MILAN Tenn (July 27, 2015) – West Tennessean Bob Parkins among nine to be inducted in the Tennessee Journalism Hall of Fame.
Parkins started his career in journalism as a West Tenn. area reporter for the Commercial Appeal and Nashville Tennessean. In June 1965 Bob and wife, Dorris started the Milan Mirror newspaper from scratch. The paper was a competitor with the long established Milan Exchange.
In 1977 the Mirror purchased the Exchange, merging to form the Mirror-Exchange.
A prize-winning newspaper, the Mirror-Exchange has earned numerous state awards from the Tennessee Press Association, Tennessee Education Association, Tennessee School Boards Association, and sports organizations.
The Tennessee Journalism Hall of Fame awrds recognize individuals who have made significant contributions to the profession and practice of journalism in Tennessee.
MURFREESBORO, Tenn. (AP) — Former Associated Press executive Kent Flanagan is among nine people being inducted posthumously into the Tennessee Journalism Hall of Fame Aug. 11 in Murfreesboro.
Flanagan spent more than 40 years in journalism, including 21 years as Tennesseechief of bureau for the AP. He died in February after a long illness.
Honorees also include Middle Tennessee newspaper publishers John Bragg and his father, Minor E. Bragg. John Bragg was also in the state House and sponsored the state Open Meetings Act.
Others are editorial cartoonist Jack Knox, publisher Roy McDonald, West Tennessee Bob Parkins, New York Times reporter and Chattanooga Times managing editor John N. Popham III, sports columnist Grantland Rice and broadcaster Drue Smith, the first woman to cover politics full-time at the Capitol.
