Dilmore named publisher for Herald-Leader
Posted on Wednesday, May 14, 2008
For the first time in 10 years, the Siloam Springs Herald-Leader has a new publisher.
John Dilmore Jr. has been appointed publisher and general manager of the Herald-Leader and the weekly newspapers in Gentry, Decatur and Gravette, replacing longtime publisher and advertising manager Shelly Moran. Jeff Jeffus, vice president and general manager of the Northwest Arkansas division of the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, the Herald-Leader's parent company, announced the change in leadership Monday. Dilmore comes to the Herald Leader from the Benton County Daily Record in Bentonville, where he has served as opinion page editor the past three years. He is a past publisher of the Brewton Standard, a twice-weekly newspaper in south Alabama, the Scott County Times, a weekly newspaper in central Mississippi, and a trio of papers - the Advertiser News, Lamar County News and Petal News - in Hattiesburg, Miss.
"Siloam Springs is a special place, and Shelly has established a strong tradition here at the Herald-Leader," Dilmore said. "The paper has long been an integral part of the community, and I'm excited to be given a chance to continue that relationship. It's a great opportunity."
Moran is leaving the Herald-Leader and other weeklies to work as marketing and public relations coordinator at Siloam Springs Memorial Hospital. "I'm leaving a career that has spanned almost 40 years," Moran said," and the last 10 have been here in Siloam Springs. I agree with John that Siloam Springs is a special place. In fact, the people and the community have endeared themselves to me to the point that I call this home. " "My parents, who owned weekly newspapers in five small, central Arkansas towns, instilled in me a work ethic so vital for this business, a love for community, and the important roles a newspaper plays in its community. I was taught to give back to the community, to support its businesses and to help it grow and prosper.
"John is a fine newspaper man, and I'm confident that he will not only grow to love the Herald-Leader and the community as much as I do, but he will build upon what we already have," she said.
"I look forward to this new chapter in my life and the exciting possibility of helping build a new hospital for Siloam Springs," Moran said. Dilmore said his work at the Daily Record has allowed him to become acquainted with many of the people and issues making news in Benton County, and he's eager to continue that process in Siloam Springs.
"I'm looking forward to meeting as many people as possible over the coming weeks and months," Dilmore said. "The paper's mission will remain the same – to serve our readers and advertisers tirelessly."
Dilmore added that the Gentry Courier Journal, the Decatur Herald and the Gravette News Herald - the westside weeklies - play a vital role in covering western Benton County as well.
"There are talented, dedicated people at all these papers," he said. "They do a great job reflecting the vital communities they serve."
There are no other changes planned for the papers.
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