Adrian Hedden
Carlsbad Current-Argus
achedden@currentargus.com

Josh Byers got his first reporting gig in fifth grade, starting the “JJ Times” with his neighborhood pal Jay Murphy in Byers’ hometown of Syracuse, New York.

He remembers that summer fondly, recalling how he and Murphy ended up turning a profit, selling papers and ads door to door, and even making the Channel 9 news in Syracuse for their effort.

“I just got the journalism bug. We made money on them, selling to the neighbors. It made it to the 6 o’clock news, so that was pretty cool,” Byers said. “I’ve always been pretty curious, and this is just the perfect profession for someone like that.”

Byers, a longtime journalist and newsroom leader, was hired as publisher for El Rito Media’s southern New Mexico newspapers, including the Carlsbad Current-Argus, Artesia Daily Press, Alamogordo News and Ruidoso News. He will oversee marketing and sales for the four papers starting May 5.

El Rito bought the Artesia Daily Press in October 2023 and in June 2024 purchased the Ruidoso News, Alamogordo News and Carlsbad Current-Argus from Gannett with the stated goal of revitalizing the local newspapers.

“It’s about getting to know the community, reacclimating myself to southern New Mexico and what’s important to the people there,” Byers said. “The main focus is driving revenue. It’s a shame when there aren’t people out promoting our products.”

‘Willing to go anywhere’

Byers, 51, graduated from the College of Charleston in 1995 with a bachelor’s degree in media communications and a minor in creative writing. He then worked at several newspapers in New Mexico – including his first job after college as a reporter for the Roswell Daily Record, where he worked for about four years.

“I was sending out a whole lot of resumes to any job that sounded interesting. They offered me the job, but I was going to turn them down. I took the weekend and decided it was time,” Byers said. “I just drove out and started the job. I was willing to go anywhere if I thought it was a good opportunity professionally. It really did springboard my career.”

Byers joined the Las Cruces Sun-News in 2000 as a copy editor, then was promoted by parent company Gannett to editor of the Deming Headlight before taking on general manager duties in 2002.

He met his wife Barbara Byers at the Sun-News, where she was working as classifieds manager. They were married in 2005 at the Lodge in Cloudcroft and have three sons: Cade, 24; Jaekob, 18; and Jackston, 15.

“Having someone who worked in the industry has been great for me and helped my career advance,” Byers said. “She just understands what we do. It’s been a productive marriage, professionally.”

Byers ended his time at Gannett in 2004 after serving as editor of the Carlsbad Current-Argus.

After Carlsbad, Byers’ career took him around the U.S. to several papers and publication companies including Heartland Publications subsidiary Civitas Media. He worked there, based in Kentucky, as group publisher over several newspapers from November 2004 to November 2013, later overseeing the company’s papers throughout Virginia.

Also with Civitas, Byers served as group publisher for several Ohio-based newspapers from March 2015 to May 2017 and at Harlan Media in Harlan, Iowa, from September 2020 until taking the job with El Rito.

‘A big trust factor’

Between Civitas and Harlan, Byers took “a sabbatical” from the news business, working as a licensed real estate agent starting in November 2017 for Las Cruces-based Steinborn and Associates. He maintained his editing skills by also working as an editor for Neighbors Magazine, a bimonthly publication catering to the real estate industry in Las Cruces.

Byers said his second life in the real estate business also helped prepare him to focus on local newspapers for El Rito by teaching him the strength of building relationships in the community.

“They’re similar. When you’re involved in real estate, it’s very eclectic with the people you deal with. There was a big trust factor,” Byers said. “I like to say there is community journalism, and then corporate journalism – that’s not what I’m interested in. That’s a huge part of why I accepted this offer.”

Richard L. Connor, chief executive officer and group publisher at El Rito Media, said Byers’ “deep background” in New Mexico media made him a top candidate to lead sales and marketing for all four papers as the company aims for more local coverage and community engagement.

Connor said Byers will be a crucial part of El Rito’s vision for restoring local journalism in rural markets.

“Josh has a deep background in New Mexico media, having been an editor and publisher in several markets,” Connor said. “The stars were aligned when we met Josh and determined he is the perfect fit for our new company, particularly with our papers in southern New Mexico.”

Managing Editor Adrian Hedden can be reached at 575-628-5516, or @AdrianHedden on the social media platform X.