Darrell Richardson, general manager of The News-Herald, Lenoir City, is the new president of the Tennessee Press Association (TPA).
TPA is the trade association of the state’s daily and non-daily newspapers. It is composed of 131 newspapers and online publications.
Richardson succeeds Daniel Williams, publisher of The Paris Post-Intelligencer.
Other officers elected at TPA’s Business Session during the Concurrent Board of Directors Meeting and Business Session on June 27 are Alison Gerber, editor of the Chattanooga Times Free Press, elected first vice president; Dave Gould, president/CEO of Main Street Media of Tennessee, elected second vice president; Chris Sherrill Vass, public editor of the Chattanooga Times Free Press elected secretary; and Eric Barnes, publisher of The Daily News, Memphis, re-elected treasurer.
Directors elected for two-year terms representing District Two are: David Plazas, director of opinion and engagement of The Tennessean, Nashville; Lindsay Pride, editor of the Herald-Citizen, Cookeville; and Lora Scripps, editor and general manager of the Elk Valley Times, Fayetteville.
Daniel Williams will continue on the board for one year as immediate past president. Also continuing on the board are: Calvin Anderson, president of The Tri-State Defender, Memphis; Sandy Dodson, publisher of The Bledsonian-Banner, Pikeville; Dale Gentry, publisher of The Standard Banner, Jefferson City; Melanie King, publisher of McNairy County News, Selmer; Victor Parkins, publisher of The Mirror-Exchange, Milan; and Chris White, publisher of The Greeneville Sun.
The TPA board of directors re-elected eight trustees to serve on the Tennessee Press Association Foundation (TPAF) board of trustees for three-year terms. The re-elected trustees are: Bob Atkins, Hendersonville; Eric Barnes, Memphis; R. Jack Fishman, Morristown; W.R. (Ron) Fryar, McMinnville; Dale Gentry, Jefferson City; Gregg K. Jones, Greeneville; John M. Jones, Greeneville; and Chris Vass, Chattanooga. Four new trustees were elected for three-year terms. They are Sandy Dodson, Dave Gould, David Plazas and Daniel Williams.
About Darrell Richardson:
Darrell Richardson became the general manager of The News-Herald of Lenoir City in January. He is involved with the Loudon County Chamber of Commerce and the Loudon Education Association.
He is a graduate of the University of Tennessee-Knoxville with a bachelor's degree in communications and is a longtime TPA award-winning writer and photographer. Richardson has previously served on the TPA board in various roles including as director, treasurer and vice president. He has served as the TPA Advertising Committee chairman since 2021. Richardson has been associated with TPA since 1988.
He was the advertising director for The Daily Times in Blount County, Tenn. from February 2021-January 2024, and was The Oak Ridger's editor, advertising director and publisher for 17 years.
Prior to joining The Oak Ridger, Richardson served for 10 years as editor and general manager of Roane Newspapers in Kingston, Tenn., and for five years as a reporter and editor at the Clinton Courier-News — where he was hired by legendary newspaperman Horace V. Wells Jr.
He also spent some time as a reporter for The Daily Beacon at UTK and as a reporter for the now-defunct Knoxville Journal, when it was Knoxville's morning newspaper.
He was the recipient of The Rotary Club of Oak Ridge's 2020 Professional Excellence Award and is a former assistant district governor of Rotary International's District 6780. While working in Blount County at The Daily Times, he served on the Kiwanis Club of Maryville's board of directors, and he also served two terms as chairman of the Roane Alliance and is the recipient of a Field Coin presented by four-star U.S. Gen. B.B. Bell for his decades-long association with "the Fourth Estate."
He is married to Angela Richardson, who has served for 34 years in post-secondary education and was recently promoted to vice president of academic affairs at the Tennessee College of Applied Technology — Harriman. They have two grown children and a granddaughter.
About TPA:
The TPA was founded in 1870-71 for the purpose of creating a unified voice for the newspaper industry in Tennessee. Today, TPA continues to provide assistance to its 131 members by monitoring legislative activities, providing training programs, issuing press credentials, and providing regular meetings and forums to foster the exchange of information and ideas.
The TPA presidency rotates among TPA’s three divisions of Tennessee.
Comments
No comments on this item Please log in to comment by clicking here