Birmingham-based Yellowhammer Multimedia continued its expansion today by announcing the addition of an experienced and dynamic editorial team to oversee the content of its flagship publication, Yellowhammernews.com.
Mobile native and conservative columnist J. Pepper Bryars has been named editor, while his wife, Birmingham native and writer Rachel Blackmon Bryars will serve as the site’s managing editor.
“We are thrilled to have Pepper and Rachel join our team,” said Allison Ross, owner and publisher of Yellowhammer Multimedia. “They bring an exciting blend of experience and share a passion for the principles advocated by our company.”
The duo will assume their editorial duties in November.
In addition to the popular conservative site, which has 12-million annual views, Yellowhammer Multimedia airs 3-hours of daily radio programming in the Birmingham and Huntsville markets, counts 26 radio news affiliates statewide and has expanded into film, television, and podcasting.
“Yellowhammer will continue supporting and defending the things we love – Alabama, and the people who make it great,” Pepper Bryars said. “Yellowhammer’s contributors will advocate for our political beliefs, which are conservative; celebrate our culture, which is Southern; and share our faith, which is Christian.”
Pepper Bryars, 43, began his career writing for military newspapers while serving in the Alabama Army National Guard. He then became a staff reporter for the Mobile Press-Register, spent time as an aide to then-congressman and Governor Bob Riley and served as a presidential appointee managing legislative issues for the Defense Department.
Pepper was also a strategic communication advisor to U.S. military forces operating in Europe, Africa, and Latin America. He was twice awarded the Office of the Secretary of Defense Award for Exceptional Public Service, once for service in Baghdad during the early days of the Iraq War and a second time for work at the Pentagon. He is the author of two books and most recently wrote a popular conservative opinion column that was published in the Birmingham News, Mobile Press-Register, Huntsville Times, the Mississippi Press and at AL.com.
Rachel Blackmon Bryars, 35, earned a master’s degree in communication with a political focus from the Johns Hopkins University and has been published in the Washington Post, Washington Examiner, Palm Beach Post and various other Washington-area newspapers and online outlets. She began her career as a television reporter for the ABC affiliate in Richmond, Virginia, after earning a bachelor’s degree in communication with a journalism focus from Palm Beach Atlantic University. She taught as an adjunct instructor for universities such as the University of Maryland University College in Naples, Italy, and Barry University in South Florida, and she owns a small communication training business. Rachel is active in her community and serves on the board of managers for the Hogan Family YMCA in Madison.
“I’m inspired by the vision that Allison Ross and our CEO, Brian Ellis have for Yellowhammer News,” Rachel said. “It will be a privilege to serve readers with curated content designed to inform, inspire, educate and entertain, that will spotlight talented Southern voices and provoke conversations about topics that matter to Alabamians.”
Pepper and Rachel met in Washington, D.C., and live in Huntsville with their five children.
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