Otis Raybon takes the helm of the Rome News-Tribune as publisher May 11.
It is his fourth time in the publisher chair of a daily newspaper, having been publisher of the Dalton Daily Citizen News, the Griffin Daily News and the Americus Times Recorder, all part of the Thomson Newspapers chain at the time.
But in his 10 years in Rome, Raybon has become synonymous with the local newspaper as he has served on numerous community groups and boards and helped run News Publishing Company as vice president of operations. He'll continue his corporate duties while assuming the role of publisher.
His vision as publisher is to build on the legacy of Burgett H. Mooney III and his father and grandfather before him.
It's a legacy that has seen the Mooney family build a Rome-headquartered newspaper company providing community newspapers in northwest Georgia and northeast Alabama.
In the age of media conglomerations and Wall Street power plays, Raybon says the value of local ownership of the Rome News-Tribune is not to be underestimated.
"Rome and Floyd County are fortunate to have a locally owned and operated newspaper," he said. "Local newspapers are important to the development of local communities. And those communities are represented and reflected in our news pages each and every day."
"I've always believed it's a privilege first to work and serve a community through its newspaper. Our job and focus is to give readers local news and information that is useful in living to their lives."
As publisher, Raybon says that mission of comprehensive local coverage will continue.
"Our staple is local news. We do an excellent job with our local news coverage. That's our franchise. That's why people read the Rome News-Tribune."
While the basics of good, responsible journalism have not changed, how news is delivered to readers has.
In addition to the print newspapers, readers rely on the Internet more and more for information and news.
"Rome News-Tribune.com has been online for more than a decade now," said Raybon.
The difference is that now it influences how we cover the community because we're now living in a 24/7 world where people want news around the clock, he said.
"My vision is that using technology -- whether for the printing the daily paper on our new $2.35 million high-tech press to deliver to people's homes or delivering news on our Web site -- that we give them more news and deeper local coverage."
He says the Internet is not the death knell of newspapers. Rather it is an avenue that has allowed newspapers like the Rome News-Tribune to add thousands and thousands of readers while maintaining its print circulation base even as other newspapers have seen circulation plummet.
"The Internet is actually a great opportunity for newspapers," said Raybon. "We have a relationship with more readers and more citizens than any other news source in the area because now we can deliver news and information and tell stories in so many more ways.
"We're continuing to find ways to deliver the news, whether it's through podcasts, videos, news alerts, feeds to cell phones or reading the full Rome News-Tribune E-edition on your computer for whatever news you want."
That news includes reports about what local government is doing as well as how civic organizations are helping make the community a better place. There are daily weather and traffic updates to help people plan their activities and navigate around town. There's sports coverage on youth, prep, college and pro sports. There's business and industry news. And there are stories and news features spotlighting local people in so many ways.
Raybon also touts the vitality of the opinion pages of the local newspaper.
"One our great strengths has been the independent editorial page. Burgett Mooney chose to develop an editorial page that creates and leads important dialogue" through editorials written by nationally award-winning Editorial Page Editor Pierre-Rene Noth, letters to the editor, columnists and editorial cartoons by Mike Lester, also a multiple national award winner.
"Most newspapers no longer have a staff editorial cartoonist, certainly not most papers our size" said Raybon. "But local editorial cartoons add a visual perspective to a page filled with so many opinions.
"That page has strengthened this community more than people know."
Other content that readers look for in their newspaper each day is the local advertising as they look for the latest on local goods and services.
Of course, advertising is also the financial backbone of newspapers, making advertisers an important part of making sure the local newspaper is able to thrive and serve the community.
"It's important for businesses and industry to advertise in the local newspaper, not only for their benefit and the customers it brings to them, but also to support the local newspaper and all that it brings to the community," said Raybon. "It's a partnership between those establishments and their local newspaper."
"Advertising is also an important part of newspaper experience for readers. It's a way of giving them more information as they make daily choices. It enhances the quality of life here."
Raybon says the advertising sales and creative service staffs work with advertisers to get their messages out to the community. And, just like with news, technology offers advertisers more ways to reach the local community with both print and online opportunities.
Of course, unless the news and advertising gets delivered to readers, all that content doesn't have impact, said Raybon.
While the New Media Department makes sure online content is updated and available on romenews-tribune.com, it's the Circulation Department that makes sure that newspapers are delivered to homes, racks and stores throughout the region.
"A newspaper is not truly published until it's delivered to readers' homes," said Raybon.
"We're very proud of our circulation department."
He said circulation of Rome News-Tribune has remained relatively even over the past several years -- usually No. 1 or 2 in Georgia in maintaining paid circulation. And the department's delivery and customer service reputation are what lead to a new partnership with the Atlanta Journal Constitution to have Rome News-Tribune carriers deliver its newspaper in Floyd and Polk counties.
Raybon says it takes a whole team of newspaper professionals in many departments to create the daily hometown newspaper each day.
Raybon himself brings a wealth of newspaper experience to the team.
As an 11-year-old boy in Griffin, Ga., he delivered 140 newspapers on his delivery route. By his teen years he was catching and stacking papers as they came of the press. He also was there when printing technology change from hot lead type and he melted all the lead letters to be resold.
As of one of nine children, he supported himself by continuing to work at the newspaper through high school and college.
After graduating with his bachelor's degree in marketing from Georgia State University, he continued his newspaper work.
His newspaper career has included stints as a reporter and photographer in Griffin and as ad director for the Valdosta Daily Times.
He was an executive with Thomson Newspapers for 16 years before coming to Rome. In addition to the publisher roles, he was president of the Northwest Georgia Strategic MarketingGroup for Thomson.
Then Mooney hired him in 1998 to help run News Publishing Company.
In addition to his job at he local newspaper company, Raybon's civic involvement has made him into one of Rome's most visible leaders.
He's active in the Rome Rotary Club and is a former Coosa Valley Technical College board member and CVTC Foundation chairman.
He's a former chairman of the Greater Rome Chamber of Commerce board of directors and of the Rome/Floyd Development Authority.
He is Gov. Sonny Perdue's 11th congressional district appointee on the board of directors for the Technical College System of Georgia. He's also active with the Georgia Press Association and has been a key member of its educational foundation to name just a few of his activities.
He and his wife, Barbara, are members of First Baptist Church in Rome. They have two sons -- Tilman, 25, and Will, 21.
Raybon says he loves the quality of life that Rome affords and that the Rome News-Tribune is part of that lifestyle for thousands in the community.
He says the newspaper is an essential part of daily life in Greater Rome.
"We are producing a daily newspaper that is a must-have in every home and business in the area each day," said Raybon, whether that reading experience is sitting at your table with the newspaper or on your computer.
"Readership of the Rome News-Tribune -- and romenews-tribune.com -- is greater than at any time in the history of this newspaper."
He says newspapers are too important to communities for them to fade away.
"We fill too vital a role in our democracy to go away. We plan on being here to cover our community," said Raybon. "Newspapers are having to evolve to be sure, but that just means you may get your Rome News-Tribune content in a variety of ways now.
"We are excited about where we are as a news company," said Raybon. "And I'm honored to be publisher of Rome News-Tribune. This is a great opportunity to serve our community."