Chase Heatherly, 30

Chief Revenue Officer, Evening Post Newspapers’ Community Newspaper Group Division Publisher and Advertising Sales Director, Free Times and Post and Courier’s Columbia operation Education: Anderson University, bachelor of science in marketing and business

What advice do you have for other young professionals in the news industry?

My first bit of advice to other young professionals in our industry is to have the courage and take the initiative to think “outside the box.” That is one of the benefits that young professionals bring to the news industry; they are not experienced in or beholden to the days when our industry was print-centric. Our industry is rapidly evolving, and we need fresh ideas to help us adapt and be successful.

My second is to consistently remind yourself of the value of our mission and work. Quality local journalism is vital to our society. We grew up in the age of social media and receiving information from all directions online. The journalism our organizations provide is unique and needed amidst this complex network of information that can so easily be found in the palm of our hands. Unfortunately, I think sometimes we lose sight of that.

How do you bridge the gap between traditional and digital journalism?

I believe in reaching readers

“where they are” digitally and making the reader experience as seamless, thought-provoking and valuable as possible. Accordingly, I am a proponent of interest-based e-newsletters, quality mobile app experiences, engagement through events and using social media in a manner that genuinely interests and engages our audiences. I believe these four will continue to bridge the gap and allow us to make inroads in the digital space.