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 Aquarium and a Ten- $159 plus tax per night. The hotel nessee 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 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 , starts to churn and They grab copies and fl ip through , 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 ...... District 1 Amanda Hill Bond, editor and “The decision to combine our digital offerings.” Keith Ponder, Th e Daily Herald, Columbia ...... District 1 publisher of the Pickett County Sunday and Monday editions was Baldwin em- Daniel Williams, Th e Paris Post-Intelligencer ...... District 1 Press, has been driven primarily by sharp increases phasized, “The Amanda Hill Bond, Pickett County Press...... District 2 appointed to in newsprint costs over the past Banner’s core Maria De Varenne, Th e Tennessean, Nashville ...... District 2 serve as a TPA two years,” Banner Publisher Ralph focus continues to Jack McNeely, Herald-Citizen, Cookeville ...... District 2 director of Baldwin said. “Our costs for news- be covering and Baldwin Carl Esposito, Th e Daily Times, Maryville ...... District 3 District Two by print rose 26 percent over the last serving our local Dale Gentry, Th e Standard Banner, Jeff erson City ...... District 3 TPA President 18 months, with seven increases.” community with Sara Jane Locke, Th e Herald-News, Dayton ...... District 3 Doug Horne. Her He added, “Over the last two your local newspaper, the Cleveland appointment was years, newsprint costs have soared Daily Banner.” TENNESSEE PRESS SERVICE effective March 38 percent with 10 increases. News- Cleveland Daily Banner Dave Gould, Main Street Media of Tennessee, Gallatin ...... President Bond 15, and the term print is our second-biggest expense Feb. 6, 2019 Jana Th omasson, Th e Mountain Press, Sevierville ...... Vice President expires at the behind payroll in publishing the Ralph C. Baldwin, Cleveland Daily Banner ...... Director conclusion of the 2020 Summer Banner.” David Critchlow Jr., Union City Daily Messenger ...... Director Convention. Bond was appointed to He stressed, “Readers will receive Standard website now W.R. (Ron) Fryar, Cannon Courier ...... Director fi ll the unexpired term of William all of the features they’re accustomed has video segment Mitchell, who retired at the end of to in the combined Sunday/Monday Michael Williams, Paris Post-Intelligencer ...... Director The Southern Standard, Mc- Carol Daniels ...... Executive Vice President March. paper. Subscribers will have full Staff reports access to our website, which will be Minnville, is seizing the power of technology and adding video TENNESSEE PRESS ASSOCIATION FOUNDATION March 15, 2019 updated with news and obituaries by 10 a.m. on Mondays.” segments to its website. Victor Parkins, Th e Milan Mirror-Exchange ...... President A regular feature called “The Mike Fishman Lakeway Publishers, Morristown ...... Vice President Banner combines In addition, weekday single-copy sales will increase to 75 cents daily Scoop” discusses main headlines Richard L. Hollow, Knoxville ...... General Counsel Sunday, Monday and gives readers a glimpse of Carol Daniels ...... Secretary-Treasurer and $1.50 on Sundays, beginning editions March 1. stories that will appear in the newspaper’s next edition. It goes CONTACT THE MANAGING EDITOR The Cleveland Daily Banner “We’ll continue to add new TPAers with suggestions, questions or comments about items in The began publishing a combined products for our readers and ad- online the day before the newspa- Tennessee Press are welcome to contact the managing editor. Call Mike Sunday/Monday print edition of the vertisers,” Baldwin said. This year, per is published. Towle, (615) 293-5771; send a note to 117 Township Court, newspaper on March 3. we’re planning on having our fi rst Standard reporter Atlanta Hendersonville, TN 37075, or email [email protected]. The deadline for Cleveland’s community newspa- community event for seniors. We’re the June issue is Tuesday, May 2. See NEWS Page 7 April 2019 • The Tennessee Press • Page 3

The readers are out there, waiting for you to engage them FOR YOUR CALENDAR I recently heard Jeff Sonder- bus video, government contracts, These additions comprise “good APRIL man speak about how readers accident reports, 911 calls, public news,” though they are way more interact with newspapers, both FROM THE notice bills and more. than that. The sections have not 15: TPA Foundation deadline for print and digital, and about how EXECUTIVE Thank you to everyone who only been successful, but they grant applications the American Press Institute has been making calls to your are also driving engagement and MAY (API) is doing research on new DIRECTOR local representatives on behalf of sponsors. One newspaper has publishing models and ways to your Tennessee Press Association; launched a series of events for 13-17: International News Media make journalism sustainable. CAROL DANIELS I’m sure there will be many more speakers. Association (INMA), World API conducts regular surveys call requests before the session All of our members regularly Congress of News Media, The about how consumers are fi nd- nization’s work and research is is over. And as I’ve mentioned publish stories about how their TimesCenter, , N.Y. ing and using media. The good available on the API website for before, you are invited to come communities are solving prob- JUNE news is that, according to the all media to use. and spend time with me during lems, but the idea of putting Institute’s research, 65 percent API focuses on four main session. Contact me to let me a focus on those stories and 13-16: 2019 Investigative of Americans interact with news areas of research: understanding know when you’d like to come, running them in a section gives Reporters & Editors (IRE) topics more than once a day, 59 audiences, growing reader reve- and let’s arrange it. you the chance to brand it, have percent reported they engage Conference, Marriott Marquis nue, accountability journalism, a place for it each day, and create several times a day. and supporting organizational Houston, Houston, Tex. Also, 90 percent say it is Driving reader sponsorships. You’ll fi nd the 19-23: 2019 International Society change and transformation. Their article at: https://www.poynter. important, or extremely im- research is available at www. engagement org/reporting-editing/2019/good- of Weekly Newspaper Editors portant, that they keep up with mediainsights.org. Conference, Emory University, news and information. And the Last month a coworker shared news-these-newspapers-added-a- engagement with news products an article with me that I think print-section-on-good-news/ Atlanta, Ga. is intentional, with 63 percent On the legislative front you should read. It was about 23-25: 2019 American Jewish of people reporting they actively The Tennessee General As- how some newspapers are adding Thank you, Press Association (AJPA) An- seek out news and information sembly session is well underway, a print section to their papers Carol nual Conference, St. Louis, Mo. versus 37 percent who tend to as seen in the fact that more (mostly on Sundays) that are “bump” into it. than 1,400 bills, including 400 focusing on solutions, stories and Carol Daniels is the executive 27-29: National Federation of Sonderman, API’s deputy “caption” bills, have been fi led. people making their communities director of the Tennessee Press Press Women Annual Con- executive director, said the orga- We are following bills on school or regions better. Association. vention, Baton Rouge Capitol Center, Baton Rouge, La. JULY TN Supreme Court expands protections for journalists 18-19: Tennessee Press Association Summer ice could no longer be used against ADAM TAMBURIN Read the court’s opinion at: www.tsc.state.tn.us/courts/supreme-court/opinions/ Convention, Chattanooga The Tennessean, Nashville journalists in defamation suits. 2019/03/13/glenn-r-funk-v-scripps-media-inc-et-al March 13, 2019 Court: Motive can’t be factor in 19: TPA Advertising/Circulation defamation cases defendants to disclose the informa- tion by the Supreme Court. Conference, Chattanooga The Tennessee Supreme Court In their unanimous ruling, the tion the source provided,” the court With that question settled, the 19: TN Newspaper Hall of Fame on Wednesday (March 13) expand- state’s high court said a reporter’s found. case returns to the trial court for Induction, Chattanooga ed protections for reporters facing motive could not be used as a Attorneys for Williams already continued consideration of the defamation claims while also factor in defamation cases, ruling have said their source was the overarching libel claim. SEPTEMBER ruling that reporters facing those the question of malice moot and deposition and court fi les in the Attorney Ron Harris, who is 9-10: ASNE-APME News Leader- claims could be ordered to identify broadening the state’s fair-report Chase case — “the trial court will representing Williams and the ship Conference, New Orleans their sources in court. privilege, which protects journal- have to determine whether these TV station, said his clients were The ruling came in an ongoing ists from libel claims. disclosures amount to a suffi cient pleased with the court’s ruling. Marriott, New Orleans, La. legal battle between Phil Williams, “The Supreme Court explained description of the source of infor- Attorney Jim Kay, who rep- OCTOBER WTVF NewsChannel 5’s chief in- that, so long as reports of offi cial mation,” the Supreme Court ruled. resents Funk, said Wednesday’s 3-5: 2019 National Newspaper vestigative reporter, and Nashville acts and proceedings are fair and The trial court initially ordered opinion was “the result that we Association’s 133rd Annual- District Attorney Glenn Funk. accurate, the fair report privilege Williams to hand over his inves- expected.” He said Funk’s legal Funk fi led a $200 million libel applies,” a media release from the tigative fi les. But the state appeals team would continue develop their Convention and Trade Show. suit against Williams in February court stated. court overturned that decision, case and push to set a trial on the The Pfi ster Hotel, Milwaukee, 2016, following two news stories However, the court did say jour- leading to the review of that ques- libel claim this year. Wis. about a deal Funk struck with nalists using the fair-report privi- 6-8: Southern Newspaper David Chase, a Nashville developer. lege to defend against defamation Williams reported on a deposition claims could be ordered to disclose Publishers Association (SNPA) in which Chase suggested that the source of their reporting in - Inland Annual Meeting, J.W. he believed he was being “black- court. Marriott Chicago, Chicago., Ill. mailed” by Funk during plea deal The court emphasized the NOVEMBER arrangements. distinction between identifying a Funk’s legal team wanted to see source and disclosing information Oct. 31 - Nov. 3: College Media Williams’ investigative fi les related from a source in its 20-page order. Association Fall National Col- to the story to determine if he acted “The exception to the shield law lege Media Convention 2019, in malice, or ill will, an element allows a court to compel disclosure Carol Daniels/TPA in conjunction with Associ- previously necessary for public of the source of a media defendant’s offi cials to win a libel case. information — how media defen- TPA Vice President Chris Vass and Sen. Todd Gardenhire pose for a ated Collegiate Press, Grand The court denied the request to dants know something; it does not photo on March 25. Vass spent the day visiting legislators with TPA Hyatt Washington, Washing- see those fi les and found that mal- authorize a court to compel media Executive Director Carol Daniels. All members are invited to do so. ton, D.C. Page 4 • The Tennessee Press • April 2019 Four words for ad professionals: ‘Oh yeah? Prove it.’ I once encountered a car dealer preferred place to buy a car. But When you’re writing an ad or weak. It’s more effective to say, who took advertising puffery unlike those old ads, these claims making a sales presentation, it “Here’s what our customers say to new levels. They publicized were on solid ground, because might help to imagine someone about us.” themselves as being No. 1 in every AD-LIBS® they were supported by evidence. sitting on the other side of the Just because we believe some- conceivable category. Their gener- The ads showed long-time custom- desk with arms crossed, saying, thing doesn’t make it believable al advertising theme was, “We’re ers holding up fi ngers to represent “Oh yeah? Prove it.” to others. There is power in proof. number one.” Their new car the number of cars they had pur- There are many forms of proof OHN OUST Make that imaginary skeptic on slogan was, “We’re number one in J F chased from the dealership. It was – statistics, photographs, and new cars.” Their used-car slogan an attention grabber – a simple testimonials, for example. Here’s the other side of the desk smile was, “We’re number one in used number one” is like saying “we’re and effective way to sell the deal- how evidence can help: and you’re on the right track. cars.” Their service department’s the best.” It’s just too common to ership’s longevity and reputation. “Our new widget is the best on slogan was, “We’re number one be taken as a serious deception. Unsubstantiated claims are lazy. the market” has no muscle. It’s (c) Copyright 2019 by John Foust. in service.” And of course, their The more important issue is in It takes practically no effort to better to say, “According to XYZ All rights reserved. logo featured their name inside a the fact that the ads had no credi- write a headline like, “We’re num- research, our widget has a 95 (c) Copyright 2019 by John number one. bility. There was no proof to back ber one” or “Best deals in town.” percent durability rating.” Foust. All rights reserved. John That approach must have up the claims. Consumers were On the other hand, it takes some “Our paper is better than any Foust has conducted training pro- never presented with any reasons simplifi ed their advertising creativity to come up with the other advertising option” is an grams for thousands of newspaper strategy meetings: “Let’s just tell to believe what the dealership was right kind of supportive evidence. empty statement. It’s better to advertising professionals. Many ad everybody we’re number one in saying. The work is worth the effort. write, “Let me tell you about the everything.” I thought of that old ad cam- While consumers ignore exagger- great results that Retailer X gained departments are using his training I’m no legal expert, but I sus- paign recently, when I saw a series ations and unsupported claims, from advertising in our paper. videos to save time and get quick pect that they could not have been of ads for another car dealership. they respond to relevant promises Their sales increased by 27 per- results from in-house training. prevented from using that exag- Like the old dealership, they and offers that are backed up by cent during the fi rst month.” E-mail for information: geration, because saying “we’re were marketing themselves as a evidence. “Our customers love us” is [email protected] KNS’s Satterfi eld wins Scripps Howard award for coal ash stories Institute for Media Studies in St. The Tennessean’s “Safekeep- impressed by the work submitted JIM GAINES The Tennessean also Petersburg, Florida. ers” investigation dealt with the this year.” Knoxville New Sentinel named award fi nalist March 6, 2019 “I love East Ten- practice of holding pre-trial defen- Satterfi eld will receive a $10,000 nessee. It’s where Satterfi eld, with more than 28 dants, including many teenagers, prize along with winners of other I met my late years’ experience covering law in solitary confi nement. In May, categories. The awards will be investi- husband, where we and crime, was named the winner then-Gov. Bill Haslam signed a presented April 18 in Cincinnati. gative journalist Jamie Satterfi eld’s raised a family and among fi nalists in the category bill establishing more oversight “Reporters like Jamie are why reporting on the aftermath of the where I continue to that included reporting from The and forbidding the holding of local journalism matters. She digs 2008 coal ash spill at Tennessee call home,” Satter- Tennessean in Nashville and the juvenile safekeepers in adult and doesn’t give up until she has Valley Authority’s Kingston Fossil fi eld said Tuesday. Charleston (South Carolina) Post prisons. the truth,” said Michael Anastasi, Plant was named the winner in the “I would serve this and Courier. Liz Carter, president and CEO of Satterfi eld vice president of news for USA community journalism category of community for free “We’re so proud of Jamie’s the Scripps Howard Foundation, TODAY NETWORK-Tennessee. the 66th Scripps Howard Awards. and without accolade in gratitude, relentless reporting on a topic of said in the announcement, “A “As a result, Tennesseans know The contest named three but I am honored and thankful for such vital interest to East Tennes- resounding theme from the judges fi nalists in each of 15 categories, this recognition. see and beyond,” said Joel Chris- this year was the collaboration the inside story about how the na- narrowed from 912 entries in one “Without strong local jour- topher, Knoxville News Sentinel across news organizations large tion’s largest public utility treated of journalism’s most prestigious nalism, folks like these work- executive editor. “Strong local and small to produce stories with workers in the aftermath of one of contests. Results were judged by ers would have no voice. It’s a journalism provides an irreplace- impact. the worst environmental disasters veteran journalists and media privilege to bring our readers their able safeguard for the health and “This perfectly captures the in the country.” industry leaders at the Poynter stories.” welfare of our communities.” spirit of the awards and we are TRACKS Lang-Peters is new nessee newspaper group, which For the past year she has provided papers Inc. (LCNI) for LCNI for all but eight months Roane County News GM includes the Roane County News, steady leadership in various func- has announced since 2001. LaFollette Press and the Morgan tional areas when the Tennessee that Johnny Lindsay said, “In 2018, Morgan Neva Lang-Pe- County News. papers were without a general “Goose” Lindsay County News showed the largest ters has been Lang-Peters has been with the manager. has been promot- gain in circulation of any LCNI named general Roane County News since 2011 Roane County News, Kingston ed to the role of newspaper nationwide. A big rea- manager of the and was hired as the circulation March 10, 2019 general manager son is we have people from the top Roane County manager before being promoted of Morgan County down that care about producing a News. Lang-Peters to business manager in 2016. News. quality product each week for our will also serve As business manager she Lindsay promoted to GM Lindsay has Lindsay readers.” as GM of Land- helped to consolidate the business served as editor Morgan County News, mark Community offi ces, circulation and HR func- at Morgan County News of Morgan County News since Wartburg Newspaper’s Ten- Lang-Peters tions for the three newspapers. Landmark Community News- November 2017 and has worked March 6, 2019 April 2019 • The Tennessee Press • Page 5 Visual impact will most likely generate high readership Do you want to grab the atten- but too many photos (especially if tion of your readers with your very BY they’re close to the same size as the fi rst page? lead element) will create a hodge- Of course you do! With every DESIGN podge on the page. issue, you want your front page to HORIZONTAL OR VERTICAL? have high readership. You want it Should your dominant art be hor- to be your best-read page. izontal . . . or vertical? In a word . ED HENNINGER You can get that strong reader- . . yes. ship by making sure the design of GIVE IT YOUR BEST SHOT: the front is compelling. And the hole, where it will be seen quickly. Select the best photo, edit and crop key to that compelling design is a No, it need not fall directly below it correctly, and then place it. If it’s strong visual element. the nameplate every time, but plac- a sports photo, OK. Put it on your The front page (and other pages, ing the lead visual over the optical front and refer to the story inside. like your sports front) requires a center (a bit above and left of actual Look for the photo that has the dominant visual that will draw center) works well for most fronts. strongest appeal. That’s your page readers into the page — and keep THE FOLD: It’s OK to place your 1 picture! them there. dominant art across the fold, but When it comes to the design of Some thoughts: try to keep most of it toward the your front page, strive for impact SIZE: Nothing creates impact top of the page. If some falls below by using a compelling visual. That like size. Make your lead photo (or the fold, that’s OK. approach is sure to create stronger chart, or graphic or illustration) the OTHER VISUALS: Make them readership. largest element on the page. How no larger than about half the size big? Think in terms of a quarter of of your lead art. That way, they ED HENNINGER is an indepen- the size of your news hole. “Wow, don’t fi ght the lead art for attention. dent newspaper consultant and the that’s big!” you might say. My How many other visuals on the Director of Henninger Consulting. response: “Yes . . . it is. And that’s page? I suggest no more than one Want a free evaluation of your why it has the impact we need.” or two other pieces. Head shots newspaper’s design? Just contact Ed: Illustration courtesy of Ed Henniger PLACEMENT: Position your lead here and there usually won’t draw [email protected] or visual near the top of your news attention from the lead element, 803-325-5252. The front page at left has high strong impact. At right . . . a hodgepodge. Collierville Herald celebrates 90 years of publishing

ECHO DAY to a town and medium of develop- expansion of an orchard, society Collierville Herald ment through advertising and in columns and news from the local March 1, 2019 the meantime a community booster. schools. “Howdy Folks” was the headline Cooperation will make it possible The paper’s original editor, Wal- of the fi rst column in Volume 1, for us to succeed in our undertak- ter H. Harris, had a sense of humor, Issue 1 of The Collierville Herald. It ing. We want to give Collierville telling his readers, “Now folks, you was published on March 1, 1929, 90 and Collierville’s trade territory the are going to fi nd mistakes in the years ago today. news – just the things that happen Herald – mistakes in spelling and “‘Collierville is to have a Weekly “around home. It is not our plan mistakes in English. There are two Newspaper’ has been heard on the to try to get out a Metropolitan reasons for this – one, we don’t streets and through other papers for newspaper but just a ‘good, Country know any better and the other is, if the past month – well folks ‘Here Weekly Newspaper.’” we did some big city paper would we are,’” it began. “After some ‘ups Other items featured in the eight- fi nd it out and Collierville would and downs’ we have the equipment page fi rst issue included stories of lose the best newspaper man she installed and are giving you here- successful business endeavors, the ever had.” with the fi rst issue of The Collier- ville Herald.” The column continued with its Tennessee Press Service reasons for choosing Collierville for Collierville Herald Archives/Morton Museum its publication. ”We chose Collier- The fi rst issue of The Collierville Herald was published 90 years ago on Advertising Placement ville, believing in its future growth March 1, 1929. and development … We believe in Snapshot the town and in the country around Collierville was once the trade The Herald began its publication ROP: Networks: it and come to you to offer our best center of the cotton industry in eight months before the stock mar- storylines in helping to bring about West Tennessee, according to the ket crashed and the Great Depres- February 2019 $85,603 $15,746 the development of resources.” Collierville Chamber of Commerce, sion began. Its fi rst column was full Year* as of Feb. 28 $218,507 $50,414 Back then the fl ag – which is until the boll weevil came in in the of hope for the future and its editor where the paper’s name is printed 1920s. It was during the Roaring and publisher wanted to be part of * The TPS Fiscal Year runs Dec. 1 through Nov. 30 on the front page – called Collier- Twenties that Collierville’s industrial the town’s prosperity. ville “the dairy town.” efforts became focused on dairy. “ A newspaper can be an asset Page 6 • The Tennessee Press • April 2019 Heavy rains, wind create havoc across Cocke County STAFF REPORTS Creeks and ditches overfl owed Following the heavy rains, The Newport Plain Talk their banks and into yards and which in some areas lasted until February 25, 2019 houses. Most of the more signif- early Sunday morning, Feb. 24, icant reports happened in the came strong winds. The winds Editor’s note: Much of Tennessee Parrottsville, Carson Springs and knocked down numerous trees, was hit with steady, heavy rains in Bybee areas, along with rising including one in Chestnut Hill, late February, putting newspapers creeks in Cosby. to the test in bringing readers com- which forced the closure and de- prehensive coverage even, in some Cosby Creek overfl owed its tour of traffi c on Highway 411. cases, while being signifi cantly af- banks and inundated portions of Newport Utilities reported that fected themselves by the rains and the Triple Creek Campground, its system experienced more than fl ood waters. Here is one such take, located just off of US Highway 3,000 outages this weekend. from The Newport Plain Talk. 321 and on Lower Bogard Road. “The heavy rains, followed by Mother Nature had her grasp Several streams and creeks also high winds, resulted in fallen or tightly around Cocke County over overfl owed their banks and onto leaning trees on the lines,” NU the weekend of Feb. 23-24. 321 and Middle Creek Road. Jones Electric Department manager Cove Road and Highway 73 were Curtis Williamson said via email As if the previous week’s Photo by David Popiel, The Newport Plain Talk sporadic rains weren’t enough, closed in portions as well. on Monday morning, Feb. 25. “Our rainfall began in earnest early Other reports saw high water on Cosby Creek roared through the Liberty Road community in Cocke system reached a peak outage Saturday morning, Feb. 23, and US Highway 25/70, across from CF County during the weekend just above Caney Creek Road during the count of 3,077 customers. continued for almost 12 hours Group, which had its parking lot height of the weekend rains on Feb. 22-24. “Since the blunt of the rain straight. Several locations reported submerged in places. The Cocke storm has passed, we continue to between two and three inches for County A&I Fairgrounds, which ing aftermath forced cancellation facing fl ooding issues. receive new outages due to fallen the 24-hour period of Saturday. is also the site of Cocke County’s of several local church services on Several buildings and business- trees. We thank everyone for The rainfall quickly caused hav- Fire Department and Emergency Sunday, as well as the decision to es in the downtown Newport area their patience as crews continue oc around the county, in addition Management Agency offi ce, was call off classes for Cocke Schools. also were impacted with fl ood to work diligently in all areas in- to the rockslide that closed I-40 in also under water in portions on The Cocke County EMA offi ce waters and runoff. The Newport volved. We also want to thank all North Carolina on Friday night, Saturday. reported on its Facebook page that Plain Talk’s ground fl oor had sev- road crews and law enforcement Feb. 22. The heavy rains and the fl ood- at one point 33 local roads were eral inches on the surface. for a job well done.” Day of destruction: Newspapers survive to chronicle hurricane’s historic blow SEAN IRELAND it made landfall, was one of the generosity of friends and other Pope’s wife’s car was also totaled informed about it all. That none Georgia Press Bulletin most powerful to ever hit the U.S. newspapers in Georgia, the News when a tree fell on it. here missed publishing a single November 2018 when it struck the Florida coast didn’t miss an issue. “Every employee had some- issue speaks to the dedication on the morning of Oct. 10. It was Neither did other newspapers thing that was damaged,” Pope of the people responsible for Editor’s note: The following sto- still blowing winds of more than that were directly in Michael’s said. “A tree on a house or a tree the work, in places like Donal- ry, which was originally published 100 miles per hour when it blast- path in Georgia, though like the on car. It’s the new normal to talk sonville, Bainbridge, Blakely, in the Georgia Press Bulletin and ed into Donalsonville and all of News, they suffered damages, about your damages when you Colquitt, Cairo and Camilla. is reprinted here by permission southwest Georgia later that day. went days without power or In- see someone. It’s amazing that we “My reporter here is fairly new, of the Georgia Press Association, Maxwell spent four hours hud- only had one fatality in Georgia. and he assumed we wouldn’t do a recounts the damage caused by ternet access and had employees dled with his dog in his bathroom dealing with their own personal When you see the destruction paper the week after [the storm],” Hurricane Michael in October 2018 said Sonja Stroyls, publisher of and how it affected the Donalson- listening as Michael battered losses. that happened — and even one away. He heard the roof of the In Bainbridge, as the storm death is too many — there could The Camilla Enterprise and the ville News, a newspaper based in Pelham Journal. “I said, ‘As long southwest Georgia. historic fi re department — locat- raged, Post-Searchlight edi- have been so much more loss of ed a block away — crash into the tor Powell Cobb waited in the life.” as I’m here, we’re going to get a Two-by-fours fl ying through the paper out.’ ” air like arrows. The roof of the newspaper’s offi ce below. hallway outside his downtown police station torn away, impal- apartment when collapsing brick Piles of debris were ing his car parked on the street. ‘I’ve never been so spires on the roof damaged the six feet deep In the bull’s eye The shards of glass from his scared in all my life’ building’s sprinkler system. The apartment’s front windows found lobby fl ooded, and for hours, the Recovery will be a long pro- With the wind ripping and fi re alarm wailed away. cess. The roofs of most buildings That type of resolve was pop- embedded in the back wall. ping up in southwest Georgia be- tearing at every structure, “it was Finally, at midnight, when the are blue because of the tarps Listen to David Maxwell fore Michael even made landfall. like downtown was screaming,” storm passed, with his building strapped across them. Maxwell describe how Hurricane Michael Compared with Hurricane he said. And then, for 30 min- declared unsafe, he went to the says most roads in Seminole slammed into downtown Donal- Florence earlier this year, there utes, as Michael’s eye wall passed newspaper’s offi ce and spent the County have six-foot piles of sonville, and you’ll shake your was little advance notice of the directly over town, “it was like a night in a sleeping bag on the debris alongside waiting to be head at the harrowing images in fast-moving storm, and forecasts fl oor. At 6:30 a.m., he got up and disbelief as chills crawl up and sunny day. It was so unnerving collected. Some schools were did not predict its strength until down your spine. because you still had the antici- went out to begin reporting on still out weeks after the storm the last hours before it hit. But the Maxwell rode out Hurricane pation of going through it again. the disaster. and some houses in more remote timing of a Wednesday afternoon Michael in his apartment over I’ve never been so scared in all In the days after, he stayed areas won’t get power restored for strike pushed Pope into moving the offi ce of the Donalsonville my life.” with friends before fi nding a weeks more. up the weekly printing schedule News, where he is editor of the Somehow, Maxwell survived. new place. His own car was But in all these places, newspa- weekly newspaper. The historic And thanks to a lot of hard, emo- destroyed by more falling brick. pers will be there to chronicle the storm, rated a Category 4 when tionally diffi cult work and the Post-Searchlight Publisher Mark cleanup and keep their residents See HURRICANE Page 7 April 2019 • The Tennessee Press • Page 7

HURRICANE from Page 6 sitting in the hallway.” Saturday the stress of the situation. But After the storm passed, edition they did it because it’s what at the Post-Searchlight, where residents were told they could printed at The newspapers do when tragedy most of the other weekly news- not stay in the building, so he comes. papers in the area — and some gathered a few things and headed Valdosta Daily “People sometimes don’t under- from and Florida — are for the newspaper offi ce to try Times stand that we have a job where printed. sleeping for a few hours before we’ve got to go out and report He wanted to make sure that all getting to work. While The what’s happening [no matter the of his other newspaper customers Post-Searchlight circumstances],” Pope said. “I’m were done and could be delivered Pressing forward was without pow- happy that we did what we did. We without being affected. “Our bus- er, its press could got the news out to the community, iest print days are Tuesday and Cobb got up at fi rst light on not run. Pope and I hope our staff never forgets Wednesday. On Monday, I started Thursday morning, grabbed a called Vince Cribb, what they’ve accomplished.” calling some of our customers camera and ventured out to take production manag- Cobb learned just three days and told them, ‘If you are going photos. “It was worse than what er at The Valdosta after the storm that he was going to print, get here on Tuesday, and I could ever have imagined,” Daily Times, who to have to move out of his apart- we’ll get you done,’ ” Pope said. he said. “We weren’t expecting Submitted photo offered to print ment. He stayed with friends for “As it turned out, we printed all anything close to what Hurri- Hurricane Michael blew a roof from another block the Saturday, Oct. several days, and now has a new day Tuesday until about 4 a.m. on cane Michael did. It was like into the front offi ce of the Donalsonville News, in 13, edition of the apartment. Being busy helped Wednesday.” something from a war zone. southwest Georgia. Editor David Maxwell exam- paper. Offers fl ood- during that time. After driving to Cairo with cop- You’re looking around and see- ined the damage the next day. ed in from other “I think it was almost comfort- ies of that week’s edition of The ing all these familiar spots just newspapers for ing to be able to do the job I have Messenger, Pope and Maxwell destroyed . . . It was unrecogniz- help with report- been doing everyday for the past met at a diner for coffee while able in most areas.” edition I don’t ever want to do ing, pagination, website updates fi ve years,” Cobb said. “I report the the Donalsonville News was For others, the day after the again,” he said. “Every single and printing. news and that day the news was being printed in the wee hours storm was spent mostly trying to thing I did was literally while Meanwhile, journalists like a hurricane that ripped apart the of Wednesday morning. “We sat cut a way out of neighborhoods I was crying. It was extremely Cobb and Maxwell were working town. It was a sense of duty. I think there less than 12 hours before it and roadways choked by downed emotional. It was like a war to get critical information about if you would ask a lot of our read- arrived,” Pope said. “Nobody still trees and other debris. Pope had zone.” relief and recovery efforts to their ers who were reading the news on was overly concerned. We knew to cut two trees out of the road It was days before power was residents. It was hot and humid their phones, it was a comforting it would be bad, but nothing like just to go 100 feet from his home. restored for most of the affected work, done with no power and no it was.” When he got to The newspapers. Generators were air conditioning, not to mention See HURRICANE Page 10 While his boss worked to get Post-Searchlight building, a the order of the day, but even other newspapers printed, Cobb power pole was laying on it, and with some power, networks were prepared for covering the storm’s it was missing its shingles. down, and connectivity was a from Page 2 aftermath for The Post-Search- It was like that other places problem. NEWS Scoop,’ it has received thousands light’s Saturday edition. The too. “It blew out our server and we of views. This tells us our readers paper publishes twice a week. At the Donalsonville News, still don’t have internet service,” Northcutt is the host of “The are interested in having a video Little did he know how directly the front of the offi ce had a hole said Terry Toole, publisher of the Scoop.” It’s a brief segment typi- component to their news cover- he would be affected by the hur- punched in it from the fi re station Miller County Liberal of Colquitt. cally a couple minutes long. age.” ricane. roof. The staff has had to move “Our power just started back on The plan is for the video seg- Southern Standard newspaper into the back of the building to Monday (Oct. 29). ments to broaden in scope and subscribers get a password that ‘It was like a train, but it work. “We’re doing it on a drive include other areas of coverage provides full website access at no At The Camilla Enterprise, the about the size of half a pack of such as sports. extra charge with their paid sub- didn’t go away for fi ve or roof of a neighboring building cards. This is the worst thing I’ve “With online analytics, we can scription. Online-only subscrip- six hours’ landed on the paper’s loading seen in my 83 years. We’ve got easily track what stories and vid- tions can also be purchased for dock. “Thursday, nobody worked. three [phone] lines, and only one eos are the most popular on our less than the charge of a printed The winds picked up in We couldn’t get here because works sometimes. Our internet, website,” said Standard Publisher newspaper subscription. Bainbridge about 3:30 p.m., he re- there were so many power lines we’re stealing from somebody Patricia Zechman. “In the weeks Southern Standard, McMinnville called. “People describe tornadoes down,” Stroyls said. “We all came else next door. If they didn’t have that we’ve been fi lming ‘The Feb. 6, 2019 as sounding like a train going in on Friday, and that’s when we it, we wouldn’t have gotten a by,” he said. “This was like that. started.” paper out the next three weeks. It was like a train, but it didn’t go But how do you start when We’re working three computers Save the dates! away for fi ve or six hours.” there’s no power and spotty com- off nothing.” The decorative brick spires puter communication with the Similarly, at The Enterprise, July 18-19 on the roof of his downtown outside world? Stroyls said the staff got out apartment building couldn’t Generators, for one. Borrowed its fi rst post-Michael edition take the constant pounding and internet from the kindness of running just two computers. It TPA Summer Convention began crashing down, either on neighbors for another. Using cell was put on a fl ash drive and then the cars parked on the street out phone hot spots to connect too. driven to where internet service • State Press Awards Luncheon, Thurs., July 18 front or on the top of the build- Driving out of town to fi nd sup- could be found so it could be sent • Reception at the Tennessee Aquarium, July 18 ing itself. plies, power and connectivity. to the printer. “We got it out with When one came through the None of it was easy. Maxwell no phone lines and no Internet,” • Advertising/Circulation Conference, July 19 roof of a neighbor’s apartment, — the only editorial staffer in she said. “I’ve been in the news- Cobb and others evacuated into Donalsonville — was report- paper business for 30 years, and • Hall of Fame Induction, July 19 the hallway. “We couldn’t leave, ing, photographing, writing and you just know that if you have to and the power was out and then designing the News. It was hot, get it done, you do what you have the fi re alarm started going off,” hard work, and it was complicat- to do to get it done. I would’ve he said. “It was eight hours of ed by the tears that were coming driven to Atlanta for internet Chattanooga, Tennessee listening to the fi re alarm ringing on a regular basis. “It was an service if I had to.” Page 8 • The Tennessee Press • April 2019 Make it a mantra: ‘Get one more source’ I think as journalists we can all and reports that state and federal already tackled your topic, feel free hood, leave business cards with agree that there is no such thing as agencies maintain online and then to re-interview their sources or, in “Please call me” scribbled on an “over-sourced” story. BETTER use those – even on daily stories a pinch, quote directly from their them in the door jams of potential Readers will never complain WRITING – to seek out a few relevant data fi ndings. Double check facts and witnesses who aren’t home. Get to that a reporter talked to too many points, facts or fi nancial fi gures fully attribute the material. know police and fi rst responders to people, read too many reports or WITH BART that will broaden the depth of your • Think beyond the obvious build trust so they’ll speak to you examined too many documents. piece, allow for historical context when seeking sources to call by when you need it most. A well-sourced article or feature or help prove a point. phone or interview in person. • Seek out expert sources. These ART FANKUCH story is easy to identify. Most, if B P • Scour the internet for studies Talk to your editor, colleagues and tend to fi t nicely in longer pieces not all, of the critical questions are or research papers related to your anyone who will lend an ear and on more complex topics, but there’s answered. The range of voices is make things better. Not all sources topic. This has never been easier. ask them what they want to know no harm in having a conversation wide. The piece has details, spe- need to be quoted in the piece, but Writing about wind farms, fl u about a story or who they would with an expert on breaking news cifi cs, numbers and examples that symptoms, pesticides, railroads, call if they were the reporter. Spend going deeper will always broaden or a daily story or in advance of a deepen understanding. cancer, beef processing, pipelines, fi ve quiet minutes just thinking meeting. Always review an expert’s your understanding of a topic. Readers feel complete after read- restaurant cleanliness, sidewalk about who would be great to inter- credentials and history to reduce Here are some tips and tactics to ing a highly-sourced article, and costs, weather patterns or the view for your piece, and then make the chance you encounter a zealot. quickly expand sourcing on quick- journalists gain a big advantage lifespan of a bridge? I bet you can a wish list. Spend a half hour more Again, university and government as reporters and writers if they go hit daily stories, deeper weekenders search online and quickly fi nd trying to reach one or two of those researchers are the best, though beyond the obvious or easy-to-get. and long-range projects. I urge all three reports or studies on any people. Even if your success rate thinktank analysts and industry Interviewing enough people and reporters to hustle, be thoughtful of those topics from reputable shooting for an extra primo source experts can sometimes fi ll the bill. examining enough documents and dive into their work as early as sources. Stay away from consumer is only 50 percent, your work will • Do this now: Take a sheet of allows for improved writing and possible so they have the idea, ener- or product sites and rely more on be better for it. paper, write “Get One More Source!” storytelling. A writer can be more gy and time to improve sourcing. government reports and university • On breaking news, always on it and tape it up in your cube or authoritative. A point can be made, • Use online public records studies. Search a bit longer to fi nd shoot for one more witness, by- above your computer. Then, follow expanded upon and extended into to strengthen your reporting. I one directly related to your topic. stander, emergency responder or your own good advice. deeper discussions in the piece. recently attended a seminar called Tidbits from those reports will add police offi cer. Feel free to interview With extensive sourcing, a story can “Quick-hit Investigations” by noted depth to your piece and credibility the talky person everyone else is Bart Pfankuch is an investigative go beyond explanation and branch investigative reporter Dee Hall at to your reporting. interviewing, but keep an eye out reporter for South Dakota News into “solutions journalism,” where the annual Wisconsin Newspaper • Do an online clip check to for the shy or hovering witness Watch, online at sdnewswatch.org. the writer reveals what has worked Association conference. The major see what others have written. If who often has more to tell but isn’t Write to him at bart.pfankuch@ elsewhere or examines options to takeaway: Learn about documents you fi nd other media outlets have seeking attention. In a neighbor- sdnewswatch.org.

took a part-time job in high school its longtime building in May, leav- single largest newspaper of the in 1972. As he talks, Dale preps a ing the old, worn behemoth to be year, so the work is reminiscent of giant paper roll for printing, and consumed by Gulch redevelopment. better days when print circulation has little time to stop and chat. A The newsroom will relocate down was bigger, page counts were high- deadline looms. the street to the upper fl oors of a er and press jobs felt forever secure. “If we print 200,000 of these, West End high-rise, but printing “You can’t just bring anyone in that’s 200,000 people who get to see was to be shifted to the Knoxville off the streets and expect them my work,” Dale adds. “What other News Sentinel and the (Louisville) to handle these machines,” said artist in Nashville can say that?” Courier-Journal, fellow James Parnell, a pressroom man- Newspapers have been printed newspapers. The Tennessean’s ager who has worked at The Ten- at 1100 Broadway since 1937, when presses will be scrapped for parts nessean for 36 years. “It’s a race a deal between The Tennessean and left to crumble when the build- against the clock every night. This and its then-competitor, the Nash- ing is demolished by a new owner. is a real craft, and it’s a shame it’s ville Banner, put both newspapers About 30 pressroom workers going away.” Photo by Larry McCormack, The Tennessean, Nashville in the same building. Presses ran will lose what for many is the only Wayne Dale installs a new roll of newsprint as the Tennessean pressmen day and night for decades, and job they have known. Many don’t CONVENTION from Page 1 print the Thanksgiving Day paper, Nov. 21, 2018. although the Banner went out of have enough savings to retire, so business in 1998, The Tennesse- they will seek new work in a new 1:30 p.m. Ad Idea Exchange an soon swelled to fi ll the empty industry. Some hope to stay in the TENNESSEAN from Page 1 TODAY, , Session The Leaf-Chronicle, The Hunts- space, with circulation rising to printing business — packages or 1:30 p.m. Circulation Idea printing more than a billion news- ville Times, The Columbia Daily about 300,000 copies on Sundays. advertisements or even beer cans Exchange Session papers over careers that will soon Herald and several other smaller Those were the boom times, — but not newspapers. 2:00 p.m. TPA Foundation Board come to a humble end. publications. which now feel like a distant “I’ve spent my whole life on dead- of Trustees Meeting But, for now, the work contin- The mantra here is clear: Print memory to the handful of press- line,” said Epling, forcing a smile 3:00 p.m. Ad/Circ sessions end ues as diligently as ever. Printing it fast and print it pretty. Journal- men who remain. Print circulation as fi nished papers are loaded into 5:00 p.m. Reception begins as the sun sets and runs ists might get all the bylines and has plummeted since the heyday trucks at the end of a shift. “Now it 6:00 p.m. Tennessee Newspaper until after midnight, then starts all the credit, the pressmen say, of the late ‘90s, and the pressroom is time to try something else.” Hall of Fame Induction again around dawn and ends at but nobody is going to read their has become a decreasingly essen- The pressroom’s fi nal deadline is Ceremony lunch. When the work is fi nally stories if the paper is late or ugly. tial cog in newspaper operations still weeks away, but the Thanks- done, three presses have printed “The way I see it, I’m an artist,” as more and more readers have giving paper was a melancholy Registration details will be avail- not only The Tennessean but said Wayne Dale, 62, who has shifted to digital products. milestone of the impending end. able by May 17. also The New York Times, USA worked in the pressroom since he The Tennessean will move from The Thanksgiving edition is the April 2019• The Tennessee Press • Page 9 U.S. Department of Labor proposed new overtime rule This writer and many others commissions) paid to employees many factors including: any changes to the proposed rule. predicted that the Department to satisfy up to 10 percent of the • How close the current salary It is currently estimated that a of Labor, under the leadership of LEGAL salary threshold. The proposed is to the new $35,308 fi gure fi nal rule will not take effect until Secretary Acosta, would publish a UPDATE new rule also modifi es the • How many hours per week the January 2020. new proposed rule in March 2019. “highly compensated employee” employee is currently working Employers should now conduct The new proposed rule would exemption, increasing the annual • Consideration of morale prob- an audit of these positions to increase the salary level threshold compensation threshold for that lems and reclassifying of current determine which positions will L. MICHAEL ZINSER that must be met in order to be exemption from $100,000 to exempt employee as non-exempt receive an increase in salary and overtime exempt under the Feder- $147,414. which will be converted to non-ex- al Fair Labor Standards Act. Signifi cantly, the proposed Timing of Decision empt. This is also a good time to The new proposed rule, rule does not call for automatic Increase salary conduct an audit of their duties to announced March 7, 2019, will annual adjustments to the salary Employers have lots of time to ensure that these individuals meet increase that threshold from threshold; does not create different or reclassify? plan and react. The announce- the duties test. $23,660 per year (or $455 per salary levels based on region of Under the proposed rule, if a cur- ment of the proposed rule is just I will continue to monitor devel- week) to $35,308 per year (or the country; and does not make rently salary-exempt person is not the fi rst step in a long process. As opments and provide updates. $679 per week). This new thresh- any changes to the duties tests. currently making $35,308 per year, I write this in early March, the old is far less than the threshold In addition to increasing the sal- it is decision time. The decision is rule is open for a 60-day comment L. Michael Zinser is president proposed by the Obama admin- ary threshold, the new proposed whether to increase the employee’s period. After receiving all of the of The Zinser Law Firm, P.C., in istration that was permanently rule would permit employers to salary to that level or to reclassify comments, the Department of Nashville, Tenn. He can be reached enjoined nationwide by a federal count nondiscretionary bonuses that individual as non-exempt. Labor will review them and deter- at 615.255.9700 and zinser@zinser- court in Texas. and incentive payments (including That decision will be based upon mine whether they want to make law.com. Existing on small ads is nothing new in our business PETER W. WAGNER That too, disappeared, and we still sources of local news. The local Everything promoted on that email him at pww@iowainforma- N’West Iowa Review survived. printed paper must continue to ex- poster could also be said, with a tion.com. The two monthly email February 1, 2019 We were thankful for them ist, and it can through persistence, bit of a twist in the wording, of the newsletters contain information when we had them, however, and creativity and a commitment from local paper. Our biggest failing as a completely different than found Smaller ads sold mostly to we survived. The truth is that our the local ownership. The secret publishing industry is we don’t tell in Wagner’s monthly Publisher’s locally-owned businesses are a publishing industry is changing in of such success is “Telling your our story strongly or often enough. Auxiliary column. Wagner can part of a community paper’s DNA. ways that is making it diffi cult to story!” For newspapers that means If we don’t blow our own horn, be contacted by emailing pww@ There weren’t any supermarkets, sustain and be profi table in both the both sharing all the important local who will? Michael Bugeja, author iowainformation.com or calling his department stores or automobile paid circulation and free distribu- news of the community from the of Interpersonal Divide in the Age cell at 712-348-3550. dealerships with the majority of tion publishing business. The same city chambers to the little league as of the Machine, recently wrote: midwestern newspapers back at is true of most other forms of local well as the advertising and market- “Don’t overlook newspapers. They the turn of the nineteenth century. business. But as long as papers have ing services the publication offers. are the lifeblood of the communi- I have a framed copy of the Jan. a commitment to providing solid No business has ever succeeded ty. Subscribe to your hometown 1, 1873 Sheldon Mail hanging local news and information to our in “saving itself out of fi nancial paper. Go farther and buy gift on the wall of my offi ce. What community, newspapers and shop- diffi cultly.” Most successful busi- subscriptions for your relatives and is most surprising is the largest pers alike will fi nd new opportu- ness leaders turn a diffi cult corner friends. Discuss the news face to display ad in the now 145-year-old nities to sell print advertising to an by increasing the material and face at the dinner table instead of publication is an ad that measures appreciative local market. service delivered. I was in Hawaii on Facebook. If you have children, The Tennessee Press one column by 3.5 inches. More recently and saw an interesting let them see you poring over the Association Foundation importantly, all the ads in that Communities still large red poster in many windows pages of the paper, pointing out gratefully acknowledges fi rst edition wouldn’t fi ll a half of a need a printed on one island. It read: Here is what stories about school, hobbies, and a contribution page today. you did by buying from us: upcoming events you might attend. When my wife and I put out product to fl ourish 1. You contributed your dollars If you want to get rid of fake news In memory of our fi rst publication, The Golden Communities now are a local to local economy. support your local newspaper. It Shopper, our largest ad was a supplier of professionally written 2. You celebrated the unique takes a village to save a local news- Betty half-page on the front page. Most and edited information. Study buying opportunities of our com- paper. But saving a village is worth Kennedy of the remaining pages were fi lled after study has concluded commu- munity. the price of a subscription. with 2 x 3, 2 x 5 and occasional nities need a printed publication 3. You helped create local em- quarter-page ads. The nationally to fl ourish. Without a competent ployment. Peter W. Wagner is founder and given in fond controlled fi rms all felt they had to local paper, communities suffer 4. You encouraged the building publisher of the award-winning remembrance by advertise in the much older, more the eventual loss of everything of a community. N’West Iowa REVIEW and 13 established newspaper. from main street retail synergy to 5. You kept important tax dol- additional publications. This free The Fishman Family We were thankful for those in-town grade and high schools to lars at home. monthly GET REAL newsletter is locally-purchased small ads, how- much needed sales and property 6. You benefi ted from our written exclusively for state and R. Jack & Nancy ever, and, somehow, we survived. tax revenues. expertise. national press associations and Jeff & Karen In the boom times before corpo- A study by the North Carolina 7. You invested in local enter- distributed by them to their mem- rate inserts, we regularly printed School of Media and Journalism prise. bers. To get Wagner’s free PAPER Mike & Angie four process color broadside pages found that more than 1,300 com- 8. You made this community DOLLARS email newsletter for pub- for our local Hy-Vee grocery store. munities have completely lost their and all it offers a destination. lishers, editors and sales managers, Page 10 • The Tennessee Press • April 2019

OBITUARIES

Tom Hill be inducted into the Georgia Press Association and the Finney). Mrs. Kennedy was a mem- Tom Hill, former publisher of The Journalism Hall of Fame. He also Atlanta Constitution during her ber of First Presbyterian Church for Oak Ridger, died March 23, 2019. served with the Tennessee Valley time in Georgia. more than 50 years. She also took A memorial will be held on May Corridor, a group promoting areas In the early 1950s, while at great pleasure in her friendships 11, 2019 at 3 p.m. with a reception of Kentucky, Tennessee, North home in Columbia, working for her with members of the Tennessee following until 6 p.m. at the Pollard Carolina, Alabama and father, lightning struck, and she Press Association. Publishers from Auditorium in Oak Ridge. as one of the premier science and began seeing a young assistant dis- across the state and their families His obituary will be included in technology regions in the nation. trict attorney who would become were among her friends dating the May edition of The Tennessee Submitted her husband and partner, Sam Delk back to childhood as she grew up Press. March 9, 2019 Kennedy. By his own description in the business. For more information please visit (and confi rmed by others), he met Survivors include her son, Sam www.weatherfordmortuary.com. Betty Finney “soliciting (advertis- Delk Kennedy, Jr. (Mary Susan Elizabeth “Betty” Finney ing) on the street.” Berry Kennedy) of Columbia; Ewell Herman Balltrip Kennedy “I called her John Finney’s secret daughter, Elizabeth Ridley Finney weapon because she could sell an Kennedy Blackstone (William ad to a man down to his last nick- Ewell Herman Balltrip of Somer- Mrs. Elizabeth Ridley “Betty” Submitted photo “Billy” Blackstone) of Columbia; set, Ky. entered into the Kingdom of Finney Kennedy, 89, died Tuesday, el,” Mr. Kennedy would joke. grandchildren, Samuel Delk Ken- Heaven on March 7, 2019, sur- March 5, 2019, at her residence, Elizabeth “Betty” Finney Kennedy John Finney’s secret weapon nedy, III (Rachel Vest Kennedy) of rounded by his family after a long Greenway Farm, in Columbia -- her and her husband of 64 years, Sam soon became Sam Kennedy’s the Kettle Mills Community, Mary battle with chronic illness. A native loving family in attendance. Kennedy. Sam passed away in secret weapon when the couple of Harlan, Ky., he was born May 27, Funeral services were to be 2018, Betty last month. married on November 6, 1954, Susan Berry Kennedy of Chicago, 1950 and was the conducted Friday, March 8, at and so began a 64-year adventure William Emory Blackstone, Jr., of only son of Beatrice First Presbyterian Church with Dr. the paper. highlighted by the births of their Columbia, John Finney Kennedy Meadors Balltrip Paul Bauer offi ciating. Following During World War II, Mr. Finney two children, Delk (Sam Jr.) in “Jack” Blackstone of Chicago, and Lloyd Balltrip. the service, friends and family was chairman of the Maury Coun- 1956 and Elizabeth Ridley Finney Elizabeth Ridley Hartwell “Eli- Balltrip’s career were invited to a celebration of ty Draft Board and later served as a Kennedy (II) in 1961, as well as za” Blackstone of Charlottesville, spanned almost 50 Mrs. Kennedy’s life at the Kenne- Marine liaison to the civilian popu- by leadership in The Columbia Virginia; and great grandchildren, years in commu- dy-Blackstone home, Greenway lation fi rst in South Bend, Indiana, Daily Herald until its sale in 1983, Margaret Berry Kennedy, Samuel nity journalism, Farm. A private family graveside and then in Nashville. While living and in the newspaper industry Delk Kennedy, IV, Anne Ridley public service, and service was to be held March in Nashville, when Mrs. Kennedy statewide. After the Herald sale, Greenfi eld Kennedy of the Kettle as the executive 9 at Wilkes Cemetery with the was 16 and attending Hillsboro the Kennedys owned fi ve week- Mills Community, sister-in-law, of a non-profi t Balltrip Reverend Father Chris Bowhay High School, they were heartbro- ly newspapers in Mt. Pleasant, Frances Kennedy Logsdon of organization. As offi ciating. ken to learn of the loss of her only Parsons, Linden, Waverly, and Columbia; and beloved fi rst cousin, a journalist, he advanced from Mrs. (Sam D.) Finney Kenne- sibling, Jack Finney, fi ghting in Lawrenceburg over a period of Granville Sumner Ridley Bouldin a summer intern position at his dy was born August 14, 1929, in France. The family returned to years. of Murfreesboro. hometown newspaper, The Harlan Columbia to John Wesley Finney Columbia after the war, and Mrs. Mrs. Kennedy’s local interests In addition to her parents, she Daily Enterprise, to become its and Elizabeth Read Ridley Finney Kennedy graduated from Central included long-time support of the was preceded in death by her hus- publisher. He continued to serve (formerly of Murfreesboro). Mr. High School in the Class of 1947. Maury County Public Library, the band, Sam Delk Kennedy, on May as a publisher with the New York Finney was publisher of The Co- Agnes Scott College in Atlanta James K. Polk Memorial Associa- 1, 2018, and her older brother, John Times Company in Middlesboro, lumbia Daily Herald and an offi cer was next for Mrs. Kennedy, as well tion, and Columbia State Commu- William Finney. Ky. and Dyersburg, Tenn. in the Marine Corps. Mrs. Finney as journalism classes at Emory nity College (where the library is By Elizabeth Kennedy Blackstone On March 25, Balltrip was to worked along with her husband at University. She worked for the named after her father, John W. March 7, 2019

HURRICANE from Page 7 power, people made sure to keep work. Several area publishers cations. Most structures have blue up with the news. The Post-Search- worked with helpful elected repre- tarps to protect damaged roofs, and thing knowing that their newspa- light recorded nearly 40,000 more sentatives to get power restored to it will take months, even years, for per had boots on the ground. page views in October than previ- The Post-Searchlight as quickly as repair work to be completed. “We were fi nding out things ous months. People rely on their possible to get running For southwest Georgia, Hurri- The Tennessee Press like, ‘How soon is the Salvation newspapers to provide information again. cane Michael will be a touchstone Army and Red Cross going to be in times of crisis. As hard as they worked to keep event, with generations referring Association Foundation getting here? Where can you stay Maxwell said Seminole County information fl owing, the work of to times as “Before the Storm,” and gratefully acknowledges if your house has a tree in the residents have told him that the recovering won’t be any easier for “After the Storm.” Pope worries a contribution roof?’ We want to get it out there News was their only source for these newspapers or their commu- whether Bainbridge will ever fully so someone can use it. It was a information. Though he often nities. recover and how long it might In memory of sense of duty — that’s what we wondered whether he could get There are estimates from the take. had to do. No one else could share through it, he persevered because Georgia Dept. of Agriculture of a One thing he knows. He won’t Sam & Betty that information with such a wide he knew they were relying on the $600 million loss in cotton, $480 stay for the next storm. “My wife Kennedy audience.” newspaper. million in produce and $560 mil- had mentioned the day of the Others in these communities lion in pecans. The Georgia For- storm, ‘Why don’t we leave?’ I People kept abreast recognized the importance of estry Commission reports 79,000 thought, ‘It won’t be that bad, and given in fond newspapers too. In Bainbridge, acres of forest are a complete loss. if something happens, we need to remembrance by of the news the local hospital gave Cobb and Schools were closed for weeks be here.’ But not anymore. In the other Post-Searchlight journalists after the storm. In Seminole future, we leave in a heartbeat. It Tony Kessler As challenging as it may have a storage area to use to charge County, it took until November for was as scary as anything I’ve ever been with spotty delivery and no phones and computers and to schools to open in temporary lo- been through.” April 2019 • The Tennessee Press • Page 11

LAWSUIT from Page 12 discuss the parents’ concerns, the because he had been seen drinking and in opposition to the way allega- wouldn’t be prosecuting Anderson. complaint stated. wine in the presence of students tions made against him had been Douglas B. Janney III, said the vic- On April 30, Anderson was while on a trip to Paris, France. handled by city school offi cials. No police charges tory Monday was the result of “Mr. then terminated from his position The suit outlined that two other Among the more than 16 teachers, Anderson fi nally being able to have after Marczak told him the school teachers who drank wine on the residents and students speaking in In a letter to the city’s then-Police his day in court.” district received reports that he trips were not disciplined. The suit support of Anderson at the May 26, Chief James T. “Jim” Akagi, DA Janney is a Nashville-based had inappropriate contact with a states the trip wasn’t a school func- 2015, school board meeting were Clark said the complaints against labor and employment lawyer who student 12 years prior. tion so “all applicable local laws former BOE member and retired Anderson were “legally too old to focuses on workplace discrimina- were followed, and only students teacher Dan DiGregorio, as well as prosecute” with the exception of tion, wrongful termination and retired math teacher Benita Albert. complaints made by one woman — harassment situations. He added DiGregorio said Anderson was which was described as a “he said, that the jury dropped a charge “leaving, basically, without a curso- she said” situation without physical of age discrimination, and while ry nod and I don’t think we should evidence. the lawsuit originally aimed to treat people that way — especially In response to several questions reinstate Anderson to his teaching when we say teachers are our most asked of Borchers by The Oak position, there was no word yet on important asset.” Ridgerat the time, the superinten- if that will occur. In a prepared note, Albert dent stated (in part): “As I think Meanwhile, Johnathan Taylor, referred to a May 13, 2015, state- you know, the Oak Ridge Schools the attorney for the defendants, ment given to the public in which takes any and all allegations of including the Oak Ridge Schools the board of education referred to misconduct very seriously. We are Board of Education and Marczak, a “process” for investigating the dedicated to protecting our students said neither he nor the defendants allegations against Anderson. and creating a safe and productive in the case were making any public learning environment for our entire statements at this time — including Find another job school community. whether or not they will appeal the “Your questions request com- verdict. According to the lawsuit, in the ments on specifi c knowledge we Taylor also said his team has not Photo by Mike Christen, The Daily Herald, Columbia weeks that followed Anderson’s ter- possess related to the incidents yet had an opportunity to investi- mination various Oak Ridge school described and referenced in the gate the relevant issues that might Chris Marczak (far right, pictured in 2016), superintendent of Maury board members went to Borchers Oak Ridge Police Department’s lead to an appeal. County Public Schools, has been ordered by a federal court jury to pay individually and advised the su- reports. While the police depart- Anderson retired from Oak Ridge $540,000 as part of a lawsuit brought by a former teacher/coach. perintendent that Marczak should ment’s investigation of our former Schools during the second quarter be discharged or replaced. The teacher has concluded, the Oak of 2015 amid a series of allegations, Told to leave in handcuff s lawsuit also claims that Borchers Ridge Schools’ effort to investigate , a sister publication with a notarized parental permis- advised Marczak in the late spring and fully evaluate its personnel’s re- of the The Daily Herald, originally The complaint described how sion slip were permitted to drink or summer of 2015 that he needed sponse to this matter is ongoing, in reported. Marczak told Anderson he would wine”. to attempt to locate another position part using the very same informa- The lawsuit indicated that prima- receive a call from the police, and Anderson was also accused of with another school system as soon tion gathered at our request by the ry complaints against Anderson, a that he should stay at home because holding onto a lockbox with money as possible. Oak Ridge Police. Once the school 38-year teacher at Oak Ridge High “you will probably be arrested the booster club raised selling Before unanimously voting to system’s investigation is completed, School, were related to the sleeping today.” concessions, but Anderson said he offer Marczak a position at the appropriate corrective action will be arrangements of a high school track “Marczak concluded by stating, was following the school district’s end of July 2015, the MCPS school taken if indicated.” team trip to Columbia, S.C., in April ’Have a nice day,” the complaint guidance because he was told not to board ranked Marczak as a 97 out When contacted for comment, 2015 that had upset parents. said. contact any of the boosters, follow- of a possible 100 during a prelim- Oak Ridge Board of Education The exact details of these ar- Anderson was then escorted out inary video interview. Nine out of Chairperson Keys Fillauer said rangements were not disclosed by of the building by a school resource 11 board members chose him as he had no comment and that he’d the complaint. offi cer who was requested by Showcase Submissions their top candidate, Board member allow Borchers to respond to The According to the fi led complaint, Marczak to put handcuffs on An- Wayne Lindsey said. Blue Valley, Oak Ridger’s questions. Anderson was called into a meeting derson, according to the complaint. TPA members are encouraged Kansas, School District School Anderson was called for com- with the former principal at Oak The lawsuit states the offi cer did to submit stories to be featured Administration Executive Director ment in August 2015 in regard to Ridge High School, David Bryant, not comply as Anderson was not in this monthly Showcase William “Tony” Lake was ranked the DA choosing not to prosecute, on April 13, 2015, which was initi- under arrest. “Marczak did this for space. Share your best work for second with a score of 53. he told The Oak Ridger he had ated and led by Marczak. no reason other than to embarrass, other TPA publishers, editors He offi cially signed a fi ve-year been advised by his attorney at the The suit claimed the meeting was humiliate and shame Mr. Ander- and reporters to see. Each sub- contract in August 2015, with an time to send such requests to him. to discuss allegations from the the son,” the lawsuit states. mitted story should include at annual salary of $175,000, later However, Anderson’s attorney at the school trip out of state. During the The lawsuit states that Marczak least one photo and cutline as increased to $180,000. time didn’t return The Oak Ridger’s meeting, Anderson was suspended or someone acting at his direc- well as an editor’s introduction. In mid-September 2015, The Oak phone call. from all of his track and fi eld duties. tion contacted local news sources Send submissions to editor@ Ridger reported that according to Anderson’s lawsuit asked for “We will see how this might notifying them of Anderson’s ter- tnpress.com. two investigative reports from the compensation for damages includ- affect your teaching position” and, mination and made false, mislead- Oak Ridge Police Department — ing front and back pay, emotional “When I fi nd you negligent, I will ing, incomplete and disparaging ing his termination. obtained through an open-records suffering, punitive damages, attor- fi re you,” Marczak told Anderson statements about the former teacher In the latter part of May 2015, request — both an Oak Ridge High ney’s fees and the cost of litigation during the meeting, the complaint to “place him in a false light before supporters of Anderson, who also School vice principal and the school to include expert fees, damages for said. the public.” served as chair of the Oak Ridge system’s director of student services humiliation and embarrassment, Anderson was told that he would In July, Anderson then fi led his High School’s science department, were made aware of allegations damages for outrageous conduct be suspended through May 11 and retirement from the school district came out in force to an Oak Ridge against Anderson but never report- and malicious harassment and all that he would only be allowed to with the belief he had no other Board of Education meeting, The ed them to the proper authorities. other remedies and injunctions as continue as an assistant coach until choice, the complaint stated. Oak Ridger reported. Prior to that revelation, the publica- are necessary and proper to elimi- the end of the 2015 season. He was The complaint also claimed An- For more than an hour, individ- tion said Anderson County District nated discriminatory practices. advised to hold a parent meeting to derson was discriminated against uals spoke in support of Anderson Attorney General David Clark Page 12 • The Tennessee Press • April 2019

TPA MEMBER COVERAGE SHOWCASE I: The Mirror-Exchange, Milan Driver and kids escape from car in fl oodwater sinkhole STEVE SHORT “Before I had chance to back up, “Sheriff Thomas said the creek The Mirror-Exchange, Milan my front wheels all of the sudden was overfl owing, and culverts February 25, 2019 dropped into the ground,” she said. were overfl owing, and it had been Mirror-Exchange editor’s note: “It didn’t seem that far down, so I raining so much, water was going Images and video taken at the scene put it in reverse to try and back it under that part of the road, and it had been slowly deteriorating,” of this incident were posted on the up. Within a second, I knew that wasn’t going to happen. I realized said Ms. Hufstedler. Mirror-Exchange Facebook page Feb. it wasn’t going to move.” “When we were sitting in his 23 and attracted national news at- “I’m just one of those people... car, we saw parts of the road fall tention, with weather.com and Good I’m always thinking, ‘What would off into the hole,” she added. “We Morning America, including the I do if a situation happened?’” she never saw how big it was. We story and images. Ms. Hufstedler did said. “But I didn’t think about a didn’t know.” an interview with Good Morning sinkhole.” Sheriff Dept. deputies and America Sunday, Feb. 24. “My windows were still work- responders arrived at the scene to Driving in the rain on a down- ing, so I rolled down the window,” divert traffi c. A wrecker crew was ward sloping hill on Otha Holt Rd. she added. “The pavement was able to attach a cable to the partial- in rural Gibson Co., Dinah Hufst- halfway up the windows at that ly submerged car and pull it back edler stepped on the brakes of her point. I told Brady he was going to Photo by Steve Short, The Mirror-Exchange, Milan onto the road. Volkswagen Jetta. Up ahead was have to climb through the passen- Hufstedler later called Brady’s a lake of water. Floodwater fl owed ger side window. It was muddy on Torrential rains in late February caused this sinkhole (on Otha Holt Road in parents, Mike and Roberta (“Boo”) from a nearby fi eld, pouring left to the driver side but solid pavement rural Gibson County), to open underneath the vehicle of Dinah Hufstedler Sellers, who were in Israel. right across the country road. on the passenger side.” while she and her two grandchildren were inside. Everyone escaped. “(Dinah) was amazing,” Ms. Rainfall over several days and “Brady climbed out of the pas- Sellers said in a message. “She nights had fl ooded low-lying fi elds. senger window, and I reached back “Within a minute or less after want them to be afraid of something shared with us how Brady respond- Creeks and drainage ditches in the to unhook Keegan from his booster I got out of the car, the car sunk the rest of their lives.” ed and helped her and Keegan. We area were swollen and overfl owing seat. I knew we didn’t have much down and was standing straight up “I told them, ‘The nice thing got to talk to Brady later that night. their banks. time. I was pulling Keegan from with the ground all the way to the about this, is that one day in the He sent my husband something In the car with Dinah were her the back to the front. back windows,” she said. “Only half future this could happen to you, that he wrote about it. We are so seven-year-old grandson, Keegan His foot was stuck for a minute, very thankful that he was with her the car was showing above ground.” and you’ll know how to save Lanciloti, buckled in a booster seat and he said, ‘I can’t get out.’ I told when this happened.” Fast-fl owing water fi lled the somebody’s life.’ I told them to go in the back, and 10-year-old Brady Brady he was going to have to pull Sheriff Thomas said he believed to school and tell people how Jesus Sellers, the son of friends who were Keegan out of the window, as I sinkhole and fl ooded into an ad- the sinkhole was caused by the on a trip overseas. helped push him out. When he got joining fi eld. saved your life.” fl ooding, and he expected the road “We saw all this water,” Dinah out of the car he started crying, Brady started talking about how Gibson Co. Sheriff Paul Thomas would be closed indefi nitely. recalled. “I was thinking how deep and I knew he was thinking about God had saved them, Hufstedler was in the area to check on fl ood- “I’m alive and well,” Ms. it looked, and that it was running his mother. said. “I was trying to think of posi- ing. He arrived in his vehicle on the Hufstedler said, refl ecting on the really fast. It looked too dangerous “As soon as the boys were safe, I tive things to say. I told them, ‘Every far side of the high water and waded misadventure. “My only fear was to go through. I didn’t come near climbed out of the car myself,” she time God does something, he does through to help Hufstedler and when the car fi rst sank. I was not the water. We stopped at least fi ve added. “I got them a safe distance it for a reason. We have to learn to the boys. He helped carry the boys expecting that. But all three of us car lengths from it.” away from the car and called 911.” see things through his eyes.’ I didn’t across the fl ooded road to his car. got out without even a scratch.”

TPA MEMBER COVERAGE SHOWCASE II: The Daily Herald, Columbia Former faculty member wins $1.7M lawsuit against Oak Ridge Schools MIKE CHRISTEN John Edward Anderson, now in superintendent since 2013, along because of age, in violation of the stating that Mr. Anderson was The Daily Herald, Columbia his mid-to-late 60s, was a former with then and current Schools ADEA (The Age Discrimination in ‘going to go to prison’ as a result of March 20, 2019 track coach and chemistry teacher. Superintendent Bruce Borchers. Employment Act of 1967) and the the allegations, despite his never Editor’s note: Darrell Richardson He sued the East Tennessee public The federal court jury ordered THRA (Tennessee Human Rights having been charged or convicted and Ben Pounds, The Oak Ridger, school district and its head admin- Marczak to award the former Act),” the complaint states. of any offense.” istrators for wrongful termination, educator $540,000 in damages, Anderson was 62 at the time of also contributed to this story. breach of contract, defamation, lack Borchers to award $515,000 along his termination with the school A former teacher and coach with Marczak: A lot more of due process and a “false light” with $660,097 from the school dis- district. Oak Ridge Schools was award- invasion of his privacy stemming trict for a total of $1,715,097. Both “Defendants Borchers and to this ed $1.7 million by a jury in U.S. from a series of incidents dating likely have insurance policies from Marczak published false statements Marczak said he will release a District Court in March, ending a back to April 2015, four months their work with the school district of fact about Mr. Anderson to third formal statement in the coming week-long trial that named Maury before Marczak signed his contract that would pay the damages, if not parties and the public including days, but he did speak briefl y with County Public Schools Superinten- with MCPS to serve as its new appealed. other Oak Ridge Schools admin- The Daily Herald. “There is a lot dent Chris Marczak in the lawsuit. superintendent. “Oak Ridge Schools subjected istrators, School Board members, more to this than just the surface,” The civil case also provided rea- The lawsuit fi led in federal court Mr. Anderson to a hostile work faculty, staff, third parties and Marczak said. soning as to why the administrator named Oak Ridge Schools and spe- environment and discriminated the news media, including false Anderson’s attorney in the case, pursued a position with Maury cifi cally listed Marczak, who had against him in the terms, condi- allegations of serious criminal County Schools. served as the district’s assistant tions and privileges of employment misconduct and repeatedly falsely See LAWSUIT Page 11