Lee Enterprises Inc. announced Thursday that leadership of The World will be consolidated into a new position of publisher/editor in a staffing reorganization.

The newspaper’s previous publisher, Janet Geary, and the previous editor, Kathy Erickson, have left the company.

“As a result of this realignment of leadership, we believe The World will be able to focus even more keenly on serving readers, online users and advertisers as the leading provider of news, information and advertising in the South Coast region,” said Nathan Bekke, regional executive for Lee Enterprises.

Bekke said the publisher/editor will take direct responsibility for news and editorial content, as well as for the management of advertising, circulation, www.theworldlink.com and all other business areas, including The World’s weekly newspapers in Bandon and Reedsport.

“We believe this approach is ideally suited for this market, as it will enhance our ability to foresee and respond to customer needs and apply our resources in the most effective way,” he said.

Bekke said appointment of the new publisher/editor is expected to be made within the next few weeks. Until then, City Editor Elise Hamner will oversee news operations, and other department managers will coordinate business activities.

The World is the only daily newspaper published on Oregon’s South Coast and the only daily newspaper serving the region exclusively. The World serves more households than the total of all other newspapers delivered on the South Coast combined. Its direct lineage dates back to The Coast Mail, first published in 1878.

Bandon Western World, a weekly newspaper 25 miles south of Coos Bay, has been a division of The World since 2003. The Umpqua Post, a weekly newspaper 25 miles to the north of Coos Bay, has been a division since 2004.

The World has been part of Lee Enterprises Inc. (NYSE: LEE) since 2005. Lee is among the country’s leading publishing companies, operating 55 daily newspapers and online sites, along with more than 300 non-daily publications, in 23 states.