Gabriel Khouli was named editor of The Covington News this week, placing him in the top position in the newsroom after working for more than three years as a reporter for the paper.

Khouli will be responsible for determining news coverage in the community and setting the long-term direction of the newsroom, as well as serving as the main public liaison and participating in shaping the stance of the company's editorial board.

First hired as the local government reporter in February 2009, Khouli was recently promoted to news editor in April 2012 before being named official editor this week. He has experience covering government, business, education, crime, sports and features stories.

"Gabe has shown leadership ability both in the newsroom and in the community. He was a natural choice for the position and he is both qualified and deserving of the position," said Publisher Charles Hill Morris Jr. "We are thrilled to be able to promote someone from within to lead the journalist efforts of this newspaper."

Khouli is a native of Indiana and a graduate of Ball State University in Muncie, Ind., where he double-majored in journalism and telecommunications. He also has an associate's degree in business from Ivy Tech Community College in Fort Wayne, Ind.

"I'm excited by the opportunity to run the newsroom at The Covington News, the paper that gave me my first full-time job in the field and has helped me develop into a professional reporter," Khouli said. "However, I'm also humbled, because I know that there is so much I still don't know about this community and this business. In order for this paper to be successful, we need the backing and support of the community, and I ask that residents reach out and let us know how we can better ourselves and aid in improving our community."

Anyone who has information about potential stories or ways that the paper can improve can reach Khouli by email at gkhouli@covnews.com or by phone at (678) 750-5009. Those interested in writing or taking photos on a volunteer or freelance basis are also invited to contact Khouli.

In addition to naming a new editor, The News made a couple of other changes in the newsroom.

Rachel Goff is now the paper's design editor and is responsible for laying out and setting the creative direction for the paper, in addition to creating content and also acting as a public liaison. Goff, a native of Lafayette, and a graduate of Kennesaw State University, was hired in February 2012.

She previously worked as a reporter and designer at the Calhoun Times and Rome News Tribune.

Finally, Danielle Everson was hired in late July as the paper's newest reporter. Everson, a Covington native and graduate of Valdosta State University, will be the paper's local government reporter, covering the city of Covington and Newton County. Everson was previously an associate producer at 13 WMAZ television in Macon, and a news reporter at The McDuffie Progress in Thomson, Ga.

"Danielle has been an asset since she walked in the door," Khouli said. "In her first few weeks on the job, she has already shown herself to be a dedicated employee who is committed to covering the news in her hometown. We look forward to her growth coinciding with that of the paper's."