Saluting the influence, work of a colleague

ISSUE: Sizemore named KPA president

OUR VIEW: We recognize one of our own

As an editorial board, our focus is routinely one of external view. Each week, we carefully and intently watch the community and state for the victories of others that should be celebrated and for opportunities for improvement on which we might offer a suggestion or idea for consideration, and for shortcomings we believe must be called to the public’s attention.
It’s a rare occasion for us to take an inward look to recognize the achievement of a member of our newspaper family.
Today, we recognize one of our own. Jamie Sizemore of Elizabethtown accepted the gavel of leadership in being named president of the Kentucky Press Association during its 2011 winter convention.
Sizemore is publisher of The Kentucky Standard in Bardstown, a sister-newspaper of The News-Enterprise. Prior to her promotion to lead the Nelson County newspaper, Sizemore served in multiple leadership roles at The News-Enterprise, including stints as circulation director, advertising manager and interim publisher.
Sizemore will lead the state press association’s board of directors and various functional committees through a term that will end next January. We’re proud of Jamie. Based on our first-hand experience in working alongside her, we know that she will lead the Kentucky Press Association with the same focus and fervor that she invested in her positions here at The News-Enterprise and that she gives to The Kentucky Standard.
Jamie isn’t the first leader to invest time, talent and experience in the association. Floe Bowles, the beloved former publisher of The News-Enterprise, served as KPA president in 1985.
Former N-E editor David Greer invested considerable energy and expertise as KPA treasurer twice during two terms and as vice president before resigning from the board to accept a KPA staff position. Greer now serves as member services director of the association, and as the administrator of the Kentucky High School Journalism Association. Current editor Ben Sheroan and Publisher Chris Ordway both have served as directors on the KPA board as well.
A healthy, effective and thriving state press association is important to serving the collective interests of newspapers large and small across the commonwealth. Considering KPA celebrated its 142nd anniversary earlier this month is a testament not only to its effectiveness, but to the importance its individual member newspapers have played in the communities they serve.
Congratulations, Jamie. We celebrate your succession to this position in KPA and look forward to your leadership of our association this year.

This editorial represents a consensus of The News-Enterprise editorial board.