HALLOWELL — The Maine Center for Public Interest Reporting has named veteran journalist and new media entrepreneur Jack Beaudoin as its new publisher.

Beaudoin, a Brunswick resident, takes over as the new publisher and senior reporter Jan. 4.

The two cfounders of the award-winning nonprofit, nonpartisan investigative news service will remain in key roles at the Center. Cofounder Naomi Schalit will stay on as a senior reporter, and co-founder John Christie will remain with the Center as senior editor.

"We're pleased to have found an experienced Maine journalist to take over the reins of the Center," said the Center's board president, Nick Mills, in a publicity release. "Jack has both the journalistic and managerial experience to maintain the Center's high standards and bring us to the next level."

Mills said Schalit and Christie let the board know earlier this year that, after six years running the Center and winning numerous journalism awards for their investigative reporting on Maine issues, "they wanted to step back a bit. But we're happy that they will continue to stay involved as writers and editors."

Schalit said: "John and I have had a rewarding and demanding six years of work since founding the Center, and we're pleased that someone like Jack Beaudoin will be taking over. He believes, as we do, that accountability journalism has a crucial role in our democracy."

Beaudoin, 51, was the founding editor and CEO of HIMSS Media, based in New Gloucester, publishers of business-to-business health care publications. Previously, he was editorial page editor for the Kennebec Journal and Morning Sentinel, an editorial writer and statehouse reporter for the Portland Press Herald, and a reporter for The Journal Tribune in Biddeford, his hometown.

"I'm thrilled to join the Maine Center for Public Interest Reporting," Beaudoin said. "This is a unique opportunity to advance in-depth, investigative reporting and ensure that our government and other centers of institutional power remain responsive to the people of Maine."

Beaudoin is a graduate of Colby College, holds an MA in English from Syracuse University and held a postgraduate fellowship in American government at Boston College.

The Maine Center for Public Interest Reporting was established six years ago to produce investigative reporting about Maine. Its stories, more than 200 since 2009 are provided at no cost to more than 30 newspapers and radio stations and are also published on its website, pinetreewatchdog.org.