Gonzales Weekly Citizen has a new editor

Lisa Yates, formerly with KPLC Television in Lake Charles, has been named the new editor of the Citizen in succession to Charlotte Guedry, who now serves as director of Ascension Parish Tourism Commission.

Yates, 51, is a writer and editor specializing in local/community news.

Before working in television, she served as the founding editor of The Jambalaya News, and editor of The Times of Southwest Louisiana.

A native of San Antonio, Texas, Yates lived throughout the United States with her military family, eventually settling in Shreveport, La. She graduated from Louisiana State University in Shreveport with a B.A. in Education and M.Ed. in Curriculum and Instruction. After working as a school teacher and freelance writer for more than 10 years, Yates returned to LSUS to do post-graduate work in Mass Communication/Journalism and Public Relations. 

She worked as a reporter and feature writer for the Gannett chain of newspapers: The Times of Shreveport, and The Town Talk in Alexandria. Her editing experience also includes working as a copy editor/food editor for The Times in Natchitoches. In addition, Yates served as the education editor/reporter at The Sentinel-Record in Hot Springs, Ark. Bates experience with GateHouse Media including working as a staff writer for Beauregard Daily News in DeRidder.

“I look forward to getting to know the people of Ascension Parish, getting a firm grasp of the neighborhoods and having an impact in the community,” Yates said. “Together with Lifestyles Editor Cheryl Babin and Sports Editor John Dupont, we will stop at nothing to bring you a great community paper - in print and on the Web.”

Lisa Yates can be reached at (225) 644-6397 or by e-mail at editor@weeklycitizen.com.