Spurling new Wilkes Journal-Patriot publisher

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The parent company of the Wilkes Journal-Patriot is shuffling regional responsibilities among its North Carolina publishers following acquisitions made earlier this year.

Lori Spurling is now the Wilkes Journal-Patriot’s publisher, taking over from Dale Morefield, who had been publisher since September. Spurling now has responsibility for Paxton Media Group’s three newspapers in the North Carolina foothills region: The Daily Courier in Forest City, where she has been publisher for eight years, the Wilkes Journal-Patriot and the Lenoir News-Topic.

“I already know and have worked with some of the great staff we have in both Lenoir and North Wilkesboro, and I look forward to learning more about the communities and the people here. I’m very excited about working in such beautiful towns,” Spurling said.

Spurling has been with Paxton for 21 years. She started in sales in Henderson, north of Durham, and moved to Forest City in 2002 as advertising director.

 

Morefield’s responsibilities were shifted to include several newspapers Paxton Media Group bought from Kentucky-based Landmark Community Newspapers earlier this year in the greater Charlotte area of northern South Carolina.

All are close to Monroe, where Morefield has been publisher of the Enquirer-Journal for almost seven years.

Jana Thomasson, president of Paxton Media Group’s North Carolina/South Carolina/Tennessee/Georgia Division, said the transition should be seamless.

“Dale Morefield has been dedicated to giving readers and advertisers the best, and I have no doubt Lori Spurling will continue this practice,” she said. “Both understand the value of the local community newspaper. Spurling brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to this position.”