Veteran journalists move to Greenville-Spartanburg market
Posted: 10-31-2008 : MOUNT PLEASANT, S.C.

MOUNT PLEASANT, S.C. – SC Biz News LLC today announced that Scott Miller, staff writer for the Charleston Regional Business Journal, and James T. Hammond, staff writer for the Columbia Regional Business Report are moving into new positions at GSA Business in South Carolina’s Upstate.

The changes are meant to increase and enhance the business reporting and news gathering in the Greenville-Spartanburg-Anderson area, said SC Biz News CEO and Group Publisher Grady Johnson. And these moves represent an investment that will benefit the entire state of South Carolina.

“Both of these moves are exciting steps forward in implementing our strategy of knitting the state’s business community together with a cohesive focus on business leadership issues,” Johnson said. “By transferring journalists who have significant experience and contacts, we cross-pollinate the business communities in Charleston, Columbia and the Upstate to fulfill our mission of being the state’s media engine for economic growth.”

Hammond is taking a leadership role as editor of GSA Business after spending four months with the Business Report. He previously worked for The State newspaper in Columbia.

“Jim and Scott will join Managing Editor Francis Allgood and writer Emily Payne in working toward the overall goal of increasing the number and depth of stories in GSA Business,” said GSA Publisher Lisa Jones. “I’m excited about the future of GSA with such a dynamic, experienced and well-rounded newsroom.”

SC Biz News LLC purchased GSA Business earlier this year and launched the Columbia Regional Business Report in August. Entering these markets along with its nearly 15 years of covering business news in the Charleston market, allows a leveraging of marketing efforts and journalism to benefit business, industry and economic development in all areas of South Carolina.

For two years, SC Biz News LLC has published a statewide business magazine, SCBIZ, dedicated to economic development in South Carolina. In 2008, the magazine went from a quarterly to a bi-monthly.

“I happy to say this is a great opportunity for Jim, and Columbia will not lose him altogether. He will still cover topics important to our region and our state, including legislative issues,” said Columbia Regional Business Report Publisher Bob Bouyea. “Both Jim and Scott bring a wealth of experience and knowledge to GSA Business by capitalizing on the contacts they’ve made throughout the years they have worked in South Carolina.”

Johnson said that putting two veteran journalists into the Upstate market will enhance the kinds of stories coming out of all of the SC Biz News markets.

“Scott has demonstrated a masterful grasp of business issues here in the Charleston region and will take this approach with him to GSA,” Johnson said. “Jim has roots in Greenville, so in addition to this being a homecoming for him, it is also a well deserved opportunity to assume a leadership role and manage our newsroom in the Upstate.”

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