Scott Wasser, a newspaper veteran of eight newspapers and more than 30 years, has been named executive editor of the MaineToday Media's newspapers, including the Kennebec Journal, and Web sites.

The announcement was made by Richard L. Connor, CEO of MaineToday Media. Connor also is editor and publisher of the newspaper group.

Wasser will report to Connor and help him run the editorial departments of The Portland Press Herald, Kennebec Journal, Morning Sentinel, Coastal Journal and their related Web sites MaineToday Media recently acquired.

"Scott and I have the same editorial philosophy and share the same vision of what we want our publications to be," Connor said. "His diverse newsroom experience at several publications and his online background makes him a great candidate to make MaineToday Media the 24/7 news source we want it to be.

"Scott has already assumed his duties and together we've quickly made several changes to our news organization and their publications. Based on the e-mails and phone calls I've been getting, the public has begun to notice these changes, which include more local news and editorial content; the addition of new sections and features; more timely updates of our Web sites and an editorial staff that is more responsive to our readers."

Wasser, who will retain his title of Vice President/News at Connor's newspaper in Wilkes-Barre, Pa., but is relocating to the Portland area, has been in the newspaper business for more than 30 years.

He has worked at newspapers with circulations as small as 10,000 and as large as 500,000-plus.

He also has edited two national magazines and worked as director of communications at a private college.

"I hired Wasser over 20 years ago and asked him to fix a sports section at my newspaper," Connor said. "He not only fixed it, he also put it in position to be named one of the country's top ten sports sections in the country year after year. Since then he has applied that same gift of transforming sports sections and applied it to all areas of newspapering."

Wasser's newsroom experience includes stints as a managing editor, city editor, sports editor, online editor and assistant general manager, and photographer.

He also has written a weekly car review column since 1988 and has contributed as a freelance writer and photographer to several national publications.

"I've got a lot of journalism and management experience," Wasser said, "but only a little bit of 'Maine experience.' Fortunately, many of the people I'm working with are Maine natives or longtime residents of the state. I'm tapping into their knowledge of the state and its people to deliver the kind of newspapers and Web sites the state and the communities we serve want.

"So far, I've been tremendously impressed by the vast amount of talent in our news operations and in the passion Mainers have for news. I'm also blown away by the beauty and diversity of the state and am thrilled to have the opportunity to serve its residents and our readers."