CMC Welcomes Two Veteran Journalists to the Organization

 Westminster Md. (August 27, 2021) – The Community Media Center (CMC) is pleased to announce the addition of two veteran journalists to the organization. Bob Blubaugh and Pat Stoetzer, formerly with the Carroll County Times, have joined the CMC staff. 

Bob Blubaugh joins the Community Media Center as Managing Editor - Digital Content. In this newly created position, Blubaugh will lead the development of content and coverage for the CMC’s cable channels and digital media platforms. He will work closely with local governments, agencies, institutions and organizations to develop new models for local journalism including civic, participatory and curated forms of content.

Blubaugh brings over three decades of journalism experience to the role, having covered news and sports in Carroll County and central Maryland since 1990. 

"I couldn't be more excited to join such a talented team and I'm looking forward to helping build on what this organization already does.” said Blubaugh. “I'm grateful for this opportunity and hope to use my experience in local news and sports to tell the stories of Carroll countians and keep them informed about what matters most to them."

Blubaugh spent most of his career with the Carroll County Times, starting as a Sports Reporter, serving for 16 years as sports editor and, after a stint with the Baltimore Sun as a Content Editor, returning to the Times as News Editor. He was named Editor in March 2019, overseeing all aspects of the daily print product and website. 

During his tenure, the Times was recognized by Associated Press Sports Editors as one of the top 10 sports sections in the nation for its circulation category and repeatedly by the Maryland-Delaware-DC Press Association as the state's Newspaper of the Year for its circulation category. Blubaugh has won numerous awards in both sports and news for his reporting and column writing.  

A Carroll County native, Blubaugh received a degree in journalism with a minor in political science from Radford University. He and his wife, Margaret, reside in Westminster with their two daughters, both of whom attend Carroll County Public Schools and are active in sports. 

Theresa Bethune, Vice Chair of the CMC Board of Directors said, “It’s an exciting time at the CMC.  The need for impactful local content is tremendous, and we are transforming the CMC to fill that void.  Adding Bob and Pat to the team is not only a game changer for the CMC, but also a win for Carroll County.”

Pat Stoetzer will serve as Sports Editor/Reporter for the Community Media Center’s regional sports network; CMSportsNet. Stoetzer will lead the development of sports content and coverage, working closely with athletic department representatives, coaches and other stakeholders to deliver compelling local sports content across multiple platforms.

 “I'm excited to be joining the Community Media Center team,” said Stoetzer. “I'm looking forward to utilizing my knowledge of Carroll County high school sports to bolster the media center's already solid digital content footprint.”

Stoetzer spent more than 20 years working at the Carroll County Times in Westminster, MD. He came to the Times in 1999 from Towson University as a part-time writer, then took over the high school sports beat in 2000.  Stoetzer also covered college and pro sports during his time at the newspaper.

Stoetzer became Times Sports Editor in 2015 where he supervised reporters and provided leadership for the direction of county sports coverage.  Stoetzer was named Maryland Sportswriter of the Year in 2019 by the National Sports Media Association. 

“This is an exciting new chapter for us at the CMC as we attract new talent who will advance our mission in creating local content,” said Richard Turner, Executive Director of the Community Media Center. “With Bob and Pat’s experience, our community will begin to see the development of new programming that fills the gap created when other media don't have a local presence or investment.”