Jackson, Mich.--Sara Scott has been named community news director for the Jackson Citizen Patriot as it transitions into the digital-focused news operation, MLive Media Group.

Scott will supervise the Jackson news hub, which will feature a strong, local corps of reporters and photographers who will engage and interact with readers while producing up-to-the-minute news via digital platforms, as well as print.

Scott is a 19-year veteran of the news business, working several years as reporter and editor at the Citizen Patriot, and as a state capitol reporter in Lansing, Mich.

MLive Media Group also tapped two other longtime Citizen Patriot staffers to round out the leadership team. Jeff Bleiler has been named managing producer, and Brian Wheeler will assume the newly created role of community engagement specialist.

Bleiler will supervise and direct coverage for all local content in Jackson for both the Citizen Patriot’s digital and print platforms. He has a strong background in sports, news and design.

Wheeler will write the news organization’s opinions and solicit local opinion, as well as coordinate social media and community outreach in Jackson. Wheeler worked for newspapers in Maryland before joining the Citizen Patriot in 2000. As a reporter, he covered education and county government, and he was an assistant metro editor before becoming the newspaper’s editorial writer in 2007.

--Tarryl Jackson, MLive.com