Tennessee Newspaper Hall of Fame ownership

Transcription

April 2014
Volume 77
No. 10
INSIDE
President’s letter
It’s time to go visitin’
New TPA member and
associate members
Page 2
TPA members serve as
judges for APA contest
Page 3
Tracks
Who’s coming and going in the
industry
Page 4
Obituaries
Fred Tipton, Billy H. Easley, Orley
Hood, Danell Looney Scarboro
Page 8
Frank Gibson
TPA members: ‘What’s your
school board’s cameras policy?’
Page 10
Kevin Slimp
Upton and Kevin seem to agree
on this one
Page 12
Tennessee Newspaper Hall of Fame
ownership transferred to TPAF
By ROBYN GENTILE
TPA Member Services Manager
The Tennessee Press Association
(TPA) voted to transfer ownership
of the Tennessee Newspaper Hall
of Fame (TNHOF) to the Tennessee Press Association Foundation
(TPAF) at its Feb. 5 Board of Directors Meeting.
The TPAF Board of Trustees voted to receive ownership at its Feb.
7 meeting.
The Tennessee Newspaper Hall
of Fame was established in 1966 as
a joint project between TPA and the
University of Tennessee.
It posthumously honors those
who have made an outstanding
contribution to Tennessee Newspaper journalism, or through Tennessee journalism, to newspaper
journalism generally, or who have
made an extraordinary contribution
to their communities and region,
or the state, through newspaper
journalism.
The program recognizes and
memorializes “extraordinary and
clearly outstanding” contributions
to newspaper journalism and the
newspaper industry. The TPAF was established a
decade later in 1976 to serve the
Hall of Fame and other journalism
projects.
The physical TNHOF portraits
are located on the third floor of the
UT-Knoxville Communications
Building. Efforts to update the
physical and web presence of the
Tennessee Newspaper Hall of Fame
are underway and represent the
collaboration of TPA, TPAF and UT
representatives.
Renderings of the proposed new
physical appearance of the TNHOF
were presented at the TPA Winter
Convention and are available online
at http://www.tnpress.com/halloffame.html. The top photo is a rendering of the new Hall of Fame display, while the
photo directly above is the current Hall of Fame display.
Fifty-five individuals have been
posthumously inducted into the
Tennessee Newspaper Hall of Fame.
Nominations may be made at any
time, but are especially sought in
even years. Induction ceremonies
are held in odd years, if selections
have been made.
Ad/Circ Conference filled with sharing, learning opportunities
By ROBYN GENTILE
Tennessee newspaper advertising and circulation professionals should plan now to attend
the Tennessee Press Association Advertising &
Circulation Conference, May
1-2 in Chattanooga, for a time
of networking, idea-sharing
and professional development.
“We have put together an
incredible program based on
the feedback we received from
last year’s conference. Each
session has been selected to
Kahana
provide our members with the
tools to develop sales representatives and gener-
ate new revenue,” said Leslie Kahana, chair of the
Advertising Committee and advertising director
of the Chattanooga Times Free
Press.
“On behalf of TPA, I highly
encourage you to attend this
conference. You will not leave
empty handed.”
Dale Long, production manager of The Greeneville Sun,
chairs the Circulation CommitLong
tee, which also has added some
empowering sessions.
In addition to a packed program, the Ideas Contest awards will be presented at lunch on Friday.
Those arriving on Thursday will have a
networking session and optional group dinner
outing.
The conference offers a joint program to
kick off Friday morning. Jim Hart, president of
Integrated Advertising Solutions, will share ways
to leverage your TMC to dominate the small
to mid-size business market, including several
actionable ideas you can implement at your paper
immediately.
Advertising sessions
• The day will continue with “Advertising
Programming on Talent, Training and Tactics
To Increase Revenue” presented by Kimberly AlSee CONFERENCE , Page 7
Page 2 • The Tennessee Press • April 2014
(USPS 616-460)
Published monthly by the
TENNESSEE PRESS SERVICE, INC.
for the
TENNESSEE PRESS ASSOCIATION, INC.
435 Montbrook Lane
Knoxville, Tennessee 37919
Telephone (865) 584-5761/Fax (865) 558-8687/www.tnpress.com
Subscriptions: $6 annually
Periodicals Postage Paid At Knoxville, TN
POSTMASTER: Send address changes to The Tennessee Press,
435 Montbrook Lane, Knoxville, TN 37919.
The Tennessee Press is printed by The Standard Banner
in Jefferson City, Tenn.
Greg M. Sherrill ................................................................................................................................. Editor
Amelia Morrison Hipps ...................................................................................... Managing Editor
Robyn Gentile .......................................................................................... Production Coordinator
Angelique Dunn ....................................................................................................................... Assistant
The Tennessee Press
is printed on recycled paper
and is recyclable.
The Tennessee Press can be read on
www.tnpress.com
OFFICIAL WEBSITE OF THE TENNESSEE PRESS ASSOCIATION
TENNESSEE PRESS ASSOCIATION
Lynn Richardson, Elizabethton Star ........................................................................................President
Jason P. Taylor, Chattanooga Times Free Press .......................................................... Vice President
Joel Washburn, The McKenzie Banner ......................................................................... Vice President
John Finney, Buffalo River Review, Linden ...........................................................................Treasurer
Greg M. Sherrill, Knoxville ...................................................................................... Executive Director
DIRECTORS
Keith Wilson, Kingsport Times-News ................................................................................... District 1
Jack McElroy, News Sentinel, Knoxville ................................................................................ District 2
Chris Vass, Chattanooga Times Free Press ........................................................................... District 3
Darren Oliver, Overton County News, Livingston ............................................................ District 4
Hugh Jones, Shelbyville Times-Gazette ................................................................................. District 5
Jesse Lindsey, The Lebanon Democrat ................................................................................... District 6
Mark Palmer, The Daily Herald, Columbia .......................................................................... District 7
Brad Franklin, The Lexington Progress ................................................................................. District 8
Daniel Richardson, Magic Valley Publishing, Camden ................................................... District 9
Eric Barnes, The Daily News, Memphis ...............................................................................District 10
Michael B. Williams ......................................................................................Immediate Past President
TENNESSEE PRESS SERVICE
Victor Parkins, The Milan Mirror-Exchange ......................................................................President
Jason P. Taylor, Chattanooga Times Free Press .......................................................... Vice President
Ralph C. Baldwin, Jones Media Inc., Greeneville ................................................................ Director
David Critchlow Jr., Union City Daily Messenger ............................................................... Director
Jeffrey D. Fishman, Tullahoma News ....................................................................................... Director
Jana Thomasson, The Mountain Press, Sevierville ............................................................. Director
Greg M. Sherrill ............................................................................................... Executive Vice President
TENNESSEE PRESS ASSOCIATION FOUNDATION
Gregg K. Jones, The Greeneville Sun .......................................................................................President
Victor Parkins, The Milan Mirror-Exchange ............................................................ Vice President
Richard L. Hollow, Knoxville ...................................................................................... General Counsel
Greg M. Sherrill ......................................................................................................... Secretary-Treasurer
CONTACT THE MANAGING EDITOR
TPAers with suggestions, questions or comments about items in The Tennessee Press are
welcome to contact the managing editor. Call Amelia Morrison Hipps, (615) 442-8667;
send a note to 1260 Trousdale Ferry Pike, Lebanon, TN 37087, or email editor@tnpress.
com. The deadline for the May issue is Monday, April 7.
It’s time to go visitin’
By now, most of you know that
my last day at the Herald & Tribune
was March 11. After 35 years with
Press Inc./Jonesborough Publishing,
(part of the Sandusky Newspaper
Group), I have officially retired.
But there has been no rocking
chair for me. As you read this, I am
a few weeks into my new job as the
president and publisher of Elizabethton Newsmedia, the parent company of the Elizabethton Star.
My first day there was March 17.
It has been nice getting to work in my hometown for
the first time in a very long time, and I am enjoying my
work with the wonderful team at the Star.
Our paper is now owned by Boone Newspapers
Inc. based in Tuscaloosa, Ala. The Star became the
organization’s first Tennessee newspaper as of Jan. 1
this year. It is part of the company’s Inland Operating
Group, led by Vice President Tim Prince.
On several occasions, Tim has talked about the
importance he places on press associations. As a former
president of the Alabama Press Association, he is
committed to seeing the Star continue its long-standing
commitment to the Tennessee Press Association.
Needless to say, that makes me very happy.
As you can see, this spring has been full of change
for me. March was a bittersweet time, filled with Jonesborough goodbyes and Elizabethton hellos.
When I first came to Jonesborough in August 1999
to become the general manager and advertising director for the Herald & Tribune, I had no idea what I was
getting myself into.
I remember driving into Jonesborough that fine
summer morning, and since I was a bit early, I stopped
at a popular downtown cafe for a cup of coffee.
There I met one of the cafe’s owners, who brought
me coffee and one of her to-die-for pastries. It was one
of those mornings you don’t forget. As I sat and chatted
with her, she made me feel like I had come home.
When I got to the Herald & Tribune office, I got a lot
of good advice from the retiring general manager and
the retiring advertising director.
Both had plenty of information to share with me,
and they helped me get my feet on the ground.
Then, about two weeks later, they left.
After they were gone, I remember sitting in my office
by myself, and looking around, wondering, “What
have I done?”
My experience to that point had been news and editorial writing, as well as starting and coordinating the
Johnson City Press’ Newspapers in Education program
for 20 years.
I remember mentally questioning the judgment of the two people
responsible for putting me in that
position – Alice Jones Torbett and
her brother, John A. Jones, of the
Carl A. Jones newspaper family.
Looking back now, I will always be
LYNN J. RICHARDSON
grateful to them.
All those years ago, it seemed
the job was just too big, and I didn’t
know where to start.
So, I started by getting acquainted, and in some cases, reacquainted, with the folks in Jonesborough.
I followed my Southern instincts and decided there
was only one way to get started.
It was time to go visitin’.
First on my list was Jimmy Neil Smith, a former
Jonesborough mayor, and the founder and CEO of the
International Storytelling Center. I had known Jimmy
Neil for many years before coming to Jonesborough,
but since I was now on his turf, I figured going to see
him would be a great idea.
We talked for a while and then ended up taking a
walk down Main Street together. As we walked, he encountered and introduced me to several of his friends.
But the introduction I remember the best and with
great fondness is when he introduced me to one individual as “the Herald & Tribune’s new mama.”
I laughed at him when he said it, but after 15 years at
the H&T, I realize he wasn’t far from the truth.
It was like raising a child, in a way, running that
precious old newspaper. I knew I was being handed
something irreplaceable to take care of from day one,
and it only became more and more dear over the years.
It was wonderful being in Jonesborough, and I am
grateful to the Sandusky Newspaper Group for allowing me to be part of their organization for so long.
But change is part of life, and I am enjoying the new
chapter. I am truly excited to have the opportunity to
lead another wonderful Northeast Tennessee newspaper.
The Elizabethton Star has a time-honored legacy as
well as an extremely bright future, and we are looking
forward to doing some new and exciting things there.
The Elizabethton/Carter County community has its
own unique characteristics, its own dynamic, and we
are hoping to build on its many strengths.
Even though I have lived in Elizabethton a long
time, there are so many people I haven’t had the
chance to meet.
There’s only one way to get acquainted with them …
It’s time to go visitin’.
Lynn J. Richardson is publisher of the Elizabethton
Star in Elizabethton.
YOUR
PRESIDING
REPORTER
Board approved 1 new member, 4 new
associate members at February meeting
From TPA Staff Reports
The Chronicle of Mt. Juliet LTD
was accepted as a member of the
Tennessee Press Association by the
Board of Directors on Feb. 5.
In addition, the board approved
four new associate members –
Bondware, Cracker Barrel, Lipscomb University and Nissan North
America.
Listed below is information
about each one, as well as contact
information.
Mt. Juliet Chronicle
Established in 2012, the newspaper publishes on Wednesdays with
a paid circulation of 848.
Staff members include Bill
Robinson, publisher; Kenny Howell,
editor; and Phyllis Robinson, advertising manager
Contact information is: phone,
(615) 754-6111; mailing address,
P.O. Box 647, Mt. Juliet, TN 37121,
website, www.thechronicleofmtjuliet.com.
Cracker Barrel
Cracker Barrel, a Tennessee-based
restaurant and gift shop company, is
headquartered in Lebanon.
Contact information is: Janella
See MEMBERS, Page 3
April 2014 • The Tennessee Press • Page 3
TPA members volunteer to judge the Arkansas Press
Association’s Better Newspaper Advertising Awards entries
FOR YOUR CALENDAR
APRIL
1: Public Notice Law compliance
deadline
10-12: Mid-Atlantic Newspaper
Advertising Marketing
Association, Charlotte, N.C.
10-13: Journalism Education
Association Spring National
High School Convention,
San Diego
15: Deadline for TPAF grant
applications
MAY
1-2: TPA Advertising/Circulation
Conference, Chattanooga
15-17: Southern Circulation
Managers Association
Conference, Orlando, Fla.
24: 68th Annual National
Cartoonists Society Reuben
Awards event, San Diego
JUNE
5-7: TPA 145th Anniversary
Summer Convention,
Gatlinburg
26-29: Investigative Reporters
and Editors Conference,
San Francisco
JULY
Photos by Robyn Gentile
TPA wants to thank its members who volunteered as judges, as well as John McCommon,
marketing and public relations coordinator at Jackson State Community College, for arranging to host the judging on the Jackson State campus Feb. 20.
At top left are judges Matthew Richardson and Daniel Richardson, Magic Valley Publishing and Brittany Washburn, The McKenzie Banner. At top right are Karen Geary, The Paris
Post-Intelligencer; Brad Franklin and Brooke F. James, The Lexington Progress.
On the second row, at left, are Beth Cravens, Weakley County Press, Martin; Suzanne Peckham, Weakley County Press, Martin; and Lynette Calhoun Wagster, Weakley County Press,
Martin. At right is Abby Lackey, Jackson State Community College, filling out a judge’s form
for a set of winners.
On the third row are Terry Cobb, Arkansas Press Association and John McCommon, Jackson
State Community College.
Not pictured is Dr. Lisa Smith, Jackson State Community College, who also served as a judge.
Escobar, Director of Corporate
Communications, Janella.Escobar@crackerbarrel.com; mailing
address, P.O. Box 787, Lebanon, TN
37088-0787; phone, (615) 444-5533.
McCollum, Ph.D., associate professor of Communication and Journalism and director of the Tennessee
High School Press Association,
jimmy.mccollum@lipscomb.edu;
address, One University Park Drive,
Nashville, TN 37204-3951; Phone:
(615) 966-5788
Lipscomb University
Nissan In addition to its Communication
and Journalism program, Lipscomb University runs the Tennessee High School Press Association.
Contact information is: James F.
Nissan was the primary sponsor
of the Winter Convention Opening
Reception.
Contact information is: Travis Parman, Director, Corporate
MEMBERS, from Page 2
Communications, Travis.Parman@
nissan-usa.com; Paige Presley, Specialist, Corporate Communications,
paige.presley@nissan-usa.com;
address, Nissan North America
Inc., One Nissan Way, Franklin, TN
37067; phone, (615) 725-6021.
Bondware
“Bondware has been an Associate member of the TPA in the past,
so it felt completely natural to rejoin the association and re-connect
with old friends,” said Tim Choate,
president and CEO of Bondware.
Publish, Bondware’s website
software, provides content management, pay wall, advertising and
email newsletters in one package. Another product is Express
website builder, which helps
newspapers easily build websites
for advertisers.
Contact information includes:
Tim Choate, president, tchoate@
bondware.com, and Jeff Holloway,
sales, jeff@bondware.com; phone,
(615) 333-7775; address, 239 John
Rice Blvd., Suite F, Murfreesboro,
TN 37129.
11: UT-TPA State Press Contests
Awards Luncheon
30-Aug. 3: National Association
of Black Journalists
Convention and Career Fair,
Boston
AUGUST
4-8: Newspaper Association
Managers Annual Conference,
Nashville
6-9: Association for Education
in Journalism and Mass
Communication Convention,
Montreal, Canada
SEPTEMBER
4-6: National SPJ Excellence
in Journalism Conference,
Nashville
14-16: SNPA’s Carmage Walls
Leadership Forum, Galveston,
Texas
TBA: Second Annual Border War
Golf Tournament, Kentucky
OCTOBER
2-5: NNA 128th Annual
Convention & Trade Show, San
Antonio, Texas
6-8: SNPA 2014 News Industry
Summit, Charlottesville, Va.
16-18: 18th Institute of
Newspaper Technology,
UT campus, Knoxville
TRACKS
Chamblin ends 30-year
career with American
City Business Journals
Stuart Chamblin III, longtime
publisher of Memphis Business
Journal, has announced that he is
stepping down
this spring.
Chamblin
has been
with MBJ parent company
American City
Business Journals
for more than 30
Chamblin
years, the last 17
in Memphis.
He first joined the organization
as the ad director for Milwaukee
Business Journal in 1983, and
followed that with his first publisher
job at San Antonio Business Journal two years later.
In 1988, he accepted the publisher’s job at Minneapolis/St. Paul
Business Journal, where he served
for nine years before coming to
Memphis.
A native Texan with an M.B.A.
from the University of Texas at
Austin, Chamblin has been an
active player in the Memphis
community. He has served on the
board of the YMCA of Memphis &
the Mid-South, including two years
as chairman of the Metro Y. He
has also served on the boards of
the United Way of the Mid-South
and the New Memphis Institute; is a
member of the Memphis Downtown
Rotary Club; and is a graduate of
Leadership Memphis.
Chamblin and his wife, Nancy,
plan to move back to Texas and
“travel around the globe and head
out West regularly to hike, camp
and sightsee.”
Memphis Business Journal
Feb. 14, 2014
Randolph named account
executive for Bristol
Herald Courier
The Bristol Herald Courier
announced that Gregory Randolph
will serve as an account executive
for the Bristol Herald Courier.
Gregory was born and raised in
Johnson City, Tenn., and is a graduate of East Tennessee State University in marketing. He has more than
20 years of experience in business
to business sales, including five
years of print and digital advertising
expertise.
Bristol Herald Courier
Feb. 24, 2014
Herald & Tribune names
Cummings as publisher
William “Bill” Cummings III has
been named as publisher of the
Herald & Tribune.
Cummings, a
native of Summerfield, N.C.,
and a graduate
of Appalachian
State University
in Boone, N.C.,
replaces former
publisher Lynn
Cummings
Richardson,
who resigned on
March 11 after 15 years with the
paper to become publisher of the
Elizabethton Star.
“I found it easy to make this decision,” said Cummings, who comes
to the H&T from the offices of the
Johnson City Press, where he held
the position of Advertising Sales
Manager for the past 10 years. Cummings is also a former publisher for
a group of weekly newspapers in
the North Carolina High County.
“It takes me back to the days in
Boone and Blowing Rock. People
love their community paper. It is the
one source that gives them the local
news and content they can’t get
anywhere else.”
After obtaining his bachelor’s
degree in business administration
from Appalachian State, Cummings
began his newspaper career at
the Greensboro News & Record in
advertising, working in sales and
sales management. He served as
retail sales manager and advertising
director at the Bristol Herald Courier
from 1985 to 1994.
Cummings spent the next 10
years as publisher for a group of
community newspapers in Boone
and Blowing Rock before returning
to the Tri-Cities in 2004 as the Press’
advertising sales manager.
His time at those two small
community newspapers made quite
an impact, Cummings said, and
added to his excitement in coming
to Jonesborough.
“I really learned to appreciate the
close connection with the community and their newspapers,” he said.
As a self-proclaimed history buff,
Cummings is looking forward to
getting to know Tennessee’s oldest
town.
“I plan to become involved in
the community,” Cummings said
of his new role as the head of the
award-winning weekly. “I want to
be a participant, not a spectator, and
I want to help the paper continue to
grow and thrive so we can continue
its 145-year tradition of providing
award-winning news to the people
of Washington County.”
Cummings currently lives in
Kingsport with his wife, Jo Ann.
March 11, 2014
Herald & Tribune
Krueger named publisher
of States-Graphic
Brian Smith, CEO of American
Hometown Publishing, recently
named Lee Ann Krueger as publisher of the Brownsville States-Graphic.
Lee Ann has worked for AHP
since 2008, and, before being
named National Account Executive,
served as publisher of the Collierville Herald, a sister paper to the
States-Graphic.
“I am excited
about working in
this community,
and look forward
to expanding
the involvement
between the
States-Graphic
and this comKrueger
munity,” said
Krueger.
Smith states, “Earlier this year,
we were left with a vacancy in
Brownsville with the resignation of
Vicky Fawcett. At that time, I asked
Lee Ann to be the interim publisher.
“For the last four years, she has
grown our JUMP program into a
See TRACKS, Page 5
TPA’s president and Elizabethton’s
Richardson to take Star’s reins
From ELIZABETHTON STAR
Feb. 26, 2014
Lynn Richardson has been
named president and publisher
of Elizabethton NewsMedia LLC,
which publishes the Elizabethton Star.
“It’s been a dream of mine for
many years to lead this newspaper,” she said Tuesday after the
appointment was announced to
Star employees. “I feel like I’ve
come home.”
Richardson, who will assume
her duties March 17, is currently
publisher of the Herald & Tribune
in Jonesborough, and is also
president of the Tennessee Press
Association.
She is a longtime resident of
Elizabethton.
“It’s an honor and a privilege to
do this,” Richardson said. “I hope
to continue the excellence that is
already in place, and build on that
in new and innovative ways. The
community deserves an excellent
newspaper.”
With Richardson as publisher,
the Herald & Tribune won the
Tennessee Press Association’s General Excellence Award as the best
newspaper in its weekly category
in both 2012 and 2013.
The Star won its first TPA
General Excellence Award in 2013,
earning honors as the state’s top
newspaper of its size and winning
first-place awards for education
reporting, business reporting,
sports coverage, makeup and
appearance, community lifestyles,
local features, spot news coverage
and best website.
Richardson succeeds Mark A.
Stevens as publisher of the Star.
Stevens stepped down in January
Photo by Brandon Hicks
to move to Pawley’s Island, S.C.,
with his wife, Amy, a marketing
executive.
“I’m excited for the Star, its employees, its readers and for Lynn,”
Stevens said in a phone interview.
“Her heart is in Elizabethton, and
her love and passion has long been
in newspapers.”
Richardson was named general
manager of the Herald & Tribune
in 1999 and was named publisher
in 2004.
She began her career in journalism writing part-time for the Bluefield (W.Va.) Daily Telegraph while
in college. After graduation, she
went to work at her alma mater,
serving as Concord College’s director of public information.
In 1979, she was hired by the
then-Johnson City Press-Chronicle
to start and direct the newspaper’s
first Newspapers In Education
program. In that role, she was
responsible for all curriculum
writing, promotions, marketing
and training.
In her work with NIE, Richardson was first introduced to
the Tennessee Press Association,
serving twice as chairman of the
organization’s NIE Committee.
In the community, Richardson
has worked with the Chamber of
Commerce as marketing chairman
for Focus 2015 and for “Hands of
Friendship,” a food and supply relief project for Rybinsk, Russia. She
has served as East Tennessee State
University’s ETSU Pride Week
co-chairman and on the boards
of the Newspaper Association of
America’s Youth and Education
Board, the QUEST Foundation and
the Northeast Tennessee Tourism
Association.
Richardson has received several
ADDY awards over the years from
the Tri-Cities Metro Advertising
Federation, as well as an international award from Editor & Publisher for promotion of Newspapers
In Education.
She lives with her husband,
Dean Batchelder, in Elizabethton,
and they have three children,
Keely Goodwin, Matt Batchelder
and Cory Richardson. She has
one granddaughter, Jovie Marie
Goodwin.
Her daughter, Keely, is married to Nathan Goodwin, former
publisher and chairman of the
board of Elizabethton newspapers
and grandson of former owner and
publisher Frank Robinson.
Richardson said she looks
forward to close ties between the
community and the Star.
“I see the newspaper and the
community working hand-inglove,” she said. “That’s how it’s
supposed to work.”
Have you reserved June 5-7 on your calendar?
By ROBYN GENTILE
Plan now to attend the TPA Summer Convention, June 5-7, in Gatlinburg.
“I am excited about the speakers and
sessions the summer convention committee is
working to line up for the membership,” said
Jana Thomasson, publisher of The Mountain
Press and chair of the convention planning
committee. “We will also have some fun
activities for the entire family.”
In addition to TPAers, all members of the
Kentucky Press Association are invited to
attend.
The convention kicks off Thursday, June
5, with the board meetings and an opening
event that will give attendees a chance to
network and renew acquaintances while
showcasing the natural beauty of the area.
Friday will begin with a breakfast and
keynote address by Kevin Slimp, newspaper industry guru, and concurrent sessions
throughout the morning.
Attendees will break for the afternoon with
their choice of a visit to Dollywood, golf outing, or time on their own to enjoy area attractions. The day will conclude with a reception
and the installation of Jason Taylor, president
of the Chattanooga Times Free Press, as TPA’s
2014-15 President.
The convention continues Saturday
morning with the Tennessee Press Service
Stockholder’s meeting and more concurrent
sessions. The convention adjourns at noon,
allowing attendees more time to stay and play
in Gatlinburg or to begin their trip home. The Park Vista Hotel in Gatlinburg will
serve as the convention headquarters. One
may make reservations at the TPA rate of $114
plus tax, per night. Book your reservation by
calling the hotel at (800) 421-7275. The TPA
rate will be offered to those wishing to arrive
early or depart on a later date.
Watch www.tnpress.com, your mail and
email for convention details. Complete coverage of the program will be carried in the May
edition of The Tennessee Press.
Lewis County Herald
sustains damage due to
strong microburst wind
An early evening storm with hail, high winds, and heavy rains ripped
through the county Thursday, Feb. 20, between 7-7:30 p.m., giving
the Lewis County Herald a facelift by tearing the awning and brick off
the front of the building. It is speculated that a strong microburst of
wind is to blame for the damage. Also damaged downtown was Rosemary’s Flowers with their sign ripped off of the building and an awning
split down the middle from the same or a similar microburst. Jason
Graves, district manager for Meriwether Lewis Electric Cooperative, reported an estimated 1,500 customers without power. With the exception
of about 50 customers, everyone’s power was restored by 10:30 p.m. Major damage to electric lines happened in the western and northern areas
of Lewis County.
Are you in compliance with the public notice law?
On April 1, every Tennessee
newspaper of general circulation
that publishes public notices should
have been in compliance with a
new law requiring the publication
of public or legal notices both in
their print product and website.
TRACKS, from Page 4
been and continues to be a tremendous positive aspect of AHP. I have
great confidence that Brownsville
and Haywood County will see great
things ahead. I look forward to
those achievements.”
The States-Graphic
Jan. 16, 2014
$270,000 revenue engine. Additionally, Lee Ann provides training
and support for all of our sales reps.
Over the past two years, Lee Ann
has been instrumental in helping
Brownsville with administrative
issues, particularly assisting in the
hiring of all the current employees.
“It was because of her knowledge
and relationship with the employees
in Brownsville that led me to ask
for her help in the interim. She has
done an outstanding job of tackling
the challenges that were presented.
She has established and is fostering
additional relationships in Haywood
County to position the paper to be a
business the community and AHP
can be proud of.
“It is because of her efforts over
the last three months and her desire
to continue the progress that made
my decision effortless. Lee Ann has
See PUBLIC NOTICE , Page 9
KUDOS
to
Sparta Expositor,
the first to
register for the
Ad/Circ
Conference
Will
You
Be a
Judge?
for the
Arkansas Press
Association’s 2014
Better Newspaper
News-Editorial
Contest?
Members of the Arkansas Press Association are judging the entries in this year’s UT-TPA State Press Contest. Now, it’s TPA’s turn
to reciprocate by judging their news and editorial entries.
Judging will be on Thursday, April 24, from 8:30 a.m. - 4 p.m.
at a location in Nashville yet to be determined.
To volunteer, contact Robyn Gentile, TPA Member Services Manager, at (865) 584-5761, ext. 105 or via email at rgentile@tnpress.
com.
Jones announces retirement as editor; goes part-time
appreciate everything he has done and will
continue to do for the newspaper and the
community,” he said.
“While we knew this day was coming –
and we tried to get him to put it off – we wish
him well in his hard-earned retirement as
editor.”
Jones said, “I am most appreciative of
the totally committed, dedicated staff, the
publishers who had confidence and trust in
my leadership and gave me free reign, and a
supportive, understanding spouse and family.
“Although I am cutting back, I’ll still be
involved in the operations of this newspaper
only in a different capacity. It is my desire
that the community will reach out to Crystal
From THE GAZETTE, TRENTON
Feb. 26, 2014
Saying that 50 years of meeting deadlines
is long enough, Danny Jones, editor of The
Trenton Gazette the past 32 years, will be retiring from that position with the Wednesday,
March 5 edition.
He plans to continue to work on a part-time
basis as general manager.
“I am cutting back to spend more time on
things at home and hope to do more traveling
with my wife Janice,” Jones said.
They are especially looking forward to a
seven-day Alaskan cruise in May, a treasured
gift from two special friends and associates.
Reflecting on his years at the helm of
the Trenton newspaper, he said, “The loyal
support of readers, advertisers and the entire
community has been humbling and something I shall always cherish.”
Co-publisher Scott Critchlow praised Jones’
service to Trenton and the surrounding area.
“Danny has been the face of the Trenton
Gazette for more than three decades, and we
MARKETPLACE
MARKETING CONSULTANT
NEEDED – Dynamic media company in fastest growing, most affluent
Tennessee county has an immediate
need for a marketing consultant.
Qualified applicants should be
goal-oriented, team players, well-organized and trainable. The ability
to sell across several different media
platforms is essential.
Compensation plan includes base
weekly salary, aggressive commission & bonus plan, health/dental
insurance, 401(k), paid life and
disability insurance, paid holidays
and sick leave. Lebanon Publishing Company is
an award-winning media company
based in Lebanon, TN that publishes two weekly newspapers, niche
magazine, and a variety of websites
and other web-based media.
To apply, please EMAIL a
resume, cover letter and earnings
expectations using MARKETING
CONSULTANT as the subject line to
jlindsey@lebanonpublishing.com.
No phone calls, faxes or walk-ins,
please. Qualified applicants will be
contacted directly for interviews. Submitted to The Tennessee Press
Danny Jones, editor of The Gazette, is
announcing his retirement effective March
5. The 53-year news veteran will stay on as
general manager, working on a part-time
basis. Jones looks forward to spending
more time with his wife and family.
Burns, as you always have me, so The Gazette
can continue to bring you the news each
week in an unbiased and responsible manner,” Jones stressed.
Jones’ 53-year career has experienced a
revolution in newspaper production from
handset and hot type to offset printing and
now the computer/digital era.
He began working at The Milan Exchange
in 1961 as an apprentice “printer’s devil,”
filling press fountains with ink, stereotyping, advancing to linotype machine operator
(the best job in the pressroom) before getting
involved in advertising, writing, editing and
make up of the newspaper.
With the merger of The Exchange and The
Mirror, he spent four years as editor of The
Humboldt Courier Chronicle before taking the
helm of The Herald Gazette in June of 1983.
“Thank you so much. It’s been a great ride!”
Jones exclaimed.
A reception was held on Wednesday, March
5, at City Hall.
$30K in first quarter revenue in Network ads
That’s right, sales reps at
TnSCAN, TnDAN, and TnNET
participating newspapers have
collectively sold more than $30,000
in Network ads the first quarter of
this fiscal year.
These reps could potentially
bring in $120,000 in Network sales
for their respective newspapers
this year alone! That’s no chump
change.
Tennessee Press Service wants
every newspaper to make the
most out of participating in the Ad
Networks – TnSCAN, TnDAN and
TnNET. Here are a few tips to help
get you on your way.
1.
Familiarize yourself and your
sales staff with the Ad Networks. TnSCAN is classified
line ads. TnDAN is small
display ads. TnNET is online
medium-rectangle ads.
2.
Put the Ad Network infor-
NETWORKS
ADVERTISING
MANAGER
BETH ELLIOTT
mation in your media kit or
sales packet. In an essence,
the TnSCAN, TnDAN and
TnNET provide multi-market
exposure through one rep at
your newspaper.
3.
Remember to tell your existing advertisers about the
Ad Networks if they have a
need to reach outside of your
county. Their ad can appear
in your newspaper and newspapers in your region through
you.
By upselling the Network ads
to your existing clients, you are
saving them time and money. You
are increasing your worth to your
client. Plus, you are helping them
grow their business.
If that isn’t enough, your newspaper keeps a great commission
on each ad you sell and your name
will be entered into the monthly
gift card contest drawing.
Remember, only TPA members
that participate in TnSCAN, TnDAN and TnNET can sell the ads
and keep a great commission.
If your newspaper does not
participate, contact TPS today,
(865) 584-5761, ext. 117. You could
be missing out on a powerful new
revenue stream.
So, your newspaper already
participates but you’re not getting
your full share? Contact TPS to set
up a refresher training class, (865)
584-5761. Hurry, dates are filling
up quickly.
Bondware rejoins TPA as associate member
Submitted to The Tennessee Press
The Tennessee Press
Association Foundation
gratefully acknowledges
a contribution
from
The Tennessean
and
the Gannett Foundation
Bondware’s history with newspaper websites goes back to providing
online election results for The Tennessean in 1995 followed by a fully
interactive website for The Nashville
Banner in 1996.
Since then, Bondware has worked
with hundreds of newspapers in
Tennessee and around the world
to build dynamic and profitable
websites.
The company promoted its
revamped news website software
named Publish at the Winter
Convention. This website software
provides content management, pay
wall, advertising and email newsletters in one powerful package.
Also promoted was the Express website builder which helps
newspapers easily build websites
for advertisers and earn recurring
revenue from each site.
“In the past year we have
refocused our efforts on serving
news publishers. This focus shows
as each monthly release of our
software includes more time-saving
or revenue-generating features for
publishers.” says Choate.
Nashville bridge to be named to honor John Seigenthaler
front-page story the next day. “It was obvious
he was going to jump.”
But Seigenthaler didn’t let him. He lunged
for Williams, grabbing him by the collar with
one hand, then the other, until the police officers helped him pull the man to safety.
Nearly 60 years later, Mayor Karl Dean
plans to honor Seigenthaler, The Tennessean’s
chairman emeritus, for his heroism that day
and for his many contributions to Nashville
and the nation. Dean told Seigenthaler over
dinner at Valentino’s recently that he wants
to name the Shelby Avenue pedestrian bridge
for him.
Seigenthaler, 86, was modest about what
he had done in an interview Friday.
“It was not like any other assignment I ever
got from the city desk, I can tell you that,” he
said.
By MICHAEL CASS
The Tennessean, Feb. 17, 2014
When a heartbroken man called The
Tennessean’s city desk on Oct. 4, 1954, to say
he was about to jump off the Shelby Avenue
bridge and wanted to talk to a reporter, the
city editor turned to a young journalist by the
name of John Seigenthaler.
Soon that bridge could bear the young
journalist’s name.
On that warm autumn day six decades ago,
Seigenthaler jumped into a car with photographer Tom McGee and raced to the foot of the
bridge along Third Avenue South, then started
running. On the span over the Cumberland
River he found the suicidal man, Gene Bradford Williams, a group of police officers and a
crowd of about 100 people.
As Williams sat on a gas pipe that ran
alongside the bridge below the railing, Seigenthaler tucked one leg into the grillwork, sat
astride the bridge and started interviewing
him. He mixed in attempts to talk Williams
out of jumping with questions about the
man’s plight.
After about 40 minutes, Williams “tensed
up and looked down at the water and mumbled a few words,” as the reporter recalled in a
‘Eternal gratitude’
Larry McCormack • The Tennessean
A few years after he saved Williams,
Nashville native Seigenthaler met a pair of politically ambitious Boston brothers, John and
Robert Kennedy, who would change his life.
He worked on John F. Kennedy’s presi-
Mayor Karl Dean’s administration filed legislation to rename the Shelby Avenue pedestrian
bridge for Tennessean Chairman Emeritus John Seigenthaler.
culation Basics
101,” presented by
Dennis Dunn, opexandre, senior consultant for The
erations manager
Center For Sales Strategy (CSS).
of the Anniston
For any publisher to excel in
(Ala.) Star. Dunn
growing revenue they need to
will lead a roundchange the
table discussion
conversation
on marketing
from “Why
Brennan
on a shoestring
buy,” to “How to
budget with ideas
use.” CSS has
anyone can do to grow circulation.
proven ways
• “Single Copy Sales” is the focus
to change the
of the session to be presented by
conversation and
Gene Campbell
create raving fans
of G&V Campbell
out of your existHart
Inc. Campbell
ing advertisers as
will discuss price
well as new advertisers by developincreases, ways of
ing the 3 T’s of a sales organization:
improving reveTalent, Training and Tactics.
nue and more.
• Attendees will also learn more
• LuShep
about “Co-Op Advertising” from
Baldwin, director
Tim Brennan, vice president of straDunn
of Educational
tegic development
Services
for
Jones
for MultiAd Recas.
Media Inc., will present “N.I.E.
This interactive
Staying Alive” with tips to maintain
session will cover
interest in your N.I.E. program.
the basic steps in
• Carroll Duckresearch, presentaworth, circulation
tion, approval, and
director of the
claiming necessary
Chattanooga
in covering the
Alexandre Times Free Press,
bases for your
will present
advertisers.
“Event Sales and
It will highlight the general manKiosk Marketing:
ufacturer co-op expectations with
Lost and Unexspecifics on many of the how-to
plored Opportuitems, as well as the workflow and
Campbell
nities.”
procedures with the advertiser.
CONFERENCE, from Page 1
Circulation sessions
Idea exchanges
Circulation attendees have a great
line-up of sessions.
• The breakouts begin with “Cir-
Both groups will end the day with
idea exchanges. One idea gleaned
can be a revenue-producing idea for
your newspaper.
Plan to bring
your best ideas
and take notes
on others. Cash
prizes will be
presented to those
with the best
ideas.
Baldwin
The conference
will be held at
the Sheraton Read House Hotel,
827 Broad St., in
Chattanooga. The
hotel offers TPA
members a rate
of $119, plus tax
and parking, per
night.
The deadline
for reservations
is Friday, March
Duckworth
28. Contact the
hotel directly
at (423) 266-4121 or www.tinyurl.
AdCirc204.html.
The conference registration
rate is $115 for those who register
by Friday, April 18. Find conference
details, registration forms, schedule,
session descriptions and speaker
bios online at www.tnpress.com/
AdCirc2014.html.
REGISTRATION
For details
see packet
mailed in
March or
scan this
QRC
with your mobile device.
See BRIDGE , Page 8
DETAILS AT A GLANCE
WHO
TPA publishers, advertising and circulation
staff members
WHERE
Sheraton Read House Hotel, 827 Broad St.,
Chattanooga, TN, (423) 266-4121
RESERVATIONS
$119 per night, plus tax and parking.
Deadline March 28.
OBITUARIES
Fred Tipton
Fred Leroy Tipton, the man who
ensured The Daily Times was on
the street each day for decades, died
Monday, Jan. 27, 2014 at the age of
77.
His official title was “production
manager,” but everyone at The
Daily Times knew that for a number
of years he was responsible for not
only the composing room, but the
pressroom. In short, once the pages
left the newsroom, it was Tipton
who ensured the newspaper was
printed in good order.
Mr. Tipton and his twin brother,
Ed, delivered papers for The Daily
Times when they were 13.
The Tipton brothers joined The
Daily Times on July 1, 1953, when
the five-days-a-week newspaper
cranked out its Monday through Friday editions using an old hot-metal
press.
Recalling the hot-metal type days
in 2011, when The Daily Times
ceased operating its in-house press,
Mr. Tipton said, “That was the most
fun I had here. Putting out a newspaper was a craft then. There were
no computers.”
During his career, Mr. Tipton saw
the paper published on two different
hot-metal presses and two different
offset presses.
Daily Times Executive Editor
Larry Aldridge recalled Tipton’s
unwavering dedication to The Daily
Times. “He was totally focused on
producing a quality newspaper and
getting it to the carriers on time, but
he was also understanding when
breaking news sometimes interfered
with his schedule. He was also very
caring and compassionate about his
fellow employees.”
Managing Editor Frank “Buzz”
Trexler recalls arriving at The Daily
BRIDGE, from Page 7
dential campaign, then went to
work for the administration as a
top assistant to Robert F. Kennedy,
the attorney general. That work
would bring him back to the South
during the Freedom Rides of 1961,
when he was hit on the ear with a
pipe and knocked unconscious in
Montgomery, Ala., while trying to
protect two college students from a
racist mob.
But he was a journalist first and
foremost. He started working for
The Tennessean in 1949, after finishing his military service. He was
working for the newspaper’s magazine in the fall of 1954 – a job in
which the fast-moving Seigenthaler
was trying to get used to writing
only one story every few weeks –
when City Editor Bill Maples got
the call from Williams.
Maples asked Seigenthaler, just
Times in 1989 to find Fred and his
twin brother, Ed (who supervised
the mail room until his retirement
in 2007), immediately having a little
fun at his expense. “They seemed
to take joy in letting me figure out
on my own which one was Ed and
which one was Fred,” Trexler said.
“Fred was a craftsman, and in my
mind, one of the last of his breed,”
Trexler said.
Mr. Tipton retired in 2008.
His twin brother, Eddie, preceded him in death as did his wife of
56 years, Patsy Whitehead Tipton;
his parents, Rubin and Edna Word
Tipton; his sister, Wanda Smith; and
brother, Norman Tipton.
Survivors include his daughter
and son-in-law, Sandy and Tony Sullivan; and son and daughter-in-law,
Mike and Terri Tipton; grandchildren, Brandi Sullivan, Heather and
Ryan Harring, Cassi and Mike Phillips, Hillary Tipton, Holly and Chris
Rowe; great-grandchildren, Britney
Phillips, Evan and Adelynn Harring
and Jason Rowe; sister-in-law, Judy
Helton; brother-in-law, Rex Webb.
Funeral services were held
Wednesday at Miller Funeral Home
Magnolia Chapel, with the Rev.
Kenneth Sullivan officiating.
The Daily Times, Maryville
Jan. 30, 2014
Billy H. Easley
Billy H. Easley, the first black
photojournalist for The Tennessean,
died on Friday, Jan. 31, 2014.
Born Oct. 10, 1925, Mr. Easley
was preceded in death by his
parents, Myrtle Johnson Easley and
William H. Easley.
Mr. Easley was born in St. Louis,
Mo., and later moved to Nashville,
Tennessee, where he attended Catholic School and public schools. Upon
back from lunch, “Can I borrow
you?”
“I said, ‘You sure as hell can!’ ”
When he got to the bridge that
afternoon, he found a transient
man who was “sweating like a billy goat,” his perspiration probably
fueled by the alcohol he had clearly
been drinking. Williams was out
of work and divorced. He said he
couldn’t get his son in Michigan
to take his calls or respond to his
letters.
“It was a story of bad luck,
frustration, disappointment and
heartbreak,” Seigenthaler said. “It
was a tale of woe.”
As he talked to Seigenthaler,
Williams occasionally looked
down at the water. Eventually
the reporter could sense that the
other man, who weighed about 155
pounds, was about to stop looking.
“When the moment came, I just
went for it,” said Seigenthaler, who
weighed 170 to 175 pounds. “And
graduating from
public schools, he
attended Tennessee State University.
He studied
photography by
continuing his education and cerEasley
tifications from
Nashville School
of Photography and Nashville State
Technical Institute. He also received
education in international criminology. He was recognized internationally and nationally for his news photography. He has received numerous
awards and honors nationally and
locally.
Mr. Easley was the first black
photojournalist at The Tennessean.
Chapter member and National
Association of Black Journalists
founder Sandra Long said Mr. Easley will be missed.
“He was hired [at The Tennessean] in 1968, the year when many
blacks were finally hired because
white newspapers realized they
didn’t have anyone to cover the
stories in black communities,” said
Weaver. “He was a pioneer.”
Mr. Easley attended Tennessee State University. He studied
photography at Nashville School of
Photography and Nashville State
Technical Institute. He was recognized internationally and nationally
for his news photography.
Jonathan Martin, president of
NABJ’s Nashville Chapter, said, “It
is fitting that we take a moment to
remember someone who paved the
way for us.”
Survivors include: a devoted
wife, Gladys B. Easley; very devoted
daughter, Cassandra Easley; sistersin-law, Mary Lou Lee of Fort Pierce,
Fla., Sarah L. Thompson of St.
that’s when I learned what a rush
of adrenaline was.”
He said he later noticed rust
from the bridge’s grillwork on
the leg of his pants. But Williams
didn’t appreciate what Seigenthaler
had done. He told him, “I’ll never
forgive you.”
The police officers took Williams
to Davidson County General Sessions Court on the sixth floor of the
courthouse, where a judge signed
a lunacy warrant and sent him to
jail. Seigenthaler saw Williams
sulking before he was taken away.
But the story didn’t end there.
Less than three weeks later, Williams wrote Seigenthaler a letter
from the hospital where he had
been sent for observation.
“Dear friend,” he wrote. “Inasmuch as I did say ‘I’ll never forgive
you,’ I feel I owe you an apology for
said statement. I also feel that I owe
you eternal gratitude for having
saved me from the briny deep.”
Petersburg, Fla., Gertrude Brown
of Statesboro, Ga.; brother-in-law,
Lonnie Brown Jr. of Statesboro, Ga.;
godchild, Gabrielle Garrette; devoted
cousins, Mary Harrison, Catherine Harrison, Pamela Harrison,
William Harrison, Charles Harrison, Luvenia Butler, James (Joyce)
Johnson, James (Donna) Smithson
of Nashville, Tenn., Shirlee (Mildred) Shatteen of Atlanta, Ga.; Eddie
(Alberta) Dozier of Miami, Fla.;
Armetta Denso of Statesboro, Ga.;
Pearl Williams of Jacksonville, Fla.;
Daphney Shatteen and family of
Nashville, Tenn.; Mary Churchwell
and family; close friends, Charles
Fillows, Dwight Lewis and Paul
Oldham; numerous other cousins,
nieces and nephews. Funeral services were held on
Feb. 7 at Lawrence Avenue Church
of Christ in Nashville.
The Tennessean
Feb. 5, 2014
Nashville Pride
Feb. 14, 2014
Orley Hood
Orley Hood, who wrote with a
passion about Mississippi sports and
family issues with an eye for the out
of the ordinary,
died Feb. 21, 2014
from complications of leukemia
at University of
Mississippi Medical Center.
Mr. Hood was
a native of VicksHood
burg, Miss. His
career in sports
writing began at The Meridian Star
and took him to The Commercial
Appeal, the Jackson Daily News
and The Clarion-Ledger. In his later
years at The Clarion-Ledger, Mr.
Editor’s note: Below is update on
the status of Dean’s proposal.
On Feb. 21, Dean announced
his plans for Metro to rename the
Shelby Street Pedestrian Bridge in
Seigenthaler’s honor.
“While we are recognizing
John’s heroism on that day, we
are also honoring an entire life
of courage, communication and
inclusion. In all that he did, John
built bridges, and those bridges
have united people in our city to
make Nashville one of the most
vibrant, diverse and unified places
anywhere,” Dean said.
The Metro Council passed the ordinance on its first two readings in
March. The third reading on April
1 will make it official. Metro plans
to host an event on the bridge at 4
p.m. on April 29 to unveil a plaque
with the bridge’s new name. The
event is free and open to the public.
Hood wrote features and a general
interest column.
Survivors include his wife, Mary
Ann, and two sons, Hunter and
Tucker.
The Commercial Appeal
Feb. 22, 2014
Donell Looney Scarboro
Donell Looney Scarboro, of
Greeneville, died Feb. 23, 2014 at the
Johnson City Medical Center. She
was surrounded
by her family in
her passing.
Mrs. Scarboro
was born Dec. 7,
1926 in Greeneville and was a
daughter of the
late Ezra and
Scarboro
Selma Shepherd
Looney.
She was married to Richard P.
Scarboro for 48 years, who preceded
her in death in 1996.
Mrs. Scarboro graduated from
Greeneville High School with
honors and was salutatorian of her
class.
After working at The Greeneville
Sun for many years, she traveled
with her husband on the tobacco
markets, keeping books for John
Bernard and Curtis Walker.
She was a member of the
Republican Women, the National
Association of Federal Employees,
the Women of the Moose Club, the
Greene County Partnership, and
Link Hills Country Club.
Mrs. Scarboro was a longtime
member of First Baptist Church,
where she loved attending.
She is survived by her daughter
and son-in-law: Carolyn and David
Gulick of Peachtree City, Ga.; two
grandsons: Jason Gulick and his
wife, Dalia, of Atlanta, Ga., and
Jonathan Gulick of Montreal, Canada; two sisters: Dot Alexander and
Etha Kilday of Greeneville; a niece:
Page Douthat and husband, Chris,
of Greeneville, and their daughter:
Ashely of Hawaii; an aunt: Louise
Brooks of Greeneville; nieces: Fran
Smith and her husband, Kyle, and
Debbie Hardin and her husband,
Earl, all of Greeneville; and several
great-nieces and great-nephews.
She was preceded in death by her
brother and sister-in-law: Kenneth
and Georgia Looney, and two brothers-in-law: Bill Alexander and Billy
Kilday of Greeneville.
The funeral service was held
on Feb. 26 in the Doughty-Stevens
Funeral Home chapel. The Rev. Dr.
David Green of First Baptist Church
officiated along with a family friend,
The Rev. Tammy Greene.
Following the service, a family
interment was held in the Andrew
Johnson National Cemetery.
The Greeneville Sun
Feb. 25, 2014
Are you giving – or giving in – to your advertisers?
I’ve been a consultant for almost a quarter
century. Before that, I worked at newspapers for
almost another quarter century.
I’ve heard “I’m only giving the customer what
he wants” more than just a few times during
those years.
And every time I hear it, I cringe – because
I’m convinced that the person who says it is not
doing what he/she says. In fact, I believe the
person who says “I’m only giving the customer
what he wants” is doing just the opposite.
Yes, there are customers out there who will
tell us precisely what they want the ad to say –
or precisely how they want it to look. And they
can be very difficult to work with. They want a one-column by two-inch ad.
And they want it to contain at least 3,000 words.
With 12 illustrations. And four colors. And a
12-point border. Reversed. OK, I’m exaggerating … but you get the point.
Some advertisers are stubborn. They claim to
know what they want and they won’t advertise
with us unless they get it.
So, we run an ad like the one accompanying
this column. It’s just awful – and we know it.
But we believe we are “… only giving the customer what he wants.”
We’re not. We’re giving the customer what
he thinks he wants. What your advertiser really wants is traffic.
He wants you to help get buyers to his store or to
his phone or to his web site.
We create traffic for that advertiser by using
our skills and experience to give him an ad that
does the job – not one that satisfies his need to
be “creative.” It’s our job to write and design an ad that will
generate traffic for the advertiser. To do that, we
sometimes have to convince the customer that
what he thinks he wants isn’t what he really wants. Tennessee Press
Association
BY
DESIGN
Mail: 435 Montbrook Lane,
Knoxville, TN 37919
Phone: (865) 584-5761
ED HENNINGER
Fax: (865) 558-8687
That may mean doing some spec ads. It may
mean a longer visit in the customer’s shop. For
sure, it’s gonna mean more time and effort on
our part. But that’s our job. It’s our responsibility to
give the customer the best ad we can. We need to do our job. Part of that calls for us
to convince the customer to keep an open mind
and to give us credit for our experience, our
training and our skills. If the customer doesn’t have an open mind
– if he still insists on getting what he thinks he
wants, then we need to ask ourselves where
we’ve failed to help him.
Yes, there will occasionally be that advertiser
who flat-out insists that you run an ad the way
he wants it. But remember: It’s still your newspaper. You
can choose to reject the ad. And occasionally
turning down an ad means you’re not just going
to let any customer cheapen the look of your
product. And it may just gain enough respect
from him that he will listen more closely the
next time we visit him.
Or … you can take the money, run the ad, and
continue “… only giving the customer what he
wants.”
It’s your choice.
ED Henninger is an independent newspaper consultant and the director of Henninger
Consulting, offering comprehensive newspaper
design services including redesigns, workshops,
Web: www.tnpress.com
Email: (name)@tnpress.com
Those with boxes, listed
alphabetically:
Laurie Alford (lalford)
Pam Corley (pcorley)
Angelique Dunn (adunn)
Beth Elliott (belliott)
Robyn Gentile (rgentile)
Frank Gibson (fgibson)
Earl Goodman (egoodman)
staff training and evaluations. He is on the web at
henningerconsulting.com.
WANT A FREE evaluation of your newspaper’s
design? Just contact Ed: at edh@henningerconsulting.com or call 803-327-3322.
IF THIS COLUMN has been helpful, you may
be interested in Ed’s books: “Henninger on Design”
and “101 Henninger Helpful Hints.” With the help
of Ed’s books, you’ll immediately have a better
idea how to design for your readers. Find out
more about both books by visiting Ed’s web site:
www.henningerconsulting.com
State’s oldest weekly
observes 150th year
A thriving weekly newspaper,
The Review-Appeal, published at
Franklin, Tenn., has celebrated its
150th birthday. No other Tennessee
weekly can make that statement!
Fact is, the newspaper is topped
in age by only two other Tennessee newspapers – The Clarksville
Leaf-Chronicle (1808) and The
Nashville Tennessean (1812) – both
dailies.
And to add another distinction,
The Review-Appeal has the largest
circulation of any weekly in Tennessee.
April 1989
Eight newspapers
receive School Bell
Awards from TEA
The Chattanooga Times, The
Knoxville News-Sentinel, Nashville
Banner, The Leaf-Chronicle (Clarks-
ville), The Newport Plain Talk,
The Dickson Herald, The Courier
(Savannah) and Citizen-Statesman
(Celina) all won annual School Bell
Awards from the Tennessee Education Association.
The awards are given for
outstanding contributions to the interpretation of issues facing public
schools in Tennessee.
Advertising workshop
set at MTSU Campus
Middle Tennessee State Universi-
ty’s Journalism Department offered
an advertising sales seminar for
beginning or untrained newspaper
ad sales representatives April 28-29
on the Murfreesboro Campus.
The seminar, presented conjunction with the Tennessee Press
Association, was coordinated by
Drs. Edd Applegate and Donald
Parente.
Two other workshops were in
the planning stage – one at East
Tennessee State University in Johnson City, and the other at Memphis
State University.
on their websites than the normal, customary charges for publishing it
in their print versions
PUBLIC NOTICE, from Page 5
As a reminder, here is the list of specific requirements for all Tennessee
newspapers of general circulation that publish public or legal notices.
•
• Notices must be published on the newspaper’s website for the same
period of time that they appear in the print version
Notices must include the date that they were first published by the
newspaper
•
Notices must be published in their entirety, including maps and other
exhibits
• Notices must also be uploaded to the Tennessee Press Association statewide public notice website (www.tnpublicnotice.com) for the same
period of time that they are published on the newspaper’s website and
in print
•
Newspapers cannot charge any additional costs for publishing notices
Kathy Hensley (khensley)
Whitney Page (wpage)
Greg Sherrill (gsherrill)
Kevin Slimp (kslimp)
Kayretta Stokes (kstokes)
Alisa Subhakul (asubhakul)
David Wells (dwells)
Tessa Wildsmith (twildsmith)
REWRITES FROM THE TENNESSEE PRESS
April 1964
FYI - CONTACT INFO
• A link to the newspaper’s public notice page within its website must
appear on the newspaper’s home or landing page
•
A link to the TPA statewide website must appear on each newspaper’s
public notice web page
Heather Wright (hwright)
Advertising email:
knoxads@tnpress.com
Tennessee Press
Service
Knoxville, TN 37919
Phone: (865) 584-5761
Fax: (865) 558-8687
Web: www.tnadvertising.biz
Tennessee Press
Association
Foundation
Knoxville, TN 37919
Phone: (865) 584-5761
Fax: (865) 558-8687
Web: www.tpafoundation.org
TPA members: ‘What’s your school board’s cameras policy?’
When a Johnson City TV reporter
showed up to cover a Greene County school board meeting last week
(Feb. 27), the chairman handed
her a copy of the board’s media
coverage policy: “The press shall not
bring a camera, camcorder, or other
photographic equipment to Board
meetings without the consent of the
Board.”
In other words, get your camera
out of our meeting. Officials did not
explain the action to her on the spot
and apparently never considered
whether it was legal or not. That
came later. As it turns out, it was
not a “board” decision; two board
members reported later they were
unaware that the camera had been
evicted from the meeting.
WJHL-TV and the Greeneville
Sun reported later that the schools
director was angry at the way the
reporter had covered a controversy
over allegations by a parent of bullying by a staff member.
This obviously is not just about
a TV camera. Two days before that
happened in Greeneville, Scott
Whaley, publisher of the Chester
County Independent in West Tennessee, asked me if his school board
could ban his cameras. Chester
County has the same “the press
shall not” policy Greeneville had. I
say “had” because at my deadline,
the schools’ director was telling the
Sun the policy is under review and
might be changed this month.
It probably made too much sense
for the schools’ director or board
chairman in Greeneville to let the
PUBLIC
POLICY
OUTLOOK
FRANK GIBSON
reporter ask the board to keep her
camera like others. Some Monday
morning quarterbacking here, but
maybe the reporter should have
stood up when the meeting started
and asked for a vote on the action.
Nah, it makes a better story the
other way and the people in charge
of educating the children of Greene
County obviously did not think
about how it made them look in
editorials and other news coverage.
When Deborah Fisher, our friend
at TCOG, mentioned getting a call
about the incident, it was some
really bad déjà vu.
I had just finished researching
Scott Whaley’s question and had
sent him a copy of a state attorney
general legal opinion that said governing bodies cannot just arbitrarily
ban cameras. So, I sent it to the folks
in Greeneville.
The policy is a template provided by the Tennessee School Board
Association to members statewide.
Officials say it is to help boards
avoid disruptions of their meetings.
The policy has stirred controversy
in several districts where it has been
discussed.
The policy first surfaced in public
in 2009 when the Loudon County
school board rejected it. Citizens
and journalists in Lenoir City had
the same question Scott Whaley
had. My answer was the same.
Not really, because the policy is
based on a faulty Attorney General
opinion issued in October 1995 and
rescinded three months later.
AG Opinion 95-101 said a proposed ordinance to ban a citizen
from recording meetings of the
Bells Board of Alderman would not
violate the First Amendment or the
Tennessee “sunshine law” on open
meetings. TPA’s FOI Committee and
SPJ asked Attorney General Charles
Burson to reconsider the October
opinion.
The new question was whether
“banning photographic equipment
from city board meetings” would be
legal under our state Constitution.
The “Reconsideration of Opinion
No. 95-101” was released three
months later:
“The proposed ordinance’s
blanket ban on bringing video or
photographic equipment into an
official meeting of the Board, as
well as its prohibition against taking
photographs of anyone at the meetings, would violate Article I, Section
19 of the Tennessee Constitution as
implemented by the Open Meetings
Act.”
Section 19 is the one that says
“That the printing press shall be
free to every person to examine the
proceedings of the Legislature; or
of any branch or officer of the government, and no law shall ever be
made to restrain the right thereof.”
The issue had never been litigated here, the AG said, but courts
elsewhere had “recognized that
the policy of state ‘sunshine laws’
dictates openness and accountability in government and that a
regulation restricting the activity
of recording a meeting is invalid
unless the regulation reasonably
furthers public safety and welfare or
furthers a governing body’s ability
to conduct its meetings in an orderly
and efficient manner.”
Oddly none of these criteria were
taken into consideration in expelling the camera in Greeneville. As it
turned out, school officials were angry at how the reporter had covered
the bullying allegations previously.
No mention of “safety” or fear of lost
decorum.
A survey of school districts
surrounding Greene by WJHL
found most have the same policy as
Greene and Chester because TSBA
has publicly rejected and trashed
the second AG opinion. Some more
enlightened school boards have gotten better legal advice and chosen
not to adopt TSBA’s recommended
policy.
Loudon County, for example,
based its rejection of the policy
(2009 on the second AG opinion) as
did Oak Ridge three years later in
2012. Gibson County abandoned it
in 2010 after the Milan Mirror-Exchange challenged it.
Chuck Cagle, an attorney in
private practice in Nashville who
represents school boards around
the state, represented the Loudon
County board. He recommends that
boards have policies that follow the
December 1995 AG opinion. He has
now recommended Greene County
change its policy.
TSBA suggested in 2009 that
boards delete references to “the
press” and rely on another “sample” policy that states: “No one
shall bring a camera … to Board
meetings without the consent of the
Board.”
TSBA officials have argued their
policy is not a ban because citizens
and reporters can ask for permission, and one official told the AP
the policy isn’t meant to ban media
or regular citizens from recording
meetings. It is to help limit an excessive number of cameras that may
disrupt a meeting.
But in a TSBA newsletter the then
director of policy and staff attorney
explained the change from “press”
to “no one” was to overcome “concern … over the perception that the
camera provision … needlessly and
harmfully singled out the press.”
That and he wanted to protect
school boards from bloggers.
In Greeneville, it became a ban
and it could become a ban anywhere the TSBA recommended
policy stays on the books.
As Oak Ridge school board
member Dan DiGregorio noted in
2012 “this (TSBA policy) would just
make a problem where one doesn’t
exist.”
Frank Gibson is TPA’s public policy
director. He can be reached at fgibson@tnpress.com or 615-202-2685.
Entries for UT-TPA State Press and Ideas contests pour into TPA
Photo of Frank “Buzz” Trexler and Robyn Gentile by Laurie Alford
Photo of Earl Goodman and Kayretta Stokes by Robyn Gentile
Below left, Frank “Buzz” Trexler of The Daily Times, Maryville, delivers the three required physical entries for the 2014 UT-TPA State
Press Contests on Feb. 21, deadline day. All other categories are now
entered with PDFs online. At right, Earl Goodman, TPS senior media
buyer, and Kayretta Stokes, advertising liaison, sort mail on Feb. 24,
the day the majority of the entries in the Make-Up and Appearance,
Best Special Issue or Section, and Sunday Edition categories arrived
at the TPA offices. Winners will be notified in mid-May.
The Open Records Act in Tennessee has bite
Because the city of Chattanooga was found to be willful and
dishonest in denying public records
to citizen Rebecca Little, an appeals
court said in February it now must
pay her full attorneys’ fees and
costs: $71,343.
Citizens shouldn’t have to sue to
get their local government to follow
the law.
Such a case is never easy. It took
three years. The city appealed one
decision to the Tennessee Supreme
Court, which declined to hear it.
The city could try again over the
latest Appeals Court ruling on fees,
further dragging out the case, creating more costs for both sides.
What’s at stake?
The city never argued that it
didn’t follow the Open Records
Act, which requires some response
to a public records request within
seven days. The response can be an
estimate of how much time it would
take to fulfill the request. The law is
not unreasonable about this.
TN COALITION
FOR OPEN
GOVERNMENT
DEBORAH FISHER
The city’s main argument seemed
to be that it just bungled the request
– they got confused over Little’s
requests. The person in charge of
traffic-copping requests was taking
time off to study for the bar exam,
the person backing her up dropped
the ball.
But the truth is that the Public
Works Administrator Steve Leach
felt Little was harassing his staff
with requests for documents, and
he put this in an email to the deputy
city attorney, asking if there was a
way to seek an injunction against
her.
Leach had conveniently ignored
Little’s requests for about a month,
even after a reminder from staff
about the deadline for getting back
with her.
Little had done everything right.
She initially made a broad request,
but then realized she should be
more specific and narrowed her
request to information relative to
just three roads.
But the city, with a chip on its
shoulder about Little’s boldness to
even use the Open Records Act,
failed to acknowledge her more
narrow request.
After the lawsuit was filed –
almost a month after her more narrow request – Leach instructed his
staff to proceed to search for records
related to the earlier much broader
request. Later, we learn of the hundreds of hours city staff spent, oh so
achingly, looking for records.
What a show. At the first hearing
on the lawsuit, all these records
were dumped in boxes in court,
with the city proclaiming (with
TENNESSEE NEWSPAPER HALL OF FAME – BENJAMIN F. DILL
Editor’s note: This is a feature of
TTP. Each month we will publish a
brief bio on a Tennessee Newspaper
Hall of Fame honoree to remind us of
those who helped make our industry
a vital part of Tennessee communities throughout the state.
Benjamin F. Dill
Induction Year: 1969
Lived: 1814-1866
The Memphis Appeal
Benjamin F. Dill first moved to
Memphis from his native Georgia
in 1837 to practice law. But he also
managed to write articles for the
Memphis Enquirer occasionally.
Between 1840 and 1854 his law
practice and work as a bank cashier
took him to Mississippi, Missouri,
and back to Mississippi again. He
finally returned to Memphis and
became part owner in the Memphis
Daily Appeal in 1854.
Dill with his partner, John R.
McClanahan, championed the town,
the state, and especially the South.
And as the Civil War approached,
the Appeal’s editorial policy became
more and more pro-Southern. It
greeted secession eagerly, and when
war broke out in 1861, the Appeal
grew more fervent in its support of
the Confederacy.
With Federal troops bearing
down on him, Dill refused to let the
Appeal be silenced. For more than
three years he managed to keep
the paper’s masthead flying while
hopscotching by train across the
South, one jump ahead of the Yankee armies. He fled from Memphis
to Grenada in 1862, from there to
Jackson, then on to Atlanta, and a
year later to Montgomery.
In Montgomery he continued his
steady flow of editorial comment,
encouraging the Confederate armies
and citizens and seeking some
ground for hope in each defeat. But
the Federal forces finally caught
him near Columbus, Georgia, in
April 1865. They destroyed part of
his equipment. His staff fled, but
he remained behind with his wife,
who was ill, and was captured. He
was released after posting bond
and promising not to publish for the
duration of the war.
He returned to Memphis and
resumed publication of the Appeal
with “no unmanly excuses,” as he
put it. His determination and tenacity, if not his politics, earned him the
respect of newsmen everywhere.
TPA Journalism, Education & Literacy Committee named
TPA’s Journalism, Education &
Literacy Committee consists of 15
individuals from the newspaper industry and universities from across
the state.
Janet Rail, publisher of the Independent Appeal in Selmer, serves as
chairman.
Other members are:
Leon Alligood, Middle Tennessee
State University, Mufreesboro
LuShep Baldwin, Jones Media
Inc., Greeneville
Dr. Dwight Brooks, Middle Tennessee State University
Christen Coulon, Austin Peay
State University, Clarksville
Mike Fishman, Citizen Tribune,
Morristown
Dale Gentry, The Standard Banner, Jefferson City
Dr. Peter Gross, University of
Tennessee–Knoxville
Dr. Thomas Hrach, University of
Memphis
Bonnie Hufford, University of
Tennessee–Knoxville
Hugh Jones, The Shelbyville
Times-Gazette
Dr. Robert Nanney, UT Martin
Clay Scott, Volunteer State Community College, Gallatin
Michael Williams, The Paris Post
Intelligencer
Keith Wilson, Kingsport Times
News
exhaustion at this citizen’s audacity,
I’m sure): “We brought all of that
stuff to the extent we know it’s
responsive” and, “We’ve given them
everything we got. We don’t know
what else we can turn over.”
An appeals court later found
that declaration dishonest. Within
a few hours of the hearing, Little
gets a call from a city staffer asking
for key terms for an email search
that was also part of the request –
admitting the city knew it was still
holding back some records.
At one point, the city can’t locate
records. Little wanted Contract 79,
but the sewer contract numbers
strangely stopped at 77 and resumed at 81. The city did not know
why.
At another point, the deputy city
attorney tells staff to only search
email records going back five years,
even if emails exist older than that.
The Municipal Technical Advisory
Service recommendations require
email retention for only five years,
so that’s all Little was going to get.
Little was in her late 20s when
she brought the petition. She manages her family’s bed and breakfast,
Tennessee Riverplace, on the north
side of Lookout Valley.
She sought the records to try to
figure out if the city had provided
services promised during annexation in the 1970s.
Her father had filed a lawsuit earlier over the issue, clearly a thorn in
the city’s side, which didn’t like the
path the daughter was taking. The
trial court judge even admonished
Little in his ruling.
But the city, and the judge,
missed the point. Public records are
owned by the public. Public officials
are stewards, not gatekeepers.
“When citizens don’t follow the
law, they are held accountable,”
Little noted. “It’s frustrating when
the city doesn’t follow law, no one
holds them accountable.”
Deborah Fisher is executive director of Tennessee Coalition for Open
Government, a nonprofit alliance of
citizens, media and good government
groups that provides education and
research on the state’s open government laws.
Upton and Kevin seem to agree on this one
Upton Sinclair wrote, “It is difficult
to get a man to understand something when his salary depends upon
his not understanding it.”
I don’t remember putting off
writing a column as long as this one.
I’ve talked to industry experts, polled
editors and publishers, and spent the
past four days thinking about what
I would write. I even thought about
skipping the topic altogether.
Why the delay? Because some people aren’t going to like what I have
to say. If you have a vested financial
interest in getting your newspaper
brethren to believe that print is as
good as dead, then stop reading right
now. You’re not going to like it. And I
might even talk about you.
There was a time when I was one
of the few national figures speaking
and writing about the role of “converging media” in journalism. Folks
like Jack Lail, Rob Curley and I were
spreading the word about the world
beyond print.
I remember walking into a room,
set up for maybe 200 folks, in
Saratoga Springs, N.Y. in the early
2000s and seeing the room fill to the
brim. Publishers, editors and other
journalists were sitting on the floor,
standing against the outside walls
and squeezing in wherever they
could to hear me speak on the relatively new topic, “Converging Media
and Newspapers.”
I knew it was an interesting topic,
but I was surprised by the crowd.
Surprised, that is, until a publisher
sitting in the front row asked me a
question just before I stepped up to
the microphone.
“Are you going to tell us the same
thing the luncheon speaker told us?”
he asked.
“I don’t know,” was my response.
“What did the luncheon speaker tell
you?”
“He told us we’re all going to be
out of business within five years if
we don’t drop print and move everything online.”
I assured him that my presentation would be entirely different. My
purpose was to show these industry
leaders how to utilize digital tools to
enhance their products, not replace
them.
Fast forward a few years to 2008.
While spending a day with the dean
at a major school of journalism, I
was surprised by a question early
on. He explained he had spent the
day before with the head of a major
news bureau. In their conversations,
I was told, the idea that there would
be no printed newspapers left in the
United States in 10 years was posed.
He asked what I thought.
My answer, “That may be the
dumbest thing I’ve ever heard,”
seemed to take him by surprise.
“Why do you think that?” I remember him asking.
“Because if there’s not one newspaper left in the United States, I’m going to start one and make a fortune.”
He went on to explain that he
agreed with his visitor from the day
THE
NEWS
GURU
KEVIN SLIMP
before. Printed newspapers would
not exist, not one, 10 years in the
future.
He wasn’t the only one to express
that idea to me in 2008. It seemed
like there were few of us speaking
publicly in support of the print industry. It seemed that a lot of “experts”
liked that 10-year mark.
If they were right, you should be
making plans to shut down your
print plant. I feel sorry for all the
newspapers I’ve visited in places like
Chattanooga, Tupelo, New York and
other locations where new presses
have been installed in the past year
or so. If the “10 year” theory was
right, they won’t be needed.
Obviously, all newspapers aren’t
going to shut down in the next
four, five or even 10 years. The idea
seemed preposterous to me and still
does. In debates back then, I was
called “naive” to think that even one
newspaper might exist in the printed
form in 2018 or 2019. Let me remind
all those experts that if there is one
printed paper still in existence on
Jan. 1, 2019, I win the debate.
Fast forward to last year. I was
speaking at a newspaper conference
out west when a hand went up in the
audience.
“What did you think about what
the speaker said at breakfast this
morning?” was the question.
“I’m sorry,” was my response, “I
wasn’t at breakfast. I didn’t hear the
speaker.”
She continued, “He said we would
all be out of business within three
years if we didn’t give up on the
print model and move our resources
to digital.”
I know how easy it is to misunderstand something. So I gave an honest
reply, “I’m sure he didn’t say that.”
It sounded like a Southern church
as the entire audience, which was
full, started nodding their heads
affirmatively and speaking, “Yes, he
did.”
I explained that I didn’t know who
the speaker was that morning. The
publisher of a large daily spoke up,
“The speaker was John Paton, CEO
of Digital First.”
It was then that I made a statement
that has been quoted over and over
again since then. “OK. Let me give
each of you a piece of advice. I don’t
care who you are listening to. You
may be in Sunday School listening to
your teacher, on your sofa listening
to a politician, or at a convention
listening to an ‘expert’ give a speech.
Wherever you are, I want you to ask
yourself something: ‘How will that
speaker benefit financially if I follow
his or her advice?’”
There was an immediate, stirring
round of applause from everyone in
the audience.
Fast forward to five days ago.
I received this email from David
Wells, advertising director for Tennessee Press Service: “Thought you
would be interested in this article. I
am amazed that people in our own
industry believe print is dying. If
anything, from my desk, I see community newspapers getting stronger.
I have a background in print and
digital and know the power and
strength of both. Just wondered
if you had seen this article and if
you believe what this gentleman is
saying.”
It was the text of a January 2014
address by John Paton to the Online
Publishers Association, a group that
includes a number of newspaper
representatives as board members,
although most come from digital and
broadcast media groups.
Basically, the address boils down
to a couple of main points, as I read
it. First, that using data from three
major newspaper companies, Digital
First shows greater profitability
using its strategy than the other
two companies. Unless I missed it,
the names of the other two groups
aren’t mentioned. But I could make a
pretty good guess who they are. And,
frankly, I’m sure they’re not doing
well financially.
But what if we replaced those
groups with newspapers whose circulation has grown significantly over
the past couple of years? Because, as
I’ve written about in several recent
columns, those metros are out there.
And there are more of them than
listening to John Paton would lead
you to think.
And what about the non-metro
papers? Are they falling by the wayside into oblivion? From where I’m
sitting, and I visit a lot of newspapers, they’re not.
Back to Paton’s address to the
Online Publishers Association. Four
lines stood out to me: “Acknowledge
Print is dying. Accept it and plan for
it. Newsrooms are not dying. Just
Print.”
I posted a request on my Facebook
page, followed by a lot of publishers
and editors in our industry, and
asked if they’d take 10 minutes to
help me with some research. I got
about 20 affirmative responses,
about half from newspaper editors
and publishers in a few minutes. I
sent the full text of Paton’s address to
each of them and asked them to tell
me, in one sentence, the theme of the
address.
Myra Griffin, a 28-year-old editor
from Houston, wrote, “He is saying
that print is dead.” She went on to
write, “If we keep listening to people
like this, students won’t go to school
for journalism. It’s a doomsday
speech.”
Charlie Langford, publisher in
Mississippi, wrote, “I don’t agree
with what he wrote. Abandoning
print is not in our future.”
Don’t get me wrong; I don’t have
all the answers. But I do believe that
one of our major issues in the past 10
years or so has been listening to “experts” whose main objective is to get
us to buy their products. That’s why
I don’t take gifts, eat meals, or accept
jobs from companies that sell to the
newspaper industry. And believe me,
I’ve been offered a lot of gifts, meals
and jobs.
And this is why I thought so
long – and asked so many industry
friends for advice -–before writing
this column. I think John Paton has
every write to say what he says. He
might even believe it. So do all these
other “experts” I see on stage at
newspaper conventions. I don’t have
a problem with them selling their
products. They’re trying to make a
living like the rest of us.
But I want to remind you – and
I’m amazed at the number of industry leaders throughout the world
who read my columns – to look at
each “expert” objectively and ask
yourself how they will benefit if you
follow their advice.
GOAL: $1,000,000
$900K
$800K
$700K
BELIEVERS
Contributors to the TPAF ‘I
Believe’ campaign thus far:
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Cannon Courier, Woodbury
Jim Charlet, in memory of Martha
C. Charlet
Chattanooga Times Free Press
Nathan Crawford, In Memory of
James Walter Crawford Sr. and
C.T. (Charlie) Crawford Jr.
Crossville Chronicle, In Memory of
Perry Sherrer
Gannett Foundation
The Jackson Sun
The Leaf-Chronicle, Clarksville
The Tennessean, Nashville
Hollow & Hollow LLC
Joe Hurd, The Courier, Savannah
Jones Media, In Memory of Edith
O’Keefe Susong and Quincy
Marshall O’Keefe
The Advocate & Democrat,
Sweetwater
The Daily Post Athenian, Athens
The Daily Times, Maryville
The Greeneville Sun
The Herald-News, Dayton
The Newport Plain Talk
News-Herald, Lenoir City
The Rogersville Review
Kennedy Newspapers, Columbia
Lakeway Publishers, Morristown
Citizen Tribune, Morristown
The Elk Valley Times, Fayetteville
Grundy County Herald, Tracy City
The Herald-Chronicle, Winchester
Manchester Times
The Moore County News, Lynchburg
The Tullahoma News
The Milan Mirror-Exchange
News Sentinel, Knoxville
The Paris Post-Intelligencer, In
Memory of W. Bryant Williams
Republic Newspapers
The Courier News, Clinton
Richard Rowlett, Rowlett Advertising
Service, Goodlettsville
Union City Daily Messenger
Bill and Anne Williams, Paris, in
honor of Michael Williams
presidency of TPA
$600K
$500K
$400K
$304,850
2-14
$300K
$200K
$100K

Tennessee Newspaper Hall of Fame ownership

Transcription

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Rhea C ounty, TN

I Miss Me Guitar Chart

Newspaper extinction timeline

Invitationfor - Tennessee Orthopaedic Society

Federal Express World Headquarters

Giggles and Good Times Pigeon Forge, Tennessee