J.D. CREER

Newspaper veteran J.D. Creer has been named the executive editor of the Salem News, Morning Journal and East Liverpool Review.

Tammie McIntosh, publisher of the three newspapers, made the announcement Friday. In his new role, Creer will oversee editorial content for the publications serving Columbiana County.

“Creer is passionate about informing our local communities on what’s happening around them, and he has been committed for decades to creating quality content for our readers,” McIntosh said. “Columbiana County’s three daily newspapers continue to play a very important role in our local communities. At a time when news is available on-demand, it’s important to remember that the news that impacts our readers the most is taking place right here in Columbiana County — and that’s the news we bring to you, each and every day, both in print and online through our websites.”

Creer is a graduate of Salem High School and Youngstown State University. His career began while completing his degree at YSU, serving on the sports staff of the Morning Journal. In 1979, he became sports editor of the Salem News. He was promoted to managing editor in 1995 and served in that role until his latest appointment.

Born and raised in Salem, Creer developed a passion for newspapers as a Salem News carrier — a route his family held through different siblings for nearly 20 years.

“I am proud to be a homegrown boy who has gone from a 9-year-old Salem News paper boy to various positions: the YSU student newspaper; a sport staffer on the Morning Journal; sports editor and, later, managing editor of the Salem News and now executive editor of our county’s three newspapers,” he said.

Creer, who has won multiple professional writing and photography awards, is a semifinalist in this year’s Associated Press contest for Best Opinion writer. He has three daughters, two grandchildren and a 96-year-old father who he “likes to hang out with.”

He said he plans to grow the papers’ coverage of news, sports and human interest stories in East Liverpool and Lisbon, just as he did in Salem.

“I myself have a 40-year career as a resource for experiences of all kinds. I always derive a tremendous amount of self-satisfaction when someone tells me they have stories I wrote and photos I took in their scrapbooks and even taped to their refrigerator. That is what I got in this business for: fullfillment of skills that I worked very hard to refine. I have had a lot of newsprint and ink smudges between my thumbs and index fingers over the years from holding copies of the Salem News. I like to think I have left my own imprint and will continue to do so. I look forward to the responsibility.”