Jan. 9, 2013 — There’s a new sports sheriff in town and it is a familiar face.
MacKenzie Bates, a 2009 graduate of Morehead State University, was named sports editor at the Journal-Times, effective Jan. 4. He replaces Grant Stevens, who resigned to accept a position out-of-state.
“I am extremely honored and humbled to become the sports editor,” Bates said. “Sports has been a passion of mine for as long as I remember and I look forward to sharing it with the coaches and student-athletes in Carter County.”
Bates studied broadcast journalism at MSU, joining the staff at Morehead State Public Radio in 2005 as a news and sports reporter.
Upon graduating, he spent three years at WYMT-TV in Hazard, where he worked as a sports reporter/ anchor for two years.
Stevens spent the past year at the head of the sports department and said he enjoyed his time being a part of the community.
“Being part of the grind of Carter County sports is something I will forever cherish and always hold dear to my heart,” Stevens said. “MacKenzie and I were classmates in the MSU communications department and I have no doubt he will cover the local sports beat with as much as passion and love as I did. He is a true sports hound.”
Keith Kappes, publisher of the Journal Times, said of Bates’ appointment:
“MacKenzie is a news professional with a keen appreciation of the public’s interest in sports at all levels of competition. We are confident he will maintain our tradition of great sports coverage.”
