Treglown Named Managing Editor of RomeNewswire; New Ownership
The RomeNewswire will be changing ownership once again and RNW News Director Dawn Treglown will become part owner and managing editor.
Owner W.A. (Bill) Smith put the RomeNewswire up for sale last week after an employment conflict forced him to continue residing in Gwinnett County.
Smith stated,” I had planned on moving back into the Rome area, however an opportunity to work a secondary job in Rome fell through after they determined my media involvement would be a conflict of interest for the company. With the economy in the shape it is in currently, I have to maintain other employment for insurance and benefits.”
Smith currently works for Gwinnett County Fire and Emergency Services as a Firefighter/Paramedic and a Field Training Officer. He plans on maintaining strong ties to the RomeNewswire as he will be starting a new online news site in Gwinnett County that will have a loose affiliation with the Newswire.
“I really hate to let the RomeNewswire go, I had really planned on expanding Jerry Duke’s original vision for the company. Sometimes things don’t work out the way we plan them and we have to ultimately do what is in the best interest of the company and of course, my families best interest”, said Smith.
A deal was reached Thursday evening with RNW News Director Dawn Treglown and another person—who chooses to be a silent partner at this time—to purchase the Newswire from Smith for an undisclosed amount. The silent partner stated,” I have been looking at the RomeNewswire for some time and have been interested in being a part of it. When I found out it was for sale and that Dawn was the news director, I couldn’t pass it up.”
The new majority owner—who resides in the area—has graciously offered a large percentage of the company to Ms. Treglown and named her the managing editor.
“I have got to admit my head feels like it is spinning with all of the changes that have been happening lately, but I am looking forward to the new direction we are heading into, and I feel confident that our new majority owner has the best interest of the RomeNewswire in mind”, stated Ms. Treglown.
The company will maintain its latest identity as Seven Hills Media/ RomeNewswire.com and will continue its plans to restart the PolkNewswire.com and The Newswire print edition later this fall.
Smith will remain with the company for one month to help with the transition and afterwards will assist the company with technical aspects of the operation as needed.
