EVERETT — Josh O’Connor, president of Sound Publishing and publisher of The Daily Herald, will step into a new role at Sound’s parent company, Black Press, in September.
O’Connor has been named co-chief operating officer of Black Press. In his new role, he will join fellow co-chief operating officer, Randy Blair, in overseeing operations in Canada, Washington and Alaska.
O’Connor has been the Everett Herald’s publisher since May 2013 and president of Sound Publishing since 2018. He has worked in various capacities with Black Press, Sound’s parent company since 1998.
“Sound Publishing has been developing a sustainable digital growth platform for local news,” O’Connor said. “Timely, local factual news and information is more important than ever. It’s imperative that we continue to develop and utilize enhanced technology and platforms to reach out to readers.
“It has been an exciting eight years at The Daily Herald,” O’Connor said. “We are experiencing the most transformative period in our history — growing and delivering award-winning journalism in innovative ways. I am proud of what we’ve accomplished and the overall direction of the business.”
Rudi Alcott was appointed publisher of The Herald earlier this month and will succeed O’Connor.
David Black, Black Press’ majority owner and chairman of the board, along with president and CEO Rick O’Connor, (Josh O’Connor’s father) announced the appointment last week. Rick O’ Connor sold his community newspaper to Black Press in the 1980s, joined the company and is president and CEO.
The change is effective Sept. 1.
“I am pleased that Josh will step up in this new role with Randy, and look forward to having them lead us in recovery from the pandemic,” Black said.
CEO Rick O’Connor said the move helps ensure that the company has the “leaders to move our digital evolution forward in the present and have an eye to the future as well.”
Josh O’Connor will continue to oversee Sound Publishing operations in Washington and Alaska, but adds the Kootenay region and the Prairie Newspaper Group in Canada to his oversight.
Sound produces dozens of print and digital products in Washington and Alaska. They include community weeklies, dailies (including The Daily Herald) and bi-weeklies in Snohomish, Island, San Juan, King, Kitsap, Grays Harbor and Okanogan counties and on the Olympic Peninsula.
As co-chief operating officer, Josh O’Connor will work closely with Blair in advancing digital growth and audience development.
“Over the past decade it has become clear that we must seek new ways to help pay for the local independent journalism that plays such a key role in a vibrant community and democracy,” Blair said.
In May 2013, Josh O’Connor was named the ninth publisher of the Everett Herald.
Alcott, who oversees Sound Publishing’s King County Newspaper Group and is the company’s vice president of advertising, will become The Herald’s 10th publisher in its 120 years history.
Black Press is based in Surrey, British Columbia. Josh O’Connor, however, will continue to be based in Washington, where he resides with his family.
