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AJC Publisher Mellott Retires, New Publisher Announced

From the Atlanta Journal-Constitution….

Cox Enterprises has named Doug Franklin, a veteran executive in its newspapers group, as the new publisher of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

He succeeds John Mellott, AJC publisher since 2004, who is retiring after 22 years with Cox.

Franklin is a former publisher at Cox papers in Palm Beach, Fla., and Dayton, Ohio. He was recently installed as executive vice president of Cox Newspapers, a post he will retain while adding the duties of AJC publisher.

The moves, announced Monday, take effect March 1. They come amid a financial slump in the newspaper industry that has affected both the AJC and other Cox newspapers. The parent company is trying to sell the Austin American-Statesman and a number of smaller properties.

“Doug is a change agent and his outstanding track record with Cox uniquely qualifies him for the Publisher role at the AJC,” Sandy Schwartz, president of Cox Media Group, said in a statement.

“He will bring fresh thinking and energy to the job while he continues the important work of transforming our newspapers in print and digitally.”

Franklin spent most of his career in Cox’s Ohio operations, rising to president and chief executive of Cox Ohio Publishing. He moved to the Palm Beach Post and led a major reorganization.

Mellott, 51, has held various leadership roles at Cox including president of its Dent Wizard business and vice president of business development for Cox Enterprises.

Since becoming AJC publisher he has led the newspaper through a series of both business-side and newsroom reorganizations to grapple with revenue declines that have hit the entire industry.