A familiar face in The DAILY LEADER’S newsroom has a newposition with the company.

DAILY LEADER News Editor Matthew Coleman has been promoted tomanaging editor, Publisher Bill Jacobs said. Coleman assumes hisnew duties with today’s paper.

“Matt’s experience makes him the perfect fit to run ournewsroom,” Jacobs said. “He knows the area, he knows oursubscribers and he knows our newsroom inside and out. I think thisis a perfect opportunity for him to advance his career while at thesame time helping the DAILY LEADER become an even betternewspaper.

“Matt has put in the time learning the business. I am delightedto see him take over the reigns of the newsroom and am just veryproud to make this announcement,” Jacobs added.

Coleman began work with the newspaper in April 1991, when hecame on board as a staff writer. Since then, Coleman has become afamiliar face around Brookhaven, having reported on many eventsinvolving the city and county government, state legislativeactivities and educational institutions.

“I feel this will give me an asset in my new duties,” Colemansaid.

Coleman’s new position includes his overseeing the everydayoperations of the the newspaper’s news coverage, which includesgeneral news, sports, lifestyles and the faith and values sectionsof the newspaper.

“I look forward to the opportunity and challenges that I willface as managing editor,” Coleman said. ” I appreciate theconfidence that Mr. Jacobs has placed in me.

“We’ve got a good staff and I look forward to continuing touphold the quality news coverage our readers have come to expect,”he said.

A native of Vicksburg, Coleman has made his home in theBrookhaven area and is involved in a variety of localorganizations. He is a former chairman and executive director forthe Brookhaven Little Theatre board of directors and is a member ofNew Hope United Methodist Church.

Coleman is a graduate of Northeast Louisiana University, wherehe received a Bachelor of Arts degree in journalism.

Coleman succeeds J. Ben Kelly, who is leaving The DAILY LEADERto become managing editor of the Madison County Herald.