Biz journal executive editor to lead New Orleans paper’s Baton Rouge ops

J.R. Ball, currently executive editor of the Baton Rouge Business Report, has been hired to become news manager of The Times-Picayune’s news operation in Baton Rouge.

A story on the Times-Picayune website states, “Ball, known as an award-winning columnist with Business Report, has also served as executive vice president of Louisiana Business Inc., the parent company of Business Report, 225 magazine and inRegister magazines and their related e-newsletters. He has also had responsibility for a special projects publishing division, as well as the company’s production and arts department.

“He has been with the Business Report since 1999. His 25-year career in media includes a 12-year stint covering LSU athletics for Tiger Rag Magazine and The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

“While covering sports, Ball was twice named Sports Columnist of the Year by the Louisiana Sports Writers Association.

“He briefly left journalism in 1996 as a co-founder of M&B Management, a sports and entertainment management and marketing firm. In 1997, Ball took a second job, serving as general manager of the Baton Rouge Bombers, a professional indoor soccer franchise, where he oversaw every aspect of the team’s operations.”

Read more here.