In an age of vast amounts of (mis)information, we all need a better understanding of what credible information looks like, and when the local news media is discredited, it doesn’t just hurt us, it hurts the community that now has no source of valid information.

Rynni Henderson has been named publisher of The Gainesville (Fla.) Sun and The Ocala Star-Banner. She will oversee operations for the newspapers and related publications.

James Doughton, who is retiring as regional publisher, announced her appointment to employees last week.

Shannon Casas, a member of The Times newsroom staff for 12 years, has been named as editor in chief for the Gainesville, Ga., newspaper and its online news website.

Keith Albertson has stepped down as executive editor of The Times in Gainesville, Ga., to pursue a new career after nearly 34 years with the Gainesville newspaper.

The editorial staff of the Daily Press in Newport News, Va., and the editor of the Palestine (Texas) Herald-Press were awarded top honors in the competition this year for the Carmage Walls Commentary Prize, presented Thursday, Oct. 11, at the SNPA News Industry Summit.

In the over 50,000 circulation bracket, top honors went to the Daily Press Editorial Staff (Marisa Porto, publisher and editor-in-chief; C.W. Johnson, opinion editor; Robert Brauchle; Mike Holtzclaw; and David Ress).

In the under 50,000 circulation group, first place went to Jeffery Gerritt, editor, Palestine Herald-Press, Palestine, Texas.

Read about additional awards.

The Times (Gainesville, Ga.) this week announced it will be making significant changes in its printed editions by the end of the year.

As of Dec. 24, The Times will no longer have printed Monday or Tuesday editions, moving to a five-day-per-week print cycle.

Content will continue to be produced and posted digitally seven days a week, and subscribers will continue to have full digital access to fresh content daily.

James Doughton, regional publisher of seven newspapers, including the Gainesville (Fla.) Sun and the Ocala Star-Banner, will retire at the end of the year.

As a salute to those at the Capital Gazette who lost their lives and those who rallied in the aftermath, The Times of Gainesville, Ga., echoed Reporter Chase Cook's rallying cry by replacing for one day its slogan, Honestly Local, on the front-page masthead on Thursday, July 12, with Cook's tweet:

The Forsyth County News and Dawson County News took similar action, along with newspapers around the country who were encouraged to do the same.

Read Nate McCullough's column in The Times.

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.

Charles H. Morris Sr., CEO and president of Morris Multimedia Inc., announced April 16 the sale of The Times (Gainesville, Ga.) and The Poultry Times to Metro Market Media, a newly formed company owned by his son, Charles H. Morris, Jr.

In a separate transaction, Morris Sr. also sold from an affiliated company the Forsyth County News (Cumming, Ga.) and Dawson County News (Dawsonville, Ga.) to Morris Jr. and MMM.