There are two more new faces at east Williamson County’s newspaper.
Nicole Lessin has joined the Taylor Press staff as a general assignment reporter.
Ann Miller has rejoined the team as a general sales manager and lead marketing consultant for Granite Media Partners.
“As Taylor grows, we are growing with it while still providing local news coverage,” said Jason Hennington, Taylor Press publisher. “We have new staff members who are ready to become a part of Taylor.”
Lessin brings more than 20 years of writing experience to the Taylor Press. Originally from Brookyln, she became a full-time reporter at The San Antonio Express-News under her longtime mentor, Thomas Edwards. Edwards is now executive editor at Granite Media Partners, the parent company of the Taylor Press.
“I got started doing public relations for nonprofit organizations, including a museum, an adoption agency and a community college,” said Lessin.
“Every time would I pitch stories to the local newspapers, I longed to write the stories myself. That prompted me to go back to school and study journalism at San Antonio College. Usually people do a journalism- to-public-relations route in their careers, but I went in the opposite direction.”
She has since had experience covering hard news — government meetings, crime, emergencies and other serious news — and human-interest stories. She also freelanced at Edible Austin, Local Community News in San Antonio, and most recently enjoyed learning about the Duck culture of Taylor through freelancing for the Taylor Press’ East Wilco Insider magazine.
“It’s a privilege to be able to get to know a community in a deep way and have people share their stories with me. I am honored to have the opportunity to serve the people of Eastern Williamson County by reporting on issues that are important and relevant to them,” said Lessin. “Also, I am a natural extrovert and a somewhat nosy person, and it is my joy to be able to go ask someone who they are and what they are up to as part of my job.”
Lessin replaces senior reporter Fernando Castro, who has joined the Taylor Press’ sister newspaper Elgin Courier to be a reporter there. In addition to working in Elgin, Castro will cover news in the surrounding area for the Courier’s Bastrop County Insider. The Taylor and Elgin publications are part of Granite’s family of newspapers.
“I am very excited to be moving here,” said Lessin. “I am impressed with the high level of community involvement here in Taylor as well as the sincerity and kindness. Please send me tips!”
Lessin’s shared her first-day experience at the Taylor Press with Miller, although she walked through the Taylor Press office many times before when she worked there in 2015. Her previous tenure represents a small fraction of the nearly five decades in newspapers, including 18 years co-owning or managing community newspapers. She has a Bachelor of Arts degree in communications with a focus on journalism, advertising and public relations from the University of Texas-Pan American that she earned in 1995.
“Actually got involved with newspapering with an elementary school newsletter, then in the seventh grade for the junior high school newspaper and started up the school newspaper for Weston (Louisiana) High School when I transferred there for my senior year,” said Miller.
“Started in professional newspaper advertising sales at the Atlanta Citizens Journal, then became a husband-wife newspaper team in Vivian, Louisiana.”
She has won multiple awards from the Texas Press Association, including the highest honor of Sweepstakes. Miller enjoys helping businesses create and execute strong marketing plans while making a positive difference in their business stability and growth in an increasingly competitive market.
She saw a great opportunity at Granite Media Partners to help preserve and grow strong community journalism. Miller hopes to equip business owners and managers with the marketing know-how and advertising tools to thrive.
“(Taylor and east Williamson County are) a world of opportunity for both current and new residents and businesses,” said Miller.
“Looking forward to working in the community again.”
She will work alongside Taylor Press ad representatives Stacey Smith and Catherine McGary, who both joined the Taylor Press team this summer.
“When you see our new faces, welcome them,” said Hennington. “The Taylor Press is still your connection to the community.”
