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 ly disappeared, and you have to cent package that is easy to digest. many ways, including the surge Scott Critchlow, Union City Daily Messenger ...... District 1 recognize that we still represent a in telecommuting and virtual service that is in demand. Calvin Anderson, New Tri-State Defender of Memphis...... District 1 meetings. Work from home is here Reason No. 2: Daniel Williams, The Paris Post-Intelligencer ...... District 1 to stay, and the entire economy is Tangibility Matters Maria De Varenne, The Tennessean, Nashville ...... District 2 trying to adjust to the new reality Reason No. 1: Dave Gould, Main Street Media of Tennessee, Gallatin...... District 2 of less travel, less driving, more Local News Matters See RICHARDSON Page 8 Brian Blackley, Tullahoma News...... District 2 Paul Mauney, The Greeneville Sun...... District 3 Dale Gentry, The Standard Banner, Jefferson City...... District 3 ZOOM from Page 1 Sara Jane Locke, The Herald-News, Dayton ...... District 3 ation has expressed concern about TENNESSEE PRESS SERVICE teachers not getting vaccinated and Dave Gould, Main Street Media of Tennessee, Gallatin ...... President spending their own money to buy Jana Thomasson, The Mountain Press, Sevierville ...... Vice President disinfectants and protective masks. Mike Fishman, Lakeway Publishers, Morristown...... Director Still, McNally stressed that despite David Critchlow Jr., Union City Daily Messenger ...... Director COVID-19’s negative impact on the W.R. (Ron) Fryar, Cannon Courier...... Director economy, state lawmakers won’t Michael Williams, Paris Post-Intelligencer ...... Director have to raise taxes on businesses. Carol Daniels ...... Executive Vice President “Overall, the state’s revenues are in good shape,” McNally, R-Oak TENNESSEE PRESS ASSOCIATION FOUNDATION Ridge, said. Victor Parkins, The Milan Mirror-Exchange ...... President Sexton told TPA members Mike Fishman, Lakeway Publishers, Morristown ...... Vice President that lawmakers will continue to Richard L. Hollow, Knoxville ...... General Counsel evaluate bills about government Carol Daniels...... Secretary-Treasurer transparency. “I appreciate the role the press association does for our state making sure that we keep CONTACT THE MANAGING EDITOR Clockwise starting from top left: Megan Lane, Lane Government Rela- TPAers with suggestions, questions or comments about items in The Tennesseans informed whether it’s tions; Brian Blackley, Tullahoma News; Eric Barnes, The Daily News; and Tennessee Press are welcome to contact the managing editor. Call Mike local, state or federal (issues) and Towle, (615) 293-5771; or email [email protected]. The deadline for the keeping the community involved Dave Gould, Main Street Media of Tennessee, Gallatin, take part in the May 2021 issue is April 6, 2021. as well,” Sexton said. Feb. 18 Concurrent TPA Board Meeting and Business Session via Zoom. March 2021 • The Tennessee Press • Page 3

Largest annual budget in state history still needs transparency For Your Calendar On Feb. 8 last month, Tennes- are a couple of themes that seem several local businesses who said see Gov. Bill Lee gave his third to be surfacing. One is that many a $10,000 contract is significant March 2021 State of the State Address, during From the of our local governing bodies are and important to their success. 5: TPA Advertising/Circulation which he highlighted a number Executive looking to find ways to make elec- The increase in the threshold for Ideas Contest submissions of spending items important to tronic meetings a norm, not just public notification is an opportu- members of the Tennessee Press Director while dealing with COVID-19. nity for insider deals and corrup- deadline (All papers that sub- Association and our readers. There is one bill that has tion in our communities. mit entries will receive a link to Carol Daniels In 2020, the General Assembly been filed, by Sen. Dawn White Our governing entities have an the PowerPoint presentation of approved the largest budget in the (R-Murfreesboro) and Rep. Mary obligation to be transparent and to winners). state’s history, with an increase • $120 million in teacher pay Littleton (R-Dickson), that con- proactively let citizens know how of $2.8 billion over the previous raises cerns me, especially when you government is spending their tax- 8-19: National Newspaper Asso- budget. A big part of that budget, • $110 million in new educa- take into consideration the new es. By allowing this bill to pass, ciation Summit (virtual event). more than a billion dollars, will tion spending to aid in teaching budget that has just been passed I believe we would be allowing Two weeks of events feature be directed toward infrastructure through the COVID-19 pandemic and all of the money that will our elected and appointed officials and investments in rural develop- • $10 million to create Gov- be pumped into infrastructure to operate without public knowl- topics such as public policy, ment. Here’s how it breaks down: ernor’s Investment in Vocation and rural development. The bill edge and scrutiny backward from politics, Congresional updates, • $200 million to local govern- Education (GIVE) sites; this will proposes that it would increase transparency. With more than a briefings and more. Summit ment infrastructure grants be prioritized by the greatest from $10,000 or more to $25,000 billion dollars to be spent in Ten- also features NNA Foundation’s • $21.1 million to rural de- workforce revitalization need or more the amount for which a nessee in 2021, every contractor, velopment for community asset • $341 million in total new local board of education or the every business deserves the right New Country Editors Forum improvements, marketing, and funding for K-12 education. governing body of a public charter to bid on these contracts. I urge that includes live interviews downtown revitalization A lot of money is going to be school must make purchases or you to inform your readers of this with newsmakers. • $472 million directed to new spent in Tennessee over the next expenditures by competitive bids. bill and ask that they reach out to 9-14: Spring National College funding for business and econom- year, which means bidding oppor- Currently, any purchases or their local representatives and let ic development tunities for Tennessee businesses expenditures $10,000 or higher them know they do not support Media Convention 2021. • $85 million for railways to win those contracts (and lots of needs to have a public notice run our lawmakers taking away busi- Virtual event. • $40 million for airports public notice to let your readers to inform the public of the con- ness from them. April 2021 • $200 million directed to a one- know what contracts are available tract and to allow local businesses Thank you, time increase in broadband deploy- in your community.) to bid on those contracts. This Carol 5-9: Women in Journalism Work- ment, focusing on unserved areas The filing deadline for lawmak- means that all contracts below shop 2021 (virtual), presented through grants and tax credits. ers to introduce bills was February $25,000 can be given out to busi- Carol Daniels is executive direc- by Reynolds Journalism Insti- Education is also getting a huge 11. Though we have been weeding nesses without any notification to tor of the Tennessee Press Associ- bump in this budget as well: through all of the bills filed, there the community. I have spoken to ation. tute. Focuses on challenges, accomplishments and issues specific to women in the jour- News & Moves nalism industry today, www. rjionline.org/events/wom- TPA’s membership at members are: Main Street Clarksville newsrooms to dedicate time and Macon County Chronicle, Main Street Nashville attention to local storytelling on en-in-journalism-workshop highest level since 2002 Lafayette Staff Reports this topic. May 2021 Two newspapers were approved The Gallatin News Feb. 17, 2021 Member newsrooms and affili- 11-27: 2021 International News for membership at the Feb. 18 Grainger Today ated journalists are encouraged to Media Association (INMA) 91st Tennessee Press Association’s Dale Hollow Horizon MIT offering four-month apply. Details about the fellowship Concurrent Board of Directors The Fulton Leader and eligibility can be found at Annual World Congress of News Meeting and Business Session. The Chronicle of Mt. Juliet paid fellowship https://environmentalsolutions. Media. Zoom meeting will fea- Both newspapers are owned by Farragut Press The Massachusetts Institute of mit.edu/call-for-esi-journalism-fel- ture 15 hours of programming Dave Gould’s Main Street Media Hendersonville Standard Technology (MIT), through its lowships/. Call 858-353-4128 for of Tennessee. Knoxville Ledger Environmental Solutions Initia- information. spread over six modules. https:// The addition of Main Street Nashville Ledger tive, recently launched a new Submitted www.inma.org/ Clarksville and Main Street Nash- The Memphis News journalism fellowship. They are Feb. 18, 2021 September 2021 ville brought TPA’s current mem- (now West Tennessee News) reaching out to Tennessee Press bership to 132 newspapers, which The Tennessee Tribune, Association members to spread Stevens is Record’s new Sept. 30-Oct. 2: National News- is the highest number of members Nashville paper Association’s 135th the word to the local and regional managing editor since 2002, when the membership Robertson County Connection, newsrooms. Annual Convention and Trade was also at 132. Springfield The MIT Environmental Bryan Stevens, a seasoned Show, Hyatt Regency, Jack- A difference is at that time there The New Tri-State Defender, Solutions Initiative has launched journalist and East Tennessee were 104 non-daily members and Memphis its inaugural Journalism Fellow- State University adjunct instructor sonville, Fla. 28 daily members. Today that Stewart County Standard, ship that supports freelance or with long family roots in Unicoi October 2021 breakdown is 114 non-daily mem- Dover staff journalists associated with County, has been named manag- 14-17: Fall National College bers and 18 dailies. Portland Sun U.S. newsrooms in developing ing editor of The Erwin Record. Another note is that nine Main Cheatham County Exchange, a high-impact news project that Stevens assumed the duties on Media Association Convention Street Media of Tennessee news- Pleasant View connects local perspectives, Wednesday, Feb. 3. 2021, offered in conjunction papers have joined TPA since July Murfreesboro Post values and priorities with climate Stevens earned his bachelor’s with Associated Collegiate 2017. The Dickson Post change science and solutions. degree in English from ETSU in Newspapers that have joined Polk County News, The four-month paid fellowship Press, New Orleans, LA, Sher- TPA since 2002 and continue as Benton provides an opportunity for See NEWS & MOVES Page 5 aton New Orleans Page 4 • The Tennessee Press • March 2021 12 tips to make your ad copy say something of value Last month I offered a dozen tips 5. Say or imply “you.” Readers are true. feature charts with point-by-point related to ad design. Once an ad’s care more about themselves than 8. Don’t make unsubstantiated comparisons of specific features. graphic design attracts readers’ eyes, about anyone else. That’s human claims. When advertisers say their 11. Create urgency. If you’re it now has to say something of val- Ad-libs® nature. And that’s why the focus products have certain attributes or running a response ad (as opposed ue. Otherwise, readers will skip the should always be on the consum- accomplish certain results, they to an image ad), give people a ad and miss the message complete- er, not the advertiser. “How you should support those statements reason to buy immediately. Is ly. Here are a dozen copywriting can save on your heating bill” is a with evidence. That could be in the inventory limited? Will the offer tips to gain and hold attention: John Foust better message than “How we cut form of data, examples or testimo- expire soon? 1. Don’t try to appeal to heating bills.” nials. 12. Ask readers to take specific everyone. Every large group reading to learn more about the 6. Use product benefits to 9. Limit exclamation marks. action. What do you want people (newspaper readers, for example) product being advertised. appeal to readers’ self-interest. One sign of weak writing is the to do when they finish reading an is composed of smaller groups 3. Give relevant information. This is a sensible way to keep the overuse of exclamation marks. If ad? Stop by the store today? Call for (homeowners, parents, accoun- Before they make buying deci- focus on “you.” People don’t buy numerous sentences require spe- information? Place their orders now? tants, etc.). When you clearly sions, consumers need to know features, they buy benefits. They cial punctuation to sound import- Don’t make them guess. Tell them. define a specific target audience, the answers to several key ques- don’t buy products, they buy what ant, it would have been better to you’ll be able to tailor the adver- tions: who, what, when, where, those products can do for them. use more important words instead. (c) Copyright 2021 by John Foust. tising to fit their needs. why and how much does it cost? 7. Don’t exaggerate. Advertisers Take a look at national adver- All rights reserved. Foust has 2. Make the headline sell. 4. Use simple language. Readers lose credibility with words like tising, and you may not see any conducted training programs for According to research, four out lose interest when they encounter “unbelievable,” “fantastic” and exclamation marks at all. thousands of newspaper advertis- of five people don’t read beyond complicated terminology or long “incredible.” Consumers simply 10. Don’t criticize the compe- ing professionals. Many ad depart- an ad’s headline. This means the explanations. When that happens, don’t believe that kind of puffery. tition. When an advertiser blasts ments are using his training videos headline has to do a lot of the they turn the page or click the And they are likely to disbelieve competitors, it looks like sour to save time and get quick results heavy lifting. Its primary purpose button – and the advertiser loses. everything else those advertisers grapes. Comparisons are much from in-house training. E-mail for is to convince readers to keep It’s best to keep things simple. say, even if some of those things more believable. Some ads even information: [email protected]

FISHER from Page 1 to the public at the location speci- identify themselves. in Tennessee. fied in the notice of the meeting as Also, the advantages enjoyed by The bill allowing electronic Under the proposal as filed, the location of the meeting. the public during the pandemic to meetings for the state’s human county commissions, like school • Each member participating attend, view and even participate resource agency boards is the only boards, would be exempt from the electronically or otherwise must in public meetings remotely are not one that includes language about current rules in the Open Meetings be able to simultaneously hear a major part of any bills filed so far. public participation, saying elec- Act governing electronic participa- each other and speak to each other In other words, the bills, with the tronic meetings can be conducted tion (found in T.C.A. § 8-44-108) during the meeting. exception of one, are focused on only if an opportunity for public and instead be held to a different • All votes taking during a meet- the convenience of the electronic participation is provided. set of rules. Briggs Wright ing where members are participat- participation for government offi- Those new rules would allow a only that the person participating ing electronically must be taken by cials, not the public. Help us track legislation county commissioner to participate roll call vote. electronically be “visually identi- More bills, or amendments to electronically if: • Members participating elec- fied by the chair.” Other bills expanding caption bills, may still be filed that • The commissioner is required tronically are deemed present for This is probably the weakest part create exceptions to the electronic to be out of the county for the the purposes of voting, but not for electronic participation of the bill as it now stands — and a participation rules in the Open commissioner’s work; the purposes of determining per gap in the school board statute. Other bills to increase the Meetings Act. • The commissioner is dealing diem eligibility. Briggs and Wright, both of ability of governing bodies to meet Since there is no requirement with a family or medical emergen- whom I have communicated electronically — many of them that a proposed exception to the cy as determined by the county with, have invited suggestions to TCOG suggests that without some or all of the rules for Open Meetings Act make refer- legislative body; or strengthen requirements so that public be allowed to view electronic participation provided ence to the open meetings law, it • The commissioner has been in the Open Meetings Act — are the public’s ability to view and participating member could be difficult to identify each called into military service. hear public proceedings are not aimed at: piece of legislation that creates an The rules would limit a commis- compromised. One requirement that Tennessee • Local public utility boards; exemption, particularly as amend- sioner from electronic participating Of note is that the Open Meet- Coalition for Open Government • The state agency that adminis- ments are filed. Many lawmakers in commission meetings to twice ings Act section that provides would like to see with electronic ters certificates of need for health themselves may be unfamiliar a year, except for commissioners for electronic participation in meetings is a requirement that the facilities and services; with the details of the OMA’s rules who are absent because of military meetings has safeguards that public be able to view the member • The state’s human resource around electronic participation. service, who would have no limits. address the type of difficulties participating electronically. During agency boards; If you would like to help read and questions that arise with the pandemic, the most common • The advisory council on com- amendments to bills this session No requirements electronic participation. Unfor- complaints about electronic meet- mercial explosives; and keep a watchful eye out for accommodating public tunately, these safeguards do not ings have been when members • A new state committee that potential new exemptions to the apply to school boards, which participate by phone, not video, would be formed to deal with Open Meetings Act, please contact Neither the existing school board got exempted from them in 2012; and the public has had a hard time epidemics; us through our website through statute nor the proposed statute nor would they apply to county knowing who is speaking and how • A new state child task force our volunteer form. for county commissions requires commissions as that legislation is they vote. that would be created to recom- specific accommodations for the currently drafted. The governor’s executive order mend strategies to improve child Deborah Fisher has been execu- public, such as making sure that Those requirements, found in allowing electronic meetings care; and tive director of Tennessee Coalition the public can see and hear the T.C.A. § 8-44-108(c) include: during the pandemic state of emer- • A new medical cannabis com- for Open Government since 2013. person patching in electronically. • Each part of the meeting re- gency requires that votes be by mission to study and propose a po- Previously she spent 25 years in the The school board statute requires quired to be open must be audible roll call and people speaking must tential medical cannabis program news industry as a journalist. March 2021• The Tennessee Press • Page 5

NEWS & MOVES from Page 3 with a successful Mirror-Exchange “I am excited to help the paper COVID shots in the winter and history within for the last seven become a hometown resource that fresh-picked corn in the summer,” 1989 and his master’s degree in the print and years. While the community will cherish,” Hope she added. “If your cow has twins, English in 1994. digital media he’s looking said. I’ll come take a picture. I intend “We are so lucky to have Bryan field. I’m excited forward to his Joining Hope on the team will be to be your eye on what’s going on step in to the role of managing that Darrell has new position in Sarah Raymond, a former Tullaho- right here in your community. You editor at The Erwin Record,” decided to join a new communi- ma News employee. Raymond is a may not always agree with how I Publisher Lisa Whaley said. “His our team,” Daily ty, he said he’ll 2020 graduate of Martin Methodist see things, but at least you’ll know I background, experience and con- Times Publisher miss the many College with a bachelor of arts care enough to be there.” tinuing passion Richardson Bryan Sandmeier Burns relationships degree in English. She served an The Rogersville Review for community said. he’s made in the internship work- Feb. 16, 2021 journalism Richardson said he was excited south end of the county. ing at the Pulaski makes him a per- “to do my part in shining a light on “The people are what I’ll miss Citizen and has Wilder joins Courier staff fect fit for Unicoi the progress continuing to be made the most,” Watson said. “I’ve made been managing County.” throughout this community. As a lot of great friends during my digital content as ad manager Stevens, 54, is our print and digital readers and time in Milan, and while I enjoyed and websites Veteran newspaperman Dwane an award-win- advertisers know, Maryville and working with for Lakeway Wilder has joined the staff of ning journalist its surrounding area have a storied them to tell their Publishers of The Courier News, Clinton, as Stevens and has served history and a bright future — and stories or keep Middle Tennessee advertising manager. as editor at two we want to continue to encourage the city updated Raymond for the past seven For most of the past 28 years, Northeast Tennessee newspapers support for new and existing busi- on things that months. Wilder has worked for the LaFollette — the weekly Jonesborough Herald nesses and organizations.” are happening, “I feel so blessed to have this Press in various roles, including & Tribune, where he worked for A graduate of the University of I enjoyed them opportunity,” Raymond said. “I general-assignment reporter, sports four years, and the daily Elizabeth- Tennessee with a bachelor’s degree more than any- love writing, and I am so excit- editor, editor, and most recently, ton Star, where he spent 13 years in communications, Richardson thing. ed to be able to use my gifts to advertising representative. as lifestyles editor, assistant editor won the TPA President’s Award in “If you’ve got benefit the beautiful community of “I’m excited to have Dwane join and, finally, as managing editor. 2019 and was TPA’s vice president Watson a cool story, give Lynchburg.” our staff at The Courier News,” In addition, he has written for the and immediate past treasurer. me a call. If you The Moore County News, Courier News Bristol Herald Courier, The Loafer The Daily Times, Maryville see me in the grocery store, come Lynchburg Publisher Tony and the Carter County Compass. Feb. 1, 2021 say hi. If you see me wandering Jan. 21, 2021 Cox said. “He’s Stevens already has ties to the around looking lost, just point me a well-rounded Record, having spent two years as Watson succeeds Burns as in the right direction. We’ll get community senior staff writer at the newspa- there eventually,” he said. Review welcomes newspaperman. per in 2004 and 2005. His younger Gazette editor The Mirror-Exchange, Milan Thurston as editor His years of brother, Mark A. Stevens, was also The Trenton Gazette and The Jan. 27, 2021 Local news is alive and well in experience in publisher of the Record from 1997 Mirror-Exchange, Milan, both made Rogersville. And Linda Thurston many areas of until 2011. personnel changes, effective Jan. 25. News announces two new intends to keep it that way. She was the newspaper Bryan Stevens’ newspaper Wilder business will be Gazette and Tri-City Reporter team members hired in February as the new editor career stretches back to the early Editor Crystal Burns resigned of the Rogersville Review. beneficial to our 1990s, and he has received mul- from her position on Friday, Jan. The Moore County News has a For more than 10 years Thur- advertisers. tiple awards from the Society of 9. She has accepted a job at Tyson new team dedicated to producing ston served as news editor for the “Dwane is local to Clinton and Professional Journalists and the Foods in Humboldt in the human a great community newspaper for LaFollette Press, which, at the that is a plus for him and the news- Tennessee Press Association, resources department. the residents of Lynchburg and time, was the largest weekly in paper. He lives here, shops here and “I am excited to be returning to Mirror-Exchange Associate Editor Moore County. Amy Hope, a Moore the state of Tennessee. There she dines in Anderson County. That and The Erwin Record,” Stevens said. Logan Watson will take over Burns’ County High School graduate and learned the ropes of government, his newspaper background made “It’s not only been ‘Unicoi County’s duties at the two newspapers. Lynchburg native, has been named education, coal mining, agricul- for the ideal combination. Own Newspaper’ since 1928, but Burns worked for The Mir- general manager of The News by ture, crime and the courts and “I’ve always admired The Couri- it’s been an important newspaper ror-Exchange from 2004-2013 Lakeway Publishers Regional Vice much more. er News and the legacy of Horace to my family for so many years.” before taking the reins at the President Brian Blackley. “I know Rog- Wells.” Wilder said. “I always The Erwin Record Gazette. Burns replaced Danny “Amy has deep connections to ersville can be thought since I moved to Clinton Feb. 3, 2021 Jones, who managed and edited the community, is invested in see- just as exciting, that I would love the opportunity the Gazette for decades. In 2018, ing the community and the news- and I hope to to work for the Courier News.” Daily Times names Burns also became editor of the paper grow, and brings a strong bring the story to He left the LaFollette Press once Richardson ad director Tri-City Reporter. local voice and passion to what we you,” Thurston before – for about a year – to “This has been a good job and a do,” Blackley said. “In her role, she said. “Although work at its affiliated paper, the The former publisher/advertis- mostly fun job,” Burns said. “But will manage the day-to-day overall I was raised in Roane County News in Kingston. He returned to LaFollette Press ing director of The Oak Ridger has working for a newspaper in any ca- operations of the Thurston Memphis and been named advertising director at pacity is a sacred duty. We protect newspaper.” attended college after that, and remained until his The Daily Times. the First Amendment, which can Amy is the in Texas, my mother was from transition to The Courier News. Darrell Richardson, who led the be harder than you might think.” daughter of East Tennessee and each summer “Clinton’s a great community Oak Ridge newspaper for nearly 17 Mirror-Exchange Editor and Sara Hope, the she loaded all four of us kids into and a great newspaper town. I years, began work in Maryville on Co-Owner Victor Parkins said “A Little Bit of the woody Ford station wagon hope I can represent the news- Monday, Feb. 1. Crystal would be greatly missed Hope” columnist and brought us east to visit her paper and the Anderson County Richardson has a journalism from their staff. for The Moore family in Knoxville and Oneida. community well.” background and was general “We have a small staff so our County News, Sometimes we even went on to A native of Hawkins County, manager of Roane Newspapers Inc. employees are like family,” he said. Hope and Joe Hope. the Smokies. It always felt like Wilder holds a degree in graphic in Kingston from 1993-2003 and “We asked a lot from Crystal and She returned to home here to me, so I’m glad to design from Lincoln Memorial editor of the Clinton (Tennessee) she never wavered from the chal- Moore County four years ago and be back for an extended summer University. Courier-News from 1987-92. lenges we presented her.” is re-establishing her roots in the ‘vacation.’ The Courier News, Clinton “Darrell is a seasoned executive Watson has worked for the town she loves so dearly. “We’ll tell you where to get Feb. 3, 2021 Page 6 • The Tennessee Press • March 2021

TPA MEMBER COVERAGE SHOWCASE I: The Daily Herald, Columbia ‘American Pickers’ host supports move to rural Tennessee with new campaign MIKE CHRISTEN The Daily Herald, Columbia October 11, 2020 “American Pickers” star Mike Wolfe has joined leaders from 13 rural Middle Tennessee and Northwest Alabama communities to launch a new regional move- ment dubbed “Nashville’s Big Back Yard,” encouraging people to move to the state’s rural small towns or at least pay them a visit. “This global pandemic is mak- ing folks rethink how and where they want to live and work,” said Wolfe, a resident of rural William- son County who has traveled tens of thousands of miles and gained millions of fans as the star and Photo by Mike Christen, The Daily Herald, Columbia creator of HISTORY’s “American Pickers” series. “I know first-hand Mt. Pleasant high school student Maggie Hurt carries an American flag how much rural communities through the school parking lot before a football game against Summer- have to offer. Now is the perfect town High School on Aug. 23, 2019. time to think about getting out of History Channel, submitted to think about who we are and the cities, and back to small town Frank Fritz (left) and Mike Wolfe of ‘American Pickers.’ what we do,” said Preston, who Main Streets and open spaces. I’m has spent more than 25 years honored to help shine a light on (43%) were twice as likely than working on rural preservation the communities in ‘Nashville’s ties with populations under 5,000 efforts including the popular Big Back Yard.’“ suburban (26%) and rural (21%) — from Leiper’s Fork southbound Americana Music Triangle. “The He is also the owner of Antique dwellers to have recently browsed to The Shoals of Alabama. Archeology, which has a brick a real estate website for homes and To launch the campaign, Wolfe land is calling people back, and and mortar location the historic apartments to rent or buy, the sur- produced content focused for social Nashville’s Big Back Yard has an Marathon Village complex near vey showed, which was conducted media to promote the Middle Ten- abundance of land, water and downtown Nashville as well as among 2,050 U.S adults from April nessee communities of Centerville, world-class music. We’re inviting another site in Le Claire, Iowa. 25-27. Clifton, Collinwood, Hampshire, folks to come and play in our big The initiative led by Wolfe in “‘Nashville’s Big Back Yard’ Hohenwald, Leiper’s Fork, Linden, back yard.” front of the camera and by the is a powerful solution to today’s Loretto, Mt. Pleasant, Santa Fe, Participating communities Mt. participating communities behind economic crisis,” Wolfe said in Summertown, and Waynesboro— Pleasant, Santa Fe and Hampshire it, emphasizes that in the age of a video posted on social media as well as The Shoals area of North- are all located in Maury County. As the campaign launched in an ongoing coronavirus pandemic, introducing the initiative Wednes- west Alabama. Submitted small communities are seeing a day morning. “We appreciate Mike’s support early October 2020, Maury Coun- surge of interest from people who He described the initiative as of our movement to engage people ty’s leaders also weighed in on the Mike Wolfe of “American Pickers” are drawn to rural living, the pos- a “virtual showroom of small who may be looking for a change initiative. films a spot for the “Nashville’s Big sibilities of working remotely and towns outside of Nashville where of pace, including a more afford- “Mt. Pleasant, Tennessee is on Back Yard” campaign in Center- living an affordable lifestyle. people looking for a different way able lifestyle,” said Lewis County the map,” said Ryan Jackson, the ville, Tenn. A spring 2020 Harris Poll of life will have the opportunity to Mayor Jonah Keltner in a public principal of the local high school effort to revitalize the rural com- survey found nearly 40% of U.S. consider Tennessee,” as he walked statement shared with The Daily and the chief executive of the munity located a short drive south adults living in urban areas said through downtown Centerville in Herald. city’s three schools and leader they would consider moving “out Hickman County. Kevin Jackson, executive direc- of the school system’s career-fo- of Columbia. of populated areas and toward “People have a real chance tor of The Shoals Economic De- cused technical education model Known as the former “Phos- rural areas.” to live the simpler life they are velopment Authority, added, “The emphasizing science, technology, phate Capital of World,” the city According to data from the longing for, affordably” Wolfe said. Shoals area is uniquely positioned engineering, mathematics and the rebranded itself in 2017 as the National Association of Realtors, “For some, it might be open- for growth as people move from arts at the three interconnected “Hub of Reinvention.” median home prices in Nashville’s ing that shop they have always densely populated cities in search campuses. The new identity was created Big Back Yard averaged less than dreamed of on Main Street, for of a better quality of life.” “Now is the perfect time to using feedback from local folks $170,000 vs. the national median another it might be buying that “Nashville’s Big Back Yard” make a move out of the city, and during a 2016 town hall when home price of $241,300. homestead near town and growing is described as the product of back to small town Main Streets residents, business owners and As reported earlier this week your own food, or just knowing lengthy conversations during and open spaces,” Jackson said. city officials all gathered at the by The Daily Herald news partner that you can let your kid ride their COVID-19 spearheaded by Leiper’s “Come play in our Big Back Yard.” Mt. Pleasant Community Center to The Tennessean, Nashville the bike into town without worrying. Fork philanthropist Aubrey Pres- He described the campaign as voice their thoughts and hopes of ongoing pandemic has spurred a That’s community.” ton and led by community leaders. a “really exciting opportunity” for what a major revitalization effort move from big cities to the greater “Nashville’s Big Back Yard” de- “While COVID has dealt a Mt. Pleasant and its neighboring would bring. Nashville area. scribes a region anchored by 100 devastating blow to our nation’s communities. Since 2016, the revitalization A USA Today report publishing miles of the scenic Natchez Trace public health and economy, it also For Mt. Pleasant, the new cam- the findings showed urbanites Parkway that connects communi- has led people and communities paign continues the city’s ongoing See ‘PICKERS’ Page 7 March 2021• The Tennessee Press • Page 7

TPA MEMBER COVERAGE SHOWCASE II: Kingsport Times-News Hawkins County’s Sayrah Barn went from ‘expensive joke’ to popular event venue JEFF BOBO Sayrah Barn owner/operator miserable. Lawson’s grandmother is named Kingsports Times-News Megan Lawson told the Times “I’ve coordinated sev- Sarah, and she named her second October 21, 2020 News she believes word is spread- eral weddings,” Lawson daughter Sayrah. They kicked ing slowly but surely about Sayrah said. “It was always around ideas for what to name the ROGERSVILLE — What started Barn, and there were a lot more something that I loved barn, but they kept coming back to as a joke became a rustic wedding spectators at Saturday’s event than to do, but it was more of Sayrah. venue, and it has quickly evolved just people that I knew.” “It sounds sophisticated,” Law- into one of Hawkins County’s most at the summer fundraiser. “Everybody who was there That night she was son said. “We looked at all kinds of popular event venues. telling her dad about the names. I said, I can’t name it some- One Saturday this past fall, seemed to be having a pretty good time,” Lawson said. “Of course subpar wedding she’d thing common. I want to name it the Sayrah Barn, located at 4144 attended and joked that something different, something that Highway 11-W on the far eastern I was working and trying to be everywhere at one time, but some they should build a has meaning. Sayrah just kind of outskirts of Rogersville, hosted a car wedding venue on the stuck.” and bluegrass show with barbecue friends of mine who were in the car show said everybody just loved it. property next door. The 7,000-square-foot barn is that attracted more than 130 classic Photo by Jeff Bobo, Kingsport Times-News available for weddings, and there’s It was a good environment, and it “It was a joke,” vehicles and raised $5,000 for St. a bridal suite on the second level if was spread out so you could social The Sayrah Barn, located on the far eastern Lawson said. “A very Jude Children’s Research Hospital. the happy couple wants to spend distance and feel safe.” outskirts of Rogersville, has become a popular expensive joke.” The following Saturday, The their first night together there. There aren’t any public events venue for a variety of events. But Dad was serious, Barn was to host a horse show and the stars seemed to They can fit 500 people standing fundraiser for the Hawkins County scheduled at Sayrah Barn beyond tracted to a person who intended or 300 people seated inside the Halloween, although Lawson said align perfectly to make it happen. Humane Society in the afternoon on developing storage units there. The eight-acre lot came up for sale barn and 150 on the porch. and an advance ticket purchase she’d like to do something for That was disappointing news for On the ground level with the Christmas. again, and Lawson’s parents sold Masquerade Ball for adults in the her parents, who have built their a business and needed to invest ballroom there’s also a “warmer” evening. On Halloween night, The retirement home on that location. the proceeds. So Lawson and her kitchen to accommodate caterers, Barn hosted a free trunk-or-treat How did Sayrah Barn come Meanwhile, Lawson, a wedding husband partnered with her parents as well as a full commercial kitch- event for the community. to be? photographer and occasional wed- to build the Sayrah Barn wedding en. They have their own in-house Last summer, shortly after ding planner, attended a wedding and event venue. chef. construction of The Barn, it hosted Lawson’s parents live on the five two years ago that she felt could To learn more about the Sayrah a car show and music event that acres adjacent to the eight-acre barn have been better organized. Barn, you can call Lawson at (423) raised $15,000 for a local couple property. At one point, the eight It was 90 minutes late, it was too The story behind 754-8399 or visit the Sayrah Barn whose infant son is battling cancer. acres came up for sale and was con- hot, and she said everybody was naming The Barn Facebook page.

‘PICKERS’ from Page 6 atmosphere. the Maury County Archives and A growing list of businesses has handed out some of his own project has been a joint effort have opened since the formal personal collection of American between Maury County Invest- launch of the effort, including the relics to local business owners. ments, the City of Mt. Pleasant, the 1824 General Store and the Buck- In 2019 Wolfe welcomed CBS Chamber of Commerce and the head Coffee House. Sunday Morning to his garage in Community Development Corpo- Earlier this year, Mt. Pleasant Columbia. ration to breathe new life into the Mayor Bill White said the revital- A former Chevrolet dealership city’s downtown. ization is being funded by a $1.5 built in 1947, the building was Ongoing projects include an in- million grant. being converted into retail space. centive program for new business- Donna Morency, the executive “This was a huge asset, a flag- es to open along Main Street and director of the Mt. Pleasant Com- ship for the community,” Wolfe renovations to its historic store- munity Development Corporation said in the piece that aired in late fronts and interiors located along leads the local organization that 2019. “That is what, to be honest the main thoroughfare. Through works to support local businesses with you, what I want it to be the partnership, each participating and uplift the community of about again. I always tell people if you organization has been able to fun- 6,000 in southern Maury County. want to see small-town America nel in potential business and find The corporation serves as a lead- get in your car and drive because the location that is most suitable to ing organizer in some of the city’s Photo by Mike Christen, The Daily Herald, Columbia it is disappearing rapidly. their needs. largest gatherings and has played a Manager Clair Randolph sits at the bar of the Mt. Pleasant Grille in Mt. “These aren’t just buildings Smelter Services C.E.O. and key role in the recent revitalization Pleasant, Tenn., on April 24, 2020. The restaurant at the time was still and these aren’t just small-town Board Chairman Jim Barrier is initiative and is now participating corridors,” Wolfe continued. “All offering take-out options during the shutdown to prevent the spread of Maury County Investment Group’s in the new campaign. of these places matter for some the coronavirus. main contributor. He is joined “This is probably the best that reason or another and some can by a number of local groups and we have ever done to highlight launch follows about six months for Mt. Pleasant and our partners. survive and some can’t. But if we contributors. our community,” Morency said. I of planning and development We are looking for this type of don’t try as individuals then who The group currently owns more have been waiting a long time to between the participating commu- market. It is tourism and econom- are we as a society.” than a dozen buildings in down- have a marketing presence. It is a nities. ic development tied together and The late Maury County Archives town Mt. Pleasant and is working great opportunity for Mt. Pleasant “These 12 small communities rolled into one.” Director Bob Duncan described to renovate each structure and and the other small towns. These are working together to make us Wolfe is no stranger to south- the recognizable television host find commercial tenants for those small communities can team up as a voice in the region,” Morency ern Middle Tennessee. He owns as so: “He is just like you see him buildings in an effort to revitalize and have a larger voice.” said. ” We really wanted to be property in downtown Columbia on television. He has a passion for the city’s downtown economy and Morency said the campaign’s proactive. It is going to be great and has been known to frequent history, especially local history.” Page 8 • The Tennessee Press • March 2021 Initiate conversations with your readers to solicit their feedback, pro and con A reader questions your policy opportunities for initiating con- one person should be the liaison to with as many people as possible for reporting suicides. A retailer versations with readers as well. readers. Be certain to share policies guarantees thorough examination challenges your staff to produce Community Why should readers care about with all newspaper employees. Re- of the various perspectives. The timely and relevant business Newsroom changes in a state’s open meet- member those on the front line – the more opinions received, the stron- news. A reporter is confronted for ing law? Why does a newspaper receptionist – who will likely be the ger the policies will be. printing a press release charging Success demand the names of finalists for first to field a question or complaint. Editors and publishers still must a candidate with unfair campaign key public officials? How does a Receptionists should direct inquiries make the final decision. But read- practices without contacting the proposed privacy law threaten the to the appropriate person. ers will appreciate that policies are Jim Pumarlo accused for a response. A family disclosure of information vital to • Be open to feedback and criti- not made on a whim. member gets emotional over publi- citizens’ everyday lives? cism. Policies, to be effective, must cation of an accident photo. My recommendation: Be on the Columns are also a great tool have a foundation of principles. Jim Pumarlo writes, speaks and These scenarios plus many more offensive. First, don’t let questions to preview special projects and They also should be subject to provides training on community are excellent topics for newsroom fester. Respond immediately to explain everyday coverage. review and tweaking, depending newsroom success strategies. He is discussion. Most editors will likely individual inquiries. Second, com- Newspapers devote a great deal of on specific circumstances. author of “Journalism Primer: A respond directly to the individuals municate with your entire reader- time and talent reporting on local • Don’t be afraid to accept Guide to Community News Cover- who raise the questions. ship. If the question is on the mind governing bodies; a column might mistakes or errors in judgment. age,” “Votes and Quotes: A Guide to But how many newsrooms ex- of one person, it’s likely piqued the educate readers why your staff Saying “we erred” will go a long Outstanding Election Coverage” and plain their policies and operations interest of others, too. cannot be everywhere and why an way toward earning respect and “Bad News and Good Judgment: to readers on a regular basis? A Educating readers on a variety advance can be more important trust from readers. A Guide to Reporting on Sensitive column by the editor or publisher of topics should be a priority. What than attending a meeting. Crime Talking with individuals inside Issues in Small-Town Newspapers.” should be a fixture if you want to are your guidelines for wedding, and courts coverage, by its nature, and outside your newspaper He can be reached at www.pumarlo. connect with readers. engagements and obituaries? Do draws a chorus of detractors; the family is an important aspect of com and welcomes comments and Fresh off a contentious election you publish photos of all proclama- hows and whys of your process developing policies. Connecting questions at [email protected]. season, this is an excellent time to tions – why or why not? What cir- are ready-made content. review and identify ways to com- cumstances warrant publishing the Three points are important municate with readers. Election salaries of public officials? Which when detailing newspaper policies TPS paid out $1.6M to members coverage always prompts ques- public records do you regularly and operations: tions from readers on everything monitor and publish? • Have the same person – pref- Note: This TPS TPS has been from candidate announcements The lineup of issues is endless. erably the editor – communicate president’s report to busy with tech- to the rollout of press releases to A newspaper’s role as a govern- policies. It’s OK to acknowledge dif- the TPA Membership TSP nology upgrades, treatment of letters to the editor. ment watchdog provides ample ferences of opinion among staff, but was given during the pdate including a new Feb. 18 Concurrent U and updated pub- TPA Board of Direc- lic notice website RICHARDSON from Page 2 because it proves that the service **Note: It was extremely sad tors Meeting that shows our you’ve spent your career provid- to see the printing facility at the and Business Session. Dave Gould further commit- Most newspapers are putting ing to your readers is a service Jackson Sun close at the end Despite all of ment to main- essentially the same content online that they value and cherish. And, of February. The facility was 2020’s external taining the state’s and in print. So why are people armed with that assurance, take printing daily the Commercial challenges, Tennessee Press Service most comprehensive website for still paying a premium price for a moment to think about wheth- Appeal, the Jackson Sun, regional (TPS) made a profit, exceeded bud- notices. the print edition when they can er your organization is actively copies of USA today, and several get and paid more than $1.6 million As far as 2021 is concerned in most cases get all the content marketing that service to those in area weekly publications. Gannett in ad revenue to member papers. – things were a little slow in online for less? your community who may not yet has announced that its papers As a way to grow new sources of January and, like everyone in the In a world where so much understand the benefits of a local that were printed in Jackson are revenue TPS launched the South- industry, we are dealing with un- has gone digital, there is a lot of newspaper. now printing in Jackson, Miss. ern Regional Magazine Association certainty. TPS ad targets include value in something people can If you’re like most newspa- and trucked out each morning. in July. So far, we have signed up the online betting companies, hold in their hands. Think about pers, you advertise subscription This move leaves West Tennessee 12 members and sold $75,000 in local tourism boards and the state the last time someone sent you a specials in the newspaper, which with two web printing facilities revenue. Plans are underway for a as they work to communicate mes- hand-written card in the mail. It is only seen by people already – one in Huntingdon owned by virtual conference in May. saging around vaccines. means a lot more than well-wish- reading the newspaper. For an Magic Valley Publishing and one Longtime ad executive Mary es on your news feed. It’s the industry that relies heavily on ad- in Union City at the Messenger. Ella Hazelwood joined TPS in Jan- Dave Gould, Main Street Media of same way with your local news. vertising, we typically do almost The Murray Ledger and Times in uary as national sales director. Tennessee, Gallatin, is TPS president. Having a product in your hand none of it for ourselves. Then we Murray, Ky. is a nice commercial that you know someone went smugly advise local businesses printing operation that isn’t too through the effort to produce, that they should be spending 5-10 far for some area community print, address and mail to you percent of their revenue on adver- newspapers. But with more plants Tennessee Press Service carries a lot of weight. It is your tising, and of course, the majority closing, it makes it harder and copy of the paper. It literally has of that with us. harder for community newspa- Advertising Placement your name on it. Online advertising and direct pers to get printed at a reasonable Snapshot Clever marketers are now mail are excellent ways to get the rate and within a reasonable shouting the importance of sending word out about the importance range to their location. ROP: Networks: tangible products/letters to cus- of the service you offer. Don’t be tomers to enhance relatability and afraid to use these tactics to grow Daniel Richardson, publisher of January 2021 $118,321 $16,736 perceived value compared to auto- your audience. Remember, you’re the Carroll County News Leader, mated emails. It’s the same concept offering something that your com- Huntingdon, and group publisher of Year* as of Jan. 31 $303,527 $52,366 with the printed newspaper. munity members need to have. If the eastern division of Music Valley So what is the takeaway? Be you don’t believe that, no one else Publishing, is president of the TPA * The TPS Fiscal Year runs Dec. 1 through Nov. 30 proud of your industry resilience will. for the 2020-2021 term. March 2021 • The Tennessee Press • Page 9

Obituaries Frank Cagle the place for him. Whittier Alexander member of the Black Press,” she In Memphis, Mr. Williams was a Cagle became more involved said, “not only because his father newspaper vice president and gen- Frank Cagle, an old-school with politics coverage as state Sengstacke Jr. was head of the Defender, but be- eral manager, in charge of adver- newspaperman who served as editor and earned a promotion to During the turbulent 1960s, cause of the Sengstacke name. He tising, circulation, production and managing editor of the Knoxville assistant managing editor before Whittier Alexander Sengstacke Jr. always talked about his heritage.” business operations. Mr. Williams News Sentinel, worked as deputy to being named managing editor in wrote cutting-edge news stories for Born in Chicago, Ill., Sengstacke believed this role placed him in a former Knoxville Mayor Victor Ashe 1995. Along the way, he began the Memphis Tri-State Defender. received dual degrees in speech position of responsibility for the and penned columns on politics for writing columns on local and state If the surname sounds familiar, and journalism from Tennessee greater Memphis community that decades, died politics. it’s because the State University and applied his the newspaper Thursday, Feb. Former Knoxville Mayor Victor name speaks skills to the family business of served as well as 25. He was 72. Ashe found himself the subject volumes. newspaper publishing. for the newspa- He survived of Cagle’s columns on more than Sengstacke He was just as steeped in writ- per itself. an open-heart one occasion. That didn’t stop was the eldest ing plays and performing on the Under Mr. surgery, a stint him from hiring Cagle to be his son of the late stage as he was in journalism. He Williams’ with the Army deputy after Cagle retired from the venerable news- first thrived in his native Chica- stewardship, in Vietnam, a newspaper. Cagle, a conservative paper publisher go before bringing his skillset to The Commercial brain aneu- with a libertarian streak, tackled Whittier Seng- Memphis, where he settled down Appeal was a Cagle rysm caused policy issues facing the city and Sengstacke stacke Sr., and as a journalist for the Defender. Williams major supporter by a blow from gave advice about how to deal the nephew of Ethel Sengstacke, a former TV of the Liberty a horse and a difficult bout with with the press. the late publishing magnate John camera operator, took note of her Bowl and became what now would cancer in his abdomen. His family “I wasn’t looking for some- H. Sengstacke, who founded the big brother’s work ethics and varied be called the “naming sponsor” of began to think he’d live forever. one to flatter me. I was looking Defender in 1951. accomplishments in journalism, Cat Country, the three-acre open-air But the cancer returned late Janu- for someone to advise me, who Sengstacke had been ill for a including his work in the theatre exhibit for lions, tigers and other ary and he died as his wife, Tracy, would tell me when the city while and died the morning of Feb. when she was much younger. carnivores that opened at the Mem- drove him to the hospital. might be headed down the wrong 20 at Midtown Center for Health “He was always into theatrics,” phis Zoo in 1993, to replace the old “cat house” that kept the animals The couple met in the summer path,” Ashe said. and Rehabilitation. He was 76. she said. “He used to have a puppet behind bars in concrete cages. The of 1970 at the University of North After retiring from the paper, In the late 1960s and early ‘70s, show at the public library. We put newspaper gave $1 million to the Alabama in Florence, where they Cagle took a job as spokesman for the respected journalist held the ti- on shows for the neighborhood zoo for the project. both went to college. After having former U.S. Rep. Van Hilleary’s tle of editor-in-chief at the Defend- kids. One time he built a stage and In 1989, Mr. Williams joined The a few beers one night, Cagle and unsuccessful gubernatorial cam- er. He reported from the trenches I fell off it.” Commercial Appeal editor Lionel his buddies decided to see a play paign. Cagle also had a radio show and cobbled together breaking Pat Mitchell Worley remembers Linder, Tennessee governor Ned at the university — “Cyrano de and continued to write columns news stories from a Black perspec- her uncle’s creative side. “He used McWherter and President George Bergerac.” He saw Tracy on stage for the alt-weekly Metro Pulse, tive, which the mainstream press to do art projects with me,” she and read in the program that they the News Sentinel and the website had largely ignored. H.W. Bush on a stage erected on said, “like papier-mâché, acting the lawn of the old Commercial both hailed from the small town of Knox TN Today. He and his family He was an eyewitness in the projects, and storytelling. He was Rogersville, Alabama. — he has three adult children and struggle for freedom and justice. the first to push the idea of story- “One of the guys said to Frank, two grandchildren — lived on a For Black journalists during that telling.” See OBITUARIES Page 10 ‘That’s Doug Holland’s niece,’” farm in Strawberry Plains. era, fear no doubt was a constant Tennessee Tribune, Nashville Tracy said. ”Frank said to his friend, Several years ago, his wife said, reminder of the dangers that Feb. 20, 2021 ‘That’s the girl I’m going to marry.’” Cagle was diagnosed with cancer. confronted them while they were Cagle got his start in journal- “He had a serious operation, and trying to shed light on the age- Joseph R. Williams ism as a proofreader at his college while he was in bed recovering, old problem of systemic racism. town’s newspaper, the Florence I went to the doctor and got diag- Whatever confronted Sengstacke, Joseph R. Williams, a longtime Times Tri-Cities Daily. He began nosed with breast cancer,” Tracy he kept reporting the news. executive at The Commercial writing while still taking classes Cagle said. “The hardest thing His career highlights includ- Appeal, Memphis, whose colorful and ultimately became disgruntled I had to do was come home and ed covering hard news – police life story includes appearances with the newspaper’s management. crawl up into bed and say, ‘I have brutality, crime, politics – and by President George H.W. Bush, Convinced he could do better, the cancer, too.’” other noteworthy news stories. He movie queen Ava Gardner and nu- The Tennessee Press stubborn 20-something quit his job Cagle wrote his last column for continued to write and performed merous species of large carnivores, Association Foundation and started a competing paper. He the News Sentinel in 2018 when other duties as well for the Defend- has died. gratefully acknowledges and his wife set the type in their the newspaper, as he put it, decid- er into the late 1990s. Mr. Williams, who had suffered a contribution living room and tossed newspapers ed to go “in a different direction on “He was a great guy, very from many health problems in into yards from their car. the editorial page.” knowledgeable of the newspaper recent years, died Thursday, Feb. Cagle went on to ping-pong from He wrote about his health (“I business and didn’t mind sharing 4 in Fort Myers, Fla. where he and In memory of paper to paper — “Part of it was don’t want you to get the wrong his knowledge,” said Marzie G. his wife, Joan Williams, had lived having trouble getting along with idea when I disappear”) and his Thomas, publisher and editor of since 1996. He was 89. Nate authority figures,” Tracy said — future (“I have often been urged to the Defender in the early 2000s. Mr. Williams came to the Mem- before landing at the Knoxville start a blog, though I may be too “He had been in the business phis Publishing Company — which Crawford News Sentinel in 1982. He started technologically challenged”). all of his life,” she said. “We loved published two daily newspapers, on the copy desk, correcting gram- “Meanwhile,” he concluded, “I’m Whit. He was a wonderful person. The Commercial Appeal and given in fond mar and punctuation, under editor signing off of the News Sentinel He always was so supportive of me.” its evening rival, the Memphis remembrance by Ralph L. Millett Jr. editorial page. I’ve written two He also was supportive of Thom- Press-Scimitar — in 1974, from the “He was miserable,” said Vince previous farewell columns in the as’ predecessor, Audrey Parker Cincinnati Post. All those news- Vawter, an author and former News Sentinel, but this time I McGhee, the Defender’s publisher papers were owned at the time by The John M. & Arne managing editor of the News Sen- think it’s the last one.” and editor from the late 1980s until the E.W. Scripps Co., as was Mr. Jones Family tinel. He said Cagle’s true love was Knoxville News Sentinel she retired in the early 2000s. Williams’ previous newspaper, the politics, and the copy desk was not Feb. 26, 2021 “He was well-grounded as a Knoxville News-Sentinel. Page 10 • The Tennessee Press • March 2021 Biden Administration wasted no time enacting pro-union stance The Biden Administration as- business only with one (1) entity. bargain collectively for ninety (90) ing indirect control as opposed to sault on Employers began a mere • Supervisor Status - the PRO Act days. If no agreement is reached direct control over wages, hours twenty-three (23) minutes after Joe Legal changed the definition of “Super- at the end of ninety (90) days, the and working conditions. The Biden was given the oath of office. pdate visor” under the National Labor Re- parties are required to submit the Trump NLRB reversed Brown- On January 20, 2021, President U lations Act. It requires Supervisors unresolved issues to an Arbitrator ing-Ferris, codifying its decision in Biden asked NLRB General Counsel to engage in Supervisory duties for who then writes the terms of a two a formal rule in the Board’s NLRB Peter Robb to resign. General a majority of their time. That is not (2)-year agreement. This is called Rules and Regulations. The PRO Counsel Robb promptly responded L. Michael Zinser required at the present time. The interest arbitration. Under current Act would nullify this rule. and declined to do so. President PRO Act also removes Supervisory law, unions are not allowed to • Right to Work Laws - The PRO Biden then fired him. Never in authority to assign work and direct insist upon interest arbitration. It is Act would effectively eliminate the the history of the NLRB General Among the proposed changes are employees responsibly as indicia considered a permissive, non-man- right of a state to enact a Right-to- Counsel’s Office has this occurred. the following: of Supervisory status. There are datory subject of bargaining. The Work law. Currently, twenty-seven General Counsel Robb still had • Independent Contractor Status many recent cases where individ- PRO Act changes that. (27) states have Right-to-Work ten (10) months to run before the - The PRO Act adopts California’s uals have been ruled by the NLRB • Bar Class-Action Waivers in laws. A Right-to-Work law makes expiration of his term. strict ABC Test for independent to be Supervisors if they have the Arbitration Agreements - Cur- it unlawful for a union to even pro- The United States Senate con- contractor status. This change in authority “to assign work” or have rent caselaw allows Employers pose language that employees must firmed Peter Robb for a statutory the statute would make it sig- the authority to “direct employees to require an employee to sign a join and pay dues to the union as a four (4)-year term. President nificantly easier for unions and responsibly.” Class-Action Arbitration Waiver. condition of employment. The PRO Biden’s firing him essentially con- the NLRB to prove independent • NLRB Quickie Election Rule - The U.S. Supreme Court upheld Act would permit contract terms verts him to an Officer who serves contractors are employees for The PRO Act establishes by statute such clauses as legal, ruling that requiring all employees to pay to at the pleasure of the President. purposes of the National Labor the Quickie Election Rule that the National Labor Relations the union fees for the cost or rep- This cannot be what Congress Relations Act. The new statute was established under the Obama Act does not bar such Arbitra- resentation, collective bargaining, intended when, in 1947, as part abandons old, Common Law NLRB. President Trump’s appoin- tion Agreements. The NLRB has contract enforcement and related of the Taft-Hartley Amendments, Right to Control Test used by the tees to the NLRB had modified the ruled that Employers may law- expenditures. it created the Office of General NLRB since 1947 and substitutes Quickie Election Rule to make it fully require employees to sign a Counsel to be independent of the the ABC Test. Under the PRO Act, more Employer-friendly. Class-Action Waiver and agree that Conclusion National Labor Relations Board. an individual would be classified The whole design of the Quickie any employment dispute would be There is no provision in the statute as an “employee” unless (A) the Election Rule is to deprive Employ- resolved by individualized arbitra- The House of Representatives for the President to remove the individual is free from control and ers of the First Amendment right tions. The PRO Act would bar such passed the PRO Act in 2020. The General Counsel before the expi- direction in connection with the to communicate to its employees Class-Action Waivers. Republican majority in the Senate ration of his term. In this writer’s performance of the service, both all of the issues involved in being • Enhanced Unfair Labor Prac- refused to do so. Now, the Sen- opinion, this was a lawless act. under the contract for the perfor- represented by a labor union. tice Remedies - The PRO Act allows ate is split 50-50. Our only hope The NLRB General Counsel de- mance of service and in fact; (B) • Permanent Replacement Unfair Labor Practice Charges to is to persuade enough Senators termines which cases are prosecut- the services performed outside the of Strikers - The PRO Act bans be brought as civil actions in court. to vote against this to prevent it ed by the Agency. Obviously, the usual course of the business of the Employer lockouts and bans the The PRO Act also adds fines and from becoming law. It would be a Biden Administration viewed Peter Employer; and (C) the individual permanent replacement of striking liquidated damages as remedies disaster for Employers everywhere. Robb as an obstacle to immediately is customarily engaged in an inde- employees. Under Supreme Court for Unfair Labor Practice Charges. I strongly urge you to write your pursuing a pro-union agenda. pendently established trade, occu- precedent, Employers have had the The PRO Act also allows for the United States Senators and urge On February 4, 2021, Congres- pation, profession or business of right to hire permanent replace- possibility of personal liability for them to vote against the PRO Act. sional Democrats introduced the the same nature as that involved ments of strikers since 1938. The Corporate Directors and Officers. Protecting the Right to Organize in the service performed. PRO Act would end this right. • Joint Employer Status - The L. Michael Zinser is president Act of 2021 (“PRO Act”), which is A major problem with this new Additionally, the PRO Act allows PRO Act restores the controversial of The Zinser Law Firm, P.C., in almost identical to a similar bill test is that Prong C is interpreted to intermittent strikes by employees; Joint Employer Test set forth by Nashville. He can be reached at passed by the House but not the require the independent contractor intermittent strikes under current the Obama Board in 2015 in the 615.244.9700 and mzinser@zinser- Senate in March of 2020. The 2021 to actually be doing business with law are illegal. Browning-Ferris case. That case law.com. PRO Act contains many controver- two (2) or more different compa- • Compulsory Interest Arbitra- expanded Employer liability by sial and far-reaching amendments nies. It does not allow for the inde- tion in First-Time Contracts - The broadly interpreting Joint Employer to the National Labor Relations Act. pendent contractor to choose to do PRO Act requires the parties to status to include situations involv-

OBITUARIES from Page 9 of Miami graduate, Joseph Redding liams served on the boards of the By that time, Mr. Williams Jason Reynolds Williams III was born in Detroit but Memphis Chamber of Commerce, had given up smoking, but not Jason M. Reynolds died Friday, Appeal building at 495 Union settled in Florida as a young man. Youth Programs Inc. and Future his trademark cigars, which he March 12 at age 46 after a short for a ceremony recognizing the He played quarterback on the Memphis, to name a few. chewed without lighting. “The ci- illness. He had just recently been newspaper’s “Thousand Points of football team at Rollins College in Mr. Williams helped run The gar is my pacifier, but it also helps named editor of Light” series, which celebrated area Winter Park, Florida, before he Commercial Appeal at a time when me keep my mouth shut when The Shelbyville voluntarism. moved to Miami, where he met daily newspapers in cities the size I should be listening instead of Times-Gazette In addition, Mr. Williams in and married his wife, in 1956. of Memphis were consistently prof- talking,” he said, in a story about and prior to that 1978 was instrumental in saving Eventually, Mr. Williams fol- itable and employed hundreds of his retirement. worked for The the financially ailing Memphis lowed his family into the news- people. When Mr. Williams retired In addition to his wife, Mr. Wil- Murfreesboro Area Chamber of Commerce paper business, joining his father, in 1994, Scripps chief executive liams leaves a daughter, Cathy Jean Post. from the verge of bankruptcy by George Williams, in a company in officer Lawrence A. Leser said: Mullings of Cape Coral, Florida. A celebration agreeing to construct a $250,000 Indiana that put together circula- “The Commercial Appeal has been The couple’s son, Joseph “Jay” of life will be building at 555 Beale (behind tion promotions for newspapers. and continues to be one of our Redding Williams IV, died in 2016 Reynolds planned in Mur- the newspaper, essentially), and This led him into the advertising most successful newspapers, and a after a traffic accident in Memphis. freesboro. allowing the chamber free use of and then into the business manage- lot of that is due to Joe. He’s very The Commercial Appeal, Note: The Tennessee Press will the space for three years. ment sides of newspapering. creative, imaginative and a good Memphis publish the full obituary in the April A Navy veteran and University While at the newspaper, Mr. Wil- strategic thinker.” Feb. 10, 2021 edition. March 2021• The Tennessee Press • Page 11

Sun, CA move print operations to Mississippi These TPA members and friends CASSANDRA STEPHENSON ers of both newspapers will remain to the Jackson, Tenn. press’ roster. served as judges for the New Jersey Jackson Sun the same. Two years after the Commercial Press Association’s News/Ed and January 6, 2021 The move is the latest step in Appeal’s presses went quiet, Advertising Contests in 2021. We parent company Gannett, Co.’s the newspaper moved from its thank you for your time and as- The Jackson Sun and its sister ongoing effort to consolidate pro- longtime 495 Union Ave. home to sistance, which supports TPA’s paper, The Commercial Appeal, duction operations. It will impact its current downtown Memphis Memphis, as of Feb. 1 have moved Contests! about 23 employees at the Jackson, location on South Main St. Judge Newspaper their printing and packaging oper- Tennessee plant, who will continue The Tennessean, the state’s flag- Ivan Aronin Main Street Media of Tennessee ations to the Clarion-Ledger facility work as usual through Jan. 31. ship newspaper, shifted its printing Cicely Babb The Greeneville Sun in Jackson, Miss. The Jackson, Miss. plant now operations to the Gannett, Co.- Becky Barger The Bledsonian Banner Zachary Birdsong The Tullahoma News News and advertising teams at prints seven daily newspapers (not owned Knoxville News Sentinel The Jackson Sun and Commercial Jamie Bone Elk Valley Times all of which are owned by Gannett). in 2019 as it prepared to leave its Crystal Burns Former editor of The Gazette Appeal will remain in Jackson, The Commercial Appeal retired historic 1100 Broadway location. Susan Cameron Bristol Herald Courier Tenn. and Memphis, respectively. its decades-old presses in April The Tennessean is now located on Elena Cawley Manchester Times Daily delivery times for print read- 2017, adding its print production Nashville’s West End Avenue. Emily Chapin Citizen Tribune Jennie Chevalier Morgan County News Joel Christopher Knoxville News Sentinel Collins, who was also known loaded to take down to Hen- Lana Clifton The Paris Post-Intelligencer PRESS from Page 12 around Jackson for running the derson,” Strong said. “There’s a John Coffelt Manchester Times Jackson Boxing Club and molding printing company down there, Clint Cooper Chattanooga Times Free Press Workload Brian Cutshall The Greeneville Sun young men into quality boxers, and they were our backup then if Carol Daniels Tennessee Press Association The Sun isn’t the only publication was finishing his lunch one day something happened here.” Frank Daniels, III FW Publishing that’s been printed on its press. and lit some firecrackers in a Jeffries said the people he’s Mark Darnell Macon County Chronicle The Commercial Appeal has been hallway when no one was looking, worked with over the past 35 Lisa Denton Chattanooga Times Free Press years will be the biggest thing Sandy Dodson The Bledsonian Banner printed in Jackson since 2017, and far from anything potentially dan- Cheryl Duncan Crossville Chronicle other papers are printed here, too, gerous but close to the newsroom he misses when the final run is Eugenia Estes The Greeneville Sun including the USA Today editions and advertising departments. complete Sunday night. Krista Etter Grainger Today delivered in West Tennessee, The “I’ve never seen this place emp- “We have a new challenge every Marcus Fitzsimmons APG Design Center Memphis Flyer, Memphis Business ty out as fast as it did that day,” day,” Jeffries said. “We never Yolanda Flick Shelbyville Times Gazette J. Todd Foster The Daily Times Journal, Nashville Business Journal Strong said. know what it’s going to be from Don Foy Herald-Citizen and the Courier Journal, a weekly Strong also told of the team one night to the next because it Dale Gentry The Standard Banner publication in Florence, Ala. effort it took to get a paper out for all depends on what’s going on Alison Gerber Chattanooga Times Free Press “The print product still has a Jan. 18, 1999, the morning after a and what’s going in the paper and John Gullion Citizen Tribune tornado moved through Jackson whatever else we’re printing that Daniel Guy Cleveland Daily Banner market for advertisements and Stephen Hargis Chattanooga Times Free Press inserts, but keeping print viable and knocked power out for most of night. Barbara Harmon Pulaski Citizen while freeing up resources for the the city. “But it’s been fun working with Nathan Hickey The Dunlap Tribune informational part of the business “Not everybody was here, but these guys and I’ll miss working Autumn Hughes Cleveland Daily Banner continues to consolidate produc- a lot of us – press, reporters and with them every day. It’s been a Scott Jenkins The Greeneville Sun even the publisher – were moving great run for us.” Cameron Judd The Greeneville Sun tion, which is efficient,” said Brad Mark Kennedy Chattanooga Times Free Press Isaacs, Gannett production ser- stuff out of here and getting it Billy Kirk Kingsport Times-News vices and general manager for The Neva Lang Peters Roane County News Sun. “For this market, there are Ken Leinart The Courier News Lindsay Pride Herald-Citizen no changes in our advertisement Sara Jane Locke The Herald-News deadlines and very little change in Cary Jane Malone Pulaski Citizen our news-gathering deadlines. Brad Martin Hickman County Times “But we worked hard, and the Brooke McCain Brownsville Press Chris McCain Brownsville Press non-Gannett printing made the Matt McClane Chattanooga Times Free Press facility more valuable. The press is Erin McCullough The Tullahoma News more flexible to handle those jobs, Angie Meadows Smithville Review and we were able to use that to Steve Meadows News-Herald Gannett and our advantage.” David Melson Shelbyville Times-Gazette Sheena Meyer Cleveland Daily Banner Heather Mulllinix Crossville Chronicle End of an era Rick Norton Cleveland Daily Banner Kathy Payne Cleveland Daily Banner While neither Jeffries nor Jason Perry Roane County News Strong expect their final shift to be Jason Reynolds Murfreesboro Post Daniel Richardson Carroll County News Leader an emotional occasion, they will Sara Riley Knoxville News Sentinel miss the camaraderie that came Robin Rudd Chattanooga Times Free Press with working on the press. Tim Siniard Cleveland Daily Banner “When this place was in its Mike Sisco The Daily Times heyday, we had some characters Chase Smith The Bledsonian Banner Pam Sohn Chattanooga Times Free Press running around here, and not just Gwen Swiger Cleveland Daily Banner in the press room,” Strong said. Chris Vass Chattanooga Times Free Press “Rayford Collins worked in com- Ken Walker The Paris Post-Intelligencer posing, and he was a character Rob Walters Bristol Herald Courier Artie Wehenkel The Greeneville Sun and was one of the best at pulling Roger Wells Herald-Citizen pranks.” Tracey Wolfe Grainger Today Strong told of one time when Page 12 • The Tennessee Press • March 2021

TPA MEMBER COVERAGE SHOWCASE III: The Jackson Sun Final press run for Jackson Sun marks end of decades-long tradition BRANDON SHIELDS The Jackson Sun January 31, 2021 Editor’s note: This story was published in the January 31, 2021, edition of The Jackson Sun. The time elements referenced in the story and photo cutlines have not been edited. They were left intact to properly reflect the sentiment of what the story was conveying one day before The Sun’s press was shut down. Wally Strong first came to work for The Jackson Sun in 1981. Vince Jeffries began working for the newspaper of record for Jackson and West Tennessee in 1985. Both started in delivery before eventually working their way into Photos by Brandon Shields, The Jackson Sun The paper is stored in rolls in a warehouse adjacent to the press room at the press room within a couple of Press director Vince Jeffries looks at copies coming off the press and The Jackson Sun and requires a forklift to be moved onto the press. years. prepares to make any necessary color adjustments digitally. Their tenure with The Sun will end this weekend when the final “We had a notebook of mixture readers learned about the tragedy edition of the paper to be printed levels for the different colors of from the newspaper before the in Jackson happens Sunday night ink we needed for certain shades days of 24-hour cable news and for Monday’s (Feb. 1, 2021) edition. of each color that we had to weigh social media. Gannett, the corporation that out the different amounts for each “The publisher came into the owns The Sun and six other daily one on one of those old tomato press room when we started print- newspapers in Tennessee including weights to make sure we had it ing that day’s paper and told us not the Memphis Commercial Appeal, right.” to call anyone to make sure people announced earlier this month it’s The press that was installed in got the details about it when they moving the print operations for 2000 created a more automated read the paper,” Strong said. both The Sun and Commercial way to generate color images and The transition to a morning Appeal to Jackson, Miss. get a product out in a speedy man- edition meant a major transition in “We were kind of expecting ner once it was put on the press, work schedule for those involved in maybe a couple of people laid off, which was the more difficult part printing production. It meant wait- but I wasn’t expecting us to be of the job when waiting on the ing on coverage of nightly school shut down,” Jeffries said about newsroom to finish stories and board meetings to wrap up, Miss the announcement. “But that’s the editing pages before they were Tennessee winners to be crowned way the entire business is going.” sent to the press. and the all-important local high school and college sports games to The press at The Jackson Sun, seen here printing a paper, will have its History of the press Waiting for news finish for proper coverage in the operations shut down Sunday night after printing the Monday edition. The current press that sits in Neither Jeffries nor Strong could next morning’s paper. “We didn’t like it when we noon after the 9-11 terrorist attacks Wednesday edition.” The Sun’s facilities on W. Lafayette recall a time since they started in New York, Washington D.C. and Jeffries said he remembers the Street in Downtown Jackson was in the 1980s when the familiar switched over, but we got used to it eventually,” Jeffries said. “And Pennsylvania on Sept. 11, 2001. paper being significantly larger installed in 2000. Construction phrase “Stop the presses!” was for the next few weeks after that we were OK with waiting for those “I got off work about 3 or 4 that began in May of 1999 to put in a used for late-breaking news. as continuous coverage continued scores because that’s the biggest morning and did what I usually do larger press that required a signifi- “There were a couple times and went home and went to bed,” as the nation began to move on cant addition to the building. when an editor or publisher would thing about a local newspapers. Strong said. “Then my wife woke from the tragedy, crews began That took a year to do as the see something that was wrong and “The people who subscribe and me up probably about 9 or 10 tell- to comb through the rubble for press began rolling on May 1, 2000. needed to be fixed right then, so read do that to see the names of ing me what had happened.” survivors and government and It’s a machine that is three sto- we stopped, replaced it and started their children or grandchildren in It wasn’t long after that when military leaders planned their ries tall and was a much cleaner all over,” Jeffries said. the paper, and we were waiting response. then-publisher Ed Graves called in and safer way to put a paper out The Sun was an evening paper for that to come to us so we could “That showed the importance the press crew to put out a special than its predecessor. until 1993, which meant the work make it look good.” of what we do,” Jeffries said. “The “The old press that we had took on the press was done in the afternoon edition for fast reporting Sun was the main way people a lot of physical effort to get paper daytime until the transition to the One final on the attacks. knew what was going on in “We came in and put it out as rolls on, and if you didn’t know morning edition. And the timing afternoon edition Jackson, what was coming up and what you were doing or got some- of the explosion of the Space Shut- quick as we could after they got what was happening in the state thing wrong, it could be danger- tle Challenger on Jan. 28, 1986 at While the afternoon edition was all the pages to us,” Jeffries said. and country.” ous,” Strong said. “And we were 10:39 a.m. Central time was an stopped in 1993, it was eight years “Then we went home for a little mixing our own ink and pouring example of how protective Sun later when The Sun published one while and came back that night it into the press. leadership was of making sure final special edition in the after- and worked a normal shift for the See PRESS Page 11