Bonnie Pratt named Register-News publisher

Bonnie Pratt has been appointed publisher and advertising director of the daily Mt. Vernon (Ill.) Register-News and the weekly McLeansboro Times Leader.

Pratt comes to Mount Vernon from Georgia where she was the regional publisher and general sales manager for the Clayton News Daily, Henry Daily Herald and Jackson Progress-Argus.

Robyn McCloskey, senior vice president of operations for Community Newspaper Holdings, Inc., parent company of the Illinois papers, said Pratt has extensive management experience and a passion for community journalism. 

"She is also a people person," said McCloskey. "She will have a positive impact on not only the staff at the newspapers but in the communities as well."

Pratt said she's excited with the opportunity to lead the newspapers and get involved in the Mount Vernon and McLeansboro business and civic communities.

"I look forward to meeting and working with the great people that make up these markets," said Pratt. "My goal will be to develop exciting new opportunities through community involvement and with news and advertising content that meets local expectations."

The Register-News is a five-day newspaper published Tuesday through Saturday. The Times Leader is published on Thursdays. Both papers feature websites with seven-day news and advertising content.