Committees of the Tennessee Press Association

Whatever your area of newspaper expertise, TPA could use you on one of its committees! Committee membership is open to any newspaper or associate member. The hard work volunteered by the more than 130 committee members makes our association one of the most active on both regional and national levels. Results from the committee actions are immediately evident in every facet of our industry, from successes in the state legislative arena to the development of high school newspapers to the availability of affordable training programs for our members.

Most of TPA's committee chairs are appointed each July by the new TPA president. If you are interested in volunteering for a committee and the committee chair is not listed with the committee description below, please contact TPA at (865) 584-5761 or via e-mail to rgentile@tnpress.com.

There are currently 15 active committees which are: Advertising, Circulation, Constitution and Bylaws, Contests, Government Affairs, Hall of Fame (special process for appointment, not open to general membership), Journalism in Education, NIE/Literacy, Nominating (current and past presidents only), Personnel, Postal, Press Institute, Public Notice, Summer Convention and Technology.

TENNESSEE PRESS ASSOCIATION
2008-2009 COMMITTEES DESCRIPTION LIST
as of January 29, 2009

ADVERTISING COMMITTEE: Sandra Shelton, advertising director of The Leaf-Chronicle, Clarksville, is the 2008-09 chairman of the Advertising Committee.

This committee is charged with the planning and execution of the annual Advertising Conference in the spring and the Advertising Managers Retreat in the fall. In addition, the committee reviews and makes recommendations to the Board of Directors on any projects, problems or ideas relating to the field of newspaper advertising. Ad/Circ Retreat: Fall; Ad/Circ. Conference: Spring

CIRCULATION COMMITTEE: Don Lovelace , circulation director of the Citizen Tribune, Morristown, is the 2008-09 chairman of the Circulation Committee.

The Circulation Committee will monitor and develop information for distribution to TPA members relating to changes and trends in the circulation field. They will develop and execute an annual Circulation Conference in the spring and the Circulation Managers Retreat in the fall. A primary objective is to promote the growth in attendance for the annual conference. Ad/Circ Retreat: Fall; Ad/Circ. Conference: Spring

CONSTITUTION AND BYLAWS COMMITTEE: Steve Lake, publisher of the Pulaski Citizen, is the 2008-09 chairman of the Constitution and Bylaws Committee.

The formation of this committee was approved by the TPA Board of Directors in February 2004 to review the TPA Constitution and Bylaws and to draft language for a proposed new membership category for free circulation newspapers. The proposal was voted on by the TPA membership in 2005. A new membership category was not adopted.

CONTESTS COMMITTEE: Mark Stevens, The Erwin Record, is the 2008-09 chairman of the Contests Committee.

This Committee is charged with overseeing the annual UT-TPA State Press Contests. Included in its activities is the development of rules and categories for presentation to the membership each year. Further, members of this committee serve as the primary resource pool for reciprocal judging assignments with other state press associations.

GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS COMMITTEE: Elizabeth Kennedy Blackstone, Kennedy Newspapers Inc., Columbia, is the 2008-09 chairman of the Government Relations Committee. Michael Williams, publisher, The Paris Post-Intelligencer, is the vice chairman.

Formed in July 2008 by combining the Freedom of Information and Government Relations Committees. Protecting the public’s right to know by resisting any attempts to restrict free access to public records and/or public meetings is of paramount importance. This committee is charged with the responsibility for monitoring and properly reacting to any and all efforts to curtail the free flow of information in Tennessee or on the national level. The committee also should monitor and react to judicial actions, local regulatory actions or any other attempt to restrict information brought to TPA’s attention. Committee also will be deeply involved with the legislative activities that might relate directly to the newspaper industry as a business in Tennessee. The committee will be called on at times to review and work on problems relating to the implementation of existing legislation, i.e., working out solutions to problems with state regulatory departments or other enforcement divisions.

HALL OF FAME COMMITTEE: This committee executes the installation procedure for an individual selected for the Tennessee Newspaper Hall of Fame, a project sponsored by the Tennessee Press Association Foundation. The chair of this committee will be the head of the U.T. School of Journalism, or a designee. The TPA President will appoint two members to this committee, with the University of Tennessee designating two additional members.

JOURNALISM EDUCATION COMMITTEE: Michael Williams, publisher, The Paris Post-Intelligencer, is the 2008-09 chairman of the Journalism Education Committee.

This committee has a wide range of interests and activities. Comprised of both active newspaper members and representatives of colleges and universities with journalism programs, the committee provides the link for discussion of common problems and establishment of goals. This committee is charged with the responsibility of developing continuing education programs for our practicing professionals and further to encourage the development of high school journalism programs across the state, including execution of the Herald of Excellence program.

NIE/LITERACY COMMITTEE: Lu Shep Baldwin, NIE Coordinator for Jones Media, is the 2008-09 chairman of the NIE/Literacy Committee.

The NIE/Literacy Committee develops various projects and material that encourages literacy of Tennesseans of all ages. It may on occasion work with other organizations committed to the same cause. This committee, comprised primarily of specialists in the field, promotes newspaper in education across the State of Tennessee, and is always looking for ways to assist the smaller newspapers in the development of either full-scale NIE programs or more abbreviated special observance projects which will at least allow them some degree of participation. Two serial story projects have been among the committee’s activities. And, with the designation of TPA as a primary media sponsor of the Governor’s Books from Birth Foundation Imagination Library Project, this committee will develop plans for promoting the project to TPA members. Currently, the committee is trying to develop and NIE curriculum for statewide use.

NOMINATING COMMITTEE: The Nominating Committee is comprised of past presidents of the Tennessee Press Association who are still actively involved in the newspaper industry in the state. They face the important responsibility of developing and presenting a recommended slate of officers and directors to the membership each year. Much of the success of TPA over the years can be directly attributed to the careful process by which this committee goes about its job.

PERSONNEL COMMITTEE: Kevin Burcham, publisher of the News-Herald, Lenoir City, is the 2008-09 chairman of the Personnel Committee.

The purpose of the Personnel Committee is to address issues relevant to the personnel of TPA, primarily focused on the Executive Director, who is an employee of Tennessee Press Service, Inc., but who provides services to Tennessee Press Association, Inc., through an agreement with that organization.

POSTAL TASK FORCE: Mike Fishman, publisher of the Citizen Tribune, Morristown, is the 2008-09 chairman of the Postal Committee.

PRESS INSTITUTE COMMITTEE: Ellen Leifeld, publisher of The Tennessean is the 2009 chairman of the Press Institute Committee, which is responsible for the Winter Convnetion. Andrew Oppmann, publisher of The Leaf-Chronicle, Clarksville and The Daily News Journal, Murfreesboro, is the convention co-chairman.

This committee is appointed each spring and is responsible for the planning, development, and execution of the annual Winter Convention and TPA-UT Press Institute held in connection with the winter convention. It is responsible for the educational and informational sessions held during the two and one-half day convention. In addition to the regular sessions the president may request the Press Institute Committee to assist in the planning of other activities or special assignments, which he may direct to the chairman. February 2009, Nashville

PUBLIC NOTICE COMMITTEE: Scott Whaley , publisher of the Chester County Independent, Henderson, is the 2008-09 chairman of the Public Notice Committee.

Formerly the Newspaper Definition Committee, this committee has returned to its primary purpose of studying the Association’s official stance on the legal definition of a newspaper of general circulation. The primary purpose of this effort is to protect public notice. The committee has expanded its focus to include other challenges to public notice advertising, such as the use of the Internet.

SUMMER CONVENTION COMMITTEE: Chris Vass, Sunday editor of the Chattanooga Times Free Press, is chairman of the 2009 Summer Convention Committee.

This committee is charged with the planning, promotion and execution of the annual summer convention, including securing sponsorships to offset the cost to the general membership. Members are traditionally from newspapers located in the area where the summer convention will be held.

TECHNOLOGY COMMITTEE: Alan Broyles, Johnson City Press, is the 2008-09 chairman of the Technology Committee.

Formed in 2000, the committee addresses technology issues central to our industry. This committee will address issues from Internet presence to pagination to alternative uses of technology throughout all newspaper operations.