People

Rachael Garcia in August began as editor of Century Group Newspapers’ Record Gazette in Banning. Garcia recently served as associate editor of the Duncan McIntosh Company, Inc. in Fountain Valley, a publisher of boating magazines. Prior to working there, she was a news assistant and social media specialist at The Orange County Register for three…

Hector Hernandez Jr. is now editor of Century Group Newspapers’ Highland Community News. Hernandez, an Azusa Pacific University alum, had been a reporter for the Highland paper for five years. Hernandez replaced James Folmer, who became editor of Century Group’s new Redlands Community News.

Kim Fowler moves from publisher of the Del Norte Triplicate in Crescent City to general manager of GateHouse Media’s Ames (Iowa) Tribune. … Belinda Mills, former publisher of the Imperial Valley Press in El Centro, is now general manager/advertising director at GateHouse Media’s Amarillo (Texas) Globe-News.

Steven R. Nixon, executive director of the Saskatchewan Weekly Newspapers Association, was elected president of Newspaper Association Managers (NAM) during the group’s 96th annual summer conference in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. New York Press Association Executive Director Michelle K. Rea becomes immediate past president, replacing CNPA Executive Director Tom Newton, who ends his NAM service as…

Peggy Pietrowicz is now publisher of The Union Democrat in Sonora, the just-sold newspaper reports. Pietrowicz, advertising director since early 2018, first joined the newspaper in 2004 as a classified sales rep. “I’m looking forward to getting to know the community on a different level,” she said of her immediate plans for the newspaper.

Jennifer Upshaw Swartz is now managing editor of MediaNews Group’s Marin Independent Journal in San Rafael, the newspaper reported. Swartz, a University of Oregon and Northwestern University alum, has been city editor since 2013. Executive Editor Robert Sterling retired in May.

Melissa Diaz Hernandez is the new editor of the Idyllwild Town Crier, Co-Publisher Becky Clark reports. The new editor is a former editor at the Valley Chronicle in Hemet. Becky and Jack Clark plan to continue as co-publishers but have stepped back from day-to-day operations.

Rob Galloway became general manager of Swift Communications; Sierra Nevada Media Group. last week, the Nevada Appeal reports. Galloway, publisher of the Tahoe Tribune in South Lake Tahoe since 2016, also oversees The Record-Courier in Gardnerville and The Lahontan Valley News in Fallon.

GateHouse Media has named Don Blount, editor of The Record in Stockton, as California editor, The Record reports. Blount has been editor since 2017 and previously was managing editor. While continuing to oversee Stockton’s news efforts, he will coordinate coverage for GateHouse’s 10 California properties, including five daily newspapers.

Kristin Roberts began this week as vice president of News for Sacramento-based McClatchy, The Sacramento Bee reports. Roberts had been one of four regional editors and will continue to be based in Miami. She will have oversight of the company’s 30 newsrooms across 14 states, its corporate news operations and McClatchy Studios, which produces documentaries.…