Those who frequent the halls of The DAILY LEADER or attendcommunity events will soon meet the newest face at thenewspaper.

John W. Lowman Jr. was named general manager and advertisingdirector of the newspaper Monday. He comes to Brookhaven from NorthCarolina, where he was the publisher of Paxton Media Group’s dailyThe Enquirer Journal in Monroe.

He will be responsible for the advertising sales and theday-to-day operation of the newspaper.

“I am excited to bring a person of John’s experience andbackground to The DAILY LEADER,” said Bill Jacobs, President andPublisher of the newspaper. “His position will allow us to become astronger and better newspaper and will give me time to focus onother areas of the company,” Jacobs said.

“Brookhaven and the area have seen some exciting growth over thepast 10 years. With the anticipated community growth from theMississippi School of the Arts, I felt the need to add to ourmanagement team to allow us to follow that growth,” Jacobssaid.

Lowman is anxious to get involved in the community.

“I am excited to be a part of Brookhaven and to be a part of TheDAILY LEADER team. I’m a strong believer in community involvement,both for myself and the newspaper,” Lowman said. “I plan onfollowing Bill Jacobs’ lead in doing the same here, which is onereason I took the job.”

While complimenting the paper on its quality, Lowman said hisattraction to the job here was the emphasis the Jacobs family hasalways had on helping in the community and being involved in itsgrowth and caring for others.

Lowman has served as president or publisher in several newspapercompanies during his career, which spans more than two decades, andsaid he was not satisfied in the corporate setting because manycorporations lack community involvement.

“I wanted to find another company willing to work with thecommunity,” he said. “I want to continue helping Bill Jacobs dowhat he has been doing. I’ll just bring some new ideas to thetable, that’s all.”

Lowman said he is not sure what community organizations he willjoin here yet, but he plans to become heavily involved once hedoes.

He has served on the United Way board of directors and was amember of the Rotary Club in North Carolina. Other clubs he hasbeen a member of in the past include Rotary International, theFoundation Board of Southeastern Community College, serving on theboard of directors for the YMCA and Chamber of Commerce, andcoaching Little League and soccer.

His professional credits include being named Publisher of theYear in 1997, winning the 1999 President’s Award, serving on theboard of directors of several states’ press associations, andinstituting a Newspaper in Education program now being adapted byother publications within Brehm Communications in Iowa.

“What many people don’t understand about newspapers, unlessthey’re in the business, is that newspapers are about more thanbirths, deaths and passing other information,” Lowman said. “Theyalso have a major impact in the community and economicdevelopment.”

Many people do not understand the size and scope of newspaperoperations, he said. With more than 50 employees at The DAILYLEADER, he said, the newspaper provides a strong influence on theeconomy in terms of payroll and community involvement.

“We need to promote the fact that a newspaper is more than justa newspaper,” he said.

Lowman’s wife, Linda, and children, Alex, 14, and twinsChristopher and Hannah, 11, will be moving to Brookhaven once thehouse in North Carolina is sold, he said.

“Linda is a school teacher,” Lowman said, “and she is reallyexcited about moving into the Mississippi school system.”

Meanwhile, he has moved into The Inez.