The Upper Cumberland Reporter is pleased to announce two new additions to the UCR team.
Rusty Ellis will be joining the UCR staff as Sports Director and Kailee Means will be joining as a sports reporter and sales representative.
“We are thrilled to add Rusty and Kailee to the UCR team,” said UCR COO Noah McKay. “Both are talented individuals that will be huge assets to UCR as we continue to provide top-tier coverage to the student athletes in our area.”
Ellis is a graduate of Middle Tennessee State University, where he was the sports editor for the university’s student-run digital news source. He has been a sports reporter in the Upper Cumberland for two years, during which he has built relationships with coaches and players while building a reputation for providing strong coverage.
“I’m most excited about helping take UCR’s sports coverage to the next level,” said Ellis. “I think we’ve got the most to offer when you look at coverage around the area and I’m ready to get this train rolling.”
“Rusty is a proven professional in this area,” said McKay. “He will give great coverage to the student athletes in our area, and I am excited to work with him.”
Means has been a sports reporter in the Upper Cumberland since July 2019. She is set to graduate from Tennessee Tech in December.
“Kailee is an up-and-coming star in sports journalism,” said McKay. “Our board and I strongly believe in hiring good people and allowing them to shine in a variety of roles, and we think Kailee will shine in her new roles.”
The hirings of Ellis and Means are another example of UCR’s expanding sports coverage. All Cookeville, Monterey, Upperman, Livingston and White County football games will be broadcast online as well as complete coverage of other sports on uppercumberlandreporter.com. Stay tuned to our website in the coming days and weeks for more information.