Bluegrass Newsmedia welcomes new publisher
Published 17:30 Thursday, August 22, 2024
- Joe Imel (photo submitted)
Joe Imel has been named publisher of Bluegrass Newsmedia, the parent company of the Advocate-Messenger.
Imel, the former executive director and current publisher of the Bowling Green Daily News, is excited about his new role.
“I am excited and honored to be named publisher. I am proud of this newspaper and the people who work here and cover their community. We will continue to work hard to make it the best possible news source for our subscribers, readers and business partners,” Imel said. “I have a great passion for this business and am very fortunate to be able to do what I love and make a living doing it in one of the greatest places in the world, surrounded by some of the finest people in Kentucky.”
Congratulations came immediately from management at Carpenter Media Group, Bluegrass’ parent company.
“Congratulations to Joe on this long overdue recognition of the work he has been doing for some time. In addition to being the editor of the Bluegrass chapters of local news organizations, Joe is also the editor of the Bowling Green Daily News. In the time I have worked with Joe, I can say that few people have such a deep understanding of what readers value, such a determination to do whatever it takes to convey those values to them, and such a hands-on ability to handle so many tasks. He is a smart, dedicated leader who is committed to his readers, his community and his organization,” said John Carr, regional vice president at Carpenter.
Imel is a veteran journalist who began his career as a photojournalist 38 years ago. He worked as a reporter and photographer for the McLean County News and the Hardin County Independent.
He joined the Daily News as a photojournalist in 1991 and rose to become chief photographer, picture editor, deputy editor, director of digital operations, general manager of WDNZ-TV, a low-power television station owned by the newspaper, and was later promoted to general manager.
Imel and his wife Tracy live in Bowling Green. They have a son and daughter-in-law who work in politics in Washington, DC.
Carpenter Media Group owns and manages over 200 community and metro media titles in the United States and Canada.
Bluegrass Newsmedia includes seven publications in Kentucky and Tennessee, including Claiborne (Tn.) Progress, Danville Advocate, Harlan Enterprise, Jessamine Journal, Middlesboro News, Stanford Interior Journal and Winchester Sun.
