Wilder joins Courier staff as new advertising manager
Dwane Wilder
For most of the past 28 years, Wilder has worked for the LaFollette Press in various roles, including general-assignment reporter, sports editor, editor, and most recently, advertising representative.
“I’m excited to have Dwane join our staff at The Courier News,” Publisher Tony Cox said. “He’s a well-rounded community newspaperman. His years of experience in many areas of the newspaper business will be beneficial to our advertisers.
“Dwane is local to Clinton and that is a plus for him and the newspaper,” Cox said. “He lives here, shops here and dines in Anderson County. That and his newspaper background made for the ideal combination.
“I’m looking forward to seeing how Dwane and our advertising representatives Kim Webber and Suzette Shelton work together for the benefit of our customers.”
Wilder and his wife, Karen, raised their two daughters in Campbell County, and the couple moved to Clinton about a year-and-a-half ago. They are members of Clinton’s Second Baptist Church.
“I’ve always admired The Courier News and the legacy of Horace Wells.” Wilder said. “I always thought since I moved to Clinton that I would love the opportunity to work for the Courier News.
“Clinton’s a great community and a great newspaper town,” he said. “I hope I can represent the newspaper and the Anderson County community well.”
A native of Hawkins County, Wilder holds a degree in graphic design from Lincoln Memorial University.
He left the LaFollette Press only once before – for about a year – to work at its affiliated paper, the Roane County News in Kingston. He returned to LaFollette Press after that, and remained until his transition to The Courier News.
He became editor at the Press in mid-2015, and moved into the advertising role in fall 2019.
Wilder is on the board of directors of the Campbell County Chamber of Commerce, and is a member of the Clinch River Chapter of Trout Unlimited.
Besides their two daughters, the Wilders have five grandchildren.