Review-Journal names Bob Brown as new publisher

The Las Vegas Review-Journal on Friday named a new publisher to replace longtime publisher Sherman Frederick.

Bob Brown, advertising director of the newspaper since 2001, was named publisher of the newspaper effective immediately.

Frederick also stepped down effective immediately as chief executive officer of Stephens Media, owner of the Review-Journal. He will be replaced by Michael Ferguson, the company's current chief operating officer.

Frederick will remain with Stephens Media in a consultant role and write a weekly column for Stephens Media newspapers.

Stephens Media owner Warren Stephens announced Frederick's new role Friday .

"I am pleased that Sherm will remain with the company," Stephens said. "Sherm has had a long and distinguished journalism career. I am glad we will be able to retain his writing talents for the newspaper."

"It's been a hard summer for me," said Frederick, who underwent back-to-back prostate and heart bypass surgeries. "I'm looking forward to a more measured pace for a while, as well as my new duties with the company."

Frederick is a member of the Nevada Newspaper Hall of Fame.

Ferguson said Friday that he was honored to accept the new assignment as chief executive officer of Stephens Media.

"I look forward to continuing the Stephens Media tradition of producing quality newspapers that are essential to their readers and the communities they serve," Ferguson said.

Ferguson has been with Stephens Media or its predecessors since 1968. Ferguson is a graduate of California State Polytechnic University, Pomona.

Stephens Media is a nationwide newspaper publisher with operations from Hawaii to North Carolina.

Ferguson, who appointed Brown as publisher, said, "I think Bob brings remarkable skills and talents to his new position."

Brown is a member of the board of trustees of the Las Vegas Chamber of Commerce and the boards of Opportunity Village, Special Olympics of Southern Nevada and the Better Business Bureau of Las Vegas.

"I am excited by this new opportunity," Brown said. "I look forward to leading the Review-Journal on its mission to be the pre-eminent source of news and information in Nevada. I think readers and advertisers will be excited by the changes in store."

Brown was previously an advertising executive with McClatchy Newspapers, Sacramento, Calif. He is a graduate of the University of California-Berkeley. Brown is married to Melinda Brown and they have four children, Sean, Sarah, Nicholas and William.

The Review-Journal also announced Friday that Thomas Mitchell, editor of the newspaper, would be stepping down from his position as editor. Mitchell will become senior opinion editor for the newspaper. An announcement on Mitchell's replacement as editor is expected soon.

The general manager's position at the Review-Journal was eliminated as part of a cost reduction restructuring. As a result, Allan Fleming, previous general manager, left the company Friday.