The Swinford Media Group is an arm of Swinford Publications LLC, owners of The Marion Star, The Herrin Independent, and The Carterville Courier weekly newspapers. These newspapers served their communities for many years as traditional print publications featuring a level of professional journalism that is becoming harder to find in small-town America.

Bill Swinford is co-owner and the Publisher of Swinford Publications. Since entering the newspaper business in his hometown of Herrin almost 35 years ago, he has worked as a reporter, production assistant, city editor, managing editor, and publisher for local print publications.

Bill's oldest son, Riley Swinford, is co-owner and Editor of Swinford Publications. An honored graduate of Southern Illinois University’s school of journalism, Riley has worked in newspapers since the age of 10, when he took his first paper route (sometimes offering “The Riley Report,” his own publication that he produced and stuffed inside copies of the papers he delivered to inform and entertain his customers). By the time he had graduated from Marion High School, he was Editor In Chief of “The Student” newspaper and was freelancing for local sports publications.