Paxton Media Group, which purchased the Cherokee Scout and affiliated newspapers in March, has announced changes at several locations.
Rachel Hoskins, longtime publisher of the Franklin Press, has been named the regional publisher over Paxton's newspapers in Bryson City, Franklin, Hayesville, Highlands, Murphy and Robbinsville in western North Carolina as well as Blue Ridge and Ellijay in north Georgia.
As a result, the positions belonging to David Brown, publisher of the Cherokee Scout; Glenn Harbison, publisher of The News Observer; and Becky Long, publisher of the Clay County Progress, are being eliminated, along with the open publisher position at the Times-Courier.
Editor Randy Foster will oversee news operations at the Scout and can be reached at editor@cherokeescout.com. Hoskins – who will handle the business, circulation and marketing sides of the newspaper – can be reached via email at rhoskins@thefranklinpress.com.
Brown's last day in the office is Friday. He thanked the Scout readers who have been kind over the last 23 years, and said his priority come Monday is to finish the book he's writing for his grandchildren.