Cox Media Group Inc.’s new business operations model involves bringing together newspaper, radio and television properties and expertise while protecting independent news and editorial functions.

But it’s all about serving customers better, said Alex Taylor, newly appointed group vice president for Cox Media Group’s Dayton and Louisville, Ky., markets.

“Our No. 1 goal is to make sure the products improve,” Taylor said.

Taylor’s appointment, announced Wednesday, Aug. 19, is effective immediately. In his new role, Taylor will oversee Cox’s newspaper, television and radio properties in the Dayton market and the publications in its surrounding areas. Additionally, he will have oversight for Cox’s four FM radio stations in Louisville, Ky.

The business model is a departure from the company’s traditional grouping of businesses solely by medium (newspapers, radio and television), and it responds to rapidly changing consumer and advertiser preferences.

As Taylor noted, Dayton is a market where Cox Media Group owns outlets in three different mediums — the Dayton Daily News and Cox Ohio Publishing’s daily and weekly newspapers, WHIO television, and four radio stations, WHIO-AM and FM, WHKO-FM, and WZLR-FM.

“Traditionally, each has operated independently,” Taylor said.

All properties will continue their existing independent news and editorial functions, the company has said.

“Each entity will continue to produce content the way they produce content,” Taylor said.

But the reorganization is meant to encourage collaboration in ideas, skills and strengths across all media. The expectation is that the new model will allow the company to better share services in finance, human resources, research and sales functions.

“No matter what we do, it’s going to be to the benefit of the advertiser,” Taylor said. “It’s going to be to the benefit of the reader.”

John Morton, owner and founder of Silver Spring, Md.-based Morton Research Inc., a media consulting firm, said some media companies are tackling these kinds of reorganizations in communities where they own more than one medium. Morton pointed in particular to Media General Inc. in Tampa, Fla., and the Tribune Co. under the direction of Sam Zell, its chief executive.

“It makes sense in this environment to try different things,” Morton said. “And this certainly qualifies.”