Joe Imel, publisher of the Bowling Green Daily News and the Bluegrass, Middlesboro and Harlan newspaper groups, has been named regional publisher of Kentucky and publisher of the Frankfort State Journal and Ironton (Ohio) Tribune for Carpenter Media Group (CMG).

“I am excited to be named publisher of the Frankfort State Journal and Ironton Tribune as well as a regional publisher,” Imel said. “Carpenter Media Group has a strong presence in Kentucky and across the border in Tennessee and Ohio. All of our papers have a deep-rooted history within their towns. Many have been around for generations, telling the stories of the community’s growth, struggles  and triumphs.”

Imel, who began his journalism career 38 years ago in rural Kentucky, oversees the operations of 10 CMG newspapers in Kentucky, Ohio and Tennessee including the Bowling Green Daily News, Frankfort State Journal, Danville Advocate-Messenger, Winchester Sun, Jessamine Journal, Interior Journal, Middlesboro News, Harlan Enterprise, Claiborne (Tennessee) Progress and the Ironton (Ohio) Tribune.

CMG, based in Natchez, Mississippi, owns and manages over 250 community newspapers in the U.S. and Canada.

“My colleagues and I will continue to work hard to make them the best news sources they can be for our subscribers, readers and business partners,” Imel said.