RAPID CITY - Brad Slater, advertising director of the Rapid City Journal, has been promoted to publisher.

Slater, who started at the Journal in 1985 as an advertising executive, said he is excited about his new role.

"I'm extremely excited about this opportunity to be publisher of a newspaper in a community that has been my home for 27 years," Slater said.

Slater will not only be leading the Rapid City Journal and its online component, rapidcityjournal.com, but he will have responsibility for 12 weekly newspapers and advertising publications in Rapid City, Belle Fourche, Deadwood, Hot Springs, Newell, Spearfish and Sturgis, as well as Chadron, Neb.

Greg Veon, Lee Enterprises vice president for publishing, said Slater emerged as the top candidate after a nationwide search.

"Brad has been a key sales executive, team builder and leader at the Rapid City Journal for 22 years. His strong record at the Journal and his deep commitment to the Rapid City community make him an ideal choice to continue advancing the vitality of both in the Black Hills region," Veon said.

Slater said he looks forward to his role in the community as the new publisher, especially with the growth and other positive things that are happening in Rapid City.

"We're in exciting times," he said. "The community just looks so promising and so bright that we need to be a partner in that."

Slater said he is committed to providing strong local news, sports and advertising content to readers and subscribers of the Journal.

Slater has been advertising director at the Journal since 2001.

He received a degree in business administration at National American University in Rapid City.

His community activities include serving on the advisory committee for the Retired and Senior Volunteer Program. He has been involved in coaching Little League baseball, softball and club basketball for 15 years.

A son, Tyson, lives in Boulder, Colo., and a daughter, Kenizie, is a sophomore at Rapid City Central High School in Rapid City.

Slater succeeds Rosanne Cheeseman, who left the company in September.