When I was introduced as the new president and publisher of The State and four other McClatchy Co. newspapers in South Carolina and North Carolina, some were wondering, "Who is this guy, and what might we expect?"

At the heart of the answer is this: I'm a child of the South, raised with the values of family, faith and service. I'm a man of the South, who has lived and raised his children in the goodness of this region. And, yes, as an African-American man of the South, I know the darkness that is part of our story.

I'm also an Army brat, who moved every two years until eighth grade, learning new places, new cultures and new countries, making new friends, and seeking to become part of new communities over and over.

Those experiences, this upbringing and its challenges and opportunities have shaped me and inform what you can expect from me as publisher of this esteemed institution.

The Times of Gainesville, Ga., has announced a restructuring of job titles and responsibilities to better define leadership roles as the company continues to expand beyond a traditional newspaper operation.

Shannon Casas, previously managing editor, has been promoted to the position of director of content. She will provide oversight for the entire news-gathering operation on all platforms, including traditional print, digital and web, podcasts and social media.

She will join Leah Nelson, previously promoted from advertising director to director of revenue, in working to transcend the traditional print business model for The Times with a broader multimedia approach to news content and business partnerships.

Keith Albertson, a veteran of more than 30 years in The Times newsroom, moves into the position of executive editor, where he will continue to handle the newspaper's opinion pages, special projects and the operational side of managing the area's largest news gathering organization.

William H. Bronson III, a Louisiana native and third-generation community newspaper publisher, has been named CEO and publisher of Journal Inc. and the Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal in Tupelo.

The Dallas Morning News announces the hiring of Susan Kerr as vice president of print audience, a newly created position reporting to President and Publisher Grant Moise. In an effort to strengthen the subscription focus of the business, The Dallas Morning News tapped industry veteran, Kerr to lead those efforts.

Jay Horton has been named president of WEHCO Media's digital division.

Horton will oversee the day-to-day operations, powering the company's digital media brands, as well as the Flypaper Digital Marketing Agency with offices in 10 communities.

Hearst Newspapers has named Mark Medici as executive vice president and chief marketing officer, a new position. Medici previously served as vice president of audience and newspaper operations at Cox Media Group.

James Pacovsky has been named regional digital director for CNHI.

Pacovsky will work with local markets in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Mississippi and Tennessee to help drive digital revenue growth. He will report directly to Greg Maibach, CNHI's senior vice president of digital revenue.

With more than three decades at the helm of The Times-Republican and Marshalltown Newspaper LLC, publisher Mike Schlesinger has announced he will retire June 30.

Abigail Pelzer will serve as his successor as publisher of The Times-Republican and Marshalltown Newspaper LLC and will manage all operations. Pelzer is the former managing editor of The Times-Republican and has served as editor of the Newton Daily News since July 2014.

Elizabeth Swindell took on many jobs as a fill-in at the Wilson (N.C.) Daily Times during the Depression. She learned all the roles and when the opportunity presented itself in 1946, she purchased an interest in the newspaper, and acquired full ownership in 1954. For her pioneering role in journalism and community service, she will be recognized with a North Carolina Highway Historical Marker at Noon on June 30, at 906 Nash St. North, Wilson. A reception will follow the dedication.

Tia Lyons, city reporter for the El Dorado (Ark.) News-Times, was honored recently as the 2017 Walter E. Hussman Employee of the Year for WEHCO Media's Palmer Newspapers Division.