From The Trussville Tribune staff reports
TRUSSVILLE — Former WBRC news producer and Clay resident Erica Thomas has been named managing editor of The Trussville Tribune, according to publisher Scott Buttram.
“We’re excited to have Erica join the Tribune team and lead our newspaper staff,” Buttram said. “Her depth of experience and connection to our local communities separated her from an outstanding group of candidates.”
Thomas has also produced for ABC 33/40, as well as other stations across the Southeast. She is looking forward to working in her own community.
“I love this area and the small-town-feel it offers,” Thomas said. “My husband, Andrew, and I always talk about how great it is to be in the center of everything and still have a tight-knit community. I plan to infuse myself into everyday life and really help make a positive difference for my neighbors.”
Thomas, a graduate of UAB, also comes to the Tribune with extensive training in multi-media platforms from Poynter Institute for Media Studies in St. Petersburg, Florida.
“Erica is passionate about journalism and brings a great pedigree to our newsroom after working with the leader in local television news at WBRC Fox 6,” Buttram said. “I believe her experience of over a decade in news writing and producing, as well as her experience in television, matches well with our commitment to telling the stories of our communities across the platforms of print and digital media. I’m very confident that our readers will appreciate the high level of professionalism that Erica will bring to the Tribune.
Thomas replaces Tanna Friday, who has served as managing editor for the last year. According to Buttram, Friday is pursuing other professional opportunities, but has continued to work with the Tribune through the newspaper’s transition to Thomas.
“I’m grateful to Tanna for the much-needed stability that she has provided over the last year,” Buttram said. “She has made this an easy transition and her organizational skills will help immensely as we move forward. I’m confident that she will have nothing but the greatest success in her future endeavors.”
Thomas will take over the managing editor duties on March 11. Her email address is Erica.Thomas@TrussvilleTribune.com and she can be reached by phone at 205-533-8664.