Kevin Aldridge has been named editor of the Hamilton JournalNews and The Middletown Journal.

Aldridge also will serve as editor of Cox Media Group Ohio’s group of weekly newspapers in Butler and Warren counties, which include The Pulse-Journal, Western Star, Fairfield Echo and Oxford Press.

“Kevin has deep roots in the Northern Cincinnati area, and he has a rich history of in-depth and investigative community journalism,” said Jana Collier, editor in chief. “I’m so excited to have him leading the team.”

Aldridge, 38, is a native of Middletown and a veteran journalist of 16 years. He joined Cox in April 2005 as city editor of The Middletown Journal after a seven-year career as an award-winning reporter for The Cincinnati Enquirer.

In his seven years with Cox, Aldridge has been city editor of The Middletown Journal and Hamilton Journal News, and most recently was an editor with the newspapers’ Ideas & Voices pages.

“Growing up in Butler County, I have an intense personal connection to and passion for this area. I’m looking forward to bringing our readers comprehensive and hard-hitting coverage of the important news, issues and events that impact their lives,” Aldridge said.

Aldridge replaces Rich Gillette, who has been named a metro editor with the Dayton Daily News.