Alabama biz editor named paper’s executive editor

Michael James, the business editor at the Tuscaloosa News, has been named executive editor of the Alabama paper.

An Associated Press story states, “The 50-year-old James previously worked as the newspaper’s business editor. His promotion was announced by Publisher Tim Thompson.

“James joined the staff of The Tuscaloosa News in 2001 as a reporter. The Atlanta native has been in charge of the newspaper’s business coverage since 2004.

“As executive editor, James will head all newsroom operations.

“He succeeds Doug Ray, who was named executive editor of the Gainesville Sun and Ocala Star-Banner in Florida. All three papers are owned by Halifax Media Group.”

Read more here.

Chris Roush

Chris Roush was the dean of the School of Communications at Quinnipiac University in Hamden, Connecticut. He was previously Walter E. Hussman Sr. Distinguished Professor in business journalism at UNC-Chapel Hill. He is a former business journalist for Bloomberg News, Businessweek, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, The Tampa Tribune and the Sarasota Herald-Tribune. He is the author of the leading business reporting textbook "Show me the Money: Writing Business and Economics Stories for Mass Communication" and "Thinking Things Over," a biography of former Wall Street Journal editor Vermont Royster.