Two community newpapers’ editors promoted
Valencia County NewsBulletin Editor Clara Garcia and Rio Rancho Observer Editor Argen Marie Duncan have both been promoted to the positions of editor/publisher of their respective community newspapers, according to Journal Publishing Co. President William Lang.
“We are proud to promote Argen and Clara to the position of publisher,” Lang said. “Both grew up in New Mexico and have strong professional histories. They and their staffs have done an excellent job of reporting the important news in both their communities.”
Garcia, who was named editor of the Valencia County NewsBulletin in July 2009, began as the newspaper’s crime and courts reporter in November 1998. She has covered numerous beats, including crime, courts, fires, local government, politics, business and features.
While her duties have expanded, Garcia says the News-Bulletin will continue the strong news coverage it has maintained for more than a century.
“This is an exciting time of transition for us,” Garcia said. “We have an excellent staff, and I look forward to continuing our important and trusted work in Valencia County.”
Duncan has 15 years of newspaper experience, including serving as editor of the Kirtland AFB Nucleus and, more recently, editor of the Rio Rancho Observer.
Duncan said her expanded duties as publisher will include being more interactive with advertisers and local community groups, but her duties as editor will stay the same.
“The title of publisher doesn’t change the editorial side of the newspaper,” Argen said. “We are already giving it our all to create a great newspaper, and we are going to continue to do that.”
The Rio Rancho Observer is published by RR Community Publishing, a subsidiary of Journal Publishing Co., which publishes the Albuquerque Journal. The Valencia County News-Bulletin is a part of Number Nine Media Inc., which includes El Defensor Chieftain in Socorro, and is a subsidiary of Journal Publishing Co.