Business News
Doug Franklin Named Publisher of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Tuesday 13. January 2009 - John Mellott to Retire from Cox
Doug Franklin will succeed John Mellott as publisher of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution effective March 1, while maintaining his duties as executive vice president of Cox Newspapers. He will continue reporting to Sandy Schwartz, president of Cox Media Group. Mellott has announced he will retire as publisher of the AJC and from Cox after 22 years of service.
As publisher, Franklin will add to his responsibilities as head of Cox Newspapers by leading more than 5,600 AJC employees at the Southeast’s largest newspaper and the top source – both in print and in digital format – of news, information and advertising for metropolitan Atlanta.
“Doug is a change agent and his outstanding track record with Cox uniquely qualifies him for the Publisher role of the AJC,” said Schwartz. “He will bring fresh thinking and energy to the job while he continues the critically important work of transforming our newspapers in print and digitally.”
A 30-year Cox veteran, Franklin most recently served as publisher of Cox Newspaper’s Palm Beach Post, where within the last year, he made sweeping changes to the south Florida newspaper. Among his major accomplishments at The Post were a significant restructure and reorganization to address the shifting media landscape; content sharing partnerships with E. W. Scripps Company, Tribune Company and The McClatchy Company; and a partnership with Tribune’s South Florida Sun-Sentinel to outsource the printing of its various newspaper products. He also developed partnerships with Scripps and Tribune for joint distribution deliveries. Other accomplishments include a major pre-print alliance with ADVO’s Red Plum and development of a future media business and product plan with Frank N. Magid Associates, Inc.
Prior to joining The Post, Franklin served as president and CEO of Cox Ohio Publishing and publisher of the Dayton Daily News. In this role, he oversaw more than 1,200 employees and multiple daily publications in Ohio, including the Dayton Daily News, Springfield News-Sun, The Middletown Journal and the JournalNews in Hamilton, as well as four weekly publications.
John Mellott has served as publisher of the AJC since spring 2004. He has held various leadership roles at Cox during his 22 years with the company including president and CEO of Dent Wizard International, vice president and general manager of the AJC and vice president of business development for Cox Enterprises.
“John has led Cox’s flagship newspaper during a time of unprecedented change in the industry,” said Schwartz. “All of us at Cox thank him for his dedication, years of service and wish him the best in his retirement.”