MANKATO, Minn. (AP) — The new publisher of The Free Press of Mankato is a veteran journalist who has spent most the past 14 years as a publisher at other Midwestern newspapers, including in La Crosse, Wis.

Jim Santori has been the executive editor and publisher of the the Kokomo Tribune in Indiana since 2003. He will replace Ken Lingen, who resigned as publisher of The Free Press last year.
Both newspapers are owned by Community Newspaper Holdings Inc. of Birmingham, Ala.

“Jim brings a well-earned reputation as a solid publisher,” said Henry Bird, CNHI vice president and division manager. “He’s a leader who inspires others, a manager who makes good things happen and a journalist with a long record of improving newspapers.”

In Kokomo, Santori led the CNHI Midwest Division’s online committee, which helped other newspapers improve their online editions.

“I’ll really miss the terrific people I’ve worked with over the years at the Kokomo Tribune and our sister papers throughout Indiana,” Santori said. “They are hard-working and dedicated.

“But I look forward to joining a newspaper with a great reputation and a progressive community that continues to improve. The fact that I have family in the area is just icing on the cake.”

Santori served in the U.S. Navy in Vietnam and received bachelor’s and master’s degrees in journalism from Southern Illinois University, Carbondale.

The Free Press is a daily newspaper with average circulation of about 22,270.

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