Veteran journalist and West Virginia native Phil Perry has been named president of HD Media, which publishes the ÂÒÂ×ÄÚÉä Gazette-Mail, the Herald-Dispatch in Huntington and a host of weekly publications across West Virginia, Virginia and Ohio.
This is an undated contributed photo of Phil Perry, who was named president of HD Media on Friday, June 27, 2025.
Courtesy photo
Perry, 53, succeeds Doug Skaff Jr., who died in a crash on Interstate 79 earlier this month.
“With the recent passing of Doug Skaff Jr., our hearts will always be broken, and we are missing the leadership that he provided on a daily basis,†Perry said. “Doug’s shoes are impossible to fill because his leadership style was so unique, and his energy was so infectious.
“I know he’d be behind me, supporting me and lifting me up. The groundwork that he put down for us over the last five years will always inspire me and be a source of reflection.â€
Perry joined HD Media in 2017 and most recently served as the director of acquisitions and development while overseeing the group’s 11 weekly newspapers.
Over three decades, he’s had professional stops at Gatehouse Media, Berkshire Hathaway, Western Carolina Publishing, Yahoo! Sports and multiple independently owned publications.
He began his journalism journey in the 1990s as a general assignment reporter and entertainment writer. He later moved into a senior writer position, where his work focused on government waste in western North Carolina. During his career, he’s also served as a sports reporter, sports editor, news editor and managing editor.
“I feel that I bring unique experiences to the table that were cultivated from a broad landscape,†Perry said. “I’m old enough to value and appreciate legacy print media but young enough and open-minded enough to embrace technology as digital media influences, and perhaps dictates, the future mechanisms of news consumption.â€
A native of Rumble, in Boone County, Perry attended Sherman High School, Glenville State College (University) and West Virginia State College (University), where he studied elementary education and English.
In his free time, Perry is a musician and multi-instrumentalist. He is a member of Local 136, American Federation of Musicians and sits on the board of the Derick Kirk Foundation, which provides music scholarships to students pursuing careers in music education.
“Having worked alongside Phil in recent years, I have seen firsthand his dedication to HD Media and his commitment to bringing people together in the name of preserving local journalism,†HD Media Executive Editor Jeff Rider said. “Phil has shown tremendous leadership in guiding HD Media’s weekly publications, and I know he will bring that same passion and energy to overseeing the company’s day-to-day operations.â€
Perry lives in Danville with his wife Chanda, daughter Maria and son Taylor.
