Brasfield named GM at Courier News

Mark Brasfield has been promoted to general manager of the Blytheville Courier News.

Brasfield has been with the Courier News since 2002, starting out as sports editor, then later becoming managing editor. He spent two years with the Dexter (Missouri) Daily Statesman and also worked for the Trumann Democrat -- both sister papers of the CN -- before moving back to his hometown, Blytheville.

Brasfield graduated from Gosnell High School in 1995 and earned a bachelor of science in journalism from Arkansas State University in 1999.

"I am grateful for the opportunity to continue serving our readers in this new role," Brasfield said. "We have an excellent, dedicated staff that endeavors to provide the best possible product for our readers and advertisers. We will continue to cover all the local news and serve our customers to the best of our ability."

"I've been around the newspaper business all my life," Brasfield continued. "My father served in this same capacity with the Courier News for a short period of time in the early 1990s, and prior to that, he worked for years at the Jackson (Tennessee) Sun. Someone once said that the ink gets in your blood, and it's true."

Publisher Shelia Rouse said along with a family history in the industry, Brasfield has lived in the Blytheville area for more than 20 years and he has been involved in the community.

"I have every confidence he will be a strong leader and bring the newspaper to a new level of professionalism," Rouse said.