Rural Missouri Staff

Meet the Rural Missouri Staff
	Editor Jim McCarty joined Rural Missouri in 1985. A University of Missouri School of Journalism graduate, he has been honored by the Cooperative Communicators Association as "Writer of the Year" in 1994 and has received that organization's coveted Michael Graznak young communicator award. Twice, Jim has led the Rural Missouri staff to national recognition as the recipient of George W. Haggard Memorial Journalism Award from the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association.
	Managing Editor Jason Jenkins joined Rural Missouri in 2007 after spending the previous five years as a news writer and photographer with the University of Missouri Extension and Ag Information News Group. Named the Cooperative Communicators Association's Photographer of the Year in 2009 and 2012, he also received the organization's coveted Michael Graznak young communicator award in 2011. Jason is a member of the Missouri Outdoor Communicators and the Outdoor Writers Association of America, where he has served on the board of directors and several committees.
	Associate Editor Heather Berry left Gov. John Ashcroft's press staff to join Rural Missouri in 1989. In addition to regular features, Heather produces our Hearth and Home page and is the alter-ego of Buddy Bear, Rural Missouri's Just 4 Kids mascot. Heather also handles freelance submissions.
	Field Editor Paul Newton joined the staff in 2013. Originally from Galena, Ill., Paul received a degree a photojournalism from Western Kentucky University. Prior to Rural Missouri, Paul worked at The Southern Illinoisan in Carbondale, Ill., from 2007-2013, as a staff photographer and later as the director of visuals.
	Production Manager Mary Davis joined Rural Missouri in 1990 after working for the Missouri Department of Agriculture. Mary is the liason with our printer, handles postal issues and oversees the budgeting process for Rural Missouri. She is responsible for all of the display advertising in Rural Missouri and also assists the entire staff with graphics.
	Editorial assistant Megan Backes joined the Rural Missouri team in 2010. Originally from Pilot Grove, Megan received a degree of fine arts in graphic design from the University of Central Missouri. Megan handles our classified advertising, subscriptions and assists the staff with page layouts and graphics. She also is the friendly voice on the phone you get when you call our office.
	Graphic arts specialist Angie Jones produces the cooperative local pages that appear either outside or in the middle of Rural Missouri. Angie joined the staff in 2007.
	Dusty Weter joined the staff in 2009 as a graphic arts specialist in charge of designing the cooperative local pages. Originally from Ashland, he is a graduate of the Art Program at Columbia College. He also assists with graphic design for the AMEC printshop along with numerous other duties.

	Rural Missouri 2722 E. McCarty Street P.O. Box 1645 • Jefferson City, Mo. 65102 573-659-3423

Meet the Rural Missouri Staff