Putnam accepts position at Forsyth County News
By RAINER ARNOLD Union Sentinel Publisher
Union Sentinel Editor Jared Putnam has accepted the position of sports editor of the Forsyth County News, a 15,000 circulation newspaper in Cumming, Ga.

A member of Swartz-Morris Media Inc., the Forsyth County News is as a sister paper to the The Times in Gainesville. The Forsyth County News publishes four issues each week (Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Sunday,) and serves as the Legal Organ to Forsyth County, the fifth fastest growing county in the United States.

"This is really a terrific opportunity for me," Putnam said. "I'm excited about the opportunity to advance my career in journalism by taking on a new challenge at a topnotch newspaper located in a rapidly growing area. Even though I enjoy a lot of aspects of working at a newspaper, covering sports is what I really love to do. It will be nice to go into a situation where I will be exclusively a sports editor; working with a full-time sports writer, photographers and other stringers to continue to produce a high quality sports section."

Putnam has been employed at the Union Sentinel since July 2004. He has served in a dual role as editor and sports editor since March 2006. He explained that while this career opportunity was too appealing to pass up, it was still a difficult decision from a personal standpoint.

"The nice thing about working in a small town is that it forces you to be hands-on," Putnam said. "Being out in the community on a daily basis, you are able to see first-hand the impact you can make through quality coverage. You also develop a lot of good relationships, and those are by far the hardest thing to leave behind. You become invested in people's lives, and it makes you wish you could be in two places at once, to continue to provide quality coverage for a lot of people that are hungry for it and deserving of it."

Putnam said that like any job, working at the Union Sentinel has had its share of pros and cons, but that it has been a valuable experience.

"Working at the Union Sentinel has been a unique adventure for sure," he said. "I wouldn't trade it for anything. I'm grateful to have been able to work with some talented people while developing my abilities in a community that I have a lot of ties to."

While he is moving on to a new challenge in a different area, Putnam said that his ties to the area ensure that he will be here on occasion. "I will still be around from time to time," he said. "I will at least find the time to make it to some Panthers games."