Volume 83 December 2019 No. 6 2020 TPA Winter Convention set for Feb. 12-13 in Nashville INSIDE the DoubleTree by calling (800) ROBYN GENTILE Vass: Time to close Tennessee Press Association 222-8733. The TPA rate is $239 November 10, 2019 plus tax and parking per night. The generation gaps deadline for hotel reservations is The Tennessee Press Associa- Jan. 8. Registration materials will Page 2 tion’s 2020 Winter Convention be available online at www.tnpress. will again be a two-day, one-night News com on Dec. 12. Page 4 event, and it will focus on the sen- atorial candidates, TPA business, Tracks government affairs and students. Convention schedule: Page 5 The convention will return to the Wednesday, Feb. 12 DoubleTree Hotel on Fourth Ave- 1 p.m. TPA Government Affairs Reader trust in local nue in downtown Nashville, Feb. Committee Meeting news is risky business 12-13. 2 p.m. TPA Board of Directors Meeting & Concurrent Business Page 6 Opening Reception— Session TPA joins with Paulson legislators invited 3 p.m. TPA Foundation Board of on ‘1 for All Campaign’ Members of the Tennessee Trustees Meeting General Assembly will be invited 5 p.m. Opening Reception (all Page 7 to attend the Feb. 12 convention state legislators to be invited to Zinser: NLRB has fi nal OT opening reception; however, the TPA fi le photo attend) 7 p.m. Dinner on one’s own rule for salary exemption TPA Government Affairs Com- Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee spoke at the 2019 TPA Winter Convention and has mittee also asks you to extend a been invited back to be keynote speaker for the 2020 Convention luncheon. Page 8 personal invitation to your state Thursday, Feb. 13 legislators and to plan to attend TPA members during the Thurs- sessions for the breakfast and morn- 8 a.m. Breakfast, program to be 2019-2020 TPA chairs and yourself. day luncheon for members and ing will be announced by Dec. 12. announced committees announced students, but at press time had not The Tennessee Press Association 9:15 a.m. Program to be an- Governor Bill Lee invited to be yet confi rmed. Foundation has provided funding nounced Page 9 luncheon speaker for 40 students to attend the con- 10 a.m. Senatorial Candidate Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee has Senatorial Candidate Forum vention on Feb. 13. Forum Henninger says farewell been invited to deliver the tra- A senatorial candidate forum will Convention attendees may make Noon Luncheon (Governor Bill Page 10 ditional Governor’s address to be held on Thursday, Feb. 13. Other hotel reservations directly with Lee invited speaker) Obituaries Page 11 TFP names new directors for advertising, audience development DAVE FLESSNER newspaper. to do to ensure A native of Chattanooga Times Free Press Jeff DeLoach, president of the another 150 years Bowling Green, November 1, 2019 Times Free Press, said the new of serving our Ky., Embry said he executives bring decades of diverse community.” has always worked Two news media veterans have experience in the media indus- Embry joined to be a valuable joined the Chattanooga Times Free try to their new jobs and will be the Chattanoo- consultant to Press as the newspaper continues instrumental in continuing the ga newspaper business and help to grow and adapt across its digital digital transformation of the Times in October after with each client’s and print platforms. Free Press in serving readers and previously serving overall marketing Scott Embry, formerly president advertisers in the changing media Embry as advertising di- Rogers needs. Embry said of the digital marketing agency landscape. rector for The Post a newspaper with King & Columbus in Charleston, “This is our 150th year, and I and Courier newspaper in Charles- its online and print presence is a S.C., has been named director feel very fortunate to be a part of ton, S.C. and The Fayetteville valuable part of that strategy. of advertising for the Times Free our organization during such an Observer in N.C. In those roles, “We want to provide our clients Press. Hampton Rogers, a former anniversary celebration and to be Embry helped establish and lead a solution that works and the truth regional sales manager for the Gan- adding these key individuals to our two digital advertising agencies is that you need a multi-media nett/USA Today Network in Texas, executive team,” DeLoach said. — Liberty Point Media in North approach to be successful today,” is the new director of audience “Our intention is to make sure we Carolina and King & Columbus in development at the Chattanooga are doing today the things we need South Carolina. See CHATTANOOGA Page 3 Page 2 • The Tennessee Press • December 2019 Newspapers can reach more readers by closing gaps between generations (USPS 616-460) Published monthly by the Journalists watching a video of “latchkey generation,” Gen Xers to- a high-energy concert, led by an OUR day are changing workplaces with TENNESSEE PRESS ASSOCIATION, INC. exuberant woman whose back-up Y their “family-fi rst” orientation. 412 N. Cedar Bluff Road, Suite 403 singers mirrored her dance moves PRESIDING And fi nally, the Millennials, the Knoxville, Tennessee 37923 perfectly, soon were tapping their most supervised, over-parented Telephone (865) 584-5761/Fax (865) 558-8687/www.tnpress.com toes to “Steamy Windows,” a song REPORTER children in American history. they fi rst heard decades ago. They are optimistic about their CHRIS VASS Subscriptions: $12 annually The music was familiar. So were future, but uncertain about the Periodicals Postage Paid At Knoxville, TN the singer’s signature spiky wig nation’s future. They respect their and raspy voice. Silent Generation – 74-92 years old; elders, are team players and are POSTMASTER: Send address changes to The Tennessee Press, But not everyone was familiar the Baby Boomers – 55 to 73 years socially active. They want to be 412 N. Cedar Bluff Road, Suite 403, Knoxville, TN 37923 with the artist. old; GenX- 38-54 years old; and empowered, engaged and want to “Who was that woman?” asked the Millennials – 18-37 years old; participate (Where have we heard The Tennessee Press is printed by The Standard Banner in Jeff erson City, Tenn. a 20-something reporter. The (the so-called Gen Z has yet to gel, that before?). question drew chuckles from his Underwood warns). All of these The underlying core values of Carol Daniels ..................................................................................................................................... Editor colleagues in their 40s, 50s and generations have audiences — read- each generation exert remark- Mike Towle .................................................................................................................. Managing Editor 60s. (Oh yeah, that was Tina Turn- ers — newspapers can serve. able infl uence on lifelong deci- Robyn Gentile .......................................................................................... Production Coordinator er on the screen! Pushing 70 and Of course, most folks appreciate sions-making, decisions about redefi ning what it means to age). the contributions of the country’s where to live, what to buy, what The question and reaction were oldest generation, the Greatest career to pursue, their lifestyle The Tennessee Press among several light-hearted mo- Generation, which launched what choices. is printed on recycled paper ments in Chuck Underwood’s “Gen- became known as “America’s Editors and sales teams need to and is recyclable. erational Strategies for Newspa- century.” think creatively about how to reach pers” seminar at the Chattanooga Not surprisingly, Underwood de- out and tap into these audiences. TENNESSEE PRESS ASSOCIATION Times Free Press earlier this fall. scribed the Silent Generation, which Newspapers that produce content Chris Vass, Chattanooga Times Free Press ...........................................................................President TPA, the Tennessee Press Service followed the Greatest Generation, as that connects our audiences to the Daniel Richardson, Carroll County News Leader, Huntingdon .........................Vice President and Tennessee Press Association a rich source of readership and ad- events and issues that helped form Darrell Richardson, Th e Oak Ridger ............................................................................. Vice President Foundation offered Underwood’s vertising opportunity. They are loy- those core values will thrive. Joseph Hurd, Th e Courier, Savannah .................................................................................... Secretary training sessions for advertis- al and avid newspaper readers. Too “Package it, publish it if it’s rel- Eric Barnes, Th e Daily News, Memphis .................................................................................Treasurer ing and newsroom staffs in four many newspapers have squandered evant to them, and you will hook Doug Horne, Republic Newspapers, Knoxville ...................................Immediate Past President locations — Jackson, Nashville, the opportunity this demographic them and keep them coming back.” Carol Daniels .................................................................................................................Executive Director Chattanooga and Morristown, at presents, Underwood said. Underwood said. no cost to members. The idea was “They will rush to content about DIRECTORS What does this look like? How to expand access to Underwood’s them because they have been about applying a “generational Scott Critchlow, Union City Daily Messenger ....................................................................