Granfeldt returns to West Texas as group publisher in Lubbock and Amarillo

Robert Granfeldt

Robert Granfeldt has been named the new group publisher of the Lubbock Avalanche-Journal and the Amarillo Globe-News.

As publisher, Granfeldt will be responsible for operations, readership and both publications' relationship with their communities.

A graduate of Coronado High School, Granfeldt began his career in circulation and marketing in 1984 at the A-J, where he worked for close to 10 years. He returned to the newspaper in 1996 and was part of the team that brought the publication online.

Granfeldt has also worked at the Florida Times-Union and the Montgomery Advertiser. He has served in leadership positions with Morris Communications, former owner of the A-J and the Globe-News, NewsBank and Southern Community Newspapers Inc. Most recently, Granfeldt has worked as general manager of 360 West Magazine in Fort Worth.

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.

"I have a really clear understanding of what West Texans want from their media," Granfeldt said. "I know that what West Texans want is strong, conservative leadership, and that's what they'll get from me."

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 recently.