PICKENS — Veteran news executive Patricia M. Edwards has been named publisher of The Newberry Observer and group publisher for Civitas Media’s properties in South Carolina, including The Easley Progress and The Pickens Sentinel.

The announcement was made by Joe Pepe, VP regional director of Civitas Media’s East Region, the newspaper’s parent company.

Edwards also will take on the group publisher role for The Union Times, The Newberry Observer and The Herald Independent in Winnsboro. She will have oversight of the publications’ editorial, advertising and circulation operations within the group. She will be based in Newberry.

“I am honored and humbled that I have been given an opportunity to be part of the leadership team for this group of newspapers in South Carolina, especially given the deep history that each has in the communities they serve,” she said. “I am fortunate to work with a team of talented people who are dedicated to making all of these publications successful. Our collective talents and drive for success will help these papers continue to grow for years to come.”

Edwards has more than 25 years of experience in the newspaper industry with privately held publishing companies in South Carolina and Georgia, with Sun Coast Media Group in Florida, and CNHI, where she served as an editor in Georgia and a publisher in North Carolina during a 12 year tenure.

She began her newspaper career in 1990 as an intern at The Index-Journal in her hometown of Greenwood, S.C. She has since worked as a reporter, photographer, editor, page designer and publisher for daily and weekly publications. She joined Civitas Media in August 2012 as a general manager and regional editor for Civitas Media’s properties in South Carolina.

Her career has been spent with papers that are deeply invested in their communities, both in content and advertising, which gives her a unique understanding of the industry as it evolves.

“Community newspapers like The Easley Progress, The Pickens Sentinel and their sister publications both in South Carolina and within Civitas Media are the backbone of the newspaper industry,” she said. “We are strong in spirit, rich in history and dedicated to documenting the lives and events that make each one of these communities unique. The editorial coverage we provide and advertising options we offer are second to none.”

Civitas Media employs more than 1,200 dedicated, creative and innovative associates across 12 states including North Carolina, South Carolina, Ohio, Illinois, Missouri, Oklahoma, Virginia, West Virginia, Pennsylvania, Georgia, Kentucky and Tennessee. Civitas publishes more than 100 publications for a combined weekly distribution of more 1.6 million copies.

Edwards
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