The city of Seymour has hired a local journalist to fill its newly created position of public information specialist.
January Rutherford, a reporter for The Tribune, will step into the role at city hall beginning Monday after 16 years writing for the newspaper.
Mayor Matt Nicholson said Rutherford has the qualities, experience and enthusiasm needed for the job.
“In my mind, the newly created position needed someone with a journalism background,” he said. “I believe January will be an excellent fit not only for the position but also with the city team. She is bringing several new ideas that I am excited to see get started.”
The city council approved the position last month at Nicholson’s recommendation in an effort to improve both internal and external communications and help create a positive image and well-recognized brand for Seymour.
Rutherford, 40, is a Seymour native, having graduated from Seymour High School in 1999. She earned her bachelor’s degree in journalism and public relations from Franklin College in 2003 and spent a year as a reporter at The Shelbyville News before being hired by The Tribune in 2005.
She has a vast knowledge of local government, having covered the Seymour beat her entire 16 years at The Tribune. She also covered Seymour Community Schools.
That knowledge will serve her well as she transitions into her new duties, she said.
“I have had the privilege of covering Seymour under three different mayors — Jim Bullard, Craig Luedeman and now Matt Nicholson — and interacted with three different administration teams,” she said. “I am excited to be able to use my experience and skills to help get important information out to people and tell the story of Seymour to everyone.”
Her new job duties will include preparing news releases and interacting with media outlets and the public, among other tasks.
From better publicity for programs, such as Make Seymour Shine and Storm Water Awareness Month, to updates on road and sewer projects and events taking place in the city to sharing emergency communications, Rutherford will serve as a spokesperson for Seymour.
She will be involved with all of the city’s social media platforms and its website, too.
Leaving The Tribune wasn’t an easy decision, though, as it’s the reason she has become so involved in the community and met so many lifelong friends, including her fellow reporters and contacts from all walks of life.
Aubrey Woods, editor of The Tribune, said it will be difficult to replace Rutherford’s knowledge of Seymour and contacts within the community.
“While we will miss January and her contributions to making The Tribune a great newspaper over the past 16 years, I want to wish her the best as she takes on this new challenge,” he said. “I am sure in her new position, we will be hearing and seeing a lot of her.”
Nicholson said having a public information specialist will give the city an opportunity to reach a wider audience.
“This is a chance for somebody to focus on telling the story of Seymour,” he said. “We have plenty of good news going on every day. It’s just a matter of we don’t always get a chance to tell it, and now, we will.”
Rutherford said she is proud to be a part of the Seymour community and is looking forward to a bright future for the city and its people.
“There is so much excitement about the growth here and what is going to happen in Seymour in the next five to 10 years and beyond, and I can’t wait to be a part of it,” she said.