The community issues magazine of the Kentucky League of Cities summer 2007

Delivering the news in Kentucky CITY SCAPES summer 2007 • Vol. 9 • N o . 3 2 CITY leaders 4 8 CITY schools Delivering the 6

news CITY SCENES The news is changing— and so is the ownership of news outlets in Kentucky. 14 CITY Perspective b y a l c r o s s 22 CITY business 18 24 Home ownership CITY conversation Kentucky's largest media company is family owned and operated. 26 CITY bits B y A l c r o s s & l a u r a c l e m m o n s 30 CITY Q & A 20 32 News A3 2G2BT? No. RLY. (News anytime, anywhere, anyplace. Too good to be true? No. Really.)

B y w i l l w a r r e n

102 summer 2007 Cover Illustration by Jim Edmon -summer www.edmondesign.com 2007  need to seriously evaluate all the services a great city. Read the fine print of my Sylvia L. Lovely is the local government provides at some point budget and there are dozens of examples Executive Director/CEO of and ask if they are all central to our of partnerships where the city teams up with agencies, schools, the private sector, the Kentucky League of Kentucky League of Cities mission. Cities, headquartered “And fourth, we will continue to focus state and federal government—all to officers move Louisville forward. B y S y l v i a L . L o v e l y in Lexington. aggressively on economic initiatives that David L. Willmoth, Jr. we believe will bring new tax dollars to “Some of the most important Mayor of Elizabethtown, President our community—from new jobs to new partnerships involve members of the Glenn V. Caldwell bridges to new downtown and suburban Metro Council who have already worked Louisville Metro budget: a preview of what is to come Mayor of Williamstown, First Vice President developments. with us to provide matching funds for Connie Lawson “This budget reflects our values. We key projects in your districts. Mayor of Richmond, Second Vice President need to be clear about “Fifth, we value education. Bradley H. Collins Budget-making time is just coming to a close for costs. Mayor of Morehead, Immediate Past President those values as we make We recognize it is the ticket cities and counties across the commonwealth. But “Our revenue projections—and they are decisions in what are to opportunity for residents Sylvia L. Lovely this is a year unlike any other. The tough decisions aggressive—show our tax dollars will grow by 4 to Executive Director/CEO, KLC truly challenging financial and for our community. that have been made are just harbingers of more 5 percent next year. That’s about $23 million. You times. So let me share My budget punches difficult times ahead. have heard me talk about the rising cost of health EXECUTIVE BOARD some of the values I hear that ticket with strong It is no secret that states and the federal insurance for our employees. This year we will pay Jerry E. Abramson, Mayor of Louisville Metro reflected in the voices of support for our Louisville government are struggling with seemingly nearly $40 million, up from $25 million five years Susan Barto, Mayor of Lyndon our residents throughout Free Public Library. Irvin T. "Butch" Callery, Mayor of Covington unsolvable budget dilemmas: how to fund a war ago. Bill Ed Cannon, City Manager of Corbin our community—the values It supports innovative while fixing crumbling infrastructure; how to “You have heard me describe the escalating Stephen Gilmore, Mayor of Ashland that shape this budget and educational partnerships provide assistance programs that are an essential cost of pensions and retirement. We’ve seen the Anthony Massey, City Manager of Frankfort will shape our work as we like Metropolitan College, Michael D. Miller, Mayor of Jackson part of the compassionate society we claim to be. city’s pension payments—what we are required to put in a Mary Pate, Mayor of Beaver Dam move forward. which will expand soon At the same time, local governments find themselves in retirement fund each year to pay for employee pensions down William Paxton, Mayor of Paducah “First, we value public safety. It is to help more college students meet crisis. As more and more costs are shifted to the local level, the road—we’ve seen our share grow from $31 million in 2004 Darrell Pickett, Mayor of Glasgow the bedrock upon which we build a local workforce needs. This budget also H. Tom Rushing, Mayor of Murray cities must also meet the ongoing needs of worker salaries, to $66 million in the year ahead—more than double—while Elaine Walker, Mayor of Bowling Green strong community. So nearly one out increases city funding for the successful pensions and infrastructure. These fundamentals compete at the same time the number of employees in Louisville Metro of every three operating dollars goes new Youth Opportunities Unlimited with investments that target quality of life improvements—the government has actually gone down. If this pattern continues, to our police department. Add all our Center partnership with JCPS [Jefferson kind that appeal to people who can live and work anywhere our share would grow from $66 million to $100 million two public protection agencies—fire, EMS, County Public Schools], Jefferson and who frequently ignore the political boundaries that, years from now. EMA, corrections, animal services—and Community and Technical College and although honored by traditional governments, are increasingly “So, clearly, we have a challenge. public protection is responsible for more others. It’s already helped hundreds of anachronistic. “And that challenge is echoed across Kentucky and the The voice of Kentucky cities. than 60 percent of our entire operating disengaged 16- to 21-year-olds get back Thus, the innovative and forward-thinking leaders among nation—as baby boomers begin to retire from government jobs The Kentucky League of Cities (KLC) is a budget. in school and get jobs. voluntary association of cities, created in our local elected officials have begun to rethink their strategies. with health and pension benefits that represent a staggering 1927, to assist municipal officials in repre- “Second, we value quality of life. “Sixth, we value people and programs Louisville Metro Mayor Jerry Abramson is one such innovator. load for strapped budgets. senting the interests of cities and to provide You won’t find it defined one way that give them a hand up when they services to members which will foster His proposed budget for 2007-2008 offers a hint of what is to “The Kentucky League of Cities has called local government improved local government in Kentucky. in a dictionary. It means good jobs, need help. My budget continues our come. pensions ‘a time bomb.’ The cities of Covington and meaningful work, a paycheck that gives support for Louisville-area community KLC provides a forum for its 370 local His thinking reflects not only a reaction to a crisis of Owensboro have already cut their workforce. Florence, member cities across the Commonwealth to you choice about where and how you ministries that provide emergency diminishing revenues but also a prescient move toward Kentucky, has raised taxes. Closer to home, West Buechel has address their common needs, challenges and live. It means strong neighborhoods, assistance to people in need. Our opportunities. Some service program divisions something more important. He has identified a process laid off three police officers. Oldham County, one of the most of the League include: legal assistance, group manageable commutes to work, great Department of Housing and Family whereby we, as citizens, cannot avoid addressing the need to affluent areas in our state, has cut 10 percent of its workforce. insurance plans and risk management services, parks, arts, a vibrant 24/7 downtown— Services will introduce a new foreclosure capital financing and management services, participate in the difficult deliberations of how the city will From California to Texas, from Illinois to New Jersey, the story training and leadership development, the heart of our city that shapes the assistance program this year. It will continue its progress toward becoming a world-class place for is similar. downtown and economic development vitality and prosperity of our entire two- better coordinate services for homeless living, working and playing. “So: What should we be doing? I am not suggesting that we programs, information and research services. state, 23-county region. individuals and families. In his own words: back down on our commitment to workers who are retired or “Third, we value community. We “Seventh and last, we also value the “….Budget time is when you really think about values – not currently employed and part of the system. But there are things value our distinctive neighborhoods and land and water and air around us. We just those dollars-and-cents values of how much to spend on we must do: Editorial Staff suburban cities, our traditions and our will step up the work of our Partnership fire trucks or additional health department inspectors. . . but “First, we must keep our workforce lean. We have eliminated Publisher Sylvia L. Lovely institutions, the schools we’ve attended for a Green City, our collaboration also the other kind of values: Given the limits of revenue, more than 700 positions in the past four years. When we’ve Executive Editor Bobbie S. Bryant and the places we worship. But we with U of L and JCPS to stake out Editorial Services Diana Taylor new policies and practices that reflect what do we believe in, care about, recognize as our duty to added police, or EMTs or animal control officers, we’ve had to Communications also value the community crossroads our citizens? What investments do we believe are critical if we trim somewhere else. Advertising Information EdmonDesign that bring us all together—from the environmentally responsible values. …” want to achieve our boldest dreams for our city? “Second, we are working with other local governments to 1-800-530-5678 Waterfront to the Louisville Zoo, *** “What kind of community do we want to live in today and urge state leaders to revamp the pension and retirement system from festivals to parks. We see a city Thus, Mayor Abramson has called upon City is published quarterly by the Kentucky League leave as a legacy for our children and grandchildren tomorrow? for the next generation of public workers with benefits that are of Cities. Presorted standard postage is paid of possibilities that stretch beyond the the citizens of his city to ponder their “To squarely address those big picture values we need to fair, adequate and sustainable for both our employees and our at Owensboro, Kentucky. • Postmaster: Send limits of our own lives. values and participate in making the address changes to: City, Kentucky League difficult decisions that face their begin a frank and thoughtful conversation about our city’s taxpayers. The governor has appointed a blue ribbon task force of Cities, 100 East Vine Street, Suite 800, “Fourth, we value teamwork. Someone future financial resources and the enormous challenges that lie to examine this issue, with recommendations due later this Lexington, Kentucky 40507-3700. reminded me the other day of an old government. If we have learned anything before us and many cities like ours across the state and across year. Web site: www.klc.org newspaper column that used to be called in this country in the past few years, it is the nation. “Third, we will work even harder to manage today’s financial ©2007 Kentucky League of Cities The Louisville Way. It strikes me that that citizens must take responsibility for “We can dream boldly. We can spend wisely. But the truth resources wisely, earning the best bond ratings, for example, The Louisville Way lives on today in our their own future and for the place they is that a day of reckoning is coming. Our tax dollars are not so the cost of borrowing for capital improvements—roads, hometown, and it’s all about teamwork— call home. As the world grows larger and keeping pace with the soaring costs of running a government sidewalks, roofs and new buildings—is as low as possible. We great partnerships that elevate this more out of control, it is said that the first where 70 percent of our operating budget goes for personnel will look thoughtfully at other sources of revenue. And we may community from a good place to live to place for action is at home.

 summer 2007 summer 2007  find ways to push the credit for their how best to get the job done. Neil Hackworth is Deputy success toward those that work every Strong leaders realize that it takes a Executive Director of the day to support them. This strong dedicated team to be successful. Kentucky League of Cities level of trust enables everyone to Lastly, successful leaders l ea d e r s and a former mayor of work without fear and, as a result, to understand the need for patience. It Shelbyville. be successful. can be hard to be patient when much By neil hackworth It is true that most strong leaders is at stake, but nothing worth doing have big egos. It is also probably true gets done quickly. Sometimes leaders that big egos get leaders in trouble push too hard too quickly and miss all too often. But successful leaders the mark. They make the mistake The characteristics of an effective leader seem to be able to control their egos of thinking that by being very and share the glory. They understand aggressive they are being bold. that achieving the ultimate goal is Although we must be determined more important than receiving all the to achieve a goal and see a plan I suppose all of us have had might make would be complete or The first characteristic of leadership credit. A leader who acknowledges to the finish, we cannot hope to Al Cross is director of the leadership opportunities, either at even absolutely accurate. But I do that comes to my mind is courage— those who contribute to the success overcome all the obstacles to success Institute for Rural Journalism work or in our communities. have some thoughts to share. but not the kind that laughs when of a project will find that people immediately. Being determined and and Community Issues and Some of us have served in public One other thing merits a mention looking death in the face. Rather, this are more willing to make future patient at the same time may be a an assistant professor in the office and taken on elected leadership is the kind of courage it takes to stand contributions. difficult balance to achieve, but it is a School of Journalism and positions. Others have volunteered up for what is right for the people A third trait of good leaders is that necessary one. Telecommunications at the to take such roles at work or in the you serve, even when it puts you at they plan for their success. Leaders Although there are different styles All of us know that University of Kentucky. He is community. Others might feel that personal risk of getting fired or losing don’t usually get the job done by of leadership and no one style is the a former political writer for The they were somewhat coerced or leadership is a neutral term the next election. accident. They plan what needs to be right style, in my view, having these Courier Journal. drafted by a boss, or even a friend. No Clearly, good leaders seem to done and are relentless in pursuing traits can help anyone be a successful doubt most of us will be asked to take that can be either good or know when to pick a fight. Not every and implementing those plans. They leader. Not all will come naturally, such positions in the future. struggle is worth a risk, and some can stay the course and adjust only where but they can be developed with work Each of us brings different evil depending on how it’s and should be put off until another necessary. They involve others in the and dedication. leadership skills to the table. This used and what it represents. day. But strong leaders know how to planning as early as possible to get is a good thing because there is no set priorities and stay the course on their ideas and feedback. They also single style of leadership that works those things that matter most. They get others involved in determining best. In fact, there are a number of have the courage of their convictions. Laura Clemmons, a law student leadership styles that can be used first. All of us know that leadership A second trait of strong leaders is at the University of Louisville, in most situations to get a job done; is a neutral term that can be either trustworthiness—something that is a UK journalism graduate who generally, organizations whose leaders positive or negative depending on enables them to find and keep good wrote about Paxton Media as an have a variety of styles are the most how it’s used and what it represents. people who will complement and assignment in Cross' Community successful. Although some of the same strengthen them. They also have the Journalism class in 2005. The Kentucky League of Cities characteristics might be found in both ability to convince these people to makes an effort to determine the kinds of leaders, my focus is on those join them in fighting the good fight, no leadership styles of all of its directors, leaders that have good intentions. matter how long it takes. Finally, they managers and key employees. Having this understanding can help directors and managers know best how to encourage and best use the skills of key staff members in a project or Will Warren is an intern with activity. It also helps us understand the NewCities Institute. He where they can be expected to need has worked for the Kentucky help. Commerce Cabinet, the U.S. Good leaders also understand their Department of Labor and the own strengths and weaknesses and Bluegrass Area Development surround themselves with people District. who can help them overcome their personal shortcomings. Nobody is perfect, and leaders are no exception. So, are there common traits to be found in successful leaders? Are there certain characteristics that tell us that City welcomes requests for reprints. a person is likely to be a successful If you wish to reprint an article that leader? appears in this or another issue, First, I’m sure each of you could please contact Executive Editor make your own list of what you Bobbie Bryant at [email protected] or believe to be the best traits and 1-800-876-4552 for permission. characteristics of successful leaders. In no way do I think that any list I

 summer 2007 summer 2007  David Greer is Member Services Director for the Kentucky Press Association and Administrator of the sc h o o l s Kentucky High School By david greer Journalism Association.

Association offers journalism guidance for high school students

Ten years ago, the Kentucky Press categories. Nearly 2,300 contest than 20 breakout sessions addressing Association, the Frankfort-based entries were received this year. print and broadcast journalism member services organization for the More than 100 high schools in the topics presented by journalists and state’s newspaper industry, established state—and a few middle schools— journalism educators. In April of this the Kentucky High School Journalism belong to KHSJA each school year. year, John Voskuhl, deputy managing Association. The More than editor of the Miami Herald, a Kentucky goal for KHSJA 60 percent of native and veteran of The Courier- was to be a mentor those schools Journal and Lexington Herald-Leader, and advocate for have their was the convention’s keynote speaker print and broadcast annual $50 and also a breakout session presenter. journalism among membership The 2006 convention featured CBS Kentucky’s high fee paid by News videographer Les Rose, who is schools. their local based in the network’s Los Angeles A decade later, newspaper. news bureau. Rose’s family hails about 800 high Several from Lexington. In 2005, Louisville school journalism students and newspapers sponsor a half-dozen or native and Eastern Kentucky teachers from across the state attend more schools in their coverage areas. University graduate Jeff Newton, the annual KHSJA state convention. The newspaper industry has a long an associate producer for the CBS In addition, KHSJA sponsors an tradition of helping mentor the next News program “60 Minutes,” was annual contest in which schools and generation of journalists. the keynote speaker and a presenter. students compete against one another The annual convention, held in the Newton, a former reporter for The in newspaper, yearbook and broadcast spring in Louisville, features more News-Enterprise in Elizabethtown, has covered the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq for the network. KHSJA also offers training opportunities for students and teachers. Workshops by noted experts in newspaper page design and technology were offered earlier this year. Dave LaBelle, noted photojournalism instructor from Western Kentucky University and now with the University of Kentucky, has presented very popular workshops for KHSJA member schools and their students. What does the future hold for KHSJA? We will probably see more middle schools join the organization (after all, journalism programs at many colleges are seeing record enrollments), and we have plans to expand school sponsorship opportunities as well as establish an internship program for high school journalism teachers.

 summer 2007 summer 2007  Kentuckians' information resources often headquartered elsewhere

by Al cross

"The basis of our government being Twenty years later, after becoming broad definition of “press” includes the opinion of the people … were president and suffering vicious broadcasters and online journalists. it left to me to decide whether we press attacks of a freshly partisan He wrote in the Declaration of should have a government without era, Jefferson wrote, “Nothing can Independence that any government newspapers or newspapers without a now be believed which is seen in a derives its “just powers from the government, I should not hesitate a newspaper.” consent of the governed,” and he and moment to prefer the latter.” Despite his frustrated exaggeration, the other Founding Fathers believed Thomas Jefferson wrote that in Jefferson remained a believer in the the press must be unfettered so that 1787, the same year John Bradford essential role that the press plays the governed could give informed founded The Kentucky Gazette in a part in a republic, and he would surely consent. of Virginia that was not yet a state. think likewise today, when the In that Virginia district that became

 summer 2007 summer 2007  the state of Kentucky, who does is declining, as some shrink their Perhaps the most significant change in the informing today? Where do coverage and circulation areas, and In Jefferson’s day, the press Kentuckians get the news they need as urban and suburban residents the Kentucky media landscape in the was largely a tool of partisan to render informed judgments about get more of their information from public affairs and the people who national cable channels and online past 20 years has been the end of the interests, with newspapers make public policy in their names, news sources. in city, county, state and federal However, rural and other statewide reach of The Courier-Journal. making clear their political governments? community newspapers, which enjoy allegiances and making little Increasingly, they get it from largely unchallenged franchises for Local TV was far behind at 16 percent in the Kentucky media landscape in news outlets owned by out-of-state the local information that is their — partly because many such markets the past 20 years has been the end of effort to separate news and companies whose sensitivity to stock in trade, are maintaining their have no local television station, but the statewide reach of The Courier- opinion. In the 20th century, primarily investors’ demand for dividends can circulation. Weekly circulation has also because print media offer greater Journal. make them less likely to deliver the remained stable over the last 10 years, depth of coverage. Even before the Bingham family after World War II, suburbanization and serious, in-depth journalism needed while daily circulation has dropped The latter survey is more applicable sold the Louisville newspaper to to sort out the complex issues of the by 70,000, to about 630,000. to Kentucky because the state has Gannett Co. in 1986, the paper had the expansion of other media led to the day—from local controversies to Kentucky has 26 daily newspapers more than 4 million people and only cut back on its circulation area and consolidation of newspapers, and two- state debates to questions of national and at least 120 paid-circulation three markets exceeding 100,000— was no longer available in all 120 interest. In some cases, however, weeklies. All the dailies are part of Louisville, Lexington and Northern counties (except by mail, and that paper towns became a rarity. As publishers chain ownership has improved news chains, except the Bowling Green Kentucky. Only the Lexington market could be a day late). But the paper of consolidated papers tried to appeal to a coverage. Daily News, which is owned by is confined to Kentucky; Louisville was available in most counties, and it The state’s media landscape also a local family, and the Kentucky news outlets must devote a substantial continued to cover the far reaches of broader audience, and journalists developed has a rural-urban divide that is often New Era, owned by a local family part of their resources to Southern the state, with bureaus in Paducah, reflected in the state’s public policy corporation that also owns a local Indiana, and the Northern Kentucky Bowling Green, Elizabethtown, a greater sense of ethics and responsibility, debates. Kentucky is a state of small radio station and low-power TV market is dominated by Cincinnati Lexington, Somerset, Hazard and the press became less partisan. towns, relatively speaking, and its station in Hopkinsville and a weekly media that emphasize Ohio news. Frankfort. media outlets reflect that. Only two paper in nearby Princeton. Nationally, Those bureaus gradually shrank and newspapers have circulations of more 80 percent of dailies are chain-owned. Metro papers become disappeared. Today, only Frankfort than 30,000, and most Kentuckians Chain ownership of newspapers more metro remains, and it has just two reporters. have no local broadcast television has been increasing for more than 30 Perhaps the most significant change It once had five, counting the political station. years. Nationally, about 60 percent of Metropolitan media outlets’ weekly papers are owned by chains. influence in Kentucky and elsewhere In Kentucky, just over half of weeklies are part of groups, some of which are regional, family operations that don’t operate like corporate chains. Metropolitan media There are no public polls showing outlets' influence where Kentuckians get their news, but polling in Kentucky on such broad in Kentucky topics tends to reflect national trends. A Pew Research Center for the People and elsewhere and the Press (www.people-press.org) poll in February found that 71 percent is declining, as of American adults regularly watch some shrink their local television news, while 54 percent read their local daily newspaper coverage and regularly (not necessarily daily). The poll found that, despite the circulation areas, explosion of such news sources as and as urban the Internet and rising levels of education, Americans appear to be no and suburban better informed about public affairs than they were before the explosion residents get more ignited. For example, fewer people of their information were able to name the governor of their state: 66 percent, as opposed to from national 74 percent in 1989. The Pew survey did not mention cable channels weekly newspapers, but in a 2005 poll taken for the National Newspaper and online news Association in markets of fewer than sources. 100,000 people, half the respondents said their local newspaper was their primary source of local information.

10 summer 2007 summer 2007 11 reporter (a job that was Frankfort- McClatchy was widely viewed as Scripps Co., and Gannett, which owns operations, even printing the based only when this writer had it, the corporate buyer most likely the much larger Cincinnati Enquirer.) Madisonville paper in Owensboro, from 1989 to 2004). The paper’s to protect news operations at the The circulation gap between larger it has not coordinated its editorial circulation area no longer includes former Knight-Ridder papers, but and smaller Kentucky newspapers operations on a regional scale. Newspaper Circulation in Kentucky eastern Kentucky or much of western its stock price has suffered since the leaves the state without papers the The Sun sends longtime political (Circulation according to Editor & Publisher Year Book) Kentucky, reflecting a trend among sale—as have those of many other size of a Charleston Gazette (65,000), writer Bill Bartleman to Frankfort for metropolitan papers nationwide, and newspaper chains, which are losing which is a national leader in covering legislative sessions, but he does not it no longer has an edition with a advertising to the Internet. the coal industry; or a Chattanooga write for the dailies in Madisonville GROUP, CITIES CIRCULATION GROUP, CITIES CIRCULATION second section labeled “Kentucky.” Times Free Press (70,000 daily, 97,000 or Owensboro, and the latter paper The closing of the Hazard bureau From big to small Sunday), which offers strong state- sends its own correspondent to Gannett Co. Inc. E.W. Scripps Co. was such a signal event that it was The Louisville and Lexington capital and political coverage. sessions. Paxton President and CEO 248,476 daily/68,079 weekly 38,914 daily/5,011 weekly noted by The New York Times, which Smaller papers are less able to David Paxton told University of Louisville ...... 218,796 Covington ...... 28,167 newspapers account for a little more Fort Mitchell ...... 29,680 Henderson ...... 10,747 quoted longtime Mayor Bill Gorman: than half of the total circulation tackle big stories, but the Paducah Kentucky student reporter Laura Northern Kentucky ...... 68,079 Morganfield ...... 5,011 “We got the road situation improved of Kentucky dailies, and perhaps and Owensboro papers still have a Clemmons in 2005 that it is “very and developed Eastern Kentucky less than half when The C-J’s regional news outlook. The papers important” for newsrooms to be McClatchy Co. Heartland Publications LLC because of the Courier’s influence in considerable circulation in Indiana are owned by Paxton Media LLC managed locally. “There is no Lexington ...... 141,124 12,777 daily/26,385 weekly Frankfort and in Washington, D.C. is not included. of Paducah, which also owns the influence from Paducah in other Harlan ...... 6,904 … Closing the bureaus will hurt the From the Herald-Leader’s city’s only TV station and weekly newsrooms,” he said. Landmark Community Newspapers Inc. . Middlesboro ...... 5,873 regions they’ve been serving more circulation of 111,000, it’s a long way newspapers in the neighboring towns 16,415 daily/100,510 weekly Leitchfield ...... 5,300 than it will hurt The Courier-Journal.” to the next larger papers in the state. of Benton, Eddyville and Cadiz, Covering politics and government Elizabethtown ...... 16,415 Russellville ...... 6,000 Newspaper officials said at the time Listing circulations between 25,000 and Calhoun, near Owensboro. The The newspaper chain with the next Leitchfield ...... 4,855 Hazard ...... 6,775 that the paper would keep covering and 30,000 are The Paducah Sun, the Paducah Sun circulates in 17 counties. largest daily circulation in Kentucky, Hodgenville ...... 4,825 Prestonsburg ...... 8,310 major stories in the regions. The Messenger-Inquirer of Owensboro, Paxton Media also owns Community Newspaper Holdings Campbellsville ...... 7,600 continuing examples of that have been and the Northern Kentucky editions The Messenger, a small daily in Inc., has a full-time Frankfort bureau, Liberty ...... 6,014 Lancaster Management Inc. stories about health care and coal- of Cincinnati papers, the Kentucky Madisonville, and the weekly Franklin staffed by Ronnie Ellis, formerly Lebanon ...... 5,806 24,861 daily/7,209 weekly mine health and safety. The paper’s Post and the Kentucky Enquirer. (The Favorite, giving it a strong presence of CNHI’s Glasgow Daily Times. He Springfield ...... 4,500 Pikeville ...... 11,000 Washington reporter, Jim Carroll, Post is to close at year’s end, with in the western third of the state. provides localized coverage for the Bardstown ...... 10,300 Murray ...... 7,459 recently won two awards from the the expiration of a joint operating But while it has consolidated some chain’s five dailies and six weeklies in Shepherdsville ...... 9,177 Georgetown ...... 6,402 Regional Reporters Association, agreement between its owner, E.W. of its management and production Kentucky. CHNI, one of the nation’s Taylorsville ...... 3,600 Paintsville ...... 5,200 one specifically for coal coverage largest chains, also has a state-capital Lawrenceburg ...... 6,100 and a general award driven by that Shelbyville ...... 9,070 Schurz Communications Inc. coverage. R.G. Dunlop, who was the LaGrange ...... 8,438 17,694 daily/11,804 weekly Hazard reporter before joining the New Castle ...... 4,500 Danville ...... 10,485 paper’s now-abolished special projects Bedford ...... 1,930 Winchester ...... 7,209 desk in Louisville, has returned to Carrollton ...... 3,266 Nicholasville ...... 7,304 the coal beat, and recently produced Owenton ...... 4,129 Stanford ...... 4,500 Williamstown ...... 6,000 a package of stories on black-lung Cynthiana ...... 6,500 Kentucky New Era Corp. disease with health writer Laura 10,357 daily/6,000 weekly Ungar. Community Newspaper Holdings Inc. Hopkinsville ...... 10,357 The Lexington Herald-Leader 47,949 daily/48,506 weekly Princeton ...... 6,000 continues to circulate in and cover Ashland ...... 17,936 eastern Kentucky, with bureaus in Somerset ...... 9,460 Hasco Newspapers Hazard and Somerset, and is starting Glasgow ...... 8,268 6,500 daily/7,438 weekly a new eastern Kentucky column by Corbin ...... 6,166 Mayfield ...... 6,500 recently retired regional reporter Lee Richmond ...... 6,119 Mount Sterling ...... 7,438 Mueller of the Paintsville area. The Greenup ...... 3,600 paper continues to embrace the east Grayson ...... 2,700 Lee Enterprises partly because Lexington remains Olive Hill ...... 5,500 Maysville ...... 9,051 daily a shopping center for people from Morehead ...... 5,800 the region, and the city’s retailers London ...... 19,800 Dix Communications Inc. consider it part of their market. Whitley City ...... 5,406 Frankfort ...... 8,299 daily The Herald-Leader was bought Monticello ...... 5,800 last year by the McClatchy Co. of Independent Daily Sacramento, Calif., as part of the Paxton Media Group LLC Bowling Green ...... 20,970 daily breakup of Knight-Ridder Inc., a 61,235 daily/20,997 weekly chain that had owned the paper Paducah ...... 25,375 Compiled by Al Cross since the mid-1970s. Kentucky Owensboro ...... 28,238 journalists generally agree that Madisonville ...... 7,622 Knight-Ridder improved coverage Franklin ...... 6,300 by merging the Herald and the Leader, Cadiz ...... 4,897 Benton ...... 5,000 hiring now-acclaimed editor John Eddyville ...... 2,300 Carroll and beefing up its regional Calhoun ...... 2,500 and government reporting staffs.

12 summer 2007 summer 2007 13 GROUP NEWSPAPER OWNERSHIP IN KENTUCKY (Dailies are bold faced.) WEEKLY-ONLY GROUPS of three papers or more

GROUP / CITIES COUNTY GROUP / CITIES COUNTY GROUP / CITIES COUNTY GROUP / CITIES COUNTY GROUP / CITIES COUNTY Gannett Co. Inc., McLean, Va. Paxton Media Group LLC, Paducah Schurz Communications Inc., Nolan Newspaper Group Kinner family LOUISVILLE Jefferson PADUCAH McCracken South Bend, Ind. Manchester Clay West Liberty Morgan FORT MITCHELL Kenton OWENSBORO Daviess DANVILLE Boyle Pineville Bell Sandy Hook Elliott Northern Kentucky 3 counties MADISONVILLE Hopkins WINCHESTER Clark Jackson Breathitt Campton Wolfe Franklin Simpson Nicholasville Jessamine Beattyville Lee Booneville Owsley Kentucky publishing Inc. McClatchy Co., Sacramento, Calif. Cadiz Trigg Stanford Lincoln McKee Jackson Bardwell Carlisle Fayette Benton Marshall LEXINGTON Berea Madison Wickliffe Ballard Eddyville Lyon Kentucky New Era Corp., Hopkinsville Paducah McCracken Landmark Community Newspapers Calhoun McLean (Oner of the Christian County paper) Jobe Publishing Inc. Smithland Livingston Inc., Shelbyville HOPKINSVILLE Christian Morgantown Butler ELIZABETHTOWN Hardin E.W. Scripps Co., Cincinnati Princeton Caldwell Horse Cave Hart Leitchfield Grayson COVINGTON Kenton Glasgow Barren Hodgenville LaRue HENDERSON Henderson Hasco Newspapers, Martinsville, Edmonton Metcalfe Campbellsville Taylor Morganfield Union Va. Tompkinsville Monroe Liberty Casey MAYFIELD Graves Lebanon Marion Heartland Publications LLC, Old Mount Sterling Montgomery Springfield Washington Saybrook, Conn. Bardstown Nelson HARLAN Harlan Lee Enterprises, Davenport, Iowa Shepherdsville Bullitt MIDDLESBORO Bell MAYSVILLE Mason Taylorsville Spencer Leitchfield Grayson Lawrenceburg Anderson Russellville Logan Dix Communications Inc., Wooster, Shelbyville Shelby Hazard Perry Ohio LaGrange Oldham Prestonsburg Floyd FRANKFORT Franklin New Castle Henry Bedford Trimble Lancaster Management Inc., INDEPENDENT DAILY Carrollton Carroll Gadsden, Ala. BOWLING GREEN Warren Owenton Owen PIKEVILLE Pike Williamstown Grant MURRAY Calloway Cynthiana Harrison GEORGETOWN Scott Paintsville Johnson Community Newspaper Holdings Inc., Birmingham ASHLAND Boyd SOMERSET Pulaski GLASGOW Barren CORBIN Whitley/Knox RICHMOND Madison Greenup Greenup Grayson Carter Olive Hill Carter Morehead Rowan London Laurel Whitley City McCreary Monticello Wayne

14 summer 2007 summer 2007 15 bureau in Oklahoma, where it has 16 of Landmark Communications Inc., weekly. It publishes three times dailies and 15 weeklies. a privately held company that owns a week, the limit for the standard Americans are projected to Daily newspapers without reporters dailies in Greensboro, N.C., Roanoke, definition of “weekly.” in Frankfort get state-capital coverage Va., and its home base of Norfolk. In western Kentucky, a small paper spend an average of 3,518 hours from The Associated Press, which Its best known media outlet is The that doesn’t think small is the Todd using the media this year, up has two reporters in the Capitol. The Weather Channel. County Standard, edited and published AP has undergone consolidations Landmark Community Newspapers by Ryan Craig. It recently published from 3,333 at the beginning of of its own; its Kentucky operations Inc. is based in Shelbyville and a four-story package that pointed out are now overseen by an executive has more newspapers in Kentucky the lack of high-speed Internet access the decade, according to the based in Nashville, who also handles than any other state—18 of its 81 in the county and demanded action. U.S. Census Bureau’s annual Tennessee. The content and design resembled Frankfort’s daily newspaper, The that of a medium-sized daily. Abstract of the United States. State Journal, is part of a small chain As reported by the Associated Press in owned by an Ohio family. The paper Chain ownership Broadcasting staffs state political stories less often Chain ownership of radio stations December 2006, the projected number of of radio stations than before, but it has one of the has downgraded local radio news hours of media use in different categories stronger editorial pages in the state, has downgraded in several Kentucky markets. No directed by Todd Duvall, who writes longer does WHAS in Louisville includes: a Sunday political column that is local radio news in have a nationally prominent, Peabody syndicated to other papers. The Award-winning news department. 1,555 hours watching TV, up from 1,467 in 2000 paper’s editor, Carl West, is a former several Kentucky While radio and TV are essentially Washington correspondent who headline services, some TV stations 974 hours listening to the radio, up founded the Kentucky Book Fair, held markets. can be major players in news. Mark in Frankfort each November. Hebert of WHAS-TV revealed from 942 in 2000 The State Journal, like most then-Gov. Paul Patton’s sex scandal Kentucky papers, does not make in 2002, and he reports the most 195 hours using the Internet, up from 104 political endorsements. Generally, the weeklies. Those papers, which form frequent public surveys in Kentucky, smaller the paper, the less likely it is a territory of adjoining counties in the automated telephone polls 175 hours reading daily newspapers, to endorse. the heart of the state, are part of the conducted at least monthly by Survey down from 201 One Kentucky paper that bucks that largest newspaper group in Kentucky. USA. pattern, and the trend of declining Landmark practices local autonomy, In Lexington, Bill Bryant of 122 hours reading magazines, down from 135 daily circulation, is The News- and its newspapers are generally WKYT-27 also keeps his finger on the Enterprise of Elizabethtown. Its editor, known for their editorial quality. state’s political pulse and interviews 106 hours reading books, down from 107 Warren Wheat, worked at larger In many cases, Kentucky weeklies politicians and other public figures on papers, including USA Today, and do as good or better a job covering his “27 Newsmakers,” a weekly, half- 86 hours playing video games, up from 64 when he arrived in Hardin County the issues as their daily counterparts. hour program that is offered to other in 2002 he thought the paper should Some Landmark papers did stations and videostreamed on the start making endorsements in local an exemplary job covering last station’s Web site. (Its sister station, races because the county and its cities year’s local elections, and some WYMT-57 of Hazard, has a similar had grown too large for most voters independently owned weeklies show.) to be personally acquainted with the regularly defy the stereotype of the Bryant does less reporting now that candidates. Now it even endorses in sleepy weekly that dares not offend. he anchors the station’s morning and school board races. Perhaps the best-known weekly in noon news shows, so the Lexington Kentucky is The Mountain Eagle of reporter who gets the most time for Kentucky” show has developed a Weeklies can shine Whitesburg, where publishers stories about politics and government loyal audience over 33 years, but The News-Enterprise is the only Tom and Pat Gish have been is veteran journalist Greg Stotlemyre could change with the November Kentucky daily owned by a subsidiary holding accountable government of WTVQ-36. retirement of host Al Smith, who officials and the coal industry for Public broadcasting plays an started the show and produces it as an more than 50 years. increasingly important role in independent contractor. To the north, the Big Sandy News is Kentucky journalism. Several public The most visible journalist at KET a weekly like none other in Kentucky. radio stations fund a Frankfort is Bill Goodman, who hosts three Several years ago, it broke out of its reporter, Tony McVeigh, and one, weekly shows: “Kentucky Tonight,” base in Lawrence County to cover WEKU-FM of Richmond, often has an hour with panelists on issues; “One Martin, Johnson, Magoffin and reporter Stu Johnson in Frankfort. to One,” a half-hour interview with an Floyd counties, and it has established The news staff at WKYU-FM in individual; and “bookclub@KET,” on a regional circulation despite the Bowling Green has a wide reach, a book by a Kentucky author. presence of weeklies in each of those thanks to multiple transmitters. Goodman also anchors the state counties. WMMT in Whitesburg is public network’s legislative coverage, which To the west, but still in eastern radio with a heavy emphasis on now includes videostreaming – giving Kentucky, The Sentinel-Echo of London Appalachia. Kentucky something like a state was named best weekly among the The big dog in public broadcasting version of C-SPAN. Thomas Jefferson 54 in CHNI this year. Its circulation is Kentucky Educational Television, would applaud. of 19,800 makes it Kentucky’s largest or KET. Its weekly “Comment on

16 summer 2007 summer 2007 17 in 1978 after fourth-generation editor Herald-Press, owned by the family of Jack Paxton, a former NBC television former Vice President Dan Quayle. State's largest correspondent who wanted the paper The company has four dailies in to be seen as impartial, took over the Arkansas, with total circulation of editorial side. 42,000, almost half that in Jonesboro, media company is a It was a time about 140 miles when social issues from Paducah such as gun control across the family operation and abortion were It was a time when Missouri boot trumping the heel. It has three economic populism dailies each in and government social issues such Georgia and programs that had Kentucky, one by Al cross and laura clemmons kept the region as gun control each in Louisiana, strongly Democratic. Michigan, President and CEO and abortion Mississippi and David Paxton said in Tennessee, and six The largest media company based a 2005 interview that were trumping in North Carolina in Kentucky is a privately held, family the changes in the that have a total operated company that once bore a paper reflected the the economic circulation of Democratic emblem but has become socially conservative 93,812, its largest a reliably Republican voice in its environment. populism and in any state. hometown. Jack Paxton died The company’s Paxton Media LLC is the operating in a crash of his government largest paper vehicle for the Paxton family, which private airplane in is The Herald- has published a daily newspaper in 1985. His brother, programs that Sun of Durham, Jim Paxton, became N.C. which had editor and began had kept the a circulation of The Paxtons steering the paper’s 50,000 when the editorial page in a region strongly company bought started and still more conservative it in January direction. Then his Democratic. 2005 but has own Paducah’s only father, Fred, became since dropped to an informal adviser President and 39,000, according television station, to newly elected to the Editor & Republican Sen. CEO David Paxton Publisher Year WPSD-TV, which Mitch McConnell, Book. At the time who saw western said in a 2005 of the purchase, shares a market Kentucky as the the paper was key to GOP success interview that the almost twice with stations in in the state. And in as large as the 1991, David Paxton, changes in the Messenger-Inquirer Cape Girardeau, another brother, of Owensboro, brought his skills as paper reflected circulation 28,000; Mo., and southern an investment banker Paxton made to the company the socially heavy staff cuts in Illinois. and accelerated its Durham, saying expansion. the paper was Paducah for 111 years. In the past 20 Today, Paxton conservative overstaffed. years, it has grown to become one of Media owns the Beyond staffing the nation’s largest private newspaper dailies in Owensboro environment. levels, the chain, chains, with 30 daily newspapers and Madisonville like many others, and 22 weeklies, most of them in the and five weeklies in allows local Southeast or Indiana. western Kemtucky. editorial The Paxtons started and still own More typical of the firm’s ownership autonomy. At its flagship paper, Paducah’s only television station, patterns are its 10 small dailies in though, it has exercised a strong WPSD-TV, which shares a market Indiana, each with a circulation of less editorial voice, usually reflecting with stations in Cape Girardeau, Mo., than 11,000, the approximate average conservative or Republican views. and southern Illinois. for a Paxton paper. One of its recent The TV station’s call letters stand acquisitions is the Huntington (Ind.) for the name the newspaper adopted in a 1930s merger, Paducah Sun- Democrat. It became The Paducah Sun

18 summer 2007 summer 2007 19 youth news outlets. In a recent article social networking phenomena are produced by the World Association of used by Kentucky’s youth and youth Technology, news and Newspapers, 29 percent of youth ages around the world. 18-29 reported watching cable news Facebook is one of the most visited compared to 18 percent who reported sites on the Internet, ranking in the youthful trends watching nightly network news top 10-20 sites as of June of this year. stations. Older Americans, however, It is the No. 1 site for posting photos report watching about the same in the United States. MySpace is the by Will warren percentage of both news sources. sixth most popular site in the world. The decline in newspaper Both were created, not by an older A publisher of newspapers that a majority of his readers, Webcast? iPod? readership isn’t surprising. This trend tech-savvy entrepreneur, but by a for children and adolescents especially the younger ones, has been apparent throughout the last Harvard sophomore (Facebook) and is in a dilemma about what have already seen the whole These are decade. It is alarming, however, how a recent University of California he should or should not execution on YouTube or much discrepancy there is between graduate (MySpace), frequently display on the front page of from another Web cast. becoming regular older and younger news consumers. referred to as “Tom.” his paper. Where did I read this The World Association of Facebook became a stomping He wants to show a story? Not from a more terms and news Newspapers reported that 23 percent ground for the candidates during picture of the execution of conventional report in a sources for the of survey respondents ages 18 to 29 Kentucky’s recent gubernatorial Sadam Hussein, but doesn’t newspaper or magazine, said they had read a newspaper the primary. Almost every candidate had know how people will react to such but from a podcast, on my newly younger generation day before they were surveyed; 52 a profile, generated by a volunteer a photograph. The editor, being purchased iPod. percent of the respondents age 50 to staff member or an enthusiastic well considerably older, doesn’t realize Webcast? iPod? These are in Kentucky and 64 and 60 percent of those above 65 wisher, who was usually a younger becoming the nation. reported the same. person. The phrase “word of mouth” regular Young people are more likely to may soon become an antiquated way terms and read a magazine or a book for pleasure of getting information as more youth news sources on a daily basis than they are to pick hear about a development through for the to a report by the Carnegie up a newspaper. Raisor watches Facebook. younger Foundation, 39 percent of people daily news reports on television and Older generations have generation cite the Internet as the source of reads the newspaper when he can. traditionally accused younger ones in Kentucky most of their news; local TV was He believes young people should of being less engaged in public and the listed second, with 14 percent. get “a variety of news from different affairs or less caring about the news nation. As The mind set of young people has sources, in order to balance the bias of the world around them. Today is the use of accelerated the preference for news often created by the media.” no different, as older Kentuckians the Internet choices. Most young people want Any young professional or 20- frequently accuse today’s youth becomes the news when they want it—in something who is unfamiliar with of being self-absorbed in their more the most readily accessible form YouTube, Facebook or MySpace technology. developed, possible. As noted by Bryan Raisor, would have to have been hiding under What older Kentuckians and so are the vice president of external affairs for a rock for the last several years. These Americans must realize is that just sources for the Lexington Young Professionals because young people aren’t picking news. Association: “LYPA sends out a up a newspaper or are spending most The days weekly e-newsletter. …This is the of their time online, it doesn’t mean of sitting quickest and easiest form possible they are failing to engage in their down with to develop the happenings of the surroundings and the news of their the morning organization and keep members city, state and world. paper may informed regularly.” be coming to One trend of the past two decades But, excuse me. This article has an end, and has been the decreasing amount of just been interrupted by a the future time that young people actually news story coming in on of news may spend reading or hearing the news. my new iPhone. be found on The cadre of 20-somethings has the World trimmed 16-17 minutes from the Wide Web. part of their day that they devote Even local to news. This change has coincided television with increased use of the Internet. stations with Young people today want news major news quickly, and they don’t want to operations spend a lot of time sifting through offer Web items that don’t pertain to their sites that interests. provide In addition to advances in regular news technology, cable news is making updates. a surge as a dominant player for According

20 summer 2007 summer 2007 21 collections from “Blues Buckets” that are scattered around the grounds. “The value of this music festival Diana Taylor is a writer and to the Jeffersontown community editor living in Frankfort. pe r specti v e takes several forms,” organizers She is owner of Diana Taylor noted on the Enterprise City Award By diana taylor Communications application. "It is another opportunity

Blues festival raises money for for Jeffersontown city Crusade, community spirit government to offer safe, family-friendly activities for

Blues, barbeque and spirited has raised more than $118 million A golf scramble at a local its youth and adults alike." volunteers are the key ingredients in for schools, agencies and hospitals country club a successful community event that that have provided services to An educational seminar from “First, it allows Jeffersontown citizens focuses on raising money for special an estimated 3 million children the Kentuckiana Blues Society out by the hundreds and listened to and blues music lovers to contribute needs children while providing family throughout Kentucky. that provides an overview of the music, sat under the shade trees. This to the Crusade for Children. After friendly entertainment. The Blues Festival is held history of blues year we raised $5,000 for the Crusade all, it is really about helping special The Jeffersontown-Crusade Blues on the third weekend of May for Children—double what we did needs kids. Second, the Blues Festival Festival, winner of an Enterprise and is sponsored by the City of A silent auction featuring items last year." is one element in the quality of City Award in 2006, is going strong Jeffersontown and local businesses donated by local businesses The festival provides a strong life in Jeffersontown. It is another and growing after three years raising and organizations whose donations A “Downtown Blues Bash” at the example of a public-private opportunity for Jeffersontown city money for the WHAS Crusade for help underwrite the festival costs. Gaslight Inn in Jeffersontown partnership organized by government to offer safe, family- Children in Louisville. Since being organized in 2005 by Jeffersontown with the assistance friendly activities for its youth and The Crusade for Children, what was then an ad hoc committee The blues festival itself which, along with a balloon glow, is held of citizens, local businesses, hot air adults alike. established in 1954 by WHAS-TV, for Mayor Clay Foreman, the balloonists, food vendors, musicians “And finally, it is an opportunity for founder, the festival has expanded at the Jeffersontown Veterans’ Memorial Park and sponsored children’s attractions. people to gather and reconnect. In this to include several events in addition The food vendors donate their fast-paced world we live in, the more to performances by blues bands. "It was a great time," Mayor profits to the Crusade, and the bands opportunities people have to slow Included on the list this year: Foreman said. "Residents came play at no cost. The proceeds of the down and talk to each other, the silent auction are donated as are the better off we are.”

Scenes from the Jeffersontown-Crusade Blues Festival

22 summer 2007 summer 2007 23 Keith Knapp is the Chief Capitalizing on Kentucky’s Medicaid spending for long-term Saddle the ponies care largely pay salaries. The people Operating Officer of Christian human resources Can Kentucky begin thinking more who earn these salaries will, in turn, Care Communities, Inc., in Discussions about job creation like the second little boy? Will our pay income, property and sales taxes Louisville, Kentucky's largest and retention tend to romanticize communities choose which new pony while they bolster the economy as b u siness not-for-profit provider of long- high-tech and manufacturing to ride or get left in the dust as the consumers. It is in Kentucky’s best herd stampedes by? There’s some By keith kna pp term care and senior housing. jobs. Yes, they are high-yielding additions to the tax base, and they interests to attract more workers to time left to decide, but not much! It’s contribute positively to the quality of the field of long term care, and to time to get busy exploring the aging communities. But the focus on such adequately pay them. service opportunities that can work jobs tends to overlook a significant Helping families move from best for our communities and start Aging population offers economic opportunity number of currently available joblessness and dependence on public planning for the new “Elder Kentucky workers and the impact support to gainful employment Economy.” they could have on the state’s future. can produce the double benefit of for communities Realistically, there are many reducing welfare payments and Kentuckians who simply have a very increasing tax receipts. The story goes that two boys were poor prospect of transitioning into the After 10 years of welfare-to-work taken to a room filled knee-deep more highly sought-after jobs because programs, it is apparent that more with manure and straw. The first one of their low level of formal education, attention should have been given frowned, sat there looking depressed, learning limitations or language to providing effective assistance and soon cried out in anger, “What barriers. The rungs on the economic such as affordable child care and did I do to deserve this?” Minutes ladder are simply too far apart for transportation during a newly trained later, the second boy replaced him some. An alternate ladder could be worker’s transition to full employment and immediately began throwing fashioned for these people, one that and to overcoming disincentives P r o g r e s s the room’s contents high in the air, represents the expected explosion in for remaining employed—such Printing Ad happily exclaiming: “There’s bound to the demand for direct elder care- as being required to give up more be a pony in here somewhere!” giving. comprehensive health coverage to Kentucky’s anticipated demographic accept a job with fewer benefits. shift toward an older population Caregiving professions offer Other proposals to recruit more has been the subject of earlier long-term care workers include economic opportunities incentives for the temporarily Greater demand for the care of a unemployed to work as direct If we plan wisely, Kentucky an older population almost certainly caregivers during their job search and will mean increasing employment offering either student loan reduction opportunities in institutional can do more than merely plans or tuition discounts at colleges do more than merely survive in the provides a complete picture of the care—nursing homes, assisted and universities. changing times, it can actually thrive emerging reality. living facilities, survive in the changing in the “age wave” coming to our continuing shores. More ponies care retirement times, it can actually Making Kentucky an even more communities—and Evidence-based planning…or, attractive and secure place to live in in such home- and thrive in the “age wave” get the facts retirement can help prevent out- community-based Two books should rise to the top of migration by seniors, who control a services as home coming to our shores. the must-read list of every Kentucky disproportionate share of the state’s care agencies, adult economic development official, private asset wealth. It can also help day care centers, mayor, county judge executive, entice seniors who have left the state hospice and others. to return. Keeping these resources These are jobs that articles in City. And the tone of most city councilmember, fiscal court in Kentucky—thereby enhancing in all probability conversations about what might be magistrate and state legislator. Dr. the assets held by the state’s financial will remain in called the Baby Boomer Parade has Ken Dychtwald’s Age-Wave: How the institutions—would boost those Kentucky. been one of alarm, doom and gloom. Most Important Trend of Our Time Will institutions’ capacity to aid local It’s also important The focus has been essentially on Change Your Future not only describes economic development efforts. to consider that such questions as: How will we pay the ponies that have already begun Furthermore, communities should every state dollar for expanded services and public arriving, but provides important and focus on recruiting more businesses included in benefits? Who will provide the useful information about the ones still that provide supplies, equipment and Medicaid budget needed care? on their way. It offers an enlightening ancillary services for older adults. for long-term care But assuming the attitude of the introduction to the promising Because of our geographically central results in a return second boy could give us a different business and societal opportunities location in the midst of states that of about 2.25-to-1 perspective. Instead of seeing the presented by a maturing population. share our demographic circumstances, to the local and challenges of an aging population as The other book is a useful by- we have a great opportunity to state economy. threats of an impending disaster to product of a recent PBS documentary develop a strong regional and Because long- prevent, we could start looking for by the same title, Richard Croker’s national reputation for innovation term care is very the pony – in fact, the ponies, because The Boomer Century, 1946-2046: How and leadership in serving older and labor-intensive, there is a veritable herd of them. America’s Most Influential Generation disabled adults. increases in If we plan wisely, Kentucky can Changed Everything. Reading both

24 summer 2007 summer 2007 25 opportunities in communities offers local officials and municipal who are equipped to lead our throughout Kentucky that are built employees many educational communities in facing the challenges around the four broad themes of opportunities to improve their of a global economy. Tad Long is Director of the NewCities Principles: people, leadership skills. One of the One of the most important aspects c o n v e r sati o n Business Development perspective, place and prosperity. challenges in delivering timely of NewCitizen Kentucky is the ability for the NewCities The seven-month program training programs is the distance that to benchmark and track results over B y T a d l o n g Institute. will bring together academic and trainers and local leaders must travel time. The success of the initiative community leaders who will share to attend seminars and workshops. will be measured in several ways, their leadership experiences with Many locally elected officials serve including the number of participants the students. The students will then their communities in a part-time in various programs; whether any of NewCitizen Kentucky partnership focusing observe or initiate an activity capacity. They have full-time the participants decided to run for that embodies the principles jobs elsewhere and must take office or serve in local government; on leadership they have been taught. time from work to receive whether they became involved in Participants will also shadow this training. KCTCS local civic organizations; what local community leaders to learn provides KLC members problems were identified or resolved; As the mantle of leadership for television to escape the “real” reality. foundation with an international about and observe the decision- an education and and whether voting increased among Kentucky’s local communities passes As they disengage, people are also outreach, brings practical experience making process that affects training delivery participants. to a new generation, many cities turning away from public service. in community-building and citizen their lives and will write a system that will If only an additional 1 percent and counties are asking themselves, Recent local elections found some engagement to the table through its paper reflecting their own substantially of Kentucky’s population becomes “Where will these new leaders come communities without enough 12 Principles of Community Building. observations about leadership. reduce the involved in public dialogue, local from?” McCall and Lovely believe that NewCitizen Kentucky will distance leadership or public service as a also provide a safe harbor that city result of this initiative, NewCitizen The 21st century has brought “Where will these new community participation through fundamental change to local public service should again become for local leaders to discuss officials must Kentucky will have had a significant communities as well as the nation part of citizens’ everyday lives. regional policy issues. KCTCS travel. The impact. as a whole. More than ever, people leaders come from?” Citizens working together to find facilities provide a neutral expected Where will leadership for are disconnected from global events, innovative ways to improve their setting for local officials, result will Kentucky’s communities emerge? choosing to lock themselves in their candidates to fill the ballot. communities is as important a citizens and business leaders be better NewCitizen Kentucky is predicated homes at night and watch reality The challenges of invigorating contribution as working on a specific to work toward a common informed upon the belief that leadership can skeptical citizens to engage in public project. understanding of and solutions public servants spring from anywhere. And isn’t that discourse and service prompted three In other words, being an engaged for problems that are sometimes an innovative concept? Kentucky organizations to form a citizen is more than volunteering difficult to discuss. strategic partnership: “NewCitizen once or twice a year. Although KCTCS presidents understand Kentucky.” Its mission is to “raise the volunteering is vital to a strong local challenges. As conveners of bar of civic participation across the community, civic engagement forums to discuss these challenges, entire Commonwealth of Kentucky.” in creating community solutions they can offer their services and In the fall of 2005, Dr. Michael is critical to the survival of our facilities to encourage constructive Bell, Orr, Ayers & Moore, McCall, president of the Kentucky democratic ideals. conversations that will lead to P.S.C. Community & Technical College NewCitizen Kentucky is foremost community solutions. Attorneys The Kentucky League of Cities at Law System, and Sylvia L. Lovely, about citizen involvement in executive director/CEO of the community life. The initiative 1010 College Street Kentucky League of Cities and includes several elements targeting PO Box 738 president of the NewCities Institute, students, community leaders and Bowling Green KY 42102-0738 convened a small group of staff citizens. 270-781-8111 members to discuss ways their The first initiative of NewCitizen www.boamlaw.com organizations could address the Kentucky is Leadership KCTCS. • growing disconnection between The goal of Leadership KCTCS is citizens and their communities. to give students an opportunity to George E. Strickler, Jr. Kevin C. Brooks KCTCS, with its 16 colleges and 65 interact with local leaders, observe Timothy L. Mauldin campuses, has a statewide reach into community leadership at work and Barton D. Darrell most communities in the state. The initiate an activity within their own Timothy L. Edelen Kentucky League of Cities, with its communities. Douglas W. Gott 380 members, represents more than Geared toward select students from Paul T. Lawless 90 percent of the state’s cities. The each of the KCTCS institutions, Melanie K. Cook NewCities Institute, created by KLC the program will give participants Elizabeth W. Burt Amanda L. Blakeman in 2001 as a nonprofit educational practical experiences and learning William T. Wade, Jr. Katherine A. Quitter T. Brian Lowder • Of Counsel Reginald L. Ayers Ray B. Buckberry, Jr. Quinten B. Marquette

26 summer 2007 summer 2007 27 addition, 81 percent of supervisors “A central place for job information rated the general performance of assistant professor in the Department and tips for working in local The Gen X factor: cities look employees with MPAs or MPPs as of Government at Eastern Kentucky government would probably be the better or much better than other University. best thing that could happen Sarah Razor is a Research for qualified candidates to professional employees doing the “City management is a great towards attracting the best and the Analyst for the Kentucky opportunity to be very involved in a League of Cities. same work. brightest to cities.” replace retiring boomers While professionals with an MPA community, but it’s hard to come in or MPP are qualified to fill the gaps as an outsider,” noted Will Warren, a left by retiring boomer government recent graduate of the MPA program By Sarah razor at the University of Kentucky and an intern with the NewCities Institute. It’s time for a pre-algebra pop quiz. Local leaders and city officials Partisan politics and the limits of "Students are definitely “There are several fellowship The United States Bureau of Labor in Kentucky are already facing small-town life and pay make it even programs for the federal government Statistics reports that 59 percent a surge of retirements of highly harder for some cities to attract and interested in working in local and internship opportunities within of officials and administrators in skilled personnel and a shrinking retain qualified young and mid-career state government, but there is no federal, state and local governments pool of qualified professionals. government but get very little feeder program for city government,” are age 45 and older. Within the candidates. In “We have seen he said. public administration industry, 42 Leitchfield, the an increase in information on how to do so." The answer to the question of who percent of employees are projected to police chief, retirements in will replace the baby boomers is retire by 2008. This many upcoming public works police and fire not going to be as simple as a pre- retirements will dramatically affect director, utility departments. algebra problem, but there are some city government occupations. superintendent and The issue for promising young professionals who Who will replace the baby boomers? fire chief are all on us is getting administrators and officials, local want to work in the public sector. It If you answered X, you get partial track to retire in the enough recruits governments are struggling to seems that the missing part of the credit. Generation X is a very next year. in training to connect with these graduates. equation is connecting city officials important part of the solution, but “We’ll look fill positions,” “Students are definitely interested with them. there are far fewer Gen Xers than internally first, and said William in working in local government but “The biggest problem is that there is there are baby boomers. if someone isn’t as E. Moller, get very little information on how to no central place for students to get The demographic boundaries of qualified, we’ll have Covington’s do so,” explained Dr. Kendra Stewart, information on hiring,” Stewart said. Generation X are not well defined, to look outside,” assistant city but it is generally made up of the said Kerry White, manager. roughly 50 million people born Leitchfield city To ensure between 1965 and 1979. That’s about clerk and treasurer. that a group of 12 million less than the boomers born Because of the qualified recruits between 1946 and 1964. gap in the number is available when This major demographic change of workers between police and fire is frequently headline news because the generations, positions open, the shortage in skilled workers competition will be Covington is will hit hard across all sectors. fierce for trained moving toward Unfortunately, the public sector will young professionals continuous be facing an even greater shortage of to fill positions testing of administrators and managers. in government. candidates rather than holding tests once or twice a year. In 2006, the International City/ County Management Association (ICMA), a local government leadership and management organization, conducted a national survey of 369 cities regarding hiring practices and the relationship between local government employees and master's degrees in public administration (MPA) and public policy (MPP). The survey found that 75 percent of current government supervisors who had supervised someone with an MPA or an MPP rated the leadership potential of those employees as better or much better than other professional employees doing the same work. In

28 summer 2007 summer 2007 29 participation in the redevelopment projects suggested in year one, and is process and build knowledge about crafting its role in long-range plan- brownfield redevelopment, particu- ning for the corridor. The sessions Robyn Miller is Member larly in the Park Hill Corridor. The continue to shed light on the issues program is bringing residents, devel- surrounding redevelopment and bring Services Manager for the opers, nonprofits, social service pro- together a diverse group to share Kentucky League of Cities. viders, bankers, landowners, business their ideas, concerns and questions as owners, religious leaders, environ- they work together to revitalize the mental specialists and others together Park Hill Corridor. feature black and white portraits to help develop a vision for the corri- For more information on the ses- of Henry Watterson and Roscoe News from Kentucky’s communities dor that can be used in a larger plan- sion and the Brownfields Institute, Goose. Watterson was a longtime ning effort. Redefining Brownfields visit www.redefiningbrownfields.org. editor of The Courier-Journal in the began in 2005 and will continue late 1800s. Goose was a jockey who backyard) is a familiar one as the bat- Reprinted from The Kentucky Brownfield Owensboro police detective wins Colonel Path opens in Richmond through 2008. rode Donerail to victory in the 1913 tle cry of any neighborhood opposing Update medals at World Police and Fire Richmond and Eastern Kentucky Sessions in the first year covered Kentucky Derby. The murals are the development of something that is ••• Games University officials recently topics such as Brownfields 101, best part of an effort to educate citizens, announced plans for the Colonel Path, considered undesirable. Owensboro Police Detective practices and community build- instill community pride and contrib- a safe walkway to link the campus For a variety of reasons, residents Jeffersontown Courtney Yerington returned home ing, how clean is clean, city ute to the city’s downtown renewal with downtown. The city plans to often don’t have a say in what hap- unveils from Australia earlier this year with resources, and jobs and hous- efforts. The city plans to add more reconstruct and widen a fractured pens to the property around them. bronze and gold medals she won in ing. Eight workshops and four mural project murals in the coming months. sidewalk, install new lighting and However, a grant from the U.S. the World Police and Fire Games. educational meetings focused The city of Source: The Courier-Journal, Louisville repave Madison Avenue. Environmental Protection Agency The Olympic-style games are held on the history of the area and Jeffersontown is EKU’s Colonel logo will guide is helping to make sure that doesn’t every two years and draw nearly its current status, identification paying tribute pedestrians along the path. If fea- happen to the Park Hill Corridor 8,000 competitors from 60 countries. of the corridor’s assets and the to prominent sible, the street or sidewalk surface in west Louisville. In October If you’d like to see your city featured in Active and retired police and fire creation of a vision for future former residents will be tinted maroon, EKU’s school 2005, the Center for Environmental City Bits, please submit newsworthy items personnel compete in 65 sporting development. with murals color. The university plans to help Management at the University of to [email protected]. events by age group and weight class. One of the workshops includ- on downtown by landscaping the path, according to Louisville, in partnership with Yerington is the first officer from ed a bus tour of Park Hill’s buildings. President Joanne Glasser. Louisville Metro Development Owensboro to compete in the games. brownfield properties. The ses- The first two The city hopes to have the Authority and the Center for She earned a gold medal in the push- sions were well attended. murals were improvements complete in August Neighborhoods, received a three-year pull event where she combined a In its second year, Redefining unveiled earlier when students return for the fall grant to create an outreach program bench press of 110 pounds and a dead Brownfields is developing new this year and semester. Richmond has applied for that brings stakeholders together to lift of 230 pounds for a combined funds from the state’s Safe Schools participate in brownfield revitaliza- weight of 340 pounds. Yerington, program to pay for sidewalk materials. tion within the corridor. Display Advertisers who weighs 115 pounds, also earned in this issue of City: Two emergency telephones near each “By increasing local knowledge a bronze medal by lifting twice her terminus of the Colonel Path will about redevelopment and brown- body weight in the bench press. She allow pedestrians to summon police field revitalization, we are encour- Adams, Stepner, Woltermann & Dusing, PLLC plans to compete again in the 2009 quickly. The call box near EKU will aging reinvestment in the Park Bell, Orr, Ayers & Moore games to be held in British Columbia, be linked to the campus police; the Hill Corridor,” said Mayor Jerry Brandstetter Carroll, Inc. Canada. other one will connect to Richmond Abramson. “That reinvestment will Bridgeway Medical Source: Owensboro Messenger-Inquirer police. bring with it new jobs for area resi- Business Information Systems ••• By using its own employees to dents, stronger neighborhoods and Central Bank replace the fractured sidewalk, the sustained vitality for the larger com- Clark Group city hopes to keep construction costs munity.” Collins & Company down. The Park Hill Corridor was his- Commonwealth Credit Union Glasser and Richmond Mayor torically Louisville’s manufacturing Dale Emmons Protem Robert Blythe praised lead- hub, but over the years it has suffered Fifth Third Bank job losses and a general decline in ers of EKU’s Student Government Frost Brown Todd LLC population. This area was once home Association for originating the GRW, Inc. to factories such as Philip Morris, Colonel Walk idea and persuading Hooper Machinery Fawcett Printing Company and city and campus officials to support Healthy Kentucky Corhart Refractories. The closure of it. Many EKU students do not have KVS Information Systems cars, and more will likely patronize these and other facilities over the past three decades created a distressed Local Government Corporation downtown businesses if they feel safer O'Brien & Gere walking to and from campus, Glasser area that is severely limited in its ability to attract new investment and Ohio CAT/Whayne Supply said. Progress Printing Source: Richmond Register is characterized by high unemploy- ment and poverty rates. But in many Qk4 ••• ways, it is a perfect opportunity for Strand Associates, Inc. this stakeholder group to come into Sturgill, Turner, Barker & Moloney, PLLC Louisville neighborhood redefines play. Utility Service Company brownfields The outreach program, Redefining Walther, Roark & Gay, PLC The acronym NIMBY (not in my Brownfields, is a series of interactive workshops that foster community 30 summer 2007 summer 2007 31 q&A w i t h john carroll

John S. Carroll retired as editor of Q: Are the mainstream media as bad the Los Angeles Times in 2000 following as the talk shows and blogs say? five years in the position. The newspaper won 13 Pulitzer Prizes A: Criticism by the newer media has during his tenure, including a Gold exposed a number of shortcomings in Medal for Public Service in 2005. the so-called MSM and forced them Before joining the Times, he was to be more careful. But the best of the editor and senior vice president and MSM—the New York Times, for editor of The Baltimore Sun, a post he example—are still far and away the took in 1991 after working as editor at nation’s best sources of original news the Lexington Herald and Herald-Leader coverage. My belief is that America’s John Carroll announces his from 1979 to 1991. His career also best newspapers have, in my lifetime, retirement to the Los Angeles includes earlier work at The Baltimore been the best news media the world Sun as a Vietnam correspondent, Times news staff. has ever produced, and they’re not all a Middle East correspondent and that far from their peak. Sure, they’re a White House correspondent; at far from perfect. But daily journalism the Philadelphia Inquirer in several enlightened journalism—far from always is. editor positions; and at the Providence it—but personally I’d like to see local (R.I.) Journal-Bulletin as a state staff people get another crack at papers reporter. like Louisville’s and Lexington’s.

City asked Carroll, who returned to Q: Is local TV news succeeding? Lexington following his retirement, to share his views on a few issues A: In terms of ratings, it’s succeeding related to the news media. amazingly well in comparison with other media. Journalistically, though, it’s not doing so well. Serious Does it really matter who owns Q: coverage of the complex issues facing Photo courtesy of the Northern Kentucky Convention and Visitors Bureau the media? Kentucky is rare. Across the nation, local TV news tends to be driven A: Definitely. Some owners by surveys of what the audience have integrity; some don’t. Some wants, which leads to coverage of owners consider journalism a public violence, entertainment, sports trust; some see it more cynically, as and weather. These topics aren’t MARK YOUR CALENDAR! a way to make money by whatever without merit, but citizens need a lot means necessary. more in order to govern themselves intelligently. October 10-13, 2007 Q: Is local ownership better than ownership by a distant corporation? Q:How about the Web? Northern Kentucky Convention Center Œ Covington, Kentucky

A: Sometimes. Many newspapers, A: Journalism on the Web, and such as the Lexington Herald- on talk shows for that matter, tends Š Educational Sessions Š Excellent Speakers Š Networking Opportunities Leader, improved under corporate to rely on the original reporting of owners. Others, such as the Louisville other media. Blogs can be interesting. Courier-Journal, declined. Now that Unfortunately, they can also be Join us for the 2007 Kentucky League of Cities Convention and Expo. the Web has put the newspaper uninteresting and, worse, misleading. business into a tailspin, corporate But because of their limited resources Please visit our web site at www.klc.org for upcoming details. owners are damaging their papers by they’re no replacement for the keeping profits unsustainably high. mainstream media. Local ownership is no guarantee of

32 summer 2007 NOTE TO PROGRESS!!! KLC's return address is: 100 East Vine Street Suite 800 Lexington, KY 40507-3700

34 summer 2007