The Austin Daily Herald and Albert Lea Tribune have a new marketing audience development manager who will help both newspapers expand their audiences.

Dori Etheridge began her duties last month. She is marketing both papers and magazines through promotions, events, specials, community involvement and other ways to increase the visibility of the projects.

“The magazines are beautiful,” she said. “The newspapers are highly-awarded.”

Prior to accepting the position, Etheridge spent a couple years in Oregon as a management team member of a mountain resort. She has a marketing degree from Riverland Community College and owned the former Ayanah restaurant in Albert Lea. She has also served as a design consultant at Brick Furniture and played professional poker for two years.

Etheridge said she enjoys her job, especially getting to know people and sharing exciting developments with them.

Etheridge has many promotions planned, including one for a free apron and a pound of bacon on March 1 in recognition of National Pig Day.

Etheridge’s husband, Robert Etheridge, is a retired Albert Lea police officer. He has two children, Corey and Nancy, and she has three sons, Dylan, Cole and Grayden.

Etheridge said newspapers are an integral part of communities and spoke of her support for print journalism.

“When I was growing up, the newspaper was a really big deal at our house,” she said. “Everyone wanted to be the first one to read it. Whoever got the mail got it first.”

Etheridge said the newspaper united her family for one hour every evening to discuss what they read.

“There were only three channels on TV back then,” she said. “I want people to feel that feeling about the newspaper. The kids looking for the comics and puzzles, looking to see their siblings in the sports page. Moms looking for the big story on the front page, and dads looking for sports, and everyone looking for our entertaining, talented columnists.”

“We are fortunate to have an award-winning local newspaper. It is a treasure.”