Consolidated Publishing Corporation has announced that John Alred has been promoted to publisher of The Jacksonville News and The Piedmont Journal. Alred had been managing editor of both newspapers.

Alred replaces Phil Sanguinetti as publisher in Jacksonville and Robert Jackson as publisher in Piedmont. Sanguinetti and Jackson will remain as consultants.

“This is a great honor for me,” Alred said. “I believe community newspapers are the backbones to smaller communities like Jacksonville and Piedmont and I am proud to be the publisher of these newspapers.

“I have some big shoes to fill. Phil has been the publisher in Jacksonville for many, many years. In Piedmont I’m following not only Robert Jackson, but Austin Johnson and Lane Weatherbee.

“Let me say this. The readers of these two weekly newspapers will continue to get the very best of local coverage they have come to expect. We have good people at both newspapers who are dedicated to bringing our readers the news that means the most to them.”

Alred joined The Jacksonville News in 2006 after 32 years at The Gadsden Times. During his time at The Times, Alred worked as a reporter, news editor, sports writer and assistant sports editor, copy editor and in the advertising department as creative manager.

When he retired from the Times, he came to The News and after less than a year he was named managing editor of The News and The Journal.

He is a native of Gadsden and is a graduate of Jacksonville State University. He lives between Jacksonville and Piedmont with his wife, Karen.