“I am very pleased to announce Scott Mulford as our new Catholic Times editor,” Bishop Paprocki said. “Mr. Mulford brings an impressive depth of media knowledge to the diocese with more than 38 years of leadership positions in news, public affairs and public information.”
Mulford joins Catholic Times from the Office of the Illinois Attorney General, where he served as press secretary in the Springfield office. Prior to that, Mulford was public information officer at the Illinois Teachers’ Retirement System, and a news and program executive for public and commercial television stations in Illinois and Missouri. He also held adjunct faculty appointments at Lincoln Land Community College, Sangamon State University (now University of Illinois Springfield), Western Illinois University and Culver-Stockton College.
Mulford earned his bachelor’s degree in English and secondary education at Westminster College in Fulton, Mo. After receiving his master’s degree from the University of Missouri School of Journalism, Mulford began his professional career at KTTN Radio in Trenton, Mo.
Mulford, a native of East St. Louis, is a member of Little Flower Parish in Springfield. He is married to Marlene Mulford, current chancellor and incoming director of Communications and Information Services for the diocese. They have four adult children and five grandchildren. As editor, Mulford will oversee the production of the diocesan newspaper, which has a circulation of 45,000 Catholic households.
In another staff change, Catholic Times reporter Cathy Locher has retired from her post after 20 years of service, effective April 30.
During her career at the diocesan newspaper, Locher covered papal visits, World Youth Day celebrations, jubilee celebrations and numerous other events. She was known for her willingness to drive to every corner of the Springfield diocese to cover stories.
“We will certainly miss Cathy and her enthusiasm for Catholic journalism,” said CT editor Kathie Sass. “We hope she has a long and happy retirement.”
During a varied career before coming to Catholic Times, Locher worked as a design and layout artist for The State Journal-Register in Springfield; was a public information officer for Illinois Information Services; was a reporter for the Peoria Journal-Star; and taught journalism at the former Ursuline Academy and at Sacred Heart-Griffin High School, both in Springfield.
Locher and her husband Bruce have three children and five grandchildren.