Reorganization under way at Fox Valley Publications

Fox Valley Publications President Fred Lebolt Thursday announced important changes to the senior management team at Fox Valley Publications, as well as a plan to accelerate the news group's transition to an integrated, multimedia company.

Fox Valley daily newspapers include The Beacon News in Aurora, The Courier News in Elgin, The Herald News in Joliet and the Naperville Sun. The news group also produces 12 weekly newspapers, individual Web sites corresponding to each of its print publications and the Neighborhood Circle community-focused Web sites.

Under the reorganization, Lebolt takes on the role of president and publisher of Fox Valley Publications. Three Fox Valley vice presidents will report directly to him.

• Robert Wall has been appointed vice president advertising. Wall previously held the dual roles of Fox Valley's regional advertising vice president and publisher of The Courier News, and will retain his publisher's role in Elgin . All local advertising managers will now report directly to Wall.

• Rick Nagel has been named vice president editorial. Nagel will be responsible for the editorial content of all Fox Valley digital and print publications and for creating and managing a new Fox Valley universal media desk. Nagel previously served as editor-publisher of The Beacon News.

• Jerry Alger, former publisher of the Naperville Sun, returns to Fox Valley on Monday as vice president business operations. Alger will have a variety of responsibilities, starting with circulation sales initiatives.

"This talented and streamlined management team will allow us to act quickly in a period of profound change for our newspapers," Lebolt said.

He said Fox Valley will move to a flexible and efficient "hub and spoke" organizational model, centralizing certain editing, advertising and circulation functions at the new Aurora facility at 495 N. Commons Drive.

A universal media desk will have responsibility for coordinating, editing, designing and ensuring the smooth flow of print pages and digital content, emphasizing a "Web first" mind set for breaking news, and an integration of deadlines for the Web and the newspapers.

Managing editors, reporters and photographers will stay at each community location. Local sales managers will remain as well, maintaining the strong local connection and point of view that is essential to the news organization's success.

Fox Valley Publications is a division of the Sun-Times Media Group.