Newsmakers - November 2014

QUINTEN BOYD - Cherokeean Herald
Cherokeean Herald sports editor and general news reporter Quinten Boyd has been named the newspaper's managing editor. Boyd, who also serves as a host for "The Country corner" and play-by-play broadcaster for Rusk High School football and basketball, has worked for the Herald for six years. Boyd is a cum laude graduate of Stephen F. Austin State University, with a degree in journalism and creative writing.

SCOTT BROOKS - Waxahachie Newspapers, Inc.
GateHouse Media, parent company of Waxahachie Newspapers, Inc. (WNI), announced the addition of Scott Brooks, who has joined the WNI team as publisher. As publisher of WNI, Brooks will oversee the operations of the Waxahachie Daily Light, the Midlothian Mirror, the Ellis County Trading Post and the company's related digital and social media platforms. Prior to WNI, Brooks served as director of advertising for the Tuscaloosa News in Tuscaloosa, Alabama.

JESSICA COOLEY - The Lufkin News
Jessica Cooley was named city editor of The Lufkin News. Cooley has worked for the newspaper for the past five years as a reporter covering education, crime and courts. In 2012, she earned the title of senior reporter.

MAGGIE FRASER - Shiner Gazette
Maggie Fraser has been named editor of the Shiner Gazette. She comes to Shiner from Quitman, where she was the editor of The Wood County Democrat for a year and a half. Fraser is a 2012 graduate of Texas Christian University, and holds a bachelor's degree in journalism with a minor in film, television and digital media.

YVONNE MINTZ - The Facts, Clute
Yvonne Mintz has been promoted to editor of The Facts. Mintz served The Facts as managing editor for more than 10 years. Mintz graduated from the University of Texas at Austin with a bachelor's degree in journalism and joined The Facts as a reporter in 1997. She ascended through the newsroom, becoming senior reporter, then city editor before being named managing editor in June 2004. She has led the news department through the digital transformation and built the paper's presence on social media. In January 2013 she helped the the newspaper launch Q magazine.
"Yvonne has a passion for turning out quality products and understands the newspaper's role in the community," Publisher Bill Cromwell said.

MICHAEL MORRIS - The Facts, Clute
Michael Morris was recently promoted to managing editor of The Facts, after serving as assistant managing editor for 12 years. Morris started his 30-year newspaper career while still in high school as a sports clerk with his hometown newspaper in Willoughby, Ohio. "Michael has been a huge asset to The Facts, and his work ethic is incredible," Mintz said. "As our product portfolio has expanded, his role at the newspaper has grown, and he very much deserves this promotion."

NATE SMITH - Palestine Herald-Press
Nate Smith took the reins as editor of the Palestine Herald-Press. Smith comes from Indiana, where he was the online editor of the Washington Times Herald. He is a 2001 graduate of the University of Southern Indiana. After graduation, smith spent time in South Korea before beginning his journalism career in 2003. Smith has won several honors during his time with the Washington Times Herald, including as a finalist for Journalist of the Year in 2008 for CNHI.

MICHAEL STEARNS - Hereford Brand
Michael Stearns will assume the titles of both the publisher and advertising director of the Hereford Brand. Stearns comes to Hereford from Oklahoma after serving as the editor for Madill Record for the past year where he was responsible for news and sports content, as well as photography. He has been a publisher, editor and writer in Oklahoma, Missouri and Texas.