Sean McCue, who has been with the News Bulletin’s advertising sales department for more than 20 years, has been appointed as the newspaper’s publisher.
McCue’s appointment was officially announced Tuesday by Black Press Chief Operating Officer Randy Blair. He takes over from Maurice Donn, who retired in December.
McCue graduated from Vancouver Island University’s business management program and joined the News Bulletin as an advertising representative in February 1995 and took over as sales manager in 2008.
McCue grew up on Gabriola Island and has deep roots in Nanaimo. He served 27 years as a Canadian Armed Forces reservist with 39 Signals Regiment. He also serves on the Vancouver Island University Foundation board of directors and is an active volunteer with St. John Ambulance. Since retiring from the army reserves, McCue has taken up studying French, is learning to play guitar and even found time on weekends to fully enjoy the benefits of Island living, such as runs around Westwood Lake, camping and appreciating nature. He’s also a Vancouver Whitecaps season ticket holder and supporter.
“With the quality of life here there’s no reason really to leave and I’ve always enjoyed the different roles that I’ve had at the newspaper,” McCue said.
In more than 20 years with the News Bulletin, McCue has seen numerous technological advancements in the newspaper business, not just in how newspapers are produced, but in the various methods and media news and advertising services are delivered to readers and advertisers.
“With the digital initiatives that are unfolding, it’s ever-changing. That’s the biggest shift and also how the readers receive the end product,” McCue said.
Readers and advertisers now connect with the News Bulletin and the Vancouver Island Free Daily through Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, apps and in traditional print editions. News stories are now updated online as soon as information is available and readers can link directly to sports, news, community and business and advertisers online.
McCue said most of those technologies were either in their infancy or didn’t exist when he started in the newspaper business.
What hasn’t changed is the basic task of providing quality news content and effective marketing venues for advertising clients.
“What we aim to provide has been constant,” McCue said. “We want to be interesting and relevant and the most trusted source for news information … and, of course, to be highly attentive to our advertisers in order to serve them with a model that will help grow their businesses as well.”