Fisher to lead Jefferson Herald, Carroll Times Herald as GM

Staff Report

Jeff Wagner, president of Iowa Information Media Group (IIMG), and owner of the Carroll Times Herald and The Jefferson Herald, announced Steve Fisher as the company’s central general manager with responsibilities for both newspapers effective Feb. 6.

“I’m excited to give the Carroll and Jefferson communities the dedication they both deserve with the addition of Steve Fisher as general manager,” Wagner said. “He is an experienced, community-minded professional who will thrive in leading both newspaper operations.
“Leading a local media company is about being involved in the community, serving on boards and committees. Carroll and Jefferson are great communities, and they deserve strong, involved, community newspapers. Steve was the first person we thought of when the Wilson and Burns families approached us about buying the papers.”

Wagner believes everything good in a town can be defined as “community” and says his newspapers want to be part of the ongoing community-building process.
Fisher said he is eager to begin work in Carroll and Jefferson.

“My break from the media reinvigorated a great appreciation of the storytelling that you just don’t find in outlets other than community journalism,” he said. “I’m very excited to get there and hear from the community,” Fisher added.

Arriving in Iowa in 2001, Fisher has been a Dubuque resident ever since.
Fisher completed high school in Mexico, MO, a town with a similar population size and feel to the Carroll and Jefferson areas, he says.

“Both towns have a lot of pride in their schools, there is lots of community involvement and volunteering,” Fisher said.

Fisher spent 18 years at Dubuque-based Woodward Communications Inc. (WCI). Most recently Fisher served as a cybersecurity specialist with a technology company.
At WCI, Fisher held several titles in advertising and marketing management and as publisher. Fisher was group publisher of Woodward Community Media, which includes WCI’s paid newspapers, shoppers, niche publications, events, and commercial printing operations.
Under Fisher’s leadership, WCI grew its weekly newspaper and shopper titles from 10 to more than 20 through a series of acquisitions. After his time at WCI, Fisher maintained residence in Iowa while running APG Media of Southern Minnesota as regional president. At APG and WCI, Fisher and his team introduced several new print, video, digital, and event initiatives resulting in new business models, audience growth, and community development.

Active in the paid newspaper and free paper industry, Fisher has conducted advertising sales and sales management training for the American Press Institute (API), Inland Press Association, Iowa Newspaper Association, Wisconsin Newspaper Association, Missouri Press Association, and the Association of Free Community Papers. He is a past president of the Iowa Newspaper Association and served two terms as the president of the Midwest Free Community Papers association.
Fisher and his wife, Lori, are excited to be moving to Carroll and have recently been touring the area.

“I saw a fabulous infrastructure for schools, a lot of solid businesses, and a fantastic hospital, ” Fisher said. “The downtown has a strong vibrant business, which is great.”

Fisher is heavily involved in photography and in the past in his free time has served on chamber of commerce and economic development boards.

“I’m big on quality-of-life issues,” Fisher said. “All communities are challenged to figure out how to attract young talent and workforce to the community.”

Fisher is a graduate of several executive development programs including API’s Executive Development Program; Wisconsin Broadcasters Association Foundation’s Walker Broadcast Management Institute; and the Association of Free Community Paper’s Leadership Institute.
Fisher completed a bachelor’s degree in mass communications in 1990 at Truman State University in Kirksville, MO.