Luke Horton has been named president of Brookhaven Newsmedia and publisher of The Daily Leader, The Prentiss Headlight and affiliated publications.

A native of Newton County,  Horton most recently worked as publisher of The Newton County Appeal newspaper in his hometown. He will begin his duties in Brookhaven in the coming weeks.

“I am grateful for the opportunity to serve this community,” Horton said. “We will build upon the strong foundation of the 133-year old newspaper and join a great team already in place at the newspaper. I am committed to the success of this newspaper and this community. My family is excited to be moving to Brookhaven and believe it will be a great place in which to raise our family.”

Horton and his wife, Lauren, have five children: Ethan, 8; Beverly, 5; Levi, 3; Adah, 18 months; and Noel, 3 weeks.

“We are thrilled to have Luke join us and lead the Brookhaven and Prentiss newspapers,” said Kevin Cooper, Vice-President of Boone Newspapers, which is an owner of Brookhaven Newsmedia.

“Luke’s unique experience, strong work ethic and family values make him the perfect, long-term newspaper leader for Brookhaven and Prentiss,” Cooper added.

Horton graduated from Mississippi State University and began his newspaper career at a weekly publication in Kosciusko soon after. He has served as news editor, editor and publisher at several newspapers in Mississippi and also in North Carolina. Horton has won numerous state and regional journalism awards in photography, feature writing, editorial writing, news writing, investigative reporting, newspaper design, as well as awards for advertising design.

He also worked as a missionary in South Africa while in college and as a Children’s Protective Services caseworker in Houston, Texas.

Horton said he believes strongly in the important role community newspapers can serve.

“Newspapers have the power to do good in their communities,” he said. “A newspaper should not only inform and entertain, but also work to better the lives of those in the community.”

Horton has begun the process of relocating to Brookhaven, but will not assume full-time duties for a few weeks.