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Granfeldt named new publisher for Amarillo, Lubbock

LUBBOCK – Robert Granfeldt is the new group publisher of the Amarillo Globe-News and Lubbock Avalanche-Journal, Gatehouse Media officials announced Feb. 6.
As publisher, Granfeldt is responsible for operations, readership and both publications’ relationship with their communities.
Granfeldt has worked at the Avalanche-Journal, Florida Times-Union and the Montgomery Advertiser. 
He has served in leadership positions with Morris Communications, former owner of the Globe-News, Avalanche-Journal and Times-Union, NewsBank and Southern Community Newspapers Inc. Most recently, he was general manager of 360 West Magazine in Fort Worth. 
The Lubbock native said he’s eager to return to his roots.
“I’m home,” Granfeldt said. “I love West Texas and I love the people of West Texas. They can expect me to be fair and honest. I will work day and night to make sure the Lubbock Avalanche-Journal and the Amarillo Globe-News remain and grow as the No. 1 source of information in West Texas.”
In this position, Granfeldt said he plans to focus on producing quality local journalism and enhancing digital assets, an area he has specialized in throughout his career.
A nationwide search was conducted to fill the publisher position, said Michelle Smith of Gatehouse Media, which bought both papers last year. 
Granfeldt succeeds Brandon Hughes, former publisher of the Lubbock Avalanche-Journal, and Les Simpson, former publisher of the Amarillo Globe-News, who both stepped down from their positions last month.
Granfeldt and his wife Karen, a teacher who is also from Lubbock, have three sons — Grayson, 24, Cameron, 23, and Kalen, 20.