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Leonard accepts new position
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| Lake City Reporter Publisher Michael Leonard (left) laughs with Community Newspapers, Inc., Chairman Tom Wood (center) and President Dink NeSmith at the Reporter office Thursday. Leonard announced he is moving to South Carolina. JASON MATTHEW WALKER/Lake City Reporter |
Publisher leaves for advancement in South Carolina.
By TROY ROBERTS
troberts@lakecityreporter.com
Lake City Reporter Publisher Michael Leonard took the next step in advancing his career on Thursday, announcing his intentions to resign as chief executive of the newspaper and accept a job as a newspaper publisher in South Carolina.
Leonard said his last day at the newspaper will be July 18. Leonard, who has a 17-year career with Community Newspapers, Inc. — the Athens, Ga.-based parent company of the Lake City Reporter — announced he would be joining the Edwards Group, Inc., which publishes two newspapers in South Carolina: the Daily Journal, in Seneca and the Clemson Messenger. The company also has interests in radio stations and real estate development.
“My five years in Lake City have been the most rewarding and enjoyable of my professional career,” Leonard said. “This newspaper has an awesome staff that is committed to Lake City and to one another. It’s been great for me at the Reporter, and for my family and me in the community. I always knew it would take a very special situation to pry me away from CNI and the Reporter, because everyone is like family and this is a terrific place to live. This opportunity presents that, though, so it is with a mixture of sadness and anticipation that I am leaving.”
Leonard said he looks forward to the new challenges and opportunities that the new position will bring. The move also will allow Leonard to be within driving distance of Gardner-Webb University, where his two oldest children attend college on swimming scholarships.
He has been the publisher of the Lake City Reporter since 2003.
CNI Chairman Tom Wood and President Dink NeSmith were both in Lake City on Thursday for Leonard’s announcement and offered words of encouragement for the exiting publisher.
“Michael has been an important part of CNI for 17 years and has been successful in a number of assignments, each one offering more responsibility than the previous one,” Wood said. “His tenure as publisher of the Lake City Reporter has covered an improved local news report and several innovative changes.
At the same time, Michael accepted an active leadership role in the Lake City community. He has earned an enviable reputation and we shall miss him.”
Wood said he hated losing Leonard, but as Leonard is the publisher of the largest paper in CNI, there was not an opportunity within the company for him to take the next step.
Wood and NeSmith said they have not hired a new publisher for the newspaper, but would immediately begin the interviewing process to find Leonard’s replacement.
Leonard said his last day at the newspaper will be July 18. Leonard, who has a 17-year career with Community Newspapers, Inc. — the Athens, Ga.-based parent company of the Lake City Reporter — announced he would be joining the Edwards Group, Inc., which publishes two newspapers in South Carolina: the Daily Journal, in Seneca and the Clemson Messenger. The company also has interests in radio stations and real estate development.
“My five years in Lake City have been the most rewarding and enjoyable of my professional career,” Leonard said. “This newspaper has an awesome staff that is committed to Lake City and to one another. It’s been great for me at the Reporter, and for my family and me in the community. I always knew it would take a very special situation to pry me away from CNI and the Reporter, because everyone is like family and this is a terrific place to live. This opportunity presents that, though, so it is with a mixture of sadness and anticipation that I am leaving.”
Leonard said he looks forward to the new challenges and opportunities that the new position will bring. The move also will allow Leonard to be within driving distance of Gardner-Webb University, where his two oldest children attend college on swimming scholarships.
He has been the publisher of the Lake City Reporter since 2003.
CNI Chairman Tom Wood and President Dink NeSmith were both in Lake City on Thursday for Leonard’s announcement and offered words of encouragement for the exiting publisher.
“Michael has been an important part of CNI for 17 years and has been successful in a number of assignments, each one offering more responsibility than the previous one,” Wood said. “His tenure as publisher of the Lake City Reporter has covered an improved local news report and several innovative changes.
At the same time, Michael accepted an active leadership role in the Lake City community. He has earned an enviable reputation and we shall miss him.”
Wood said he hated losing Leonard, but as Leonard is the publisher of the largest paper in CNI, there was not an opportunity within the company for him to take the next step.
Wood and NeSmith said they have not hired a new publisher for the newspaper, but would immediately begin the interviewing process to find Leonard’s replacement.
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Dragon wrote on Jun 27, 2008 8:45 AM:
Also thanks for reporting news in an
objective manner.....pleasant or otherwise. The truth will always come
out, and there is more truth to come
in Lake City. "