USA Today’s Publisher Black Will Head ANPA

Cathleen Black was named Monday to head the American Newspaper Publishers Assn. in an expanded role as president and chief executive. She said she will use her experience as publisher of USA Today to give the association a visible and strong leader.

“I like things where there is a lot of challenge and I think that is where our industry is today,” Black said at a news conference that followed the announcement of her appointment.

“To reflect the interests and concerns of the industry, I should be mobile, while simultaneously having a presence in Washington,” Black said.

Black, 47, has been publisher of USA Today since 1984. She joined the Gannett Co. in 1983 as president of USA Today and has been on the company’s board of directors since 1985.

Black’s successor as publisher of USA Today will be Thomas Curley, who is now president of the newspaper and who retains that title as well.

Curley announced the appointment of Carolyn F. Vesper, vice president of national sales for USA Today, to the new position of senior vice president and associate publisher.