William Shaw has been named the regional publisher of the Mercer Island Reporter, Bellevue Reporter, Issaquah & Sammamish Reporter and Snoqualmie Valley Record.

Shaw has added the Mercer Island Reporter to his duties after Janet Taylor, publisher since 2009, retired in April.

Shaw is known to many in the business community on Mercer Island as a print media advertising consultant for the former Eastside and King County Journals as well as through Sound Publishing media.

Shaw has had years of experience working with local retail businesses as well as national real estate sales and management firms. Shaw started in 1998 as an advertising executive with the former Journal-American.

From 2002 to 2006, he was Advertising Sales and Special Projects Manager for Horvitz Newspapers (the former Eastside Journal and later King County Journal) and for Sound Publishing, where in 2007, he was designated as marketing director for the newly formed Reporter Newspaper Group division of Sound Publishing, including the then newly established Bellevue Reporter.

In 2008, he was made publisher of the weekly Snoqualmie Valley Record, overseeing the operations of the community newspaper, which will be observing its 100th anniversary this fall. In 2012, Shaw was also made publisher of the Issaquah & Sammamish Reporter. He has remained active in the communities of the Eastside.

“Shaw is a great community builder who brings a high level of experience and proven performance to the group publishing role,” said Josh O’Connor, vice president of East Sound Newspaper Operations. “Bill’s connection to the community will benefit both the newspaper and the city of Mercer Island.”

Shaw’s Eastside connection runs deep.

“Three of the four sides of my family each have 100 years of history in and around the Eastside,” Shaw said. “And I’m pleased and honored to be able to tell the continuing story of the dynamic communities of where generations of my family lived, worked, raised their families and built and served the community.”

Shaw grew up in Bellevue’s Bridle Trails neighborhood, and is an Interlake High School and University of Washington graduate.

Shaw and his wife, Mary Beth Haggerty-Shaw, have lived in Issaquah for 30 years. Shaw and his wife have raised two children, Liam and Mora, both of whom are Issaquah High School graduates.

Shaw also serves on the Board of Directors of the Snoqualmie Valley Chamber of Commerce and is a member of the Rotary Club of Snoqualmie Valley. He also has served on the Issaquah Sister Cities Commission.

In 2002, Shaw was recognized in the Scottish Court of the Lord Lyon as the 12th Shaw of Easter Lair, the representer of his clan sept in Glenshee and Glenisla, Scotland, and serves as a worldwide historian of his Highland Scottish clan.

Next month, the Reporter staff will move its office from 7845 S.E. 30th Street to office space in the Mercer Island Shopping Center, adjacent to Rite Aid on 78th Avenue S.E.

The Reporter staff will also work out of Sound Publishing Eastside corporate offices on Richards Road in Bellevue in order to take advantage of the consolidated administrative and creative services there. Those services add value to the newspaper and our ability to continue to serve Island residents.

To reach Shaw, email him at wshaw@mi-reporter.com.