Hall named executive editor of The Clarion-Ledger

The Clarion-Ledger's newest executive editor is a Mississippi native with deep roots in the metro area.

Tupelo native Sam R. Hall has been tapped to lead Mississippi's largest newsroom, Jason Taylor, president and publisher of The Clarion-Ledger, announced Wednesday.

"Sam is uniquely qualified to be the editor of The Clarion-Ledger. He has a deep passion for Mississippi and its people balanced with strong news leadership," Taylor said.

Hall, who joined The Clarion-Ledger in 2012, has spent nearly 15 years in journalism, including stints as editor and publisher of several publications in Mississippi and Alabama.

"Having this opportunity is a professional dream, and I'm grateful to Jason for the opportunity and the rest of the staff for their support," Hall said. "I grew up reading The Clarion-Ledger, and since my first days as a reporter this was the newsroom I wanted to lead. I'm honored and humbled to have that chance now."

Hall has served as acting executive editor for the past four months while a successor to Brian Tolley, who left for a similar position in Hilton Head, S.C., was sought.

"We interviewed candidates from all over the country, but I truly believe Sam is the most qualified to lead the state's largest news-gathering team," Taylor said.

Hall first served as metro editor and then assistant managing editor for digital at The Clarion-Ledger. Under his leadership, The Clarion-Ledger has become one Gannett's top digital properties, second among the company's 84 sites for mobile and for overall digital growth.

Hall led the effort to evolve The Clarion-Ledger to a digital-first newsroom and oversaw the launch of all new digital products — including the redesigned ClarionLedger.com and Clarion-Ledger apps. However, Hall said his biggest focus remains content.

"It doesn't matter how great our digital products are, if we don't have the best coverage, the best features, the best investigative reports, then we won't continue to grow our audience like we've done over the past few years," Hall said.

As acting executive editor, Hall was aggressive in making moves within the newsroom to strengthen local coverage of the metro-area, with a new emphasis placed on covering Madison and Rankin counties.

"The Clarion-Ledger has had a string of great reporters who have covered the City of Jackson and Hinds County, but I felt like we were starting to neglect our suburban counties," Hall said. "That isn't the case anymore, and it won't be the case in the future."

The men and women who have dedicated themselves to The Clarion-Ledger's mission and the work it produces are what have made this newsroom so special over the years, Hall said.

"The people who have come through this newsroom and the ones who are here today have crafted a newspaper with a storied past," Hall said. "I'm proud to work alongside them, whether they are breaking one of the biggest bribery scandals in our state's history or following Mississippi State and Ole Miss during a dream season or telling stories unique to Mississippi. I couldn't ask for a better team."

Hall said The Clarion-Ledger will continue to pour resources into their award-winning legislative and political coverage. At the same time, they are looking to expand high school sports coverage and provide more features for collegiate coverage at Jackson State, Mississippi State, Ole Miss and Southern Miss.

"Sam shares in that fundamental desire to move Mississippi forward and recognizes The Clarion-Ledger's role in informing our communities," Taylor said.

Hall's newspaper stops include The Rankin Record, The Natchez Democrat, The (Houston, Miss.) Times-Post, The Scott County Times and The Demopolis (Ala.) Times. He was also a syndicated political columnist for several years before leaving journalism for a short time, during which he worked as a communications and political consultant.

"Politics was one of those things I thought I wanted to try, and I enjoyed most of my time doing it," said Hall, who has a political science degree from Millsaps College. "But the truth is that I grew tired of the rigors and uncertainty of consulting work. I've always said it was God's divine timing that had me weary of what I was doing at the same time Brian was looking for new leadership at The Clarion-Ledger. Three years later, I can see that blessing even more clearly."

Hall and his wife, Tara, and their three children live in the Reservoir-area of Rankin County. They attend Lakeside Presbyterian Church, where Hall is a deacon. His wife chairs the English department at Hartfield Academy in Flowood, and their children are in public school in Rankin County.

"My wife and I are both Mississippi natives, and the opportunity to be executive editor of The Clarion-Ledger is as important to us personally as it is to me professionally," Hall said.