Weitzel to strengthen newspapers’ online presence
Reporter Wendy Weitzel has added the role of digital editor to her duties with the Port St. Joe Star and Apalachicola Times, effective Dec. 1.
In this capacity, Weitzel is responsible for developing and managing the digital plan for the newspaper websites and social media feeds.
“I’m pleased for Wendy to have this opportunity to not only strengthen the online presence of our news platforms in Gulf and Franklin counties, but also respond more quickly to presenting breaking news and stories important to our local communities,” said Publisher Nicole Barefield. “She certainly has the background and experience to take our digital news coverage to the next level.”
Weitzel joined Neves Media Publishing as a reporter primarily for the Star in August this year. Prior to then she interned for Oklahoma-based news wire service Gaylord News and for Oklahoma City-based online newspaper NonDoc.com during her four years at the University of Oklahoma, from which she graduated in May.
While at OU Weitzel was selected as Carnegie-Knight News21 Investigative Fellow among 30 top journalism students from around the country. She also was senior editor managing a 12-person newsroom in coordination with Oklahoma Watch, a non-profit news organization in eastern Oklahoma.
“Digital journalism provides us with an exciting opportunity to engage more directly and openly with our audience,” said Weitzel.
Getting to develop an online presence for newspapers that have served these communities for decades is an honor, and I look forward to interacting with those communities to tailor our digital feeds to their needs.”
Weitzel will continue her role as a community reporter, working with Star and Times Editor David Adlerstein to deliver relevant and trustworthy local news and information to the evolving audiences in these communities.
The Star and Times, along with the Washington County News and Holmes County-Times Advertiser, were purchased by Neves Media Publishing, based out of Bay County, in February this year. Visit the newspaper websites at: gulfcounty.news and franklincounty.news
Meet the Editor
David Adlerstein, The Apalachicola Times’ digital editor, started with the news outlet in January 2002 as a reporter.
Prior to then, David Adlerstein began as a newspaperman with a small Boston weekly, after graduating magna cum laude from Brandeis University in Waltham, Massachusetts. He later edited the weekly Bellville Times, and as business reporter for the daily Marion Star, both not far from his hometown of Columbus, Ohio.
In 1995, he moved to South Florida, and worked as a business reporter and editor of Medical Business newspaper. In Jan. 2002, he began with the Apalachicola Times, first as reporter and later as editor, and in Oct. 2020, also began editing the Port St. Joe Star.