News Veteran Joins Georgia EMC

Tucker, Ga. -- Walter Jones recently joined Georgia Electric Membership Corp. (EMC) as manager of media relations. Jones will succeed Terri Statham who is retiring after 40 years of service to Georgia EMC, Oglethorpe Power Corp. and 41 EMCs across the state.

He brings extensive experience in media relations and communications, holding past positions as director of Morris News Service and publisher of the Newnan Times-Herald, among other notable roles.

Most recently, Jones was a highly regarded communications consultant, helping high-profile public affairs clients with strategy, messaging, branding, social media and crisis communications, sometimes in the glare of international media coverage.

Before his time in consulting, Jones served as senior director of communications and legislative affairs for the Georgia Department of Human Services, Division of Family and Children Services. As senior director, he led the legislative and communications strategy for Georgia’s welfare and child protection system, including lobbying and managing close interactions with agency leadership, the Georgia governor’s office and the media. 

Earlier, Jones was publisher of the Newnan Times-Herald and oversaw all aspects of the daily newspaper, magazines, special reports and website. Amid a challenging environment for newspapers and advertisers, he instituted budget controls, quality and service improvements, added revenue streams and reduced expenses.

Prior to his service with the newspaper, he served as director of Morris News Service, overseeing reporting, editing and distribution of hundreds of stories and photos each week for newspapers across the Morris chain nationwide as well as additional subscribing outlets. In addition, Jones wrote a weekly political analysis column, developed products for the news wire, and initiated a social-media strategy to support the company’s communications efforts.

He has served as president of the Atlanta Press Club and been a speaker for various groups such as the National Association of Government Communicators.

Jones earned a bachelor’s degree in journalism from Georgia State University and is a member of St. Paul’s Episcopal Church where he served previously as endowment chair and vestry member, and former Sunday school teacher.

Georgia EMC is the statewide trade association representing the state’s 41 EMCs, Oglethorpe Power Corp., Georgia Transmission Corp. and Georgia System Operations Corp.  Collectively, Georgia’s customer-owned EMCs provide electricity and related services to approximately 4.4 million people, nearly half of Georgia’s population, across 73 percent of the state’s land area. To learn more, visit www.georgiaemc.com and follow us on Facebook and Twitter.