Bernhardt named publisher
Donna Bernhardt, who became managing editor of the Marion County Record after Bill Meyer's retirement, was promoted Monday to editor and publisher.
She also was named publisher of the other Hoch Publishing Co. Inc. newspapers, the Hillsboro Star-Journal, edited by Grant Overstake, and the Peabody Gazette-Bulletin, edited by Susan Marshall. She will remain as the corporation's secretary-treasurer, a position Meyer held for more than 30 years.
"The newspapers are in great hands with Donna in charge," Meyer's son, Eric, said after a board of directors meeting. "Readers and advertisers should expect no changes."
Eric Meyer, a journalism professor and academic affairs dean at the University of Illinois, was elected to replace his father as corporate president — "a largely ceremonial job, like the queen of England's."
Bill Meyer's widow, Joan, will remain as vice president. Production manager Melvin Honeyfield will remain as a director. The four are the sole shareholders in the corporation.
"Our goal remains as it always has been — to transform the newspapers into an employee-owned community trust," Eric Meyer said.
He noted that, in a generally weak market for newspapers this year, circulation and advertising revenue had posted healthy gains to help offset rising costs of production.
