Doug Franklin named new publisher of AJC

Cox Enterprises has named Doug Franklin, a veteran executive in its newspapers group, as the new publisher of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

He succeeds John Mellott, AJC publisher since 2004, who is retiring after 22 years with Cox.

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Doug Franklin

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John Mellott

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Franklin is a former publisher at Cox papers in Palm Beach, Fla., and Dayton, Ohio. He was recently installed as executive vice president of Cox Newspapers, a post he will retain while adding the duties of AJC publisher.

“I am honored to be taking the helm of a fabulous institution,” said Franklin, who said he would spend most of his time at the AJC. “I look forward to working with our staff and moving our products forward.”

The moves come amid a financial slump in the newspaper industry that has affected both the AJC and other Cox newspapers. The parent company is trying to sell the Austin American-Statesman and a number of smaller properties.

“Doug is a change agent and his outstanding track record with Cox uniquely qualifies him for the Publisher role at the AJC,” said Sandy Schwartz, president of Cox Media Group, which oversees all the Atlanta-based company’s media holdings.

“He will bring fresh thinking and energy to the job while he continues the important work of transforming our newspapers in print and digitally.”

Franklin, 51, spent most of his 30-year Cox career in the company’s Ohio operations, rising to president and chief executive of Cox Ohio Publishing. He moved to the Palm Beach Post and led a major reorganization there last year.

Mellott, 51, has held various leadership roles at Cox, including president of its Dent Wizard business and vice president of business development for Cox Enterprises.

Since becoming AJC publisher, he has led the newspaper through a series of reorganizations to grapple with revenue declines that mirrored those of the entire industry.

“The toughest thing has been the changes associated with the reorganization and the resulting departure of so many folks I worked so closely with and so deeply respected,” said Mellott, who added that he would remain in Atlanta and was “going to take some time to build a wonderfully balanced and flexible life.”