CNHI announces headquarters move
Community Newspaper Holdings Inc., owner of newspapers in dozens of communities across 24 states, announced plans to move its headquarters from Birmingham, Ala., to Montgomery, Ala.

CNHI, which owns eight newspapers in Georgia, will be located in a new 12-story office building now under construction in Montgomery's historic downtown district. The move will occur when the building is completed in late 2011 or 2012.

The facility is being built by Retirement Systems of Alabama, an administrator for public pension funds that has been a major investor in CNHI since the company was founded in 1997. "The RSA has been a great supporter from CNHI's very beginning," said Donna Barrett, CEO and president of CNHI. "This latest headquarters move is another example of the positive relationship between us."

The company has 70 employees in its headquarters office, and they will be given the chance to relocate.

CNHI is a privately owned company that operates 86 daily newspapers, 46 nondailies, four television stations and numerous specialty publications in the Midwest, South and East. The company's headquarters moved from Lexington, Ky., to Birmingham in April of 1998.

The new headquarters in Montgomery will be located on Dexter Avenue near Alabama's capitol building and the Dexter Avenue Baptist Church, where the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. was pastor. It is also where the 1965 voting rights march from Selma, Ala., led by King, culminated.

Barrett said CNHI's corporate employees and visitors to the company's new headquarters will benefit from the "positive and productive experience" of the historic area, and from the city of Montgomery's downtown revitalization that includes a modern baseball stadium, a four-star hotel and an entertainment district.
- CNHI


The Jackson Herald to add e-edition
The Jackson Herald of Jefferson has become the latest newspaper in Georgia to offer its readers a complete version of its print edition online.

The new e-edition complements the paper's website, www.jacksonheraldtoday.com, and it was scheduled to go live on July 13. It is to be available via computer, iPad and smart phones.

"This is just another venue for our readers to get their weekly newspaper in an electronic format," said Scott Buffington, co-publisher of the newspaper.

Among the e-edition's features is a "reader" that will translate written words into spoken words for seeing impaired readers.

"This is the full edition that complements our existing top stories website," said Mike Buffington, co-publisher. "All of this fits with our traditional paper edition to deliver the most comprehensive news coverage of Jackson County available, anytime, anywhere."
- The Jackson Herald, Jefferson


Barrow County News, The Paper get new editors
The Barrow County News of Winder has announced that Lona Panter has been promoted to managing editor. Panter has been with the newspaper since 2008 as a staff writer.

She replaces LeAnne Akin, who is now editor of The Paper of Hoschton. Both newspapers are owned by Swartz-Morris Media.

"LeAnne will bring her knowledge of the area and years of experience to a relatively young newspaper. She will provide stability within our corporate network that links The Times of Gainesville with The Paper and The Barrow County News," said Debbie Burgamy, publisher of The News. "LeAnne will continue to contribute articles and occasional columns to The Barrow County News."

The News made two other changes to its newsroom. The first was to bring back Allie Jackson as a staff writer after she left the newspaper to pursue a journalism degree full time from the University of Georgia. The second was the addition of Douglas Moser, also a new staff writer. He previously wrote for The Gardner News in Gardner, Mass.

"I'm excited about the energy and enthusiasm in the newsroom," Burgamy said. "We've got a great combination of experience and personalities that can produce a first-rate publication for our readers."
— The Barrow County News, Winder

West chosen managing editor of Citizen Georgian
The Citizen Georgian of Montezuma has chosen Sharonda West to be its managing editor.

West has previously been with the newspaper as a reporter and writer and has also worked in layout, photography, classifieds and collections for the newspaper.

"I am proud to have Sharonda back with The Citizen Georgian," said Judy Robinson, general manager. "Ms. West is very well-versed in the newspaper business, but most importantly, she cares about the community she will be serving. Sharonda is a ray of sunshine, and we are blessed to have her on our team."

"I'm so excited about this advancement opportunity, and I look forward to serving the citizens of my hometown Macon County," West said.
- The Citizen Georgian, Montezuma

In other news at Georgia papers:
- John Gogick was chosen to be director of content development and digital operations for The Augusta Chronicle. Gogick has been on The Chronicle's copy desk since 1995 and has been delivery desk director, news editor and copy desk chief. In his new role, he will oversee news planning, content initiatives and production of local news coverage for print and digital platforms, direct the Web development team and assist the executive editor deploying the news staff and managing resources for news coverage.

- Daniel Kay joined The Albany Herald as a sports writer.

- The Athens Banner-Herald has added Andrea Williams as a writer, photographer and sales manager for the newspaper's Homes section.

- Jolene Haney was hired by the Tribune & Georgian of St. Marys as an advertising representative.