard has entered into an employment agreement with the company that extends through August 2027. Biard assumes his new role from Thomas Carter, who has been named senior adviser and will support a seamless transition through the conclusion of his employment agreement at the end of this year.

Nexstar Media Group, Inc. has announced the promotion of Larry Cottrill to vice president and general manager of its broadcast and digital operations serving Columbus, Ohio (DMA #32), including WCMH-TV (NBC4) and nbc4i.com, and their related mobile apps and social media channels. Cottrill is taking over for Ken Freedman, who is retiring.

Nexstar Media Group, Inc. has promoted two news content leaders to new positions within the company’s broadcast division; Jerry Walsh has been elevated to senior vice president of local content development and Austin Kellerman has been promoted to vice president of local digital content strategy.

Nexstar Media Group, Inc., has announced the appointment of Jon Camera as senior vice president of its national advertising sales division, responsible for overseeing and guiding the efforts of the company’s newly created national sales team.

FROM THE WASHINGTON POST:

The Washington Post has announced Philip Rucker will serve as the next National editor. Starting this month, Rucker will lead a staff of more than 150 journalists who deliver agendasetting news, investigative and feature coverage of the country on a wide range of topics, including national politics, the federal government, national security, criminal justice, immigration, race, health and science. Rucker has served as deputy National editor since January 2022.

The Washington Post has appointed Alex Maccallum as chief revenue officer. This executive role drives The Post’s revenue across advertising, partnerships and subscriptions. Maccallum comes to The Post with more than 20 years’ experience launching and growing new platforms and building sustainable business models within CNN Worldwide, The New York Times and The Huffington Post.

The Washington Post has promoted Johanna Mayer-jones to chief advertising officer, a new role within the organization that leads revenue through advertising and client-based