Jeremy Pittari, 38, has been named president and publisher of Picayune Newsmedia LLC., which publishes the Picayune Item, The Poplarville Democrat and their affiliated print and digital products.
Pittari, who grew up in Slidell, La. and Picayune, Miss., is a 9-year veteran of community journalism having served as reporter and managing editor of the Picayune Item. He replaces Linda Gilmore, who is relocating to Arkansas to be closer to her family.
“I am very excited to be assuming this leadership role with the community newspaper where I got my start in journalism,” Pittari said. “I have watched Pearl River County grow and am excited to be a part of that growth. Pearl River County has a great reputation as a wonderful community and I look forward to being a part of that and helping move the county forward.”
Pittari began his newspaper career in 2005 with the Picayune Item as an intern, one week after Hurricane Katrina struck the area. At the time, Pittari was attending the University of Southern Mississippi where he earned a bachelor’s degree in journalism. The Picayune Item also provided him his first full-time opportunity as a staff writer upon graduation from USM later that same year. In 2014, he was named managing editor of the Item.
“We’re certainly sad to see Linda leave Picayune because of the good results she produced through the newspaper for the community, but we’re equally excited that Jeremy will be leading our effort to provide Picayune and Pearl River County with quality community newspapers,” said Boone Newspapers Vice President Dennis Palmer. “Jeremy has a long history of producing quality journalism for the people of Pearl River County and I know he’ll do an excellent job in his new role as publisher.”
Pittari’s first day as publisher will be July 9.
“I look forward to working with the community to publish a newspaper that reflects the many positive attributes of Pearl River County. The people and stories of this area will be our priority as we build upon the long history of quality print and digital products offered by the Item,” Pittari said.