Alabama paper names new biz editor

Patrick Rupinski has been named the new business editor of the Tuscaloosa News in Alabama, replacing Michael James, who became the paper’s executive editor earlier this year.

A story on its website states, “Rupinski, 59, joined The Tuscaloosa News in August 2006 as an assistant news editor, and became the newspaper’s business reporter in January 2009.

“Before coming to Tuscaloosa, he worked for the Birmingham Post-Herald, where he covered business and consumer issues for nearly two decades.

“‘We’re fortunate to have a veteran journalist like Patrick to step into this role,’ James said. ‘He has a wealth of experience covering business and has done a tremendous job for us over the last several years, not only in covering business but in mentoring other journalists in our newsroom. He certainly has earned this opportunity.’

“Rupinski has won numerous awards for his reporting during his career, including a first-place award this year in the Alabama Press Association’s Better Newspaper Contest for a story on Tuscaloosa businesses recovering from the April 27, 2011, tornado.”

Read more here.