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State media take national leadership posts
By LISA CARNAHAN
Member Services Director
Kentucky now has another distinction to add to its list of credits, besides fast horses, hard liquor and great basketball: three media figures in the state have attained top leadership posts in national journalism organizations.
Al Cross, political writer for The Courier-Journal, will be inducted as president of the Society of Professional Journalists (SPJ) next month; David T. Thompson, executive director of the Kentucky Press Association was inducted last month as president of the Newspaper Association Managers (NAM); and Gary White, president and CEO of the Kentucky Broadcasters Association, just completed his term as president of the Broadcast Executive Directors’ Association (BEDA).
All three men have been involved in journalism since their youth and all remain committed to their respective industries after 20-plus years.
Al Cross
One of the best known names in Kentucky journalism, the name “Al Cross” brings fear to a great number of state politicians ... but that fear is usually accompanied with a healthy dose of respect as well.
“I’ve known Al for 23 years,” said House Majority Leader Greg Stumbo, one of the most powerful political leaders in the state. “I call him ‘Crossbow’ because you never know when he’s going to shoot you with one of those arrows. Al is very astute. He generally has his facts in order and he’s pretty careful about his stories, which makes him a good journalist.
“As a political writer, he’s obviously more than just a reporter, he’s a commentator. And opinions are kind of like Chevrolets, everybody’s got one. As anyone who deals with him regularly, there are times when our opinions don’t agree. But I don’t hold it against him. He’s well-researched and he doesn’t assume things. He bases his observations on what he knows and he always tries to balance his stories.”
When Cross graduated from Western in 1974 it was the height of the Watergate Era and journalists looked at their work as more of a mission than a job.
His upcoming induction as SPJ president will be a chance to uphold his beliefs on a nationwide basis and give him a platform and spotlight to espouse them during his term.
“I’m an idealist when it comes to journalism,” said Cross, “and SPJ is an organization that tries to hold up the ideals that most journalists subscribe to. I felt a obligation to join.”
He joined the organization’s student chapter at Western and was president his senior year. Cross refers to WKU’s SPJ campus adviser Jim Highland as his “SPJ godfather.”
But it was his “SPJ god uncle,” Max Heath, who got him involved in the organization’s leadership once Cross was a working reporter.
“It was 1983 and at that time, I was trying to get some people on the board and I got the idea to get Al involved,” said Heath. “I remember there were some skeptics on the board, some who felt Al wouldn’t take the time, he was so busy reporting, to get stuff done. And now darn, if he didn’t really take off as first, the FOI chairman of Kentucky, and then now all the way to the top as SPJ president.
“Al works for what he believes and I’m thrilled he proved some skeptics wrong.”
When Cross was first asked to begin the climb up the SPJ leadership ladder, by taking the post of regional director, he didn’t accept the offer.
“I had just started as political writer for the paper and I knew I couldn’t do that job and give it the attention it needed. But three years ago, in ‘98, I told my supervisors that after the 2000 elections I no longer wanted to be political writer. I’ve covered three election cycles in this role — every possible presidential situation, an open seat, a defeated incumbent and a successful incumbent ... and governor’s races ... I’m running out of stories. This is a young man’s job and I can feel myself slowing down.”
Cross is quick to thank The Courier-Journal for its support of his SPJ role.
During the past year as president-elect, C-J Editor Bennie Ivory allowed Cross to devote one-third of his time to SPJ affairs and two-thirds to the newspaper. Beginning next month, that will be reversed.
“Without the support of the company, I couldn’t do it,” he said. “It’s a daily responsibility and the company is allowing me the time off and time away to handle these duties.”
A career in journalism begins
After college, Cross went to work as editor and general manager of The Record in Monticello. The newspaper had been started by friends of his and during a previous summer stint at the paper, they had enlisted a commitment from Cross to return and run the operation.
“For me, it was a chance to be close to my hometown of Albany in Clinton County,” said Cross. “We put out a fine newspaper but we were going up against an existing paper and didn’t make it. We challenged them, however, and they did improve.”
From there, Cross moved to Russellville for what would be the start of his relationship with the paper’s then-owner, Al Smith. He only worked for Smith for three years, but the short employee-employer relationship turned into a lifelong friendship.
“I’ve had Al as a commentator on my show, ‘Comment on Kentucky,’ more than any other reporter in the past 27 years since we’ve been doing it,” said Smith. “When I belonged to the Society of Professional Journalists, some 35 years ago, it was called SDX, Sigma Delta Chi. We were told the symbolism of SDX, the purpose, was for reporters who were committed to talent, truth and energy. I’ve always thought Al exemplified those words — boundless energy, enormous talent and a steadfast commitment to the truth.”
Cross spent two years at the Russellville paper and a year at Smith’s paper in Leitchfield.
“I was ME in Russellville and we were putting together the Leitchfield Gazette in the Russellville plant,” said Cross. “They had an editor, but it got to the point where I was like a supervising editor, I guess. They shipped us all the copy to be edited and I laid out the front page and most of the rest of the paper. So much so, that when the paper won a KPA award for typography, I took the plaque. It’s the award I’m probably still most proud of.”
In April 1977, Cross moved to Leitchfield as editor of the Gazette. He had married a Grayson County girl a year earlier, Patti Hodges, so on the surface it seemed like an ideal situation.
But, Cross said, the Gazette was in a losing circulation battle with the other local paper, the Grayson County News.
“The first thing I did was go to the bank in Leitchfield where the other newspaper did its business,” said Cross. “They weren’t advertising with us, but I told them I was married to a local girl and I was here to stay. The bank was a big advertiser with the other paper and a short time later, the competition struck a deal to merge into Smith’s company and it became the Grayson County News Gazette.”
The merger wasn’t a smooth one for Cross. He and the other editor mixed like oil and water.
“Smith said we were like two scorpions in a bottle,” said Cross.
After an episode where Cross’ bylines mysteriously disappeared from the front page, he knew it was time for a move.
After a call to friend Bob Schulman, then media critic for The Louisville Times, the wheels started turning.
“To this day, I don’t really know what was said to whom,” said Cross.
But whatever the process, Cross got a call from Frank Hartley, state editor of The Louisville Courier, asking him why he had never applied at the Courier. He offered Cross the paper’s bureau job in Somerset.
“It was funny, nobody in Louisville wanted the job because it was dry and too far from Louisville,” said Cross. “Seven months on the job, they moved the bureau to Bardstown — probably the most cosmopolitan small town in Kentucky. I loved it and my wife loved it.”
Cross spent five years in that bureau, moved to the city desk in Louisville from 1984 to 1986, then to the capitol bureau in January 1987. Two years later he was named political writer for the paper.
Cross a natural in world of politics
Maybe it’s in his genes — the love of politics. Cross’ father was a state legislator, representing Clinton County in 1948 and ’49.
“Al’s father served in the legislature and I believe Al truly appreciates the people who serve in those offices,” said Stumbo. “I think one of the gripes, on our side, is that reporters are not fair ... don’t understand the sacrifices we make. I don’t think that’s true with Al Cross. He understands the process and he understands what we do.
“I’ve never seen him be mean or treat anyone unfairly. He’s a registered Republican and I think that comes out every once in a while, but other than that, I can’t find much fault.”
Political coverage provides reporters with an insight to the entire state and its people, according to Cross.
“I love Kentucky ... and the General Assembly is a microcosm of Kentucky, as it should be,” said Cross, “all its best and worst.”
Cross’ favorite election is the 1995 gubernatorial race between Paul Patton and Larry Forgy. And a race it was.
“It was the closest race for governor the state had seen in a long time,” said Cross. “I had known Larry Forgy, since he was from Logan County, for a long time. There was a lot of scrutiny to see whether I would lean toward Forgy. It was a real test of my ability ... and I played the straight and narrow. It was really a question of perception — and sometimes perception is more important than reality.”
His worst coverage memory involves Boptrot.
“We got word of the investigation at 7 p.m. and I had to have the story to Louisville by 8:30,” he said. “It was the end of the session, we were all looking forward to having a break and instead got an investigation that would take months, years more coverage.”
One of the stories he’s most proud of, stemmed from that investigation: the first profile of former House Speaker Don Blandford after he was released from prison.
“There’s some good in everybody,” said Cross. “People who may be portrayed as evil and corrupt may not be primarily that so I always try and keep that in mind.”
Stumbo has another telling tale about Cross.
“When they auctioned off what was left of Pete’s Restaurant, what was Flynn’s in Frankfort, Al bought the corner seat, the curved booth where Blandford set every day,” said Stumbo. “I asked him what in world he wanted with that and he told me he was going to redo his basement and reconstruct that part of Flynn’s. Blandford held court there every day during the legislative session in that old round booth. The place was covered with posters from all kinds of politicians from FDR to Kennedy. I think that tells you something about Al. He has an appreciation for the historical significance of something like that.”
What’s next
Cross wants to write a book about politics in Kentucky. He’s already got a good start on the research: he’s visited every county seat in the Commonwealth.
“When I was an adjunct professor at UK, in the political science department, Al taught a class for me,” said Smith. “I’ll never forget how he began this memorable discussion about how the geography of the land had actually affected the culture, the outlook and even the politics of the people.
“Although I had a hand in perhaps helping start his career, he has returned the favor to me many times over. And if I was ever a mentor to him, he continues to be a one for me also,” said Smith.
David T. Thompson
For David Thompson, a newspaper career was probably inevitable. His father, Billy Thompson, was sports editor of the Lexington Herald in the late 50s to mid 60s and Billy had his son covering Scott County sporting events when David was in middle school.
“I got my first byline in the seventh grade,” said Thompson. “I never really considered any other field. I knew this was what I wanted to do.”
Right after graduation from Georgetown High School and a stint in the U.S. Army, Thompson began working full time at the Lexington Herald covering sports. Five years after graduation, he married his high school sweetheart Marilyn Kitchen, and it was Marilyn who convinced him to go to college and get his degree in journalism. He graduated from the University of Kentucky with a degree in journalism in 1974.
“I didn’t think I needed it (degree) ... I was doing the job I wanted to do already,” he said. “But I was working 5 p.m. to 2 a.m., and she was a school teacher, so we never saw each other. It was Marilyn who really encouraged me to go back to school. She always said I’d get my degree, and as usual, she won out.”
As a sophomore in high school, Thompson had an experience that would ultimately affect his entire life. It was 1963 and Thompson went to his local newspaper, the Georgetown News and Times, and asked if he could write some sports stories for the paper. (Remember he had been covering sports for the Lexington paper since the seventh grade.)
“The Georgetown paper had no sports section, nothing, and they offered me $15 a month,” said Thompson.
He rejected the offer and left.
“I remember looking around the office as I walked out and thinking to myself, ‘One day I’m gonna be the publisher of this paper.’”
That prophesy was fulfilled 16 years later when Thompson was named publisher and editor of the Georgetown News and Times.
His father made the switch to broadcasting, leaving the Lexington Herald in 1965 to become news director at Channel 18 (a position he held until his death in 1977.) His daughter Kalli is in radio sales for Clear Channel in Lexington and her fiancee is a videographer for Channel 18.
But for Thompson, it’s always been about newspapers.
After nearly five years at the Georgetown paper, Thompson was named KPA executive director in 1983. KPA is the 10th oldest press association in the country and one of only five that boasts 100 percent membership of newspapers in the state.
Thompson’s been involved with NAM leadership for the past six years, when he was elected to the board of directors.
“The main benefit of participating in this national organization is to see where KPA stands as far as member services go, what we offer to our members,” said Thompson. “I’ve got a lot of new ideas from the other states and been able to offer others some of ours.”
And just how does KPA stack up?
“I think we have one of the better press associations in the country,” said Thompson, “and that’s not just me saying it. Several of our members who have worked with other state press associations think we offer quite a bit more than others. We’re the only one to have a full-time news bureau, for instance. We’re always willing and ready to try new things, the boot camp being a recent example. We were also the first state to try an internship program, and when we started the high school journalism association five years ago, we were the only press association to operate its high school counterpart. Now, two or three others have followed suit.
“All these things really put KPA on the forefront among the state press associations,” he said, noting KPA’s progressive members have led the way. “A good association is a sign of a lot of good members.”
Keeping KPA there is one of Thompson’s goals, one of three immediate ones he cites when asked. He also wants to build up the advertising service and see continued growth in the high school organization.
“It hasn’t been that many years ago that we were in the top eight (of state press associations) in ad sales. We’ve fallen off recently and I want to turn that around,” said Thompson. “And I’m still hopeful of getting 1,000 kids at a KHSJA State Convention.”
On the long-range burner, Thompson would love to see the KPA headquarters include a training facility and computer lab. The lab could be used for continued training for member newspaper employees and even be the site for a boot camp.
Thompson is quick to brag on Kentucky papers.
“One of the main things I’ve learned, and one of the main benefits of the travel I do, is I get to see what the other states have to offer and I get to hear what our peers think of Kentucky papers,” said Thompson. “And I say without hesitation that we’re at least comparable, and in many cases better. I don’t think our newspapers take a backseat to anyone.”
Gary White
White came to KBA six years ago and after just three years in BEDA, was chosen to serve as chairman of the organization’s annual convention — a position that precedes the post of president-elect.
During White’s tenure as BEDA president, the group scored a major victory for broadcast stations across the country. They successfully waged a battle all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court against an EEO ruling which forced stations to document their hiring practices.
“Broadcasters do an excellent job in hiring minorities and women, but it’s something we can do on our own, without a government mandate,” said White. “And the courts agreed with us. It’s unconstitutional to force one industry to go through the time consuming and costly efforts that were required by the EEO regs.
“It’s always flattering to be selected by your peers to head any organization like that,” said White — and he should know: he was also previously chosen to lead the Franklin County Chamber of Commerce and won a seat on the Franklin County School Board.
The world of broadcast journalism began for White as a teen, while still in high school. A teacher who had heard him read, thought he had the right type of voice and introduced him to the once popular Competitive Radio Speaking.
He was hooked.
White began hanging around the local radio station, first picking up used wire copy to practice for competition. He was good at it, making it all the way to the state finals.
Born in Long Island, N.Y., White was a military brat, living three years in Germany and in several towns across the eastern U.S. His family had ties to Kentucky and upon his father’s retirement, they settled in Somerset near relatives.
White went to the local radio station, WSFC-WSEK, and asked if they needed any help and that led to his first real job in broadcasting — they hired him as a janitor.
Things soon changed, however, and by the end of that summer, the nighttime disk jockey had returned to college and White was eager to fill his shoes. After six months he moved to the afternoon shift and six months later was named news director.
White was hooked again. News reporting suited him and he spent the next nine years doing it. The first three in Somerset, the next three for state government as a radio and TV reporter for the now-defunct Kentucky Department of Public Information and the last three as news director at WCKQ-WTCO in Campbellsville.
He had the opportunity to move into station management and was named general manager of WKHG-WMTL in Leitchfield.
After less than a year, the “perfect opportunity” crossed White’s path.
“It was perfect because I knew Frankfort, from my time in state government. I really, really liked the area and it was a much larger market. Plus, it was an opportunity for my then-wife to be close to her hometown. It was just a great opportunity all around,” said White.
It was during that nine-year period of managing the Frankfort stations WFKY-WKYW that White immersed himself in civic affairs.
“It’s really something that someone in that position should do — to get out and about and learn the needs and issues of the listeners and find out some of the ways the radio station can help,” he said.
The Frankfort position was perfect for White in another way: it placed him in the spotlight for the position he now has.
KBA was formed in 1955 and the organization had seen only two executive directors, both of whom filled the position on a part-time basis. White’s predecessor, J.T. Whitlock operated it out of his radio station in Lebanon.
In 1995, the board of directors made some radical changes: they wanted someone in the executive director’s position (they recently changed the title to president and CEO) on a full-time basis and they wanted more visibility for the organization. And the latter meant a central location.
White interviewed for the position with about a dozen of his peers.
“The thing I remember most about that interview,” said White, “is that they spent about five minutes on my background in broadcasting and the rest of the time they asked me about all the things I had done, like the chamber and other volunteer work. I think the different experiences showed them I had the ability to run a successful business and some political savvy since I had run for office and won.”
White’s other bid for political office, a mayoral race in Frankfort in 1999, wasn’t successful. He ran third in a five-person race.
“Even though I grew up literally, all over the country, I consider Frankfort my home. It’s the place I’ve spent the most time and I really wanted to take a shot at being the city’s top representative,” said White. “It was a great experience. I don’t regret it and I really appreciate the people who voted for me.”
While more political races probably aren’t in White’s future, safeguarding the interests of KBA and helping to pave the way for the industry’s future are.
“We always will keep our sights on any legislative actions that might not be in the best interest of broadcasters,” said White, “but we are also looking ahead. It’s a very exciting time right now on the TV side. We’re moving toward completing the change in the way TV sounds are broadcast, from analog to digital, and will in this decade complete the transition.
“We’ve got to keep our members informed during this period. It’s exciting to be involved with this. A lot of people are comparing it to the time when television was converted from black and white to color. It’s quite an achievement.”
KBA’s goal of more visibility took a major shot in the arm last year when it unveiled its new 10,000-square foot office building.
The modern-designed, state-of-the-art building sits conspicuously visible from 1-64 and White gets comments about the building on his travels around the state. One of the most noticeable features about the building is the actual broadcast tower out front.
“That tower is a symbol of our industry, both radio and television,” said White. “When I’m traveling around the state and people find out what organization I’m with, I often hear compliments about our facility.
“We wanted the high-tech modern-looking design because we believe that’s reflective of our industry.”
Another feature of the building is a 100-seat classroom that KBA plans to utilize for training sessions for its members. White would like to see some type of certification program for TV and radio station employees established in the near future.
“We’d be the first state to offer such training,” he said. “It’s just something that’s not being done yet. But if we could establish a curriculum, then we could offer it to our members right here at the KBA office.”
KBA’s been innovative in other ways: The organization joined KPA in launching the Kentucky High School Journalism Association five years ago and has remained a committed partner in that endeavor which reaches out to high school journalism advisers, both print and broadcast.
“Our members certainly feel the contributions we make are worthwhile and will be very valuable to our industry,” said White. “We want to do whatever we can to help and support these young people who are on a career path that’s began with their high school journalism broadcast program.”
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