Volume 84 March 2021 No. 9 Tennessee trying to ‘ramp up’ COVID-19 vaccinations INSIDE HANK HAYES along the way from federal to state Walmart, Sam’s Club, CVS and that will increase,” Sexton said. Richardson: Community Kingsport Times-News trying to get the people the shots.” Walgreen’s pharmacies have begun “The bigger problem is it’s not February 16, 2021 The legislature, Sexton noted, administering COVID-19 vaccines just one shot, it’s two shots. The papers remain resilient will continue to work with Gov. by appointment and subject to Tennessee’s COVID-19 vaccine second shot does add some logistics Page 2 Bill Lee and Tennessee Health vaccine availability. rollout was the centerpiece of problems.” Commissioner Lisa Piercey to “You have about 60 independent a Zoom discussion on Monday, The Tennessee Education Associ- Daniels: State budget make sure they get what they need pharmacies across the state who Feb. 15, between Tennessee Press to advance the vaccine rollout. can give it right now and hopefully See Page 2 needs transparency Association (TPA) members, House ZOOM Page 3 Speaker Cameron Sexton and Lt. Gov. Randy McNally. News & Moves The Zoom discussion served as a Page 3 substitute for an event that usually Obituaries is conducted as part of the annual TPA Winter Convention, which Page 4 was canceled this year because of Showcases: ‘American the COVID-19 pandemic. “I think this is the first time Top, left to right: TN House Speaker Cameron Sexton, R-Crossville; TN Lt. Gov. Randy McNally, R-Oak Ridge; Pickers’ in TN; Sayrah we’ve had any kind of mass and Sandra Long Weaver, The Tennessee Tribune, Nashville participated in the Feb. 15 Zoom discussion in Barn is big event venue; vaccination in our state,” Sexton, which Sexton and McNally discussed State Assembly matters with TPA members. Sun press retrospective R-Crossville, said. “We are trying to ramp that up. It does cause a little Pages 6-7, 12 bit of a problem. I would say the other problem we have as a state is Obituaries we don’t know until 48 to 72 hours Page 9 how many vaccinations we’re going Pumarlo: Seek reader to get for that period of time. “Sometimes the department (of feedback, good or bad health) has not been able to get the Page 10 amount they were promised, either. Above, left to right: TPA President Daniel Richardson, Carroll County News Leader; TPA Government Affairs I think there has been hiccups all Committee Co-Chair Alison Geber, Chattanooga Times Free Press; and Director Sara Jane Locke, The Her- Gould: TPS update shows ald-News, Dayton, during the Feb. 18 TPA Board of Directors Meeting and TPA Business Session via Zoom. $1.6M ad revenues Page 11 Bills would allow more governing bodies to meet electronically outside of Open Meetings Act rules Permission for governing bodies lation is being proposed by two Local Government Committee. to meet electronically during the TN COALITION Knoxville lawmakers — Sen. Rich- Both men’s political careers have COVID-19 epidemic has whet ard Briggs and Rep. Dave Wright. included seats on the Knox County the appetite of some government FOR OPEN The bills as filed would apply to Commission. officials to change the law perma- county commissions in the state. The language in the county nently. GOVERNMEnt The caption on the bill, however, commission bill (SB 301 and Multiple bills have been filed is broad enough that it could be DEBORAH FISHER HB327) is almost identical to an that would give various types of expanded to cover all types of local existing statute that allows school governing bodies more exceptions governing bodies, such as boards of board members to participate in a to meet electronically — either Only one of the bills requires aldermen, city commissions, metro meeting electronically as long as a allowing an entire governing body that meetings held electronically councils, public utility boards and quorum of the board is meeting at to meet by conference call or video offer equivalent electronic access other types of boards governing a physical location open to the pub- conference or allowing certain to the public, but it’s still early in special districts. lic. The school board exemption is members of a governing body to the session and amendments could Briggs is the new chairman of in T.C.A. § 49-2-203 (c )(1)(A). patch into a physical meeting by alter that. the Senate State and Local Com- phone or video. The most wide-reaching legis- mittee. Wright is vice-chair of the See FISHER Page 4 Page 2 • The Tennessee Press • March 2021 Community newspapers remain resilient Where will our communities be Sensational national politics getting their news 20 years from YOUR and mainstream media can tem- (USPS 616-460) now? This question, in one form porarily distract people from local Published monthly by the or another, has been around for a PRESIDIng news in favor of more entertain- long time. If you would have asked EPORTER ing, more sensational national TENNESSEE PRESS ASSOCIATION, INC. the question to many people in R drama. This provides challenges 412 N. Cedar Bluff Road, Suite 403 2001, you would have gotten (and DANIEL RICHARDSON for those of us who are offering Knoxville, Tennessee 37923 researchers did get) a lot of people up local news that is much more Telephone (865) 584-5761/Fax (865) 558-8687/www.tnpress.com saying print would be dead, and likely to impact our readers’ lives everyone will live online and get time at home, etc. than who is in the White House Subscriptions: $12 annually their news online. But still, here we are printing and whether they’re building a Periodicals Postage Paid At Knoxville, TN Here we are in 2021. The world local news in newspapers and wall or tearing it down. is a LOT different than it was in selling them to people who believe But eventually, the roller-coast- POSTMASTER: Send address changes to The Tennessee Press, 2001. Social media has taken over the contents and the medium are er ride levels out, and people are 412 N. Cedar Bluff Road, Suite 403, Knoxville, TN 37923 the Internet. Smartphones made worth more than what they have left to notice that what they really most recreational home comput- to pay to get it. Sure, we put the need to know is what is happen- The Tennessee Press is printed by The Standard Banner in Jefferson City, Tenn. ers obsolete or not worth booting news online, too. But readers are ing around them. The actions of up. Millions of Americans are more willing to pay for a hard copy their local elected officials. Their Carol Daniels ..................................................................................................................................... Editor cancelling traditional TV service of the paper, and local advertisers local tax rates, crime rates, and Mike Towle .................................................................................................................. Managing Editor plans and opting for more custom- are, in most cases, willing to pay unemployment rates. In most Robyn Gentile .......................................................................................... Production Coordinator er-focused, on-demand streaming much more per impression for cases this is information that they services. And hard-copy movie advertising space in that newspa- can only get from their local news- rental establishments have all but per. And even online, newspaper paper. CNN and FOX are never The Tennessee Press vanished. websites that cover local news are going to cover their local news. is printed on recycled paper Going into the grocery store (or, able to pull double or triple the The area mid-market TV news and is recyclable. in many places, even driving to revenue per thousand impressions station might drop in when some- the store) has become optional. than other websites are. thing really exciting happens, but TENNESSEE PRESS ASSOCIATION The traditional taxi service has Why is this? I believe there are they don’t give local news week in Daniel Richardson, Carroll County News Leader, Huntingdon .................................... President and week out. And the local radio been turned completely up- mainly two reasons that local Rick Thomason, Kingsport Times-News, Johnson City Press .............................. Vice President station? Ninety percent of the time side-down by ride-hailing services newspapers have proved resilient Jack McNeely, Herald-Citizen, Cookeville .................................................................. Vice President the “news” they’re piping in is such as Uber and Lyft. Senior over other businesses. Have we Joseph Hurd, The Courier, Savannah .................................................................................... Secretary from a satellite service broadcast- citizens have mastered virtual struggled? Of course. Are we as big Eric Barnes, The Daily News, Memphis .................................................................................Treasurer ing the same blurb nationwide. doctor visits and video-chat with as we were 20 or 30 years ago? Not Chris Vass, Chattanooga Times Free Press ............................................Immediate Past President their doctor from home. So, local news is something that in most cases. But compare that to people want, need and are willing Carol Daniels .................................................................................................................Executive Director The Covid-19 pandemic has the industries that have essential- to pay for if they can get it in a de- thrust the world into the future in DIRECTORS