Hal Welch, general manager of The Journal in Seneca, has been elected president of the S.C. Press Association after a vote of the Press Association’s membership.

Other officers elected were: Barbara Ball, publisher of The Voice of Blythewood and Fairfield County as weekly newspaper vice president; Kyle Osteen, managing partner and co-owner of Osteen Publishing Co. which publishes The Sumter Item, as daily newspaper vice president; and Jonathan Vickery, publisher and editor of The People-Sentinel in Barnwell as treasurer.

Elected to two-year terms on the SCPA Executive Committee were: Jason Cato, managing editor of The Post and Courier in Charleston; Jeff Evans, publisher of The Island News and Lowcountry Weekly in Beaufort; Ryan Gilchrest, managing editor of Greenville Journal; and Rocky Nimmons, publisher of the Pickens County Courier.

Re-elected to continuing terms on the SCPA Executive Committee were: John Boyette, executive editor of Aiken Standard and Gina Smith, special projects editor of The State, The Island Packet, The Beaufort Gazette and The Sun News.

Welch succeeds Nathaniel Abraham Jr., publisher of Carolina Panorama in Columbia.

“I’ve had the privilege of working with the South Carolina Press Association for more than a decade going back to my time in Walterboro. I look forward to the opportunity to work with Jen, Randall, and the other board members to advance the causes for newspapers around this state,” Welch said.

In addition to his leadership role at The Journal, Welch also serves as Chief Operating Officer for Edwards Media Group, also based in Seneca.

Welch began his newspaper career at The Daytona Beach (FL) News-Journal in Daytona Beach in 2000. Having served stints in Daytona, Athens (GA), Valdosta (GA), Walterboro, (SC), and the last 15 years in Seneca, Welch brings a unique skillset to the press association. His newspaper in Seneca has won first place in General Excellence four times since 2015 including 2024 and 2025. He also manages six newspapers and 13 radio stations in Michigan and Wyoming as the C.O.O. of The Edwards Group.

The election came as part of a two-day meeting in Columbia attended by more than 200 journalists from across the state.

The press association was founded in 1852 and serves 100 S.C. newspapers and digital news organizations.