Roy McDonald of the Chattanooga Free Press, and John Popham, of the Chattanooga Times, will be inducted into Tennessee Journalism Hall of Fame in August.
A letter to Mr. McDonald's grandson Roy Exum said, "Roy McDonald has been selected posthumously to become a member of the 2015 class of inductees into the Tennessee Journalism Hall of Fame (TJHOF), an independent partner with Middle Tennessee State University (MTSU) whose mass communications department under the leadership of Dean Ken Paulson is known nationwide as a leader in the industry."
This year’s induction ceremony will take place on Aug.
11, in conjunction with the Tennessee Association of Broadcasters 67 Annual conference at the Embassy Suites Hotel and Conference Center, 1200 Conference Center Blvd. Murfreesboro, Tn. 37129.
2015 Hall of Fame Posthumous Inductees include:
- Minor Bragg, Founder, Rutherford Courier/Courier Printing
- John Bragg, Partner, Rutherford Courier/Courier Printing
- Kent Flanagan, Associated Press
- Jack Knox, Political Cartoonist
- Roy McDonald, Founder, Chattanooga Free Press
- Bob Parkins, Publisher, Milan Mirror Exchange
- John Popham, III, Managing Editor, Chattanooga Times
- Grantland Rice, Sportswriter, Author
- Drue Smith, Capitol Hill Reporter
Officials said, "According to TJHOF Bylaws, inductees represent those who have made significant and substantial contributions to the Journalism profession. Honorees may be living or deceased, native Tennesseans who spent much of their career in state or out of state, or non natives who spent a substantial part of their career in Tennessee.
"To be considered for induction, individuals must have distinguished themselves through news or business management, leadership in the industry, or in the ordinary practice of journalism, and those whose contributions have otherwise been recognized by their peers. Inductees come from various ranks to include, reporters, writers, editors, publishers, news directors and other managers, as well as those who have excelled in the advertising, public relations, and education in those disciplines.