Lee promotes Nebraska newspaper publisher

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) - The publisher of the Lincoln Journal Star in Nebraska has been promoted to group publisher for Lee Enterprises.

Lee says Julie Bechtel will be president and publisher of The Pantagraph in Bloomington, Ill., and the Herald & Review in Decatur, Ill. Bechtel also will oversee operations at Lee’s media companies in eastern Nebraska and Illinois. Bechtel will join Lee’s executive team to help guide Lee’s 50 daily print and digital publications in 22 states.

Bechtel had been Lincoln’s publisher since 2011.

Journal Star general manager Ava Thomas will replace Bechtel in Lincoln. Thomas also will be responsible for Lee’s other Nebraska daily newspapers: the Beatrice Daily Sun, Columbus Telegram and Fremont Tribune. And she’ll watch over Lee’s weekly, monthly and niche publications and websites in Nebraska.