Who we are

The Georgia Trust for Local News welcomed Cynthia as its new executive director in June of 2026. The veteran of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution and McClatchy Media will leverage her extensive experience driving transformative digital growth to lead the state’s largest independent newspaper company into a new chapter. A Long Island native, Cynthia was  first attracted to journalism during her time as a student at Spelman College in Atlanta, when a professor urged her to write for the campus newspaper. She would break in as a reporter with her hometown Newsday, before returning to Georgia to begin a nine-year stint at the AJC that included work in several digital and audience roles. Cynthia later spent almost seven years building audience, product and content monetization teams with McClatchy, ultimately rising to the role of Executive VP of membership. She will continue to serve as the lead coach for the news leadership and innovation program at City University of New York’s Craig Newmark Graduate School of Journalism.

Danyale was named the new deputy executive director of the Georgia Trust for Local News in June 2026. In addition to continuing to oversee accounting, financial reporting, budgeting and internal controls, she will also manage print production, circulation and operational systems across its portfolio of community newspapers. With a strong background in accounting and financial management, Danyale plays a key role in safeguarding the financial integrity of the organization while supporting strategic decision-making, working closely with leadership teams across departments to provide clear financial insights, improve processes and support the long-term sustainability of local journalism throughout Georgia.

Pam brings more than 30 years of experience in operations, human resources, advertising and product development to the Georgia Trust for Local News – a  majority of it accumulated coming up through the ranks of the Dublin Courier Herald Publishing Company. The Florida native, who now calls Rentz home, got her start with the company in sales, and rose to take on the titles of advertising director and, ultimately, general manager, being recognized with numerous awards in the highly competitive Georgia Press Association Newspaper Advertising Contest along the way. She now manages the GTLN’s entire 20-county publishing footprint.

Since retiring from day-to-day management of the Georgia Trust for Local News in January 2026, DuBose has begun a new role leading the organization’s fundraising, partnership and acquisition efforts. The 40-year veteran of newspaper publishing had been executive director of the GTLN since spearheading its launch as a subsidiary of the National Trust for Local News in 2024. His deep knowledge of the strengths and challenges facing rural newspapers stems from a lifelong career in publishing and public service, as longtime co-owner of the Dublin Courier Herald group and member of the Georgia House of Representatives from 1982 until 2011. He also serves on the board of directors for the Georgia Press Association, of which he’s a past president, and the Georgia First Amendment Foundation. 

A go-to reporter wearing a variety of hats, Payton stays on top of local matters in the areas of politics, crime, courts, public safety and humanitarianism, just to name a few. He also writes frequent human interest pieces and holds down the City of Dublin and Laurens County Schools government beats. Originally from Milledgeville, he has resided and worked in Dublin since joining The Courier Herald in 2005.

Rodney writes about local politics, issues and trends, in addition to covering the Laurens County and Dublin City Schools beats and editing award-winning outdoors special section Porter’s Guide to Hunting and Fishing. The veteran newspaperman, with over three and a half decades of experience as a reporter and editor, has spent the bulk of his career covering various parts of Central Georgia in roles with The Courier Herald and Macon Telegraph.

Better known as “The New Southern Dad,” a nickname shared with the title of his award-winning column that digs into the ever-changing work/life balance as head of a fast-moving household, Kyle is as versatile a journalist as he is a family man. The do-it-all dad and talented wordsmith, in addition to his weekly commentary, writes on local subjects including health/wellness, lifestyle and business/industry while also leading production of numerous magazines, special sections and weekly newspapers. He is also the creator and host of The Courier Herald’s podcast, Slightly Off The Record.

Clay took over the Sports Desk in 2020, but has been with The Courier Herald as a virtual jack of all trades since joining the staff as a student intern in 2010. The Dublin native, a graduate of the University of Georgia’s Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communication, has worked all over the newsroom in a variety of full- and part-time roles and received numerous Georgia Press Association awards for his writing, photography and editing. In addition to reading his area sports coverage, you can also hear him on the radio as a local play-by-play voice, host of 92.7 WKKZ’s “Tailgate Party” and occasional contributor to the Georgia Southern Sports Network.

2025 marks Harriett’s 30th year “Looking Back” in weekly columns offering readers a glimpse at history through local news clippings gathered from years gone by. The former schoolteacher began writing “85 Years Ago,” which she inherited from late Dublin Courier Herald publisher W.H. Champion, in 1995. Eight years later, she added a companion feature entitled “50 Years Ago,” treating Dublin-Laurens County natives to a more recent taste of nostalgia. The columns appear, respectively, in each Saturday and Tuesday edition.

Scott is a Dublin-based attorney, and longtime student of history in the Heart of Georgia. His column “Pieces of Our Past,” appearing every Thursday, recounts the interesting and unusual stories behind people, places, phenomena and time periods through the years that have made our community what it is today. Check out his blog to read more about all things Dublin-Laurens County history.

Logan joined the Georgia Trust for Local News in 2025 as a bureau reporter covering Montgomery, Treutlen and Wheeler counties for the Tri-County Connector. The Baxley native, a 2023 graduate of the University of Georgia’s prestigious Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communication, has past experience as a freelancer, and a 2022 student intern with the Darien News.

An advertising staff member for nearly 30 years, Connie is one of The Courier Herald’s most familiar faces. She can be seen on a daily basis throughout the community consulting clients on ways to grow their brand and promote key messages to local audiences via the newspaper’s print editions, special sections, magazines and digital products, in addition to spearheading other periodic projects like Dublin’s Cooking Show and Expo. She and husband “P.O.” live in Dexter.

A native and resident of Soperton, Courtney heads up The Courier Herald’s circulation department, managing distribution of the printed paper across our readership area, as well as online access for digital subscribers.

Alicia is one of the brightest creative minds in the Georgia Trust for Local News, and utilizes her talents as a page designer and advertising composer for various publications, including The Courier Herald, Johnson Journal, Dawson News and Tri-County Connector. She has also moonlighted as a writer and photographer since debuting with her first byline in the 2024 edition of Discover Dublin Magazine.

An accountant with over seven years of experience, Josie does her part to ensure The Courier Herald, and Georgia Trust for Local News, remains in good financial standing by assisting with billing, bookkeeping and financial reporting. She is a lifelong resident of Dublin, as well as a wife and a mom to three amazing girls.

Teresa, part of The Courier Herald family for nearly 40 years, is the paper’s longest-tenured team member, and remains as instrumental as ever in her role managing back-of-house operations, with a hand in production and advertising insertion for every edition published by the GTLN’s Dublin printing plant. An original East Dublinite who now calls Danville home, she is a connoisseur of classic country music, auto racing and soap operas.