Batson out, Boucher in as Southern RI Newspapers publisher

October 1st, 2012 at 11:58 am by under Nesi's Notes, On the Main Site

One of Rhode Island’s largest newspaper chains is under new leadership.

WPRI.com has confirmed Jody Boucher replaced Nanci Batson on Monday as publisher of Rhode Island Media Group’s Southern Rhode Island Newspapers division, which includes nine daily and weekly newspapers in Rhode Island including the Kent County Daily Times.

Boucher has been the group’s advertising director for seven years. “Jody has a number of years of solid newspaper, print publication, and media industry leadership and experience, [and] her appointment to the position of publisher of our southern group of newspapers is a positive step for all of the communities our newspapers serve,” Melanie Radler, Rhode Island Media Group’s president, said in a statement.

Boucher described herself as “very excited” about the new job. “Our position in our markets is definitely positive as we continue to be the dominant news source for our communities,” she said in an email. Boucher’s previous experience includes two stints in the Chicago Sun-Times’ advertising department.

Rhode Island Media Group is the operating name of Marion, Ill.-based R.I.S.N. Operations Inc., which paid $7.6 million in 2007 to buy the Woonsocket Call, the Pawtucket Times and Wakefield-basked Southern Rhode Island Newspapers from the Journal Register Co. R.I.S.N. stands for Rhode Island Suburban Newspapers.

• Related: Seven employees laid off at Kent Co. Daily Times, sister papers (March 13)

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Permalink 3 Comments

3 Responses to “Batson out, Boucher in as Southern RI Newspapers publisher”

  1. Ed says:
    October 1, 2012 at 1:32 pm

    Too bad Providence does not have a decent daily paper.

  2. Former employee says:
    October 1, 2012 at 9:04 pm

    Losing Nanci Batson may well be the blessing in disguise that sets SRIN free. She was a horrible publisher who cared more for the advertising than she did for the integrity of the newspapers which she proceeded to run into the ground.

  3. Progress Report: Plastic Bags in Barrington; Offshore Wind Farm off Block Island, Cub Scouts in Cranston; Patch vs. SRN says:
    October 2, 2012 at 6:26 am

    [...] is definitely positive as we continue to be the dominant news source for our communities,” Jody Boucher told Ted Nesi in an email. No they aren’t. In fact in almost every community Southern Rhode Island Newspapers has [...]