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KPA boot camp called a success In this case, two times was a charm. After an unsuccessful try last summer to launch the training, the KPA Journalism Boot Camp graduated the first class on Aug. 3. The group of 22 ranged in age from 22 to 60 and came from all over the state to attend the three-week course that was held at Georgetown College. The boot camp was led by Indiana University Southeast journalism professor Jim St. Clair but it was the brainchild of KPA Vice-President David Greer. Greer, publisher of The Kentucky Standard in Bardstown, discussed the idea with a Landmark executive some three years ago, and then a short time later read about the Thomson newspaper chain’s boot camp. “I thought I had this really original idea — but like the saying goes, there is no ‘new’ idea,” he said. Greer spent some time with Thomson executives in charge of the company’s boot camp and formulated a proposal to take to the KPA Board last year. They endorsed the project and plans were made to hold the first installment of the camp last July. Maybe it was fate ... but the camp didn’t go off as planned. In light of this year’s enthusiastic group and several changes in the format which made the three-week course more student-friendly, it may have been the best cancellation KPA’s ever had. “It’s always exciting to see something move from the concept stage to a workable plan and then become reality,” said Greer. “With the journalism boot camp, the results far exceeded my expectations. We had the right mix of students, we had the right instructor, we had the right location and the students told us through their evaluation of the boot camp that we had the right concept. The graduates told us they had a great experience and that we did most things right the first time. That is, of course, very gratifying. Now, it’s on to boot camp No. 2 next summer.” There’s already a success story. Sharon Roggenkamp has been hired at the Georgetown News-Graphic as a freelance reporter. “Our publisher, Mike Scogin, was impressed when I showed him her clips,” said News-Graphic editor Kevin Hall, “and he said ‘let’s bring her on to freelance.’ She knows the community and her enthusiasm means a lot, too. She wants to write and wants to be part of the newspaper environment.” Next year’s boot campers will have big shoes to fill. “We’ll be hard pressed next year, or any following year, to match the caliber of this year’s group,” said KPA Executive Director David T. Thompson. “They came in each day eager and ready to learn. They really formed a camaraderie with one another as well. Another big part of the success was the quality of speakers we brought in and the commitment and enthusiasm these journalists relayed to the class.”
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