Shrader returns to Telegraph as publisher

Shrader returns to Telegraph as publisher

By Kelsey Landis

klandis@www.www.civitasmedia.com

ALTON — Jim Shrader rejoined The Telegraph team as publisher Wednesday.

Shrader comes from a storied background in advertising and publishing, having worked for multiple publications since his start in advertising sales in 1979 at the Granite City Journal, now known as the Granite City Press-Record. He served as advertising director at The Telegraph from 1989 to 1992, and returned as publisher in June 1998, a position he held until April 2013. For the past 20 months, Shrader served as vice president of sales for Alton radio station WBGZ.

Shrader will be a welcome addition to the newspaper’s team, said Ralph Martin, CEO of Civitas Media, the publishing company that owns The Telegraph. Shrader will also oversee Tha Jacksonville Journal-Courier, a sister newspaper.

“Jim is well regarded and has a long track record of success in the region. His relationships with community stake-holders, knowledge of the area and newspaper know-how are the key ingredients to growth in the market,” Martin said.

Shrader says his stint in radio will serve him well in his transition back to print, especially in an age where lines between mediums are blurred.

“Newspapers and radio are in the same business,” Shrader said. “We’re in the news and information business. They’re delivering to ears instead of eyes, but their website delivers to eyes just like ours does. Whether it’s hard news, lifestyles, sports, obituaries or advertising, it’s all news and information,” adding that the station was “very supportive” in his return to The Telegraph.

The longtime newspaperman said he has seen unthinkable changes in how that news and information is delivered.

“It’s changed the way newspapers do business,” Shrader said. “But people still read news and have a need for information, and that business is not going to go away. What we do is assemble it into a concise package that gets delivered to your doorstep.”

Shrader was born and raised in Madison County and attended Madison County public schools and SIUE.

Former publisher Joseph Craig left The Telegraph and The Jacksonville Journal-Courier two weeks ago to pursue a position as regional publisher of the Morning News in Florence, S.C., and the Carolina Publishing Group.

Reporter Kelsey Landis can be reached at 618-208-6460, Ext. 1396 or on Twitter @kelseylandis.