MUSCATINE, Iowa — Bob Blackman, a veteran Lee Enterprises newspaper executive, has been appointed publisher of the Muscatine Journal.

Blackman, who most recently was publisher of the Columbus Telegram in Nebraska, is expected to begin his new position on Monday, Oct. 12.

“I’m thrilled that Bob is becoming our leader in Muscatine. He brings a wonderful background in community publishing, as well as a strong commitment to serving readers and advertisers. Also, as one who has worked closely with Bob over the years, I can guarantee that you’ll find him to be an energetic leader and caring friend,” Julie Bechtel, a Lee Enterprises regional executive and publisher of the Quad-City Times in Davenport, said in making the announcement this morning to Journal employees.

Blackman, 61, had been publisher of the Columbus Telegram since 2003 with responsibility also for two weekly newspapers and a weekly shopper. He moved to Columbus from Beatrice, Neb., where he was publisher of the Beatrice Daily Sun for three years. Both are Lee newspapers.

He began his career at the McCook Daily Gazette in Nebraska as an advertising sales representative and held management positions for newspapers in Fort Collins, Colo.; North Platte, Neb.; and Kansas City, Kan.

He joined Lee Enterprises in 1984 as retail manager at the Quad-City Times, moved to Lee’s newspaper in Lincoln, Neb., where he advanced to advertising manager in 1988.

In 1993, he started and managed a full-service web- and sheet-fed commercial printing operation, Oakcreek Printing and Mailing, for the Lincoln Journal Star before moving to Beatrice.

Blackman’s community activities have included the boards of United Way, serving as campaign drive chairman in 2007; YMCA, TeamMates and the Columbus Chamber of Commerce. His industry activities have included serving as president of the Nebraska Daily Publishers Association 2005 and 2006, as a board member and past president of the Nebraska Press/Nebraska Press Advertising Service from 2002-2008. His wife, Belinda, also has been active in the Columbus community, volunteering at the Humane Society and for the Center for Survivors. They have two grown children and five grandchildren.

“We will miss our many Columbus friends and the Telegram team but we are excited to get to know the Muscatine community and join the staff at the Muscatine Journal,” he said. “The Journal is a strong community newspaper and, combined with muscatinejournal.com, its reach continues to grow, benefiting both readers and advertisers.”

The Muscatine Journal is one of the oldest of Lee’s 53 daily newspapers. It has served as the primary news source in the region surrounding Muscatine County since 1840.