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 100 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 14 active committees which are: Advertising, Circulation, Constitution and Bylaws, Contests, Futures, Government Affairs, Hall of Fame (special process for appointment), Journalism in Education, NIE/Literacy, Membership, Nominating (past presidents only), Personnel, Postal, Press Institute & Winter Convention, Summer Convention and Technology.

TENNESSEE PRESS ASSOCIATION
2010-2011 COMMITTEES DESCRIPTION LIST
as of August 17, 2010

ADVERTISING COMMITTEE: Roger Wells, advertising manager of The Lebanon Democrat, is the 2010-11 chairman of the Advertising Committee.

This committee is charged with the planning and execution of the annual Advertising Conference in the spring.. 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. Conference: Spring

CIRCULATION COMMITTEE: Don Lovelace , circulation director of the Citizen Tribune, Morristown, is the 2010-11 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. A primary objective is to promote the growth in attendance for the annual conference. Ad/Circ. Conference: Spring

CONTESTS COMMITTEE: Mark Stevens, The Erwin Record, is the 2010-11 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.

FUTURES COMMITTEE: Gregg K. Jones, president of Jones Media, Inc., is the 2010-11 chairman of the Futures Committee.

Formed in July 2010 to look ahead to organizational needs of the association to determine the kind of association we need to be in the next five to seven years.

GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS COMMITTEE: Clint Brewer, The Tennessean, Nashville, is the 2010-11 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. The Public Notice Committee was also combined with Government Affairs in 2010.

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: Keith Wilson, publisher of The Kingsport Times-News, is the 2010-11 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.

MEMBERSHIP COMMITTEE: Jason Taylor, president of the Chattanooga Times Free Press, is the 2010-11 chairman of the Membership Committee.

Formed in July 2010, this committee is tasked with enhancing participation at all of our meetings, seeking new associate members and reviewing TPA's dues structure.

NIE/LITERACY COMMITTEE: Phil Hensley, circulation director of the Johnson City Press, and Lynn Richardson, publisher of the Herald and Tribune, Jonesborough, are co-chairmen 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: Victor Parkins, editor of The Milan Mirror-Exchange, is the 2010-11 chairman of the 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.

POSTAL COMMITTEE: Joe Adams, publisher, The Lebanon Democrat, is the 2010-11 chairman of the Postal Committee.

PRESS INSTITUTE COMMITTEE: John Finney, The Buffalo River Review, is the 2011 chairman of the Press Institute Committee, which is responsible for the Winter Convnetion.

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 2010, Nashville

SUMMER CONVENTION COMMITTEE: Jana Thomasson, publisher of The Mountain Press, is the 2011 chairman of the Summer Convention.

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. For 2011, TPA will be joining the Kentucky Press Association for a joint convention in Gatlinburg.

TECHNOLOGY COMMITTEE: Scott Critchlow, Union City Daily Messenger, is the 2010-11 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.