Bailey steps into leadership role over Palo Pinto Communications

The newspaper group of Palo Pinto Communications is welcoming a new, but familiar leader. Kylie Bailey, who previously served as the group’s creative director, has stepped into a new role overseeing operations of the group’s three publications The Graham Leader, Breckenridge American and Jacksboro Herald-Gazette.

Bailey has a total of 10 years with the group, starting in 2008 and continuing in 2021. She was rehired as the creative director for Palo Pinto Communications in May. On top of handling advertisements and page design for all three publications as well as special sections, she will be responsible for overall operations of the three publications.

“I want the overall trust in our newspapers to be strengthened within the communities we serve each week,” Bailey said. “Newspapers are an important aspect of small towns, and play a big role in informing citizens of local issues that impact them daily. With my experience in the industry and in the communities, I hope to also strengthen local coverage of topics that matter to our readers.”

Bailey plans to support the long-standing and new employees within the group who work each week to make the publications better for each community. She said the dedication she feels to the communities is mirrored in each employee.

“The employees who work for our three publications live, eat and sleep in the communities we serve,” she said. “We are all local people who care about the communities in which we live. I was born and raised in Graham and also lived in Bryson and later Breckenridge as a child. I have family in Jacksboro, my dad works in Olney at Air Tractor. These communities are important and our employees have the same sense of pride as I do in being a part of them.”

Bailey officially started in the position of general manager Monday, Nov. 22. Currently, she is also continuing in her role as creative director over the three publications. Part of her goals for the publications include putting a focus back on the core product, expanding the group’s online presence and providing new digital opportunities to advertisers.

“If we want to succeed, it is important for us to recognize the ever-changing environment of the industry and adapt as quickly as possible to those changes,” Bailey said. “We need to meet people where they are in the 21st century, and that is online.”

Her ultimate goal is to adopt an open door policy at each office. Bailey said she wants to create an environment where members of the community feel comfortable coming to the offices to give ideas, feedback and local story submissions.

“Nowadays people are quick to post their child’s latest achievement or something good or bad that has happened in their lives to a newsfeed. If your child caught that big fish or if the community is hosting a benefit for someone going through a hard time, I would love to see that within the pages of our newspaper,” she said. “Social media has created such a divide, and we don’t know if it will be around forever. But our publications have been around for over 100 years, so if there’s something you can count on, it’s that the newspaper will always be here for you when you need it.”