Newsmakers

New hires, promotions and other recent changes at Texas newspapers published in the February 2023 edition of the Texas Press Messenger.

CLAIRE WILLIAMS

SEAN McCRORY

Denton Record-Chronicle

DENTON – Claire Williams, formerly digital editor, has been promoted to director of content for the Denton Record-Chronicle, succeeding executive editor Sean McCrory, who has become editor in chief of the Orlando Business Journal in Florida.

Bill Patterson, publisher and CEO of the Record-Chronicle announced the changes.

McCrory led the Record-Chronicle newsroom for almost five years, during which the news organization has seen significant progress and growth as it pivoted to better serve its growing digital audience. McCrory started the newsroom down the path toward being a true digital-first news organization, and his leadership helped ensure quality news coverage through the challenges the COVID-19 pandemic presented.

Patterson thanked McCrory for his leadership and said he looks forward to the news organization’s continued growth with Williams at the helm in the newsroom.

Prior to joining the Record-Chronicle, Williams served as managing editor at the National Athletic Trainers’ Association. She has worked with the Record-Chronicle editing team behind the scenes over the past four years. She also has experience in brand strategy, advertising and public relations with Dallas-based GoDo Discovery Co. and New York-based DiGennaro Communications. Williams received her master’s degree in journalism from the University of North Texas in 2018.

“Denton Media Company has been fortunate to have been selected to be a part of the Google News Initiative North America subscription lab, one of only 12 newspaper companies selected in the U.S. and Canada,” Patterson said, adding that “Claire has been very engaged in the newest and latest thinking in connecting with communities, subscribers, readers and growing our audience.”

Patterson said Williams’ experience in digital strategy and passion for local journalism will be crucial as the Denton Record-Chronicle continues to transition to a more digital- and community-focused format.

JENNIFER SCOTT

Tyler Morning Telegraph

TYLER - Jennifer Scott has joined the Tyler Morning Telegraph team as multimedia reporter.

Managing Editor Santana Wood announced the appointment.

Scott will cover a variety of stories and community events. She also will work with the Morning Telegraph’s sister publications, such as ETX View Magazine and the Longview News-Journal.

Originally from Birmingham, Alabama, Scott holds a bachelor’s degree in journalism and a minor in communications of the hearing-impaired from Troy University.

She has experience with the Fort Bend Herald in Rosenberg, the Houston Chronicle, the Madison Journal of Tallulah, Louisiana and the Troy Messenger in Troy, Alabama. She also has done some freelance work for the Morning Telegraph.

As a writer and photographer, she has worn many hats throughout her journalistic career, covering sports, crime and local government. She also has spent time building ads and major profile pages.

She has been a Tyler resident since 2021, when she accepted a position as manager of a portrait studio.

FAITH HUFFMAN

Sulphur Springs News-Telegram

SULPHUR SPRINGS – Faith Huffman has returned to the staff of the Sulphur Springs News-Telegram as assistant managing editor.

Publisher Dave Shabaz announced the appointment.

Huffman returned to the News Telegram after four years with KSST Radio and Channel 18, where she compiled and shared news with the Sulphur Springs community through radio, TV and online news.

She first went to work for the News Telegram in 1999, shortly after graduating from Texas A&M University-Commerce, where she had worked on he school newspaper, The East Texan. She also attended Northeast Texas Community College in Mount Pleasant, where she earned an associate degree and also worked on the school newspaper, The Eagle. Huffman is from Linden, where as a high school student, she wrote a column for the Cass County Sun.

Huffman spent almost 20 years of her career with the News-Telegram, starting as a general assignment reporter, later as education, emergency services and law enforcement report and then becoming news editor.

SHAYLA KUYKENDALL

Colorado County Citizen

COLUMBUS – Shayla Kuykendall has joined the staff of the Colorado County Citizen as a general assignment reporter.

Kuykendall earned an associate of arts degree from Wharton Junior College and majored in mass media arts at Houston Baptist University, where she was life and arts editor for the online student newspaper. She went on to intern at an online family publication and at KPRC-TV in Houston, where she gained experience in writing for digital news and television.

Before the pandemic, she worked as a substitute teacher and studied for a journalism teaching certificate. In 2021, she enrolled at Texas Southern University, earning a Master of Arts degree in communication with a concentration in professional communication and digital media.

Prior to joining the Citizen, she worked in corporate communications and digital marketing for a real estate company in Houston.

A native of Colorado County, she recently returned to her hometown of Eagle Lake.