The McClatchy Company (NYSE: MNI) today named Kim Nussbaum as president and publisher of The Wichita Eagle in Kansas and Mike Jung as president and publisher of the Idaho Statesman in Boise. Both appointments are effective later this month.
Nussbaum, 46, has been the president and publisher of the Abilene Reporter-News, an E.W. Scripps Company newspaper in Texas, since October 2007. Prior to being promoted to publisher, Nussbaum served more than three years in senior advertising positions in Abilene, including the vice president of sales and marketing. During her tenure with Scripps, she was a core team leader of new business development teams, defining and shaping the future for newspaper, niche product and digital sales.
Jung, 53, is the current publisher of the Santa Cruz Sentinel, a Media News Group newspaper in California. Prior to becoming publisher in Santa Cruz in 2009, Jung was the vice president of advertising and marketing for the Contra Costa Times and then vice president of advertising and marketing for the Bay Area News Group-East Bay, a division of Media News Group, for five years. He also held several senior advertising roles with the San Jose Mercury News, including classified advertising director, national advertising director and retail advertising director from 2001 to 2005.
"As publishers, Kim and Mike cultivated strong news and digital franchises in their respective markets," said Gary Pruitt, McClatchy chairman and chief executive. "McClatchy is very fortunate to attract the level of leadership and talent that they both represent. Our papers in Wichita and Boise will benefit from their experience, innovation and commitment to the community."
Nussbaum began her newspaper advertising career in 1983 at her hometown newspaper, the Times Record News in Wichita Falls, Texas, where she worked until 2000. She was the advertising director for the Muskogee Daily Phoenix in Oklahoma from 2000 to 2002, and the retail advertising manager for the Springfield News-Leader in Missouri from 2002 to 2004 before joining the Abilene Reporter-News.
"I have a tremendous amount of respect and pride for the role a newspaper plays in the community it serves," said Nussbaum. "That role is more important today than ever. I’m also proud of the Reporter-News' platform of product offerings, which allow our advertisers to target the exact audience they want to reach with clear, measurable results. I look forward to producing these same results with the team at the Eagle."
While publisher in Abilene, Nussbaum worked with her team on the development of key niche products and digital platforms, including GoFridayNight.com, a high school preps football site; Wylie Weekly, a successful weekly community newspaper; and various monthly niche products. This past year, the Abilene Reporter-News took home 17 awards for journalistic excellence from the Texas Associated Press Managing Editors convention.
"Kim is a proven leader who will keep the Eagle flying in a digital world," said Mark Zieman, McClatchy vice president of operations. "She’s also a smart, genuinely nice person with a real affinity for the Midwest. I think she’ll be a great match for both the newspaper and the community."
Nussbaum is the past president of the Junior League of Abilene; has served on the boards of directors for the Chamber of Commerce, United Way and Big Brothers and Big Sisters; and has served on the advisory board for the Texas Tech University School of Mass Communication. She also has been on the board of directors of the Texas Daily Newspaper Association since 2009.
"My family and I look forward to joining the Wichita community. It was love at first sight when we first visited," said Nussbaum.
Nussbaum was raised in Wichita Falls, Texas, where she attended Midwestern State University. She and her husband, Steve, have a 14 year-old daughter.
Jung was born and raised in the San Francisco Bay Area and earned a degree in journalism from San Jose State University. He returned to his college town in 2001 to work for the San Jose Mercury News after working in advertising for Florida Today for 10 years. He also held advertising roles with the Akron Beacon Journal in Ohio and the Long Beach Press-Telegram in California.
Under Jung's leadership, the Santa Cruz Sentinel has grown its print and digital audience over the last two years. The paper also garnered nine first place awards in the California Newspaper Publishers Association 2010 Better Newspapers Contest, including the top award for General Excellence.
"There is so much to be excited about in Boise," said Jung. "The Statesman is an excellent newspaper steeped in a rich history and is continually improving its reach in both print and digital. The market is on the upswing with top employers and a deep pool of talented workers, and the influence of Boise State is unmistakable."
“We couldn’t be more excited about Mike’s decision to join McClatchy,” said Bob Weil, McClatchy vice president of operations. “His exemplary record of advertising and digital performance, combined with his success as publisher of the Sentinel, makes him an ideal leader for this dynamic market.”
Jung has served on the executive committee for the United Way of Santa Cruz and has been a board member for the Second Harvest Food Bank and the American Red Cross of Santa Cruz County. He also has served as a board member for both the California Newspaper Advertising Executives Association and the Florida Advertising and Marketing Executives Association.
“We look forward to experiencing the wonders, challenges and opportunities of the Boise area and engaging with the Boise community," said Jung.
Jung and his wife, Gretchen, have three college- and high school-aged children.
About McClatchy
The McClatchy Company is a leading news and information provider, offering a wide array of print and digital products in each of the markets it serves. As the third largest newspaper company in the country, McClatchy’s operations include 30 daily newspapers, community newspapers, websites, mobile news and advertising, niche publications, direct marketing and direct mail services. The company’s largest newspapers include The Miami Herald, The Sacramento Bee, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, The Kansas City Star, The Charlotte Observer and The News & Observer in Raleigh, N.C. McClatchy is listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol MNI.
