GateHouse Media, LLC has announced that Bill Church has added the role of Austin American-Statesman editor-in-chief to his responsibilities as GateHouse Media's senior vice president of news. Church, a respected industry veteran, known for his visionary leadership, has served in his current role since 2016.

The Oklahoman Media Company has been sold to the fastest-growing publishing company in the country, New York-based GateHouse Media, for an undisclosed amount.

Chris Reen, who was publisher of The Oklahoman and president of The Oklahoman Media Company, will remain with The Anschutz Corp. Jim Hopson of Gatehouse will be the interim publisher of The Oklahoman.

GateHouse Media has launched a new, central consumer marketing agency to drive consumer marketing revenue and develop new and innovative products and experiences. The agency is led by Denise Robbins, senior vice president of consumer marketing.

Part of the agency's role is overseeing subscription acquisition and customer lifecycle management, including deepening reader engagement and customer experience in GateHouse's largest markets. Later this year, the agency will expand to lead consumer marketing activity for all 144 GateHouse dailies as well as the company's weekly subscription-based publications, the company said.

Bob Davis, publisher and editor of The Anniston Star, has announced his resignation.

Davis came to Consolidated in 2003, and has been The Star's editor since 2006. He took on the role of publisher in 2016. He's leaving to become executive director at High Plains Public Radio, a network of stations serving communities in Colorado, Kansas, Nebraska, Oklahoma and Texas.

Josephine Ayers has been named The Star's publisher, while Anthony Cook becomes executive editor of The Star and the other newspapers of its parent company, Consolidated Publishing.

GateHouse Media recently announced that Jeff Moriarty has been named senior vice president, digital for the company. His appointment is effective April 20.

Chris Davis has been named regional digital director for CNHI.

Davis previously was training manager, overseeing CNHI's companywide training program and implementing digital sales strategies for publishers and sales managers.

GateHouse Media launched a month-long nationwide sweepstakes on Jan. 15 to promote its partnership with Houzz that will provide readers with a fully co-branded experience, including the ability to purchase products directly from the publisher's co-branded websites. Among the prize offerings are a $5,000 Houzz shopping spree, daily cash prizes and Houzz discount coupons. It's all part of GateHouse Media's strategy to create local home and real estate destination channels within newspapers' websites.

Albert K. Sherman, Jr. has announced that his family has entered into a definitive agreement to sell substantially all of the assets of the Edward A. Sherman Publishing Company, which publishes the Newport (R.I.) Daily News and other publications.

Denise Robbins brings 20 years of success in developing multichannel marketing, strategic partnership and innovative consumer revenue programs to her new role with GateHouse Media. She will be responsible for GateHouse Media's consumer marketing strategy and revenue growth.

After leading The Anniston Star for 47 years, H. Brandt Ayers has stepped down as the newspaper's publisher. The move was among several changes announced last week in the leadership of Consolidated Publishing.

The title of publisher and editor goes to Bob Davis, formerly The Star's associate publisher and editor.