Fast-growing local media company American Hometown Publishing Inc. has hired content and product specialist David Arkin as its chief strategy officer.

In the role, Arkin will be responsible for new product development positioned for attractive markets, audience growth strategies and he will help identify future acquisitions. AHP owns newspaper properties in five states (Florida, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Tennessee and Virginia) and has completed two acquisitions and a merger in the past 100 days.

The Associated Press has named Janelle Cogan, a journalist with more than a decade of experience leading reporters, as deputy director of storytelling for the U.S. South, a new position overseeing AP's presentation of news and enterprise across all media formats in 13 states.

Bridget Williams has been named senior vice president, strategy and operations for Hearst Newspapers Digital Media. The announcement was made by Hearst Newspapers President Mark Aldam and Hearst Newspapers Digital Media President Robertson Barrett, to whom Williams will report.

In the new role, Williams will focus on growing direct and programmatic sales efforts and new revenue streams across Hearst Newspapers' stable of properties. In the past year, Hearst Newspapers has made several strategic acquisitions of local community newspapers, bringing quality digital reporting to new markets.

The Dallas Morning News has hired Dan Sherlock as head of digital audience. This is a newly created position and is integral to the company's digital strategy.

Sherlock was previously the senior vice president of digital consumer marketing for the Los Angeles Times/Tribune Publishing. He has had a distinguished career in the digital media and publishing industries as a paid digital content pioneer, a career-long subscription marketer and senior executive.

McClatchy has announced the appointment of Vijay Ravindran to its board of directors, effective Jan. 1, 2018.

Hugh Osteen has been promoted to Florida market manager of Osteen Publishing Company. In his new role, he will have oversight of expenses, responsibility to grow online formats and revenue, act as sales coach to the sales team, prospect for new delivery business for Publication Distribution Services and learn the intimate inner workings of the PDS delivery business. He also will develop and approve vendor relationships and services.

Jamie Kinnaird, advertising director for The Roanoke Times, has been promoted to vice president of advertising for the newspaper.

As your current president of the Southern Newspaper Publishers Association, I'd like to say how thankful that I am for not only the organization, but especially the staff.

The three people who guide SNPA daily – Edward VanHorn, Cindy Durham and Paulette Sheffield – have dedicated many years to serving you and our industry.

Like us, they love our business and work hard every day to help us and ensure our success.

As we approach Thanksgiving this week, I'd like you to get to know them a little more and be sure, when the opportunity rises, to thank them for everything they do.

Interim publisher and longtime business manager Relan Walker has assumed the role of publisher of The Paris (Texas) News, Dolph Tillotson, president of Southern Newspapers Inc., has announced.

Two additional appointments at the paper also have been announced.

Gannett | USA TODAY NETWORK announced a major organizational change yesterday that more definitively aligns with the company's refreshed business strategy, which focuses on two primary businesses: …