Southern Torch Launches Jackson Blaze

By Nick Jones, President

SCOTTSBORO, Ala. — Southern Torch is proud to announce the launch of a Jackson County, Alabama online news company – JacksonBlaze.com. The Blaze will be tailored to report and publish content on all things in Jackson County. This will include news, sports, politics, and community happenings. The content will be available online at JacksonBlaze.com. The Southern Torch weekly newspaper will expand its circulation and distribution map to include Jackson County and Jackson Blaze content. The newspaper will become a regional product that will focus on top news from both DeKalb and Jackson counties. SouthernTorch.com will remain a daily news source for DeKalb County while JacksonBlaze.com will be a daily news source for Jackson County. Southern Torch is a multimedia company that provides local news online and in print, radio entertainment, and digital advertising. In April 2019, Southern Torch acquired two FM radio stations: 98-3 Wild Country & 101-7 The Torch. Now, JacksonBlaze.com will join the Torch family of media products.

“We are excited about expanding our news footprint. Since we have had a presence in Jackson with our radio stations, we have really enjoyed getting to know the people in Jackson County. We believe that our recipe for providing local news that people actually care about and reporting news that other outlets are afraid to publish will be quite a treat for our Jackson County audience,” stated Eloise Smith, General Manager of Southern Torch.

Dylan Smith has been named Managing Editor of the Jackson Blaze. Smith, of Scottsboro, is a lifelong resident of Jackson County. He is a 2013 graduate of North Sand Mountain High School. He attended Northeast Alabama Community College, majoring in Business and Economics and is now completing his undergraduate studies at Athens State University seeking a degree in Management with a minor in Acquisition and Contract Management.

In 2017, Smith married the former Audrey Manning of Pisgah. Smith is Chairman of the Board at Mountain Lakes Chamber of Commerce. He was recently appointed to serve on the Jackson County Healthcare Authority Board of Directors. He is Vice-Chair of the Jackson County Republican Party and also serves as Chairman of the Young Republicans of Northeast Alabama.

“I’m excited to take on this role and bring Southern Torch’s exceptional brand of news coverage to Jackson County,” says Smith. “Jackson Blaze will serve as the premier media outlet for our county. Citizens deserve nothing less than accurate and informative news, and that’s precisely what we intend to deliver,” added Smith.

JacksonBlaze.com content will be provided primarily by Dylan Smith and Beverly Annette Little, Sales Account Executive, along with contributed content from Jackson County newsmakers. 

“Emphasis on local interests has made Southern Torch the reputable brand it is today. Using the same trusted and reliable reporting excellence that has benefited DeKalb County, Jackson Blaze will serve as the premier news source for citizens of Jackson County,” stated Eloise Smith.

JacksonBlaze.com is set for launch on January 13th, 2020.