Coal Valley News CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Veteran journalist and Boone County native Phil Perry has been named president of HD Media, which publishes The Herald-Dispatch, the Charleston Gazette-Mail and a host of weekly publications across West Virginia, Virginia and Ohio. Perry, 53, succeeds Doug Skaff Jr., who died in a[Read More…]
Newspaper Industry News
The Newspaper Industry News category contains information about our industry, other press associations and other newspaper-related articles.
In Loving Memory of Doug Skaff Jr. (1976–2025)
West Virginia Press Association It is with heavy hearts that we share the passing of Doug Skaff Jr., a beloved leader, visionary, husband, father, and friend. Doug tragically passed away on June 10, 2025, in a car accident in Lewis County, West Virginia. He was 48 years old. Doug Skaff[Read More…]
Doug Skaff Jr., president of the Gazette-Mail, former WV delegate, dead at 48
Charleston Gazette-Mail CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Doug Skaff, Jr., a former state delegate and the president of HD Media, which publishes the Charleston Gazette-Mail, died Tuesday in a vehicle crash in Lewis County. He was 48. Details about the crash, which shut down the southbound lanes of Interstate 79 near Mile[Read More…]
Former WV newspaper owner, WVU journalism professor, Jerry Ash, passes in Florida
Gerald W. “Jerry” Ash, 85, died May 9, 2025, in Sun City Center, Fla, where he lived the past 26 years. He was born June 3, 1939, in Clarksburg, W.Va., and was adopted at birth by Minnie Pearl Hibbs Ash and Forest Earl Ash of Bridgeport, W.Va. A 1957 graduate[Read More…]
West Virginia Press Association welcomes Lauren Phillips as new Office Manager and Communications Specialist
CHARLESTON, W.Va. — The West Virginia Press Association (WVPA) is excited to announce a new edition to our team, Lauren Phillips. Lauren became the new Office Manager and Communications Specialist on May 13. “Stella, Jack, and I are extremely excited to work with Lauren, who brings great experiences and energy to[Read More…]
West Virginia Press Association joins nationwide coalition to champion local newspapers
ORLANDO, FL — At the 2025 Mega-Conference, America’s Newspapers announced the formation of the State Advocacy Coalition (ANSAC) — a unified alliance of press associations and newspaper advocacy organizations coming together to protect and promote the role of local newspapers in their communities. The West Virginia Press Association joined with[Read More…]
Eric Cravey named editor of the Bluefield Daily Telegraph and Register-Herald
FAIRMONT, W.Va. — Eric Cravey, editor of the Times West Virginian, has broadened his responsibilities to regional editor of the Bluefield Daily Telegraph and The Register-Herald in Beckley. The newspapers’ regional publisher, Terri Hale, announced Cravey’s new role in southern West Virginia. He has served as editor of the Times[Read More…]
Region remembers former Daily Telegraph Editor Samantha Perry
By Greg Jordan, Bluefield Daily Telegraph BLUEFIELD, W.Va. — People across the region were sharing fond memories Thursday of a journalist who, with passion and dedication, recorded life’s good and the bad moments while striving to give people a voice and improve their quality of life. Susan Samantha Myers Perry,[Read More…]
Register-Herald editor named Editorial Writer of the Year in CNHI contest
The Register-Herald BECKLEY, W.Va. — J. Damon Cain, editor of The Register-Herald, has been named Editorial Writer of the Year in the 2025 Best of CNHI newspaper contest. In his 10th year at the helm in Beckley, Cain won in the large circulation class for work published in 2024. Last[Read More…]
COLUMN: The time has come
By Katie Long McDowell, managing editor, The Dominion Post MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — This past September, I wrote a column to serve as a tentative goodbye, should my time at The Dominion Post be coming to an end. As it turned out, that farewell was unwarranted. Today, my friends, it’s for[Read More…]
