Georgia Press Association

Daily Citizen saves library delivery service
When budget cuts forced the Northwest Regional Library System to shut down its book delivery service, The Daily Citizen of Dalton stepped in.

Forming a unique public/private partnership, the library system and the newspaper have arranged for newspaper carriers to deliver books to homebound readers in Gordon, Murray and Whitfield counties every other week. The service will start in July.

"Literacy is vital to the community, not just for the youth, but also for adults," said Daily Citizen Publisher William Bronson. "Having this program is paramount to improving quality of life in our area, especially for our older community members who are not able to drive or make other arrangements to get to the library."

Bronson began to explore the possibility of working with the library system when it announced that its van delivery service was being discontinued. "We're just real excited to be able to continue to offer this to these people," said Joe Forsee, library director. "We're looking forward to having a partner because again, it was so unexpected. This is the kind of news you can stand a little bit more often. This is exciting new territory for us."

Delivering books to the three-county area cost the library about $60,000, including salaries and benefits and fuel and vehicle maintenance. The library has seen state grants fall to $36,937 for the 2011 fiscal year from $118,476 in fiscal year 2009.
- The Daily Citizen, Dalton

Cartersville, Douglasville dailies add to websites
The Daily Tribune News of Cartersville and the Douglas County Sentinel of Douglasville have updated their websites to add several new features.

The Daily Tribune News' site, www.daily-tribune.com, relaunched in early June, giving readers the opportunity to place classified advertisements online and to see the most read and recommended stories on the newspaper's site.

"We are extremely excited to offer our readers a new look for our website," said Johnette Dawson, editor and publisher of The Daily Tribune News. "The new site's design is a blend of not only our own professional ideas but the opinions and requests from our readers plus suggestions from research groups and polls at other newspapers.

"There are still some additional enhancements lined up, so we encourage readers to explore our pages and share their opinions with us," she said. "Of course, the electronic version is not meant to deter people from buying the print edition … but rather to offer quick-read articles of top news stories in a timely manner and hopefully encourage readers to purchase the printed edition for additional news, features, entertainment and advertisements."

In Douglasville, The Sentinel updated its site, www.douglascountysentinel.com, for the first time in a decade. The new format is designed to be more organized and easier to navigate with new headers that quickly identify the focus of pages and sections.

"Readers should also continue to look for contests and newly added features as we strive to make the Sentinel an even greater source of news and community events," said Publisher Cathy New.
- The Daily Tribune News, Cartersville, and Douglas County Sentinel, Douglasville

NeSmith joins board of MCG Health

William "Dink" H. NeSmith Jr., president and co-owner of Athens-based Community Newspapers Inc., has been appointed to serve a three-year term on the board of directors of MCG Health Inc., adding to a long list of corporate and public responsibilities.

NeSmith was appointed by Gov. Sonny Perdue in 2008 to the Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia to represent the 10th Congressional District. A 1970 graduate of The University of Georgia (UGA), NeSmith is past chairman of the University's Fanning Institute for Leadership, and several years ago, co-authored a biography of the institute's founder, Dr. J.W. Fanning. He is past president of UGA's National Alumni Association and chairman of the Richard B. Russell Foundation.

Perdue appointed NeSmith to the 20-member Commission for a New Georgia, which he has served for the past eight years. He also serves on the board of directors of Athens First Bank and Trust, Southern Mutual Insurance Co., Pattillo Construction Co. and the Georgia Chapter of The Nature Conservancy. NeSmith is past president of the Georgia Press Association and former chairman of Leadership Georgia.

He is an emeritus member of the UGA Athletic Association's board of directors and the UGA Foundation's Board of Trustees. As Chairman of Athens '96 for the four years leading up to the 1996 Summer Olympic Games, NeSmith led Athens' involvement in the Games' soccer, volleyball and rhythmic gymnastics events.

MCG Health Inc. is a nonprofit corporation operating the MCGHealth Medical Center, MCGHealth Children's Medical Center, MCGHealth Cancer Center, Georgia Radiation Therapy Center, and related outpatient facilities and services throughout the state.
- MCG Health Inc.

Jackson newspaper has new editor
Mike Davis was chosen editor of the Jackson Progress-Argus, replacing Steward Voegtlin.

Davis was assistant managing editor for the Clayton News Daily of Jonesboro. Both newspapers are owned by Southern Community Newspapers Inc.

Davis began his newspaper career as an intern with the Henry Daily Herald of McDonough in 2003. He later became a reporter and then city editor. He joined the News Daily in 2009.

"I'm thoroughly excited about the opportunity to come to the Jackson Progress-Argus and and bea part of a great team of people at a great newspaper," Davis said. "Butts County is a vibrant community with a lot of stories to tell, and I look forward to helping to tell those stories."
"Mike brings a lot of valuable experience to the position, and he's going to be a great fit," said Voegtlin, who had been editor since 2006.

"Butts County is in extremely capable hands."
- Jackson Progress-Argus

Covington News hires online marketing director
The Covington News has hired Tracy Batye to the newly created job of director of online marketing.

Batye is a former marketing employee of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution and Creative Loafing. "I have lived in Covington for 16 years and I'm thrilled to have the opportunity to join The Covington News family and to work with local businesses to help them with their online advertising needs," Batye said.

"The future of community newspapering is strong and will continue to get stronger," said T. Pat Cavanaugh, general manager of The News, "but to keep pace, the community paper will need strong website as its partner."
- The Covington News

In other news at newspapers:
- Jen Dzermejko joined the Tribune & Georgian of St. Marys as a graphic artist.
- Assistant editor Maria Arreguin of The Catoosa County News of Ringgold announced she was leaving the newspaper to join the Southwest Conservation Corps.

Chronicle's Ryan earns Louis Harris Award
Michael Ryan, editorial page editor of The Augusta Chronicle, was awarded the Louis Harris Award by the Augusta West Rotary Club.
The club has presented the award for more than 30 years to honor the memory of Harris, a community leader who was a longtime editor of The Chronicle and Augusta Herald.
- The Augusta Chronicle

Newnan magazine wins awards
The Times-Herald's Newnan-Coweta Magazine has won two GAMMA Awards from the Magazine Association of the Southeast.

The magazine won the Bronze Award for general excellence, and writer Elizabeth Richardson won an honorable mention for a profile written in spring of 2009.

The GAMMA is the Southeast's largest and most prestigious magazine industry award.
- The Times-Herald, Newnan