Award-winning journalist David McGee has been named the local news editor for the Bristol Herald Courier, one of the most respected daily newspapers serving the Tri-Cities area of Northeast Tennessee and Southwest Virginia. The paper, founded in 1865, has a long history of producing high-quality journalism and has won numerous awards, including the Pulitzer Prize in 2010 for Public Service.
In his new role, McGee will oversee news coverage of Southwest Virginia and Northeast Tennessee, working with the reporting staff to produce stories that are important to readers. He will also continue reporting, covering Bristol Virginia city government, state government, and other critical local issues.
McGee has been a reporter with the Herald Courier since 2001, covering local government, politics, healthcare, education, and some courts and crime. He has been recognized with dozens of awards from the Virginia and Tennessee Press Associations, including the National Media Award from the American Traffic Safety Services Association in 2018. He served as the lead reporter in the paper’s Scripps-Howard Award-winning "Addicted at Birth" series about babies born to opioid-addicted mothers and the highly acclaimed "Critical Mass" series on jail overcrowding.
Before joining the Herald Courier, McGee spent 13 years as an editor and general manager of the former Sullivan County News in Blountville. He is a graduate of Morehead State University and has authored eight books about auto racing history. He is also a long-time member of the announcing staff at Bristol Motor Speedway and a voting member for two auto racing halls of fame.
McGee said he was excited and honored to take on his new role. "This is one of the greatest opportunities of my life," he said. "I was a reader of the Herald Courier long before I worked here and I respect the high caliber journalism the newspaper has long produced."
The Herald Courier has faced challenges in recent years, like many other local newspapers in the United States, including declining circulation and advertising revenue, and the shift of readership to digital platforms. However, the paper has continued to invest in its newsroom and produce high-quality journalism that serves its community.
McGee's appointment comes at a time of transition for the Herald Courier, as its parent company, BH Media Group, was recently acquired by Lee Enterprises, a national media company based in Iowa. However, Lee has stated that it intends to maintain local control of its newspapers and continue to invest in its journalism.
With his wealth of experience and dedication to the craft, David McGee is well-positioned to lead the Bristol Herald Courier's newsroom and continue its tradition of excellence.
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