Zack Plair returned to the Commercial Dispatch on Friday to begin his tenure as the newspaper’s managing editor.
Plair, 32, has worked for the past year as a news writer for the Mississippi State University Office of Public Affairs. Prior to that, he served a six-month stint as city reporter for The Dispatch.
He has 12 years of journalism experience, including nearly 10 years in managing editor roles. Before first joining The Dispatch in 2014, Plair worked as managing editor at the Starkville Daily News. Before that, he led newsrooms for the Paragould Daily Press in Paragould, Arkansas, and The Eagle Democrat in his hometown of Warren, Arkansas.
Plair said he’s eager to return to journalism and to serving the Golden Triangle region through The Dispatch.
“I’m passionate about journalism, and I believe specifically in this newspaper,” Plair said. “For me, the opportunity to return comes as a tremendous blessing, but I understand that it comes also with the great responsibility of successfully leading a newsroom that for so long has been such a vital voice in this community and region.
“In my time working in Columbus before, I fell in love with this community and the people in it,” he added. “I’m very excited to be able to reconnect with them as managing editor of The Dispatch.”
Plair lives in Starkville with his wife, Amelia. He has three daughters: Julia, Zayley and Pfeiffer.
He said he is honored to have the chance to help The Dispatch continue to provide quality, community-oriented coverage for Columbus, Starkville and the surrounding areas under his leadership.
“I want to be fair, accurate and accountable,” he said. “We want people to know we’re accessible, and we want to continue to make sure that by reading this newspaper, people will feel better connected with the communities we cover.”
You can help your community
Quality, in-depth journalism is essential to a healthy community. The Dispatch brings you the most complete reporting and insightful commentary in the Golden Triangle, but we need your help to continue our efforts. In the past week, our reporters have posted 37 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.