A New Chapter for KPA Begins After this Week’s Convention

As many of you know, The Mountain Advocate has sister newspapers from Mt. Sterling to Pineville. Included among them is The Berea Citizen, led by my friend and fellow Kentucky Press Association board member Keith Taylor. Many of you will recognize his name from extensive coverage of University of Kentucky athletics.
The Berea Citizen’s new editor, recent UK graduate Jemi Chew, recently interviewed David Thompson, the long-serving Executive Director of the Kentucky Press Association.
David officially announced his retirement to the board at its Fall Retreat in October at Rough River Dam State Park. To say David has big shoes to fill is such a dramatic understatement.
I joke that I have to distinguish which David Thompson I’m talking about... is it the Mayor of Barbourville? Is it David Thompson from Pineville with whom I used to go to church? Or, is it KPA David Thompson? David is synonymous with KPA. If you know of KPA, you know David.
I’ve known some giants in my time, but of all, I am thankful to have known David for several years and to have served with KPA these past five years, where I got to see him more often and know him a little better.
David’s tireless leadership has kept our beloved association alive and strong, overcoming many obstacles, including, in recent memory, the COVID-19 pandemic. Like most offices, KPA had to whittle staff, and David, as well as controller Bonnie Howard, voluntarily cut hours to keep us going. Here we are, years later, in a very strong, healthy position.
As a member of the KPA Executive Committee, I am one of five people tasked with choosing our next Executive Director. We are tasked with what is quite possibly the most difficult decision in KPA history, given the atmosphere surrounding the media and the future of journalism. Our decision in the next few days is of the utmost importance, and not to be dramatic, but the fate of our industry in Kentucky hinges on it.
It’s more than finding someone “qualified.” It’s finding someone passionate and defensive. It requires a true cheerleader and warrior for journalism and newspapers. While we have interviewed some great candidates, none can match David’s level of experience.
Thank you, David, for serving so long, but mostly for serving so well. You will be missed by Kentucky’s newspapers and by me.