Volume 82 April 2019 No. 10 INSIDE Plan now for 2019 Summer Convention in Chattanooga ROBYN GENTILE tising/Circulation Conference and Horne: Many in TN rural Member Services Manager, TPA Ideas Contest Awards Luncheon, March 18, 2019 as well as sessions for the news- areas lack health care room. Page 2 TPA members should plan now The convention will be held at for the Summer Convention, July The Read House Hotel, a luxury Daniels: Readers ready 18-19, in Chattanooga. historic hotel in the heart of down- The packed agenda includes town. The hotel underwent reno- to be engaged the State Press Contests Awards vations in 2018. TPA convention Page 3 Luncheon, Advertising/Circulation attendees may make reservations Conference, a reception and TPA by contacting the hotel at (423) Collierville Herald Presidential installation at the 266-4121. The convention rate is celebrates 90 years Tennessee Aquarium and a Ten- $159 plus tax per night. The hotel nessee Newspaper Hall of Fame offers valet parking. Page 5 Induction Ceremony. Chattanooga Convention & Visitors Bureau The convention schedule fol- Major weather events Hall of Fame An aerial view of Chattanooga, host city for the 2019 TPA Summer Con- lows: Induction vention, July 18-19. Thursday, July 18 confront newspapers Noon. State Press Contests Awards Luncheon Pages 6-7, 10 Selected for of USA Today; presentation of the State Press 2:30 p.m. TPA Board of Directors Sheriff Bart: Need help? posthumous and George T. Contests Awards. Winners will Meeting & Concurrent Business induction into Whitley, long- be notifi ed of an award, but not Session Get another source the Tennessee time publisher placement, by May 24. 4:00 p.m. Newsroom Session Newspaper Hall of The Coving- Convention registrants will be 6:00 p.m. Reception and Presiden- Page 8 of Fame are: ton Leader and able to attend the reception at the tial Installation at the Tennessee Zinser: DOL proposes new Jones John M. Jones former TPA Tennessee Aquarium, where TPA’s Aquarium (until 8:00 p.m.) III, who was president. The new president will be installed. Friday, July 19 overtime rule publisher of The ceremony will be Slated to be nominated for the 8:00 a.m. Breakfast Page 9 Greeneville Sun; Whitley held on Friday 2019-20 TPA presidency is Chris 9:00 a.m. Advertising Sessions John Seigenthal- evening, July 19, Vass, public editor of the Chatta- 9:00 a.m. Circulation Sessions Obits er, who was a to conclude the convention. nooga Times Free Press. 9:00 a.m. Newsroom Sessions Page 10 former publisher Noon. Ad/Circ Ideas Contest of The Tennes- State Press Awards Advertising/Circulation Awards Luncheon More Showcase features sean, Nashville 1:30 p.m. TPS Stockholders and founding The convention will begin Conference Page 12 Seigenthaler editorial director at noon on Thursday with the Friday will feature the Adver- See CONVENTIONPage 8 After 82 years, Tennessean’s pressroom goes quiet BRETT KELMAN produced in Knoxville. passing train, starts to churn and They grab copies and fl ip through The Tennessean, Nashville It is the day before Thanksgiv- hiss, stamping aluminum against the pages, checking for defects. February 11, 2019 ing, and deep inside The Tennesse- rubber and rubber against paper “OK, guys,” shouts Mark Epling, an building on Broadway, a great until a ribbon of printed pages a longtime supervisor. “This is our Editor’s Note: The following story mechanical beast has begun to fl ies by in a blur. last chance to get it right.” was published by The Tennessean, stir. The machine is fed 32 tons of After a chaotic moment, the This is The Tennessean press- Nashville, in mid-February, in recycled paper from spools half as beast spits out its fi rst newspa- room, where for more than 80 advance of the newspaper’s move large as a car and slurps up black per. Then another. Then another. years a few dozen anonymous from its longtime home at 1100 ink piped in from 4,200-gallon vats Then dozens and hundreds and press operators have pursued the Broadway in Nashville to rented in a basement two fl oors below. thousands more, piled together on tireless, underappreciated and offi ces elswhere in the city. The The stale air stinks like roofi ng a narrow conveyor belt that leads impossible goal of printing the move also meant a closing down of tar. The fl oor is slippery with a into a soundproofed room where perfect page. Some of these press- The Tennessean’s presses in March, faint inky dew. A blue wall of six pressmen in ink-stained work men have been here for decades, with its print products now being machinery, as large and loud as a shirts wait anxiously. See TENNESSEAN Page 8 Page 2 • The Tennessee Press • April 2019 TN health-care coverage in urgent mode Tennessee has a major health 11 rural hospitals and more were on care dilemma: the working poor OUR the brink of closing. This is a trag- (USPS 616-460) don’t have medical care coverage Y edy in so many ways for employ- Published monthly by the as good as what many other states PRESIDING ment, health care, the schools and in the country have. Because the business sales in the area as well as TENNESSEE PRESS ASSOCIATION, INC. general assembly legislators would REPORTER for the general morale and attitude 412 N. Cedar Bluff Road, Suite 403 not accept Governor Bill Haslam’s of the greater community. The OUG ORNE Knoxville, Tennessee 37923 proposal that was a hybrid of the D H innovative ideas and proposals of Telephone (865) 584-5761/Fax (865) 558-8687/www.tnpress.com Affordable Care Act, there are more the Governor’s Healthcare Modern- than 400,000 Tennesseans with no act of approving the hybrid afford- ization Task Force will address the Subscriptions: $12 annually health-care coverage. These are peo- able care act proposal that Governor rural hospital closure problem and, Periodicals Postage Paid At Knoxville, TN ple who make 138 percent or less of Haslam recommended. hopefully, make Tennessee a world- the poverty level. As Governor Bill Governor Lee and Haslam class health-care market for our Lee has said, the admonition to we POSTMASTER: Send address changes to The Tennessee Press, worked very well together on the citizens built on transparency and public servants is clear: do justice, 412 N. Cedar Bluff Road, Suite 403, Knoxville, TN 37923 transition. Wouldn’t it be wise competition. This is the governor’s love mercy, and walk humbly. policy for Governor Lee to work ambitious goal and we all applaud Surely, allowing more than 400,000 The Tennessee Press is printed by The Standard Banner in Jeff erson City, Tenn. with the legislature to approve the working poor to have medical him for this. Haslam proposal for health care for We all know that proper health Carol Daniels ..................................................................................................................................... Editor coverage with Medicaid expansion more than 400,000 adults and chil- Mike Towle .................................................................................................................. Managing Editor would meet this admonition. care and its provision and cost dren in our state with no coverage? Robyn Gentile .......................................................................................... Production Coordinator Governor Lee has established together comprise the most urgent a Healthcare Modernization Task What a gracious, honorable, com- problem facing all of our businesses Force that will work closely with passionate and merciful thing to do. and our lives. The Tennessee Press private sector stakeholders, policy Both Haslam and Lee are Republi- is printed on recycled paper makers and communities across cans. They are close allies and work Doug Horne and is recyclable. the state to develop a list of reforms well together, and the Republican and investments in health-care majority legislature along with the Doug Horne, owner of Repub- TENNESSEE PRESS ASSOCIATION provision for all Tennesseans. But in Democrats should be ready to make lic Newspapers, Knoxville, is the Doug Horne, Republic Newspapers, Knoxville ...................................................................President the meantime, let’s do the merciful a move on this matter. Isn’t it time? President of the Tennessee Press Chris Vass, Chattanooga Times Free Press .................................................................Vice President thing and the compassionate, caring At last count Tennessee had lost Association for 2018-19. Daniel Richardson, Carroll County News Leader, Huntingdon .........................Vice President Joseph Hurd, Th e Courier, Savannah .................................................................................... Secretary Darrell Richardson, Th e Oak Ridger .......................................................................................Treasurer INDUSTRY NEWS Eric Barnes, Th e Daily News, Memphis .................................................Immediate Past President Carol Daniels .................................................................................................................Executive Director Bond named TPA per is now publishing in print fi ve also planning District 2 director days a week: Sunday/Monday, and improvements to DIRECTORS Tuesday through Friday. our online and Scott Critchlow, Union City Daily Messenger ..................................................................... District 1 Amanda Hill Bond, editor and “The decision to combine our digital offerings.” Keith Ponder, Th e Daily Herald, Columbia ..........................................................................District