BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – David Joyner of Salem, Mass., has been appointed executive news editor of Community Newspaper Holdings Inc., Vice President for News William B. Ketter announced today.

Joyner is currently senior managing editor of the CNHI-owned Eagle-Tribune in North Andover, Mass. The appointment is effective April 1. Joyner will relocate to the company’s headquarters in Birmingham.

Ketter said Joyner’s responsibilities will include news training, content development, integration of print and electronic newsgathering, and special news and public service projects.

“We are fortunate to have a young, forward-thinking editor available for this key position,” said Ketter. “David Joyner understands the changing news and information needs of today’s society, and he has the leadership and journalism skills to help move CNHI newspapers and Web sites forward at this critical, transformational juncture.”

CNHI, added Ketter, is in the process of developing local newsrooms that blend staff and reader content in print and online, including the Web and other electronic platforms. “We need to accelerate the process.” he said. “David Joyner is the right person to help us do that.”

Joyner, 31, a native of suburban Atlanta, Ga., is a 1996 graduate of George Washington University. He has worked as a reporter and editor for newspapers in Georgia, Alabama, North Carolina and Massachusetts.

CNHI is a Birmingham-based company with daily and non-daily newspapers in more than 200 communities in 24 states. The company was founded in 1997.