New publisher named for Sand Mountain Reporter

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Jonathan Stinson has been named publisher of The Sand Mountain Reporter in Albertville, Ala. He succeeds Ben Shurett, who announced his plans to retire in June and has been at the helm of the newspaper since 2006.

The change was announced by Dolph Tillotson of Galveston, Texas, president of Southern Newspapers, Inc.

"I think Jonathan Stinson will do a great job as publisher of The Reporter, and I'm looking forward to working with him," Tillotson said. "Jonathan has proved himself to be one of the brightest, most thoughtful and most competent editors in our company.

"I'm also very grateful to Ben Shurett for his many years of fine work for our company in Albertville and elsewhere.

"Ben will continue to work with our company on a consulting basis, helping to train and lead our younger employees, and of course he'll be available to advise and help Jonathan as he takes on new duties.

"This is an exciting day for The Reporter and for Southern Newspapers, Inc. We have enormous faith in the future of the newspaper and the future of the Sand Mountain communities we serve.

"Newspapers remain very important to the communities they serve, and we're privileged to work and serve in Albertville and Boaz."

Stinson has been managing editor of the paper since May 2012, and he's been with The Reporter for about five years.

"I'm grateful for the opportunity, and I'm excited about the future of The Reporter," Stinson said. "My wife, Anna, and I really enjoy living and working in this community, and without a doubt there are some exciting things on the horizon for Sand Mountain.

"Ben Shurett set a high standard for what a newspaper should be, and how it should operate, and he will be missed.

"Over the past five years, I've watched the people at The Reporter face some daunting challenges, meet those challenges head-on, and overcome them. I have the utmost confidence in the people that work here, and I could not ask for a better group of people to work with."

Shurett added, "I am so excited for Jonathan Stinson and for our staff at The Reporter.

"Jonathan has earned the opportunity to be publisher of this paper with his hard work and the leadership he has displayed since he became editor here in 2012. Jonathan has a distinct advantage of having lived here for more than five years and understanding the communities and readers we serve. He will do a wonderful job now leading all departments and this newspaper.

"It has been my great privilege to have run this newspaper since 2006 and to live on Sand Mountain. I'm pleased I will continue to be involved with Southern Newspapers and in the newspaper industry."

Albertville, Stinson, Shurett
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