Progress and technology highlights West Kentucky Press Association meeting

Karl Harrison, former executive editor for the Paducah Sun, described come of the changes and challenges of newspapers in west Kentucky at the summer meeting of the West Kentucky Press Association June 8 meeting at Kentucky Dam Village.

Harrison, the featured speaker, congratulated the papers on the progress that has been made since he started at a Marshall County weekly 35 years ago. He also pointed out that the continuing challenge is recruiting young readers who have grown up in the video age.

Harrison, who holds both a bachelors and masters degree in journalism from Murray State, worked at the Nashville Banner in addition to his more that 30 years work at The Sun.

He has served at president of the West Kentucky Press Association and the Kentucky AP Managing Editors Association.

In another program, Dr. John Dillion lead a discussion on the new technology and convergence.

Dillion, a professor in Murray State's Department of Journalism and Mass Communications, talked about how the newspaper industry has adapted to the new technology and what the remaining challenges are to the industry.

One of the topics was the use of citizens as reporters as they witness news events with their cell phones and digital cameras.

Rae Wagoner of the Eddyville Herald-Ledger was re-elected president of the WKPA. Jared Nelson off the Princeton Times-Leader was selected as vice president with Jed Dillingham of the Dawson Springs Progress as treasurer, Dr. Bob McGaughey of Murray State's Journalism and Mass Communications Department as executive director with Loyd Ford of the Calvert City Lake News selected as program chairman.

The next meeting of the West Kentucky Press Association will be in the fall.

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