MediaNews Group hires manager for New Mexico papers as Las Cruces publisher takes on new role

MediaNews Group names manager for NM newspapers

LAS CRUCES, N.M. — MediaNews Group Inc. named news industry veteran Jim Maxwell vice president of the company’s New Mexico properties, effective Wednesday, freeing Las Cruces Sun-News publisher Ann Reed to focus on the local paper and community.

Maxwell, 53, will be based in Las Cruces and oversee MNG’s newspapers in Farmington, Carlsbad, Alamogordo, Deming, Silver City and Ruidoso.

Maxwell said he plans to travel the state soon to learn more about each newspaper and the communities they serve.

“Never before in the history of the newspaper industry have folks who work at community newspapers had a chance to influence change that can affect the entire industry,” he said.

The shift in responsibilities means Reed will relinquish her statewide publishing duties. She said she looks forward to getting more involved with community organizations, improving customer service and increasing the newspaper’s market share.

Reed, 56, was hired as Sun-News publisher in September 2008 with more than three decades of newspaper experience. Her last job was president and publisher of the Traverse City (Mich.) Record-Eagle, and she has held management positions in Washington and California.

Maxwell was vice president of operations for Rust Communications Inc. in Missouri, which owns more than 50 daily and weekly publications in eight states.

His career also includes a 14-year stint in advertising and as publisher for Ottaway Community Newspapers in Pennsylvania and New York.

MediaNews Group, based in Denver, operates 54 daily newspapers in 11 states, including the El Paso Times, the Denver Post and the San Jose Mercury News.