Taking on the mantle of Sound Publishing West Regional Publisher, Terry R. Ward says the state of the local newspaper industry is strong.
“This is such an exciting time for the newspaper industry,” Ward said last week.
“Our strong, community-oriented newspapers are growing by leaps and bounds at a time when many newspaper companies are shrinking.”
Ward — group publisher of the Peninsula Daily News, Sequim Gazette and Forks Forum — has been promoted to regional publisher and will now oversee all of Sound Publishing’s Kitsap County publications in addition to the publications on the North Olympic Peninsula.
In addition, Steve Perry — Olympic Peninsula News Group advertising director — has been promoted to general manager of the Sequim Gazette, PDN and Forks Forum.
“I’m glad these two fine gentlemen will be working together to continue building the legacy of these quality newspapers and websites,” said Gloria Fletcher, Sound Publishing president, when she announced the promotions last week.
“Both are tremendous leaders and they truly understand the deep connection between our business and the communities we serve.”
Said Ward, “I take on this new role with a great appreciation for the support and enthusiasm Sound Publishing offers to the communities it serves and I will continue to honor that tradition.”
Publications under Ward’s leadership now include the Bainbridge Island Review, Bremerton Patriot, Central Kitsap Reporter, Forks Forum, Kingston Community News, Kitsap Military Times, North Kitsap Herald, Peninsula Daily News, Peninsula Homes-Land Magazine, Port Orchard Independent and Sequim Gazette.
Ward said he will continue to engage heavily with the PDN news team “because that is really a publisher’s role: to make sure we are presenting ourselves well to the community.”
However, Perry “will handle a lot of the operational-type things,” Ward added.
Fletcher said: “Both of these gentlemen have a great passion for what we all do on a daily basis — a great passion that also has energy and enthusiasm.”
Ward, 43, joined Sound Publishing as group publisher in September.
Ward previously was the CEO of KPC Media Group, overseeing 22 publications in Northeast Indiana.
Good team
“I have been in that type of role before … and what makes it work well is having a good team around you,” Ward said. “The team we have here really knows what they are doing.”
There are “logistics we have to work out, though,” Ward continued, “because naturally, having a publisher and a general manager is new to this operation. It is new to the papers that we publish.”
Fletcher expects the transition to be seamless because Ward “has a very tenured and talented team here — a group of professionals who get it.”
Ward background
Ward grew up as a migrant worker, picking fruits and vegetables across the western United States with his mother, older brother and two older sisters.
The family’s wanderings eventually led to Oklahoma, where Ward began his newspaper career as a reporter while still in high school.
That was at the Chickasha — pronounced “Chickashay,” population 13,374 — Daily Express, where publisher Charles Drew became his mentor, moving Ward into various positions that led to advertising director, general manager and group publisher.
Later, Ward was the director of sales and digital content for GateHouse Media’s Community Newspaper Division, where he worked in a leadership capacity with publishers, advertising directors, sales managers and their teams, representing 142 publications and related digital portfolios at 72 operating locations across 11 states.
He also served as publisher at Paxton Media Group before joining KPC Media Group in Kendallville, Ind., north of Fort Wayne, in 2012.
There, he was vice president of sales, digital and marketing before he was promoted to chief operating officer and later CEO.
Ward and his wife, Quinn, have three small children in addition to his five grown children and one grandson.
Perry background
Perry, 57, grew up in Seattle and graduated from Washington State University.
He started his newspaper career with the Skagit Valley Herald and later moved to Bainbridge Island, working at the Kitsap Sun for 12 years.
For the past 15 years, he has led the advertising sales teams in Sequim, Forks and Port Angeles.
“I enjoy seeing my team succeed in helping our valued advertisers grow their business,” Perry said.
“Being passionate about the newspapers and the folks that make it happen in our markets keeps me busy and is a big part of who I am.”
Perry said he looks forward to his new role.
“I am very pleased with the opportunity and the trust the company has given me to keep moving us in a positive direction,” he said.
Perry and his wife, Karen, have raised three sons.
Chris McDaniel is a reporter with the Olympic Peninsula News Group, which is composed of Sound Publishing newspapers Peninsula Daily News, Sequim Gazette and Forks Forum. He can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 56650, or cmcdaniel@peninsuladailynews.com.
