Charles D. Horton III, who is credited with fueling the growth of kitsapsun.com, has been named the president and publisher of the Kitsap Sun.
Horton, 34, joined the Sun in 2004 as circulation director. He later became director of audience development and most recently has served as director of advertising and interactive operations. During his tenure at the Kitsap Sun, the circulation department experienced a significant transformation while increasing its Sunday circulation.
Horton begins his new role today.
“Under Charles’ leadership, the Sun has regularly outperformed its peers in audience growth and pure-play interactive revenue growth,” said Mark Contreras, senior vice president/newspapers for The E.W. Scripps Company, which owns Kitsap Sun. “His track record of innovation will allow us to quickly adapt our ever-changing business to better serve the needs of our advertisers and readers, both in print and online.”
Horton’s appointment follows long-time publisher Mike Levi’s retirement at the end of May. Levi announced his retirement in March after 37 years with Scripps.
Horton began his newspaper career in 1997 as the circulation sales manager at the Fairbanks (Alaska) Daily News-Miner. He was later an independent distributor for The Oregonian and then became the assistant circulation director of the Burlington Times News in North Carolina. Before joining the Kitsap Sun, he served as circulation director of the Goshen News in Indiana.
Horton was among the local recipients of a “40 Under 40” business leadership award in 2005. He is a member of the Port Orchard Rotary Club and former president of the board of directors for the Goshen adult literacy program. The Port Orchard, Wash., resident and his wife, Deanna, have one son, Avery.
About Scripps
The E.W. Scripps Company is a diverse, 130-year-old media enterprise with interests in television stations, newspapers, local news and information Web sites, and licensing and syndication. For a full listing of Scripps media companies and their associated Web sites, visit www.scripps.com.