News-Press news flash

OSBURN - One promotion and one key new hire portend many good things for Shoshone News-Press customers.

Advertising director and general manager Keri Alexander has been promoted to newspaper publisher - the highest position at this and most newspapers.

Also, veteran journalist Kit Pearson began work this week as managing editor of the News-Press.

Alexander's promotion was announced Wednesday by Brad Hagadone, president of the Hagadone Communications Division, and by Jim Thompson, North Idaho newspaper group publisher.

"Our company is extremely proud to name Keri Alexander as the new publisher," Hagadone said. "Not only is she a Silver Valley native, but she brings a vast range of experience and talent to the table. With over 20 years of doing a stellar job as a sales executive for the CDA Press and just completing her first, very successful year as the ad director for the SNP, we see her as the perfect fit for this position.

"This is a well-deserved promotion for Keri and we are confident that she will represent our newspaper and the Silver Valley in first class fashion."

For 23 years, Alexander commuted daily from the Silver Valley to Coeur d'Alene, logging an estimated 1 million miles. With Thompson's encouragement, Alexander joined the News-Press as its key administrator and sales executive on Jan. 22, 2014.

"Returning Keri to her roots was one of the smartest things our company has done," said Thompson, who has worked with Alexander during her entire Hagadone newspaper career. "As almost everybody knows, she has a lifelong relationship with the Silver Valley. She's the ideal person to lead this newspaper."

Thompson visited Osburn Wednesday and announced the promotion in front of News-Press staff.

"It's a great honor to receive the title of publisher and I'm so blessed to work with a talented group of people who truly care about our community," a beaming Alexander said. "It's been an amazing 24 years with the Hagadone Newspaper Group and I wouldn't be here without the strong support of my husband, Mitch, our family and the wonderful people of the Silver Valley."

One of the talented people Alexander referred to is Kit Pearson, whom she hired to lead the newsroom. Pearson, 43, brings a broad professional background to the News-Press that includes almost six years as a newspaper reporter, photographer and editor; four years as a police officer in Montana; and most recently, four years in the North Dakota oil fields.

"I consider the managing editor position in Shoshone County the ideal opportunity to return to the journalism field for a long-term contribution to the industry," Pearson said. "I have kept an eye on my options during recent years, and the Silver Valley has always intrigued me because it offers many things that suit my lifestyle in the outdoors and meet my family's needs."

Pearson has hit the Silver Valley ground running - maybe no surprise for the speedy center fielder, leadoff hitter and team captain at Oral Roberts University in 1995. Alongside Alexander, Pearson is already developing short- and long-range plans for a stronger editorial product.

"My immediate vision for the newspaper is to foster a foundation of credibility, accuracy and fairness through the creation of respectful professional relationships," Pearson said. "The ability to do this will determine the success of the publication during the next decade."

Pearson's wife, Jolyn, was born and raised in north-central Idaho. Their two children are a son, Dorsey, 11, and a daughter, Tessa, who turned 8 on Tuesday.