About

Founded in 1954, the Artesia Daily Press has served generations of readers in Artesia and northern Eddy County with a strong commitment to local news, community life and sports. For more than 70 years, the Daily Press has documented the people, businesses, schools and events that give Artesia its distinctive identity.

Few things bring Artesia together like Bulldog athletics, and local sports remain an important part of the Daily Press tradition. Alongside that coverage, the newspaper reports on local government, public safety, education, business and the people and organizations making a difference throughout the community. As part of El Rito Media, the Artesia Daily Press is committed to preserving that local connection while building for the future of community journalism.

Office
503 W. Main St.
Artesia, NM 88210

Mailing Address
503 W. Main St.
Artesia, NM 88210

Main Phone: 575-746-3524
Website: artesianews.com

Leadership & Advertising

Richard L. Connor
Editor & Publisher
rconnor@elritomedia.com

Frank Leto
General Manager & Chief Revenue Officer
fleto@elritomedia.com

Adrian Hedden
Managing Editor
achedden@elritomedia.com
575-628-5516

Ashley Curbello
Advertising
acurbello@elritomedia.com
575-746-3524

Department Contacts

Press Releases & News
news@artesianews.com

Subscriptions & Circulation
subscriptions@artesianews.com

Classifieds
classifieds@artesianews.com

Legal Publications
legals@artesianews.com

Obituaries
obits@artesianews.com

Meet the team

Spencer Fordin

Managing Editor

Spencer Fordin is a graduate of the University of Florida. Fordin spent 15 seasons as a reporter for MLB.com and later moved to the Cayman Islands where he wrote features for the Cayman Compass.

Adrian Hedden

Managing Editor

Adrian Hedden is the managing editor of the Carlsbad Current-Argus and Artesia Daily Press. He started out as a crime and local government reporter at the Current-Argus in December 2016, and during his time in Carlsbad, has covered other topics such as the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant and the nuclear sector, oil and gas, agriculture and business.

Todd Fuqua

Sports Editor

JT Keith serves as the regional sports editor for El Rito’s southeastern New Mexico newspapers, directing coverage across Carlsbad, Artesia, and the Roswell Tribune. Based in Artesia since February 2025, he works from the local newsroom to cover the Bulldogs’ storied football tradition while elevating the city’s broader sports community, including cheer, band, and emerging athletes who shape Artesia’s identity.

Mike Smith

Staff Reporter

Started working in media at the age of 16 at KOBE radio in Las Cruces in 1981. Worked in Las Cruces for 20 years for various radio stations and newspapers in El Paso, Las Cruces and Albuquerque. Moved to Silver City in 2001 worked for KNFT radio and then moved to Artesia in 2006 spent 11 years at KSVP radio as news director, sports host and sports play-by-play announcer. Have worked for the Carlsbad Current-Argus for eight years and two years for the Artesia Daily Press. Also do fill in sports announcing for Carlsbad Radio.

Bob Scott

Writer

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Alice Timms

Marketing

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Heath Parks

Photography

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