Inquirer and Mirror announces leadership change. Here's what's coming.
The Inquirer and Mirror newspaper on Nantucket will undergo leadership changes as of July 1.
When publisher and editor Marianne Stanton retires on July 1, Joshua Balling will take over as managing editor and Robert Saurer will step into the general manager position.
Stanton has been with the paper since 1985, first as publisher and in 1990 taking over editorial reins. Balling worked as a reporter there in the 1990s, moving briefly to the Patriot Ledger before returning for good. His experience as a reporter and assistant editor will make the transition to managing editor seamless, Stanton said.
“He understands the community and the business,” she said Friday.
Delivery of the news may be changing and adapting but dedication to news will remain, according to newspaper.
Balling said the delivery of the news may be changing and adapting, but the paper will remain dedicated to being a trusted source for news and information.
Saurer was hired last June as director of consumer marketing. His success with the newspaper’s digital initiative made him a perfect candidate for the new role, according to Stanton. She called him smart, innovative and energetic.
Saurer has more than 30 years of newspaper experience with the Boston Globe and Gatehouse Media. His experience in digital marketing, operations, customer care and digital advertising helped the Inquirer double its digital subscription base and grown its newsletter base by more than 70%, according to the announcement by David Worth, chairman and chief executive officer of Nantucket Media Group, owner of The Inquirer and Mirror.
In 2020: Inquirer and Mirror newspaper sold to local ownership
Saurer credits the launch of a news app, newsletters and news alerts for reaching out to customers where they are. Calling print newspapers a challenging line of business, Saurer said growing subscriptions was necessary to make up for lost ad revenues. He said Nantucket Media Group will continue to supplement its core news with seasonal magazines such as Nantucket Today and other publications.
“We must be prepared to take on the new world,” he said Friday. “My goals are to make the digital product that’s robust and modern as possible and stay in front of the digital distribution in news."
Stanton was recognized in 2022 for excellence in journalism.
Stanton said she's looking forward to gardening, sailing and going to the beach.
She was recognized with a Yankee Quill Award for her lifetime contribution to excellence in journalism by the Academy of New England Journalists in 2022. She will continue to contribute a column to the newspaper.
Local news and professional news organizations matter, she said. Reporting on, and following up on what’s going on in the community is elemental to preserving democracy, she added.
“We need accountability,” she said.
The promotions will be effective June 30.
Denise Coffey writes about business, tourism and town government. Contact her at dcoffey@capecodonline.com. Follow her on Twitter: @DeniseCoffeyCCT.
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This article originally appeared on Cape Cod Times: Inquirer and Mirror publisher Marianne Stanton to retire June 30
