Joe Imel has been named the publisher of Bluegrass Newsmedia, the parent company of the Advocate-Messenger.

Imel, the former general manager and current Bowling Green Daily News publisher, is excited to begin his new role.

“I’m pleased and humbled to be named publisher. I’m proud of this newspaper and the people who work here covering their community. We’ll continue to work hard to make it the best news source it can be for our subscribers, readers and business partners,” said Imel. “I have a great passion for this business, and I am so lucky to do what I love for a living in one of the greatest places on earth, surrounded by some of the finest people in Kentucky.”

Congratulations came quickly from management from Carpenter Media Group, Bluegrass’s parent company.

“My congratulations to Joe on this overdue validation of the work he has been doing for some time.  In addition to serving as publisher for the Bluegrass groups of community news organizations, Joe is also publisher of the Bowling Green Daily News.  In my time working with Joe, I can say few people have the understanding of what readers value, the determination to do all he can to provide it, and the capacity to be hands-on with so many responsibilities.  He is a smart, committed leader dedicated to his readers, community and organization,” said John Carr, a regional vice president for Carpenter.

Imel is a veteran journalist who began his career 38 years ago as a photojournalist. He worked at the McLean County News and the Hardin County Independent as a reporter and photographer.

He arrived at the Daily News in 1991 as a photojournalist and rose through the ranks as chief photographer, photo editor, assistant managing editor, director of digital operations, general manager of WDNZ-TV, a low-power TV station owned by the paper, and was later promoted to general manager.

Imel and his wife, Tracy, reside in Bowling Green. They have a son and daughter-in-law who work in politics in Washington, D.C.

Carpenter Media Group owns and manages over 200 community and metro media titles in the U.S. and Canada.

Bluegrass Newsmedia comprises seven publications across Kentucky and Tennessee, including the Claiborne (Tn.) Progress, Danville Advocate, Harlan Enterprise, Jessamine Journal, Middlesboro News, Stanford Interior Journal and the Winchester Sun.