Newsmakers

Promotions, new hires and other news reported by Texas Newspapers and published in the October 2024 edition of the Texas Press Messenger.

Temple Telegram appoints Morrissey general manager

TEMPLE – Scot Morrissey, a veteran newspaper publisher and digital operations manager, is the new general manager of the Temple Daily Telegram, Mrs. Sue Mayborn, the newspaper’s editor and publisher, announced. 

Morrissey succeeded Don Cooper, who had been acting general manager since Aug. 5. 

“Scot has worked at and understands family-owned media companies like ours,” Mayborn said. “He will be a great addition to the Telegram and to the community.” 

Morrissey has been a community newspaper media publisher for more than two decades. He was the president and publisher of the Albany (Ga.) Herald and the vice president of digital operations for Southern Community Newspapers since 2018. Earlier, he was publisher of the Log Cabin Democrat in Conway, Ark., and the Athens (Ga.) Banner-Herald. 

Morrissey has a background in journalism, digital media, marketing, social media, digital and print audience growth, and team building. He has been involved in starting and operating digital media initiatives since 2010. 

“I have had the luxury of working for a family-owned newspaper company most of my career,” Morrissey said. “The Telegram’s private ownership separate from corporate newspapering is rare and truly important. Mrs. Mayborn’s impact and her dedication to this community and region was a primary draw for me.”

SHAWN AKERS, Victoria Advocate

VICTORIA – Shawn Akers, a 40-year media veteran, is the new managing editor of the Victoria Advocate.

Akers introduced himself to the community through a column published in the newspaper Sept. 6.

Akers said his career journey began at his hometown newspaper in Murphysboro, Illinois, at age 14.

“Through college, I made my way through the ranks as a score taker and sports writer at our regional newspaper in Southern Illinois. I did  two and a half-years  as the sports editor at the Alice Echo-News from 1989 to 1991,” he wrote, adding that he learned how big football is in Texas.

For 17 years, he worked in the NASCAR industry in various roles, including NASCAR.com and covering racetracks throughout the country. He also worked for NASCAR’s sister company, International Speedway Corporation, as a senior editor.

Later, he served 12 years with Charisma Media, a magazine serving charismatic Christians.

“I am uncompromising in my dedication to journalistic integrity, something that is very rarely seen these days in the media,” Akers wrote. “When it comes to the news, and for the good of the community, I refuse to compromise the impartiality to everyone that I was taught in my younger years to uphold.”

MIKE ALBANESE, Star Local Media

THE COLONY – Mike Albanese has joined Star Local Media as its new managing editor.

Albanese, an experienced journalist with a strong background in both print and digital media, returns to Star Local Media to lead the news team and contribute his expertise to the organization’s continued growth.

In his role as managing editor, Albanese oversees newsroom operations and provides news coverage in Frisco and Celina.

His responsibilities also include mentoring the organization’s reporters, fostering their development and ensuring the continuation of high-quality local journalism.

“While there is uncertainty in certain sectors of journalism, my view is hyperlocal news outlets are still a crucial aspect to communities and their residents,” Albanese said in an interview published in conjunction with the announcement. “We cover issues and highlight people that larger publications may not. Hyperlocal news organizations are in the community, we know the issues and we cover them with the integrity, accuracy and insights the communities deserve.”

Nick Souders, general manager of Star Local Media, shared his enthusiasm about Albanese’s return. “Having Mike back at Star Local Media feels like a homecoming. His deep roots in our community, combined with his impressive track record in journalism, make him the perfect person to lead our newsroom into the future,” her said. We’re not just getting a talented editor; we’re gaining someone who truly understands the pulse of our local areas. Mike’s ability to mentor young journalists will be instrumental in shaping the next generation of storytellers who will serve our community for years to come.”

Albanese is a native of Connecticut, but has called North Texas home for several years and currently resides in Celina with his wife, Amanda, and two young daughters.

APRIL S. KELLEY, Taylor Press, Elgin Courier

TAYLOR - April S. Kelley has joined Granite Media Partners as the Central Texas Group area editor.

She succeeds Jason Hennington, who left the Taylor Press to join the faculty at Hutto High School.

With more than a decade of experience, Kelley will oversee coverage in the Taylor Press and Elgin Courier.

“We are very happy to have April onboard. With her experience and her dedication to bringing the most timely news to readers, I know she will do a great job,” said Thomas Edwards, executive editor for Granite, which owns both papers and eight others.

After graduating from Louisiana Tech University, Kelley worked for several daily and weekly newspapers in Arkansas, Louisiana, Wyoming and Texas. She has also freelanced for local magazines and worked as an editor for a national digital media company.

Having moved around various states and working in several newsrooms, Kelley said she has learned how to immerse herself into local communities, learning about their distinct culture, the residents and their concerns.

“Journalism is all about storytelling, and the only way you can tell the stories of a community accurately is to fully step into it,” she said. Kelley said she views journalism as a public service, and she is eager to serve the residents of Taylor, Hutto, Elgin and surrounding areas with even more news through daily stories online as well as a wider breadth of coverage in print and eEditions.

She added she wants to bring readers solid reporting as well as heartfelt and entertaining stories.

CARTER BORDWELL Taylor Press,  Elgin Courier

Carter Bordwell has joined the staff of the Taylor Press and its sister paper the Elgin Courier as the new Central Texas Group area sports editor.

“Folks in both east Williamson County and Bastrop County will be seeing a lot of Carter in the weeks ahead. We’re really happy to bring him onboard and we know he’ll deliver when it comes to covering sports and outdoors,” said Thomas Edwards, executive editor of Granite Media Partners Inc., which owns 10 newspapers, including the Press and the Courier.

Bordwell said he is excited about chronicling local athletics and sporting events.

Recently he has covered stories for the Press as a freelance sports correspondent, so some Taylor-area coaches are already familiar with him.

“As a self-driven sports reporter with a lifelong passion for football that began when I was just 10 years old, I’ve always been dedicated to the game,” Bordwell said. “Growing up in the Houston area, I graduated from Huffman Hargrave High School and am currently pursuing my education at Texas State University. My journalism journey started with the University Star, our student-run newspaper, where I honed my skills and deepened my love for sports writing.”

Bordwell said his goal in covering sports is to “tell people something they don’t know about something they just watched.”

COY SLAVIK, South Texas News, Inc.

BEEVILLE – Goliad Advance-Guard and Refugio County Press Editor Coy Slavik has been named director of content for the nine newspapers of the South Texas News, Inc., family.

Slavik, 63, has 42 years of experience in print and digital journalism and has served as the editor of the Goliad Advance-Guard for a total of six years and the Refugio County Press for two years.

He is a native of Victoria and a product of Victoria College and the University of Houston-Victoria.

He served as a sports writer for the Victoria Advocate 17 years before handling the sports editor duties at the daily newspaper for 10 years. Slavik has also served as assistant managing editor for the New Braunfels Herald-Zeitung and editor for the Cuero record and Yorktown NewsView. “South Texas News is delighted to have Coy as our new director of content. Coy has considerable knowledge and experience in community journalism and will help position our portfolio of products as the ‘go-to sources’ for community news and information in their respective markets,” said South Texas News Publisher Dennis Wade.

“It’s an honor for me to serve as a mentor and coach to a talented staff of editors and reporters,” Slavik said. “There are many stories to be told in the region we serve, and I look forward to assisting our staff in finding those stories and sharing them with accuracy and integrity to our growing readership.”

NICHOLAS IRENE, The Banner-Press

BRENHAM – The Banner-Press has beefed up its editorial staff by adding experienced journalist Nicolas Irene. Irene began his duties last week as a reporter.

“We’re fortunate to have Nick on our team,” Managing Editor Keith E. Domke said.

Irene most recently worked for the Fort Bend Herald, a sister Hartman Newspapers publication. There, he covered both news and sports, including taking photos for the paper. He worked there for almost three years. Prior to that, he was a general assignment reporter for The Facts newspaper in Clute, where he also wrote stories for various magazines. He also worked for newspapers in Floresville and Nacogdoches.

Irene earned a bachelor’s degree in mass communications from Stephen F. Austin University in May 2018, where he said he “gained a solid foundation in media theory, writing, reporting and multimedia production.”

He was involved in the campus newspaper and radio station while in college.

Plans call for Irene to cover both the Brenham and Burton school districts as well as help sportswriter Nicholas Hodell with sports coverage, according to Domke. He will contribute features and general assignment work.

APRIL MARIE, Kaufman Herald

KAUFMAN – April Marie has joined the staff of the Kaufman Herald as a reporter.

A native of Minnesota, she is a graduate of St. Cloud State University. While her degree is in film and television production, she prefers writing and previously worked as a journalist in the video game industry. She has been a resident of Texas for three years.

COLBY PRIMEAUX, Wharton County Leader-Journal

EL CAMPO - Colby Primeaux has joined the staff of the Wharton County Leader-Journal as a reporter.

A native of Louisiana who has lived in the Houston area since 1997, Primeaux is a 2010 graduate of Houston Baptist (now Christian) University with a bachelor degree in mass communication and Christianity. He recently relocated to Stafford.

Most of his career has been in sports. He interned with Sports Radio 610 and the Houston Aeros hockey team, spent two seasons as a stringer for Associated Press covering the Astros and has covered high school and local sports for newspapers in Fort Bend, Katy and Huntsville.

In his new position, Primeaux said he looks forward to covering local government.

CHASE AVANTS, Star Local Media

MCKINNEY - Chase Avants is the new sports reporter for Star Local Media, covering various high school sports and local athletes in North Texas.

Avants says his route to journalism was non-traditional. He left college for several years to pursue other career interests until returning to his studies to earn a degree from the University of North Texas. While his original goal was to work in broadcasting, his college work prompted him to focus on writing.

A former high school athlete and lifelong sports fan, he calls himself a sports nerd with interest in all types of sports.

“Journalism is my vehicle,” Avants said in an interview published in the McKinney Courier Gazette. “It is how I want to use storytelling to change the world around me for the better. Regardless of how large or small that scale is, I want to bring honest information to my community.”

WILSON CHANEY, Sealy News

SEALY – Wilson Chaney has joined the staff of the Sealy News as a sports reporter covering all Sealy ISD athletics, Brazos ISD athletics and Brazos ISD school board meetings.

The appointment was announced by Jim Galvan, area editor. “Wilson will not only bring his flair of writing to the I-10 Group but will also bring his knowledge of social media to the group as well,” Galvan said, adding that the Sealy News has been honored by Texas Press Association for the past two years with first place honors in the sports coverage category.

A native of the Austin area, Wilson enjoyed sports, playing basketball and football in high school. After earning an associate degree at Temple College, he transferred to Texas Southern University with a bachelor degree in broadcast journalism. During his time at TSU, he was the sportswriter for the TSU Herald student newspaper and was on academic scholarship for Texas Southern Athletics. He also started his own multimedia group centering on sports and entertainment.

He also has experience working the NCAA Basketball Final 4 and the college football playoffs.

QUINTEN BOYD, The Paris News

PARIS – Quinten Boyd is a new sports writer for The Paris News.

A graduate of Stephen F. Austin State University in Nacogdoches, he began his career in 2008 and has worked at seven newspapers over the years, covering more than 20 high schools in East Texas. He noted that over the course of his career, he has had stories printed in more than 30 newspapers across Texas.

Boyd said he seeks to provide coverage for all sports and programs and strives to see that every team is spotlighted.