THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, September 21, 1995 TAG: 9509210408
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B1 EDITION: FINAL
LENGTH: Medium: 65 lines
Frank Batten Jr., president and publisher of The Virginian-Pilot since 1991, will become executive vice president of the newspaper's parent, Landmark Communications Inc., on Oct. 1.
R. Bruce Bradley, who has been vice president and general manager of The Virginian-Pilot since 1992, will succeed Batten as president and publisher.
In his new post, the 37-year-old Batten will organize and lead a new media technology group within Landmark, a Norfolk-based publishing, broadcasting and cable-network company.
The group will seek opportunities to develop new businesses and products using new and emerging technologies in media and communications.
``This technology group will be Landmark's first organized research and development effort,'' John O. Wynne, president and chief executive officer of Landmark, said in a prepared statement. ``One of its first tasks will be to help Landmark develop the knowledge and skills to take advantage of technology changes.''
The decision to create this team was prompted by the accelerating pace of change in communications technology, Wynne said. ``This brings big risks but also great opportunities for companies that figure out innovative ways to use technologies for consumers and businesses.''
Batten will report to Wynne and will be part of Landmark's five-member chief executive officer team.
During his four years as president and publisher of The Virginian-Pilot, Batten forged a skilled management team and fostered an environment that encouraged innovation, said Douglas B. Fox, Landmark's chief operating officer and president of its publishing and video group.
``He has been able to do this under a lot of challenging financial conditions,'' Fox said.
Batten became president and publisher of The Virginian-Pilot after assignments as associate publisher and publisher of The News-Enterprise, a Landmark newspaper in Elizabethtown, Ky.
He also worked as a reporter for The Associated Press in London and as a reporter and an advertising salesman for The Roanoke Times, a Landmark newspaper.
Batten graduated from Dartmouth College and earned a master's degree in business administration at the University of Virginia.
Before becoming general manager of The Virginian-Pilot three years ago, Bradley served as the newspaper's advertising director and as vice president and marketing director at the Greensboro News & Record, a Landmark newspaper in North Carolina.
Bradley, 45, joined the advertising staff of The Virginian-Pilot in 1974 and later served as retail advertising manager and advertising director for The Roanoke Times.
He graduated from Villanova University and holds a master's degree in business administration from Old Dominion University. ILLUSTRATION: Color photos
Frank Batten Jr.
R. Bruce Bradley
by CNB