Sony Hocklander

News-Leader

The News-Leader announced Friday that Paul Berry has been named executive director, news and engagement of the Springfield News-Leader and The Baxter Bulletin in Mountain Home, Ark.

Berry, 33, comes to Springfield/Mountain Home after serving as the digital editor/engagement editor at The Coloradoan in Fort Collins, Colo. Berry will start June 30, succeeding David Stoeffler, who resigned as executive editor in May.

"I am thrilled to appoint Paul to this role. He will be critical to our transformation," said Linda Ramey-Greiwe, president and publisher of the News-Leader and Baxter Bulletin. "Paul has a proven track record growing audience and engagement at The Coloradoan, one of Gannett's top properties. He understands and values the vital role community journalism plays in our local markets."

Ramey-Greiwe introduced Berry to staff Friday morning.

She talked about Berry's award-winning experience in digital engagement through journalism at The Coloradoan, and before that, at The Gazette in Colorado Springs.

Berry said he enjoyed his work at The Coloradoan, and that "it would take something pretty amazing for me to want to leave. This is absolutely that thing."

He said he's excited to join the News-Leader and to get to know the Springfield area community.

"That is one of my big priorities, to be out and involved in the community," he said. "I will be spending a lot of time doing that."

One of his goals is to help the community feel even more connected to the News-Leader and its journalists, he said.

"I want to be really clear about who we are and what we are about, doing good work for this community," he told staff. He looks forward to "telling good stories, stories that resonate with our readers. That's important for us and we're going to do that together."

He also looks forward to the Ozarks' rich outdoors opportunities. He particularly enjoys riding a bicycle and playing golf, and said he's a fan of Kansas City-area sports teams.

"I like to be outdoors. That's one of the things I loved the most about being in Colorado, being outside, and that's one of the appealing things about being here. It's a great area of the country to get outside," he said.

In an earlier statement, Berry said, "I'm thankful and excited to take on this role, and to do it in Springfield is more than I could have asked for. I'm looking forward to getting to know the community and working with our team to serve up the kind of quality journalism they deserve, across every platform we've got. I can't wait to get started."

Before working at The Coloradoan, Berry worked for Freedom Communications as social media manager and website manager for gazette.com and online video producer. Berry won the Colorado Press Association Rising Star Award this year and received a Gannett CEO Award in 2013 and a Star Award in 2012.

Berry said one benefit of moving to Springfield is that it's not far from where he grew up in Tonganoxie, Kan., near Kansas City. His parents still live in that area, he said. He graduated from Colorado Christian University with a bachelor's in organizational management.