Stewart Gwin acquires share of West Alabama Watchman, LLC
Stewart Gwin has purchased a share of West Alabama Watchman, LLC, the organization’s Managing Partners have announced.
Gwin will assume Danny Smith’s ownership share of The Watchman, effective July 1. Smith is relocating to Tupelo, Miss., to pursue a new career opportunity.
Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.
Gwin, a 2007 graduate of Demopolis High School who earned his Master’s Degree in Biotechnology from UAB, will work with Watchman Managing Partners Michael Clements and Jeremy D. Smith, who along with Danny Smith founded The Watchman in August, 2012. Gwin has seven years’ journalism experience in various roles.
“Demopolis helped to raise me for 19 years, and I am excited to have the opportunity to again work with so many of the great folks in the local community,” said Gwin. “I also appreciate Danny, Michael, and Jeremy allowing me the opportunity to join such a great organization, and I wish Danny the best in his future endeavors in Tupelo.
“I have seen the Watchman’s impact in the local community grow over the past couple of years, and it’s easy to recognize a great product when you see one,” Gwin continued. “From its digital presence to its incredible print publications, the Watchman has filled a niche that I feel Marengo County has always needed. Speaking of print publications, RedZone, our preseason football magazine is due out in August and this year’s RedZone looks to be our best yet.”
Danny Smith called Gwin’s acquisition “a win-win in the truest sense. It is a great opportunity for Stewart, and also for Michael and Jeremy to work with a partner who is versatile, energetic and highly talented. The big winner is the community we serve, which will continue to receive the quality coverage it deserves from an experienced home-owned organization dedicated to its betterment.”
Clements and Jeremy Smith, in a joint statement, said the transition will be virtually seamless to readers and advertisers. “Stewart’s business experience, his love for this area and his understanding of community journalism is a perfect match for The Watchman and its mission to serve our area,” the statement said. “We wish Danny the very best and thank him for his contributions. At the same time, we are ready to step into the future with a Watchman team that is as strong as ever.”
Danny Smith thanked the community for its support. “I can’t tell our readers how wonderful it has been to be a part of The Watchman for the past three years,” he said. “It has been one of the most rewarding experiences of my professional career, and Michael, Jeremy and most of all our readers and advertisers have made that experience possible. I am deeply grateful.”
Gwin said The Watchman “has become a go-to source for news in the local community, and I look forward to working with Michael and Jeremy as we continue our commitment to local news and sports in Demopolis and the surrounding region.”