Interim publisher named at Martinsville Bulletin

Robert MacPherson

Robert E. MacPherson, a veteran newspaper executive, has been appointed interim publisher of the Martinsville (Va.) Bulletin following the sale of the newspaper to BH Media.

MacPherson joins the Martinsville newspaper from Richmond, where he served as operations project manager for the BH Media Group. His appointment was announced by Terry H. Jamerson, publisher of The Roanoke Times and a vice president for BH Media.

"I'm delighted to play a leadership role in this exciting transition for the Martinsville Bulletin," MacPherson said. "I'm looking forward to working with a dedicated team of employees here."

MacPherson, a longtime executive with Media General of Richmond, has an extensive background in accounting and finance, as well as leadership of community newspapers.

"BH Media strongly believes in local management of its community newspapers," MacPherson said. "The Martinsville Bulletin's leadership will continue to be right here in Martinsville, as it's always been." Moreover, the newspaper's readers will benefit from BH Media's resources, in terms of expanded coverage and long-term investment in equipment at the Bulletin to help meet the needs of readers and advertisers, he said.

MacPherson thanked former Bulletin publisher George Harris, who has retired.

"The BH Media family and I extend our congratulations to George Harris on his recent retirement," MacPherson said. "We thank him for his leadership, and appreciate him staying through the recent purchase."

MacPherson was general manager for Media General's Virginia community newspapers from 1996-2004 and also served as publisher of the Danville Register & Bee and interim publisher of the Hickory (N.C.) Daily Record. From 2005-2009, he was responsible for all of that company's community newspapers. More recently, he was a corporate vice president for human resources with Media General, before joining BH Media last July.

The Martinsville Bulletin becomes the ninth BH Media daily newspaper in Virginia, joining The Roanoke Times, the Richmond Times-Dispatch, the Bristol Herald Courier, The (Charlottesville) Daily Progress, The (Lynchburg) News & Advance, the Danville Register & Bee, The (Waynesboro) News Virginian and the Culpeper Star-Exponent.