Hollis Towns is New Leader of Alabama Media Group Newsroom

Cara Erickson is pleased to have partnered with Alabama Media Group (AMG) to help recruit Hollis R. Towns as its VP Content/Editor and newsroom leader effective March 25, 2024. In this capacity he heads the largest news operation in the state, comprised of the talented journalists and editors who produce the award-winning AL.com,This is Alabama, the Alabama Education Lab, and the digital editions of the Birmingham News, Huntsville Times, and Mobile Press-Register.

A native of Fort Valley, Georgia, Hollis returns to the South with extensive and versatile experience. He built his career at Gannett where he rose to Executive Editor of the Cincinnati Enquirer and Executive Editor at the Asbury Park Press. More recently he was VP Local News Initiatives and Regional Editor at Gannett with responsibility for 160 newspapers and websites nationwide. Hollis has been recognized within the company and in the wider journalism industry for diversity leadership initiatives and innovation, and is known for taking an active role in listening to and engaging with community leaders, civic activities, and readers.

As VP Content, Hollis reports to AMG President Natalie Pruitt and oversees a team of more than 100 digital journalists and editors. The AMG team has recently won multiple Pulitzer Prizes and national journalism awards for investigative, local public service, and commentary. Hollis succeeds Kelly Ann Scott, who left in fall 2023 to become editor in chief of the Houston Chronicle.

Alabama Media Group is a division of privately-held Advance Local, one of the leading digital media and marketing companies in the country.