xt7ngf0mwc72 https://exploreuk.uky.edu/dips/xt7ngf0mwc72/data/mets.xml Kentucky Kentucky Press Association Kentucky Press Service University of Kentucky. School of Journalism 2004 Call Number: PN4700.K37 Issues not published 1935 Aug - 1937 Oct, 1937 Jul - 1937 Aug, 1939 Oct - Dec, 1940 Jan - Mar, 1951 Aug - 1956 Sep. Includes Supplementary Material:  2005/2006, Kentucky High School Journalism Association contest 2004-2005, Advertising excellence in Kentucky newspapers 2003-2005, Excellence in Kentucky newspapers newsletters  English Lexington, KY.: School of Journalism, University of Kentucky Contact the Special Collections Research Center for information regarding rights and use of this collection. The Kentucky Press Press -- Kentucky -- Periodicals The Kentucky Press, January 2004 Vol.75 No.1 text The Kentucky Press, January 2004 Vol.75 No.1 2004 2019 true xt7ngf0mwc72 section xt7ngf0mwc72 //"% Volume 75, Number 1 U. S. Postage ‘
fix H re .._ A. _.,L t, N Kentuc Press Association PAID i
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Directories available at convention 3
* January .5
The new edition of the Kentucky Today and Weekly Reader. _ ‘
Press Association Yearbook and The directory isn’t the only thing i“1,“?ch $1 News & N Otes
Directory will be available for you attendees will take home with them “ie 4* : ‘ . ,
to pick up at the 2004 Winter after the convention. They will also efififfifl ‘— General Assembly IS
Convention and Trade Show on Jan. to take home with them informa- . I - _' I underway
22-23 at Embassy Suites in tion from the numerous industry as. - . ‘ ' .._;3;"_ The 2004 Kentucky General :
Lexington. experts scheduled to speak at the ”fee ’7'}? wk?“ Assembly convened'on Tuesday, “
The photo featured on this year’s convention on topics involving sub- x“; 5‘ IT“. ‘ f ' 1 Jan. 6 and once again the KPA .
cover was made by Clay Jackson, jects such as technology, NIE pro- it? 5 i ’3 03;. 'fi " news bureau Will be Offering .
chief photographer of The Advocate grams, generating online revenue, g ,2” ‘ coverage of the events. , . ‘
Messenger, Danville. He took this advertising sales, postal concerns, W1.- V Legislative stories can be sent ,
photo when Dianne Stillwell’s sec- photography and newspaper credi— $3,, by e-mail or fax and will also be .
0nd grade class at Woodlawn bility. J ‘ezfzi’ ”L filed on accesskpa.com. If you 5
Elementary School was studying The events begin at the .1) 2‘ . ' _. want to receive the stories ‘
life cycles. This Monarch butterfly Lexington hotel at 11 am. Thursday i ,“ ,. . "‘e _ , '3" V and/ or photos and have not yet '
began its migration to Mexico soon when the trade show booths open. 3.???"75; 2””3‘ 45h notified the News Bureau,
after the picture was taken. The An opening reception will be held The new KPA Directory cover , please le4maiI'News Bureau . _ .
photo has also appeared in USA N E Y photo was made by Clay Jackson of I‘Di'recforBafia,vfihls'cl1iae’at , . . _‘
See U D RWA 0“ Page 4 The Advocate Messenger- dehlschide@kypress.com and let '
D Th Cl k K t k her know hOW you prefer to
receive the stories.
1.. omas ar 0n en uc y Legislative roundup stories
will be filed weekly each Friday
’ . fl th t t by 4 pm. and other stories,
newspapers 111 Hence On e S a 6 packages and/or photos will be
filed in addition as key legisla-
By DAVID GREER addition to dailies from Atlanta, tive initiatives move through the
Member Services Director Memphis and New Orleans. -. M; -. " ‘ Chambers.
”I could have easily been a ”That was my source of infor- L1” As always, the News
. newspaperman.” mation for many things,” he said. 4%., Bureau’s coverage is on a first-
”The newspaper had and still Clark grew up in rural fl ”a come, first—served basis. Keep in
has an impact on the Kentucky Mississippi. His father farmed ' I “l. h mind, the News Bureau can fill
mind.” while his mother taught school and 1 a? , such requests as: complete sto—
”I’ve always had a fascination instilled within him a love of histo- '5 ' ries, a quote from your legislator
for newspapers and their develop- ry. But a young Clark briefly to add to a local story or a pho-
ment.” dropped out of high school and r tograph of your legislator in
”No one knows just how much farmed for two years before realiz- é . ' I " ~ action. ,
influence newspapers have. ing he should return to school. He i j . "it The service is free of charge ,
Everyone says they do, but no one, did and then went to college with 3: ' it to you as a KPA member.
including the newspapers, can thoughts of becoming a lawyer. i . To make a request, contact _
measure it.” But there were influences to f Ehlschide at 1—800-264-5721 or
Those are the astute observa- become a journalist — a couple of g by e-mail at V
tions of lOO-year-old Dr. Thomas D. his cousins ran weeklies back home ‘ déhlschide©kypress.com. '
Clark, Kentucky’s historian laure- — and even a job offer or two was i Kentucky Press Association
ate—for—life and author of more than made to Clark. But a mentor at the j we % intern Chad Allen Harpole will
30 books — three of them about the University of Mississippi persuad- Dr. Thomas Clark spoke to those attending be aSSISting Ehlsclucie in cover-
state’s newspapers. ed him to pursue his love of lustory the 2003 KPA convention about where ' age agam 311$ year. . . . ’
As a boy in Mississi pi, Clark news a ers have been and where the are , ' . . P ,
read the local weekly pipers, in See CLARK on Page 11 headddp y V V ‘ Sane NEWS 9” age 10‘ I

 Page 2 — The Kentucky Press, January 2004
Ashland Independent of the Portsmouth (Ohio) Daily northeastern Kentucky newspapers, opportunity to get some experience
b1. 11 Times since 1999, has been serving as including Ashland, since October. He in the newspaper field.
names new P 11 IS er regional publisher within CNHI’s will continue in that regional man— The News—Journal is creating a
. Eddle Blakely was named pub- Bluegrass Division for some time. In agement role, including oversight of Journalism Scholars Program and
llsher Of The Independent in late addition to being publisher of the Portsmouth. will be offering a 10—week paid
November. _ Portsmouth newspaper, he has had Blakely has also served as pub- internship to one student from each
Blakely, who has been publisher regional responsibilities over several lisher of newspapers in Orange, school during the spring and fall
Texas, and Port Arthur, Texas. semesters of each academic year,
He replaces Roger Coleman, who beginning with an internship award-
I he I< entUCky Pres S resigned in October to accept anoth- ed to a student from each school
er position with another newspaper during the spring 2004 semester.
The Kentucky Press (Permit # 939) is pub— Enterprise group in the Milwaukee, Wisc. area. This is in addition to the summer
11st monthly by the Kentucky Press District 11 ~ Glenn Gray, Manchester internship program in WhiCh the
Association/Kentucky Press Service, Inc. Enterprise B arger hired as new News—Journal participates along
Third Class postage is paid at Glasgow, ’ ‘ . . with other Landmark Community
KY. 42141. Subscription price is $8 per District 12 - Jeff Neal, Somerset EdItOI' In London Newspapers. LCNI is the News-
year. Postmaster. Send change of address Commonwealth Journal The London—Laurel News Journal Journal’ 5 parent company.
:an2 61:15:35? 1262613 @8121: 335821 District 13 - Tom Caudill Lexington recently hired a new Editor' . . News'loumal PubliSher RiChard
' ' ' ' ' Herald-Leader ' Samantha Barger tOOk the posrtion 0f RoBards and Editor Beth Foster have
_ editor in November. . worked with Stan McKinney, assis—
Officers District 14 - Teresa Scenters, Berea Citizen Banger has worked 11‘ several tant professor of journalism at CU,
Kentucky Press Association , ' aspects of the news Indus“? and . and George Kolbenschlag, assistant
, State At-Large brlngs Wltn her a unlque commumty professor of communications and
President — Sharon Tuminski,. Chris Poore, Kentucky Kernel - approach to writing. She held a posi- journalism at LWC, to develop the
Wmchester Sun . Tony Maddox, MadiSOnville Messenger tion at the Kentucky Press Journalism Scholars Program.
, Patti Clark, Owenton News Herald Association and was Architectural Any fu11_fime student who is
President-Elect ~John Nelson, , , . Taylor Hayes, Kentucky New Era Marketin Director for a firm in . . . .
Danviile Advocate Messenger , J . V, y , ‘ ‘ . , . . . ' '_ ' . , ' . g etudymg communications, journal—
. .l . p , DiviSion Chairman gv, ' , ' ' g I, ' , £1. Lexmgton. . 15111 or publlc relations at CU or LWC
Vice President - David Thornberry, . News Editorial Division - 301m ' . .. . Pr 101' t0 {leceptlng the News may apply for the internship, which
Somerset COmmOnWealth Journal, ' , ShindleboWer, Spencer Magnet ' V ' JOnrnal p051t10n,_she worked at The will also include academic credit for g
I ' - - : ‘ ‘ ' ' Middlesboro Daily News as a the students selected to fill the posi-
Treasurer — Charlie Portmann, Adverfismg Division ~ Cheryl Magers, . reporter covering the Chamber of fions.
‘Franklin PM?“ . . Central Kentucky'News Journal ' Commerce, city and county govern- In order to apply, students must
' ' ' ‘ - ‘ ' , , ' ments as well as other si 'ficant ' ' '
Past President ~ Dave Eldridge, Circulation Division - Kriss Johnson, * community events gm 22:51:2325222123 3:21:51;
essamine ournal ‘ , Lexin on Heraldieadér » ' ’ '
I I - - . gt . ‘ I > , _ Barger graduated from Hazard dation and be recommended by their
Board of Directors '. Associates Division _ Cliff Feltham, ' , ngh School and attended Lee journalism professor. The top three
Districtl ~ Alice Rouse, Murray Ledger , Kentucky Utilities > . . . , " UmverSIty 1n Cleveland, Tenn. applicants from both schools will be
and Times . ,, , . ‘ ,, ‘ ' , , interviewed by RoBards and Foster
. . . _ _ General Counsels ~Jon FleischakerCKim CKN] begins intern with the top candidate for each
District 2 - Jed Dilhngham, Dawson GreeneDmsmore 8v: Shohl, Louiswlle » ‘ . th school being awarded an internship.
513111185 Progress > ' , " ' I Program W1 Students chosen will be expected
Kentucky Press Association Staff ’ ' Campbellsville LWC t . t tl . 1 ch
District 3 - Donn Wimmer, Hancock David T. Thompson, Executive Director ' o W“ e a east one artic e ea
Clarion Bonnie Howard, Controller ‘_ , The Central Kentucky News- week for publlcation 1n the newspa—
Teresa Revlett, DirectOr of Sales ' . - Journal will be giving Campbellsville per, as well as attend some public
District4 ~ Charlie Portmann, Franklin DvaVid, Greer, Member Services Director V University and Lindsey Wilson
Favorite V Dana Ehhdfids News Bureau Dim“)? I , College journalism students the See PEOPLE on Page 12
. ‘ David Spencer, New Media Director
District 5 — Ron Filkins, Kentucky Buffy Sams, Bookkeeping Assistant ’ ' et' - h d t B d 'th h'
Standard Reba Lewis, Research/Marketing ' . D h r mng’ e m°.Ve 0 en W1 15
V, Coordinator » , . daughter, helping her care for her
District 6 - Arthur B. Post, Louisville Sue Cammack, Administrative Assistant . g . Children-
Courier—Journal Rachel McCarty, Advertising Assistant ' , Former C-J edltor Before coming to Louisville,
D1 7 K 11 W ck, G . Bong/gm mwasiness Cierk ; ” Erskine Campbell dies Currie worked for several small
’strict - e ey ami allatm‘ Mar eridan, lN Account Executive . . - ~ -
County News . > ' Tami Hensley, Tearsheet Clerk . ‘ Erskine. Campbell Currle, a vet— newspapers, Including papers in
' ’ , . eran Courier-Journal editor, dled PensaCOIal Flaw and Blrmingham,
District 8 - Ken Metz, Bath County News Staff members, Officers and Directors ' NOV. 23 in Bend, Ore., after a long Ala.
Outlook ‘ may be reached by email using the indi— illness. He was 76. Currie was a native of
I ‘ Iv vidual's fir“ initial, fulllast ' ' _ Hattiesbur , Miss, and raduatedi
District 9 - Mark Maynard, Ashland Daily name@kypress.com. There is no space or curflf ngkEd at T1: Courlller from L o u i Sana State University
Independent. punctuationin the e—mail address. Journa or years an was t e . ,
District 10 - Edmund Shelby, Beattyville . ' night regional editor for much of 1n1948. After college, Currie served
' L that time. He retired in 1985. After in the Air Force for four years.

 Page 3 - The Kentucky Press, January 2004 ,
Convention offers hair shedd'ng e ' '

NineW-three . enough time- , 11th we
newspapers. On Second M Then came a 6' ..
huh page eds. ”‘8 t ad that needed . t'v
and each one 10"" ""m’thasmm" W” it had to run «a d. :2...
straight weeks. Turned out it was better than a full {. ;. g”??? ,I . 1' " ’K/ 2;:

That’s a total of 279 full page page each time. 5 , ‘35 3'22“, w‘ fl 4
ads. So the goal of $5 million quickly , $3???” 3&4, 1%; 5% . gray? ’

Midway through Decembe. he became more reahsdc end I wedded '- ~.-:::-.a«~
the $5 million mark in advertising of that placement. Would it mean E . . .v . . , ,,
short December’s not the largest ry? , .ag " .. ,
month of the We Budgets with M0.“ definitely by the Prelimi- Merit = ~ .
ally spent by then and the adverts nary figures. But then, there were _ . _ _ '
ers we have through KPS aren’ t only two weeks left, S 0 one Of the The Kentucky Press Serv1ce advertismg staff members include: (front row, from

. . . . left) Tami Hensley, Mark Sheridan, (back row) Teresa Revlett, Holly Willard and
retall merchants looking for a big placements had to go in 2004. And Rachel McCa ,
holiday push. some of the newspapers on the rty. ,

We had already set the one-year schedule don’t have a Christmas So those had to be scheduled for for the last two weeks. That put us
advertising record and had more week issue, or a New Year’s week 2004 as WSH' right at $49 million for the year.
than $4.5 million on the books. But issue, or don’t have any issue the Factor in all Of that, and the But then the placement actually "
with two weeks left, there wasn’t last two weeks. placement total EXCEEdEd 333001000 See HAIR on Page 9
———-————_———__________________________________
2003-04 to be a banner year for KHSJ A *

The current g/g members over the our web site. Frankfort and doing an excellent job.

school year Oh, By The {1 Wad? previous school Not to brag — OK, I will brag a lit- Meanwhile, Jenny Poole, class of
has been one W } year, and some- tle — we think we’ve put together a 2003, whose husband Dave attended
of firsts for the ay g, thing tells me we good convention program for Jan. 22 boot camp the year before, has
K e n t u c k y g;* might get some and 23. It offers something for every- moved from being office manager to
High School By David Greer g , additional mem- one — from the technically minded reporter/staff writer at the Clay City
J o u r n a l i s m KPA Member Services ’ bers over the cur- with the Russell Viers session on Jan. Times.
Ass 0 Ciation. Direcw" 4? rent 96. 22 to advertising, editorial, circula- “I use what I learned in boot camp
Now in its sev- E: KHSJA is spon- tion and more on Friday, Jan. 23. The every day and would recommend it
enth year, soring a software Changing of the Guard luncheon at to anyone interested in journalism,”
KHSJA can boast of 96 members and training session on Jan. 21 at the noon Friday looks to feature a special she said in a recent e-mail. Jenny spe-
some firsts. Embassy Suites Hotel in Lexington. speaker. The day will be topped off cializes in feature stories.

For one, I hesitate to call KHSJA Russell Viers, a noted newspaper with the always-popular KPA contest Boot camper Jason Miller is in
members schools because not all industry software expert and trainer, awards presentation after dinner. Japan teaching English. He’s using
members are schools this year. The will conduct the training. The session Looking ahead to April, the his journalism skills in writing ajour—
Lebanon Enterprise is working will highlight programs such as Kentucky High School Journalism nal about his experiences. He fre-
directly with a group of Marion PhotoShop,PageMaker, QuarkXpress Association will have its annual con- quently e-mails his latest chapter
County High School students who and a review of InDesign. The train- vention on April 21 at the Clarion back home to the states. Jason, who
wanted to learn more about journal- ing is open to teachers and students Hotel 8: Conference Center, on stands a little over 6 feet tall, says he
ism. So, The Enterprise itself is a from KHSJA members. Louisville’s east side just off I-64 and feels like a giant when walking down
KHSJA member this year. Thanks to KPA members will have the Hurstbourne Parkway. the street. His experiences in learning
general manager/editor Chris opportunity to attend a Russell Viers’ That’s the same place where we to navigate the Japanese rail system
Hamilton for his wisdom in invest— program the next day as the 2004 held the 2003 KPAeand KHSJA con- have been interesting and often quite
ing in journalism’s future. Also, the convention begins at the Embassy ventions — just a new name because funny.

R.E.E.L. Radio Project at WFPL-FM, Suites, 1801 Newtown Pike, of new owners. Finally, Patti Cox checks in from‘
an NPR station in Louisville, is a Lexington. Information about There’s one final item for this Garrard County where she and her
KHSJA member this year as it works Russell’s KPA session was included month’s column. I enjoy tracking the husband, Jim, own and operate the
with a group of high schoolers learn— in a recent mailing to your newspa- whereabouts of the KPA Journalism local weekly, The Central Record.
ing about radio broadcasting. per, plus it’s also available at Boot Camp alumni. From the 2003 Patti loved boot camp and said Jim
Also, the 96 KHSJA members for www.kypress.com. In fact, all the class, Peggy Fukunaga has been plans to attend in 2004 to brush up
. ‘. 2003-04 represent an increase [of five 2004 convention information is .on interning at The State Journal here in on his journalism skills too.

 Page 4 — The Kentucky Press, January 2004
KPS b k l d aga'n ' 2003
What a year . ' by placing ”close mon ownership. That means that willing to work together to accom-
2003 has been AdUBTtiSing to” $5 million in there are a lot more people out plish one goal - being the best for ,,
for all of us. It Plus 3} advertising for there to make happy by offering Kentucky and Indiana newspapers.
. was tough to Kentucky and our convenient one order, one bill That’s what we are striving for
. follow last Indiana newspa- service to them. We have a unique here.
year’s lead. jg, pers. That’s con- situation in that we can place ads Start the new year off right by
First of all, j siderably more for Kentucky and Indiana newspa- telling Mark Sheridan, Rachel
remember that K353i g:::::o§:;:tifes money and it was pers at local and national rates. Two McCarty, Holly Willard and Tami
7 2002 was a “3;;53 done without states with one phone call. Hensley ”thanks” for being a great
. , record-breaking ““91 adding staff. Who wouldn’t want to use us to extension to YOUR ad staff. They
year with Pretty amazing, make the job of multiple ad place- work hard for you every day and
'1 $4,166,539.48 in ad sales. The clos— huh? ments easier? sometimes a kind word of thanks is
j est year to that previously was in I think so. This task is not something that better than a paycheck.
3 1999 when we placed $3,874,159.30. I continue to think that it is also was accomplished by one person. It It is an honor and a privilege to
How do you follow up a record pretty amazing the people at the ad was a team effort. Ads are sold, work for all of you.
like that? agencies who say ”I didn’t know built, distributed to newspapers, Now you all know what is in
.' Break it again. you could do that" when I talk tearsheets are pulled and invoices store for 2004 - we have to break
; The KPS ad staff did an out- about multiple ad placements for are submitted to clients in a timely another record!
standing job breaking that record newspapers who do not have com- manner. That requires a team that is The sky is the limit.
Advertisin s endin outlook AVAILABLE ‘
i g p g Continued from page 1 '
g . at 6 pm. Thursday evening in
rea y or a e 0 1n the trade show area.
K V A full day of activities begins
. - - ry, is expected to increase by 4.5 per- ments on the following categories: at 8 am. Friday when the trade
ClaSSIfled to grow cent. OReal estate advertising. If inter- show and the registration desk ,
by 4.5 percent, . National and retail ad spending est rates begin to'float upward, the :Edndofteihsiizrthfoefglhjdtgtliigni
‘\ . in newspapers, which was strong housmg market is likely to relin— day. See Page 8 for a complete
overall Spendlng throughout 2003, should increase by quish its position as the economic list of sessions and speakers.
by 4.1 percent 6.5 percent and 3 percent respective- growth leader. While real estate The annual Changing of the
'; ly, according to Conaghan. advertising should continue to be Guard Lunch will be held at
i The amount of money marketers In addition, optimism in the strong, it may not reach the level of noon on Friday. Sharon
‘. spend on newspaper advertising iS employment sector is good news for percentage increases of the past Tuminski, 2003 KPA president
‘ expected to increase by about 4.1 newspapers, writes Conaghan, and three years. and business manager for the '
: percent in the coming year, accord- should bring gains in recruitment ad OAuto. While there is some con~ Winchester 511.“! W111 pass the
ing to the 2004 forecast for the news- dollars ”in the upper single digits cern that fewer people will be shop- gavel to Danvrlle Advocate-
; . . . ,, , , _ Messenger Managing Editor
. paper busmess, published in the for the full year. ping for a new vehicle in 2004, a .
. _ . . John Nelson as he becomes the
; January issue Of Presstime maga- ”Even as the economy started to number of new models are being th _
zine. Presstime iS the flagship publi- show the first signs of turning launched and marketed, which 119 preSident Of the Kentucky '
g . . . . , , . Press Assoc1ation.
‘: cation of the Newspaper Assoc1ation around last year, the jobless nature should result in more ad dollars in Gov Ernie Fletche h b
_ , _ . . r as een
.: Of America. . of the recovery meant that all Circulation. invited to address the member-
: In the article, ”Ready for employment classifieds lagged 0Retail. Retail advertising stands ship as the luncheon’s keynote .
‘ Takeoff,” NAA Vice President of behind,” said John F. Sturm, NAA to benefit from an improving econo- speaker. KPA is awaiting confir- .
: Research and Business Analysis president and CEO. my and more job seekers returning mation from his office. ‘
L James Conaghan compares the bur- ”Whether we’re talking about to work. Preprints and smaller retail At 6 p-m-r after an afternoon
geoning economic and advertising newspapers, online postings or the categories should lead the way. 9f sessions, the KPA Excellence
recovery to a jumbo jet rumbling bulletin board at your neighborhood ONational. In a year when the m Kentucky Newspapers .
. down the runway: “The good news market, there just weren’t many jobs Olympics and the presidential elec— some“ Axaifilsfeifiption' .
‘ for 2004 is that both the economy available. Now that the jobs are tion will likely crowd some advertis- edgclgfit‘eslt awaidsiar}: $3131?-
:I and the advertising marketplace returning, classified publishers will ers out of the television market, lowin t 7 q ,
\ g a pm.
~ now have enough thrust to get back benefit, and newspapers have been newspapers should benefit from At 9:30, the KPA President’s
’ into the air.” as innovative as anyone in position- limited broadcast inventory. Reception is set to begin.
Classified ad Spending, which ing themselves to capture much of Categories such as travel and For more information on the
f has been dragged down by the that business.” telecommunications should contin- convention, contact Sue
E weakness in the recruitment categO- In his article, Conaghan com- ueto do well. ‘ , . cammaCk at 8004647572]- _ .

 Page 5 - The Kentucky Press, January 2004
o o o o
W 111 Kentucky open Juvenile court 1n the future?
By Kim Greene I for the young person to rehabilitate dependency hearings in intervene and possibly prevent the
KPA General if, himself or herself. Maybe. Some Pennsylvania juvenile courts are tragic loss of the eight year old.

, Counsel , commentators think otherwise, presumptively open based on that Breathtaking, isn’t it? How many
Dinsmore 8: ' 5%». . though. And that rationale doesn’t state’s constitutional guarantee of times is a story like this repeated in
Shohl have any bearing on dependency open hearings. Kentucky? There’s no way for us to

How many of a”? cases, where the real focus is the Some of you may have read know. And, since our juvenile pro-
you enjoy regular . " . : conduct of the state and its employ- Barbara White Stack’s piece in the ceedings are closed, how are we ever
open access to m “if ees who deal with children in their September 2003 issue of Quill, ”chal- 'to monitor how our public institu-
juvenile court pro- ”ggffié care. In any event, the tide seems to lenges in many states have started a tions handle these responsibilities
ceedings? Hmmm. be turning in a number of states. trend that others could follow.” I with life and death consequences for
There are no hands raised. And there was a brief Chink in the recommend it to you. Stack’s our state’s most vulnerable?

In Kentucky, many people have armor here in Kentucky. employer, the Pittsburgh Post— Fortunately, the Pennsylvania
taken it as an article of faith that For example, some years ago Gazette, challenged the constitution- Superior Court agreed that statutes
juvenile court proceedings are then—Jefferson District Judge Tom ality of the Pennsylvania statute closing such proceedings were
closed. Have been forever. Will be McDonald allowed the news media closing juvenile court proceedings. unconstitutional and that those ‘
forevermore. In fact, isn’t that what into hearings at which the Cabinet They did this in the context of a par- hearings should be presumptively
the statute says? KRS 610.070, the for Families and Children was called ticular case in which a child welfare open: ”In Pennsylvania, the com-
section of the Kentucky Unified to account for its handling of foster agency had removed a 12-year-old mon law, the First Amendment to
Juvenile Code which deals with kids. Judge McDonald did that on girl and her younger brother from the US. Constitution and the
hearing, states: “The general public the basis of some language in KRS their home and the juvenile court Pennsylvania Constitution, all sup—
shall be excluded . . . ” 610.070, which allows the judge to judge was to decide who would port the principle of openness.” The

‘ This hasn’t set well with a lot of admit to a hearing "such persons . . . have custody of them. It was the decision was based largely on a
people for a long time. Why should- as the judge shall find have a direct background of this case that made Pennsylvania constitutional provi-
n't the news media and the public be interest in the case or in the work of closing the hearing so offensive to sion very much like our Section 14.
able to attend hearings concerning the court, . . . .” His reasoning was Stack and the Post-Gazette. Other states, including Illinois, '
the state’s treatment of foster chil- that the public needed to be able to John and Marcia Bright had New York, Nevada, Oregon,
dren? And why shouldn’t the public hold the state accountable for its allowed their eight and 12—year—old Pennsylvania and Washington, all
be able to monitor how the courts treatment of foster children. At the daughters to be alone with a family have some form of openness in their
are treating criminal charges against time, he was displeased with some friend. On one occasion, the man juvenile proceedings. Some of that is
juveniles? things the state was (or wasn’t) took the eight year old onahunting based upon constitutional provi-

' Given this country’s long and doing. So long as the public had no trip where he sexually assaulted her, sions like the one in Pennsylvania
proud history of open courts, why idea, the judge’s effort to urge killed her and hid her body. There and the one in Kentucky. How
does our society condone having the reform was not going anywhere. was lots of news coverage of the would the Kentucky Supreme Court
door slammed in the public’s face This limited access to one type of murder because the parents had answer this same question? Would
for this entire segment of our court hearing was, of course, useful and, pleaded for help finding their KRS 610.070 withstand a constitu—
system? It wasn’t always that way. hopefully, the ensuing news cover— daughter and the killer had pretend- tional challenge?
In fact, many juvenile courts were age had a beneficial impact. But ed to help in the search. After he Do you think it’s time to find out?
open until the mid -twentieth centu— there were still far more juvenile confessed and led the police to the As always, if you have any com—
ry when virtually every state adopt- court proceedings closed than there body, the Brights were charged with ments or questions about this or
ed a uniform juvenile code. That were open to us. buying a car with money donated other issues relating to access, don’t
uniform code included many need- There is also language in our for the little girl’s funeral. It also hesitate to call your Hotline attor—
ed reforms, but it also included lan- state constitution which could help became known publicly that the neys.
guage closing hearings and court us attack the blanket statutory clos- killer had previously pleaded guilty

' records. Since then, in Kentucky at ing of juvenile court proceedings on to corrupting the morals of the Jon L. Fleischaker: (502) 540-2319

least, closed juvenile court proceed- a constitutional basis. Section 14 of Brights’ 12 year old daughter, which Kimberly K. Greene: (502) 540-2350
ings and records have been accepted the Kentucky constitution provides: the Brights obviously knew. And the R. Kenyon Meyer: (502)540-2325
as “gospel.” ”All courts shall be open....” Brights had complained to the child Ashley C. Pack: (502)540-2385

But does it need to be? We all It was this language that recently welfare agency about this man’s DINSMORE 82: SHOHL, LLP
know the rationale: if it’s done in convinced the Superior Court of improper relationship with their Switchboard: (502)540-2300
secret there is greater opportunity Pennsylvania to declare that children. So many opportunities to Facsimile: (502) 585-2207

w Looking for an employee .

Check out www. kypresscom for the latest resumes or

, to post available JObS at your newspaper. ,

 Page 6 — The Kentucky Press, January 2004
7 o 0
AG Opinions WKU students, faculty -
t o o o o
The Big Sandy News/Martin Co. administrator is the sole employee VlSlt medla prOfeSSlonalS
Occupational Tax Administrator responsible for the administration
The Kentucky Attorney of this scheme and the amount of ' N ‘7 k D C
_ General’s office was asked to work required for implementation In ew Or ’
‘ decide whether Marlena Slone, the has been substantial.”
. Martin County Occupational Tax Upon receiving Maynard’s ‘ ° Dr. Johnson agreed. ”New media
‘ Administrator, violated the response, Adkins faxed a letter to Trlp part Of medla opportunities are important for our
f Kentucky Open Records Act in the AG’s office in which she elabo- mentoring tours students to see first hand because it
: denying the request of Lilly rated upon her reason for request— . . . is such a new area and It’s changing
Adkins, a reporter for The Big ing the list. lnltlated by Dr. every day,” she said. .We, as faculty,
Sandy News, for a list of all busi- “I have requested the informa- must update our curriculum to pro-
i nesses and individuals to whom a tion because the people in this Pam JOhnson Vlde graduates who ar e ready to hit
. . the ground running in new media
; B 8: O tax form was sent and the county who do pay the tax, myself Eight Western Kentucky opportunities ”
; names of all businesses and indi- included: want to know if the tax is University photojournalism stu- Students (all seniors) participat-
; VldualS WhO have pald the tax. being paid equally. If each of the dents had an opportunity to explore ing in the visits were: Grant
‘3 Adkins submitted the request businesses and individuals new media jobs du