Ashley Johnson has been named managing editor of The Post-Searchlight newspaper in Bainbridge, Ga. She is scheduled to begin work Wednesday.

Johnson, 23, a native of Marietta, Ga., has worked as a staff writer at The Selma Times-Journal since May 2012, joining the newspaper immediately following her graduation from the University of Alabama. The Times-Journal and The Post-Searchlight are part of Boone Newspapers, Inc.

“The experiences I had here in Selma were immeasurable in their value because of how they developed me as a journalist,” Johnson said. “The people of this city made reporting easy because they were always willing to tell the newsroom when something was going on. Many people here have such a passion for seeing Selma succeed. That feeling was contagious and I caught on quickly, wanting the same things and working to shed a light on positive things in the community as well as give constructive criticism for those who didn’t want to join the team.”

At the Post-Searchlight, Johnson will contribute editorial content to each of their publications, including two magazines produced by The Post-Searchlight’s parent company, Bainbridge Media, LLC.

“We knew when we hired Ashley last year that she was tremendously talented and had great potential,” Times-Journal editor Tim Reeves said. “She worked hard, produced great work and earned this promotion within our company. All of us at the Times-Journal are proud of Ashley and will miss her greatly.”

During her time at the Times-Journal, Ashley helped the newspaper earn top honors in the Alabama Press Association’s Better Newspaper Contest as well as helped overhaul the newspaper’s digital and social media presence, through the use of Facebook and Twitter.

“I cannot wait to see what is in store ahead and take what I have learned in Selma to another city,” Johnson said. “I will always have a heart for Selma, no matter where I go. I would have never known one year ago that this is what was in store for me but I could not be happier.”