Gary Mays, who a decade ago served as news editor, has returned to The Monroe Times as a news reporter, the newspaper announced Wednesday.
A native of Rockford, Ill., Mays earned his bachelor’s degree from Illinois State University, where he served as editor of The Daily Vidette student newspaper. Mays’ professional career has been split between newspapers and public relations.
In the mid-1990s, Mays spent a year as a reporter for the Chicago Tribune followed by a year as a reporter for the Wisconsin State Journal. He left newspapers in 1998, briefly shifting to public relations.
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Mays spent a year as manager of media relations for Electronic Data Systems, followed by stints as internal communications manager for SHL Group Limited and public relations manager for the former Berbee Information Networks. He also did freelance work for Computershare Investor Services.
In 2003, Mays returned to newspapers, serving as an assistant editor and later editor over four years with The Journal-Standard in Freeport, Ill. Mays’ next stop was The Daily Journal in Kankakee, Ill., where he served as a senior reporter and assistant metro editor from 2007 to 2008.
Mays joined The Monroe Times in August 2010 and served as news editor until September 2011. After leaving Monroe, Mays shifted to freelance work in page design, editing and writing, including contributions to academic textbooks.
