David Thompson


Latest Articles:

Obituary: Juanita Nolan

Juanita Hughes Nolan, of Inverness, Florida, passed away Friday, March 3, 2023, at Royal Dalton House in Homosassa, Florida. Juanita was born June 8, 1938, in Lexington, Kentucky.  Her parents were John Andrew Hughes and Mary Saggesser Hughes of Lexington. She is survived by her husband of 63 years, James Frank Nolan, Jr., of Inverness, Florida; two sons: James (Jay)... READ MORE >

Loyd Ford takes note of ‘friend’s’ column and states the world ‘is a lot nastier than we would like for it to be’

The Lakes News publisher, Loyd Ford, and 2016 KPA President, took note of a column written recently by fellow KPA Past President (2021) Sharon Burton. Sharon wrote that she once enjoyed expressing her views on politics, politicians and community issue in Columbia/Adair County. And she also liked talking to people who disagreed with what she had written and could have... READ MORE >

Lyles joins Franklin News Foundation as Vice President of Syndication & Distribution

CHICAGO – Industry leader Jerry Lyles has joined the Franklin News Foundation as organization’s first Vice President of Distribution & Syndication. Lyles, former general manager of the Benton Tribune Courier and 1993 Kentucky Press Association President, assumes responsibility for the further expansion of Franklin’s partnerships with media partners. “I have admired the service-oriented approach that Jerry took when we worked together in... READ MORE >

James Mulcahy leaving Shelbyville Sentinel News

Long-time KPA member James Mulcahy, who served 2001 to 2006 as editor of the Sentinel News after a similar capacity with the Clay City Times, announced last week he’s resigning as editor of the Sentinel News. The announcement was on the front page of the Sentinel News in a story written by Tammy Shaw. He rejoined the Shelby County weekly... READ MORE >

Al Tompkins retiring after 50 years of making the news and teaching others

By Kelly McBride, The Poynter Institute Al Tompkins, a native of Princeton and Caldwell County High School graduate, is known throughout the world of broadcast journalism as a bulldog of a reporter and a teacher with a relentless enthusiasm and work ethic. He’s spent 25 years working in local broadcast newsrooms in Kentucky and Tennessee and 25 years teaching professional... READ MORE >

Teenager wins second place in KPA’s news contest

He’s not the youngest to ever win a KPA award, that belongs to the son of Troublesome Creek Times publisher Sharon Hall who was 13 when he won an award, but Hunter Wilcox was the youngest to win an award in the KPA News Excellence contest announced at the KPA Winter Convention. Hunter received a second place for the Providence... READ MORE >

WPSD files suit against Murray State for records on interfering with NPR-affiliated university radio station

Editor’s Note: WKMS received the 2021 Al Smith Award for public service through community journalism. “We usually think of ‘community’ as one county, town or neighborhood, but there are geographic communities, and there are communities of interest. West Kentucky is a geographic community of interest, and WKMS has the only newsroom that covers the whole region and its interests,” said... READ MORE >

Sopland named Spencer’s 2022-23 Chamber of Commerce Citizen of Year

Jeff Sopland, Spencer Magnet’s staff writer, was named the Taylorsville/Spencer County Chamber of Commerce’s 2022-23 Citizen of the Year at a luncheon last month. The nomination letter for the award said Jeff is known throughout the community as “The Magnet Man.” The letter writer continued that Jeff is the only person left in the Spencer Magnet office, and “is doing... READ MORE >

Decline of local journalism affects everyone

By Tommy Druen, from the Georgetown News Graphic It all started with a cat. It was a lazy, fat, cynical orange cat that caught my interest. That cat possessed a hatred of Mondays and a love of lasagna. And his name was Garfield. I was probably about six years old when I learned about Garfield. My grandfather had a daily... READ MORE >

News Leaders Association Awards accepting submissions

It’s that time! The 2023 NLA award submission period is open. Deadline for all entries is April 7 at 11:59 pm EST. NLA is celebrating the extraordinary journalism produced in 2022, with award categories that take into account the massive stories that unfolded across the past twelve months. The awards will continue to shine a light on quality work, leadership, and... READ MORE >