John Newby named publisher of the Muskogee Phoenix

John Newby

John Newby, an accomplished newspaper executive, has been appointed publisher of the Muskogee (Okla.) Phoenix, effective Dec. 7.

Newby comes to Muskogee from Illinois where he served as publisher for The Times in Ottawa. He has worked in the newspaper industry since 1990, and currently is the North American board president of the International News Media Association.

"We are delighted John is coming aboard to lead our Muskogee Phoenix team in serving this very important Eastern Oklahoma market," said Steve McPhaul, chief operating officer of Community Newspaper Holdings, Inc., parent company of the paper. "He has been a successful innovator, strategic planner and imaginative leader across his career – and those skills will help move us forward on both the print and digital fronts in Muskogee."

Newby began his newspaper career as a circulation district manager at the Omaha World-Herald in Nebraska, and continued up the management ladder in audience development, sales and marketing there and at newspapers in Iowa and Utah before joining the Small Newspaper Group in Moline, Ill., in 2002. He was promoted to publisher of the group's Ottawa Times paper in 2007.

"The Phoenix is a great newspaper with a wonderful tradition of noteworthy community service and a strong legacy of excellent journalism," said Newby. "My wife and I are excited about coming to Muskogee.  I look forward to working with the excellent staff as well as getting to thoroughly know and engage with the community."

Newby and his wife, Kathy, have nine grown children and 22 grandchildren. He is a former U.S. Air Force certified weather forecaster and coached youth sports for many years.