Knoxville Mercury hopes to rise

Jack Neely, executive director of The Knoxville History Project and a force behind The Knoxville Mercury, at a fundraiser for the project last month.

Jack Neely, executive director of The Knoxville History Project and a force behind The Knoxville Mercury, at a fundraiser for the project last month.

The folks at The Knoxville Mercury, the alternative weekly newspaper that will be the successor to Metro Pulse, are getting settled in to their office space in The Walnut Building.

Looking at a mid-March launch, they now have office furniture and Internet service. Their art director, Tricia Bateman, is working on a logo for the paper, and some of their founding writers and editors are busy cranking out Facebook posts and blog posts. (Click here. And here.) They’ve hired a sales staff. And editor Coury Turczyn is sifting through resumes and applications for a staff writer and various freelance help. They are working on their editorial calendar for the first year.

Last month, in the depths of winter, they had a jaunty little fundraiser at The Standard in downtown Knoxville attended by about 100 folks. At $100 per head, well, you do the math. They were quite satisfied with the result. Alan was out of town, but I dropped by just to see who else would be there. Plus, when I heard the food was by Knox Mason, well, there really wasn’t any question about my going. I love that place.

Music, too, was by one of my favorite local bands, Kukuly and the Gypsy Fuego.

Deviled eggs from Knox Mason. Yum.

Smoked trout deviled eggs with American caviar from Knox Mason were served at the fundraiser. Yum.

So, as you may have heard, The Knoxville Mercury has an unusual business  model. It will be a for-profit enterprise that is owned by a non-profit entity called The Knoxville History Project. Knox Heritage is the fiscal agent for the time being of The Knoxville History Project. Jack Neely, the popular local historian and Metro Pulse veteran, is the executive director of The Knoxville History Project.

At the event at The Standard, Neely took the microphone for a few minutes. “The Standard is kind of a metaphor for Metro Pulse,” Neely said, referring to the formerly dilapidated storefront on Jackson Avenue that has been transformed by developer David Dewhirst into a lovely new event space. “I hope we can make something as extraordinary out of wreckage.”

Neely said this is “the first time since the Civil War that one entity has controlled almost all the (print) media in Knoxville.” Neely said the community needs another voice. “There’s a lot more to this city than a lot of people will admit to,” he said.

As a former reporter and editor in this community and as someone whose company represented the News Sentinel for a decade or so, I often get asked what I think are the chances for success for The Knoxville Mercury. Here’s the honest answer to that. I wish them well. As a reader, as a public relations person who often “pitches” stories to journalists, and as someone who places advertising, I really want them to succeed because it will provide more options on all those fronts. Plus, I believe that competition makes everyone better.

But it’s going to be an uphill battle. Although the folks involved constantly refer to the fact that Metro Pulse was “profitable” when it was owned by the E.W. Scripps Company, which also owned the News Sentinel, the fact is that it was only barely profitable. And the News Sentinel absorbed many of the overhead expenses like human resources, accounting and payroll. It’s hard for me to believe that someone without the expertise and experience of those at E.W. Scripps and the News Sentinel could make a go of it if they could not.

But I hope they can. And, if passion counts for anything, it just might be possible.

The Knoxville Mercury editor Coury Turczyn, left, with Jack Neely. (Don't ask me why Coury was wearing a Christmas sweater in January! He's quirky like that.)

The Knoxville Mercury editor Coury Turczyn, left, with Jack Neely. (Don’t ask me why Coury was wearing a Christmas sweater in January! He’s quirky like that.)

Jeff and Sibylle Mansour. He's executive director of the Aslan Foundation.

Jeff and Sibylle Mansour. He’s executive director of the Aslan Foundation.

Joan and Victor Ashe. He's a former Knoxville mayor and ambassador to Poland. She's chair of the board of the Knoxville Botanical Garden and Arboretum.

Joan and Victor Ashe. He’s a former Knoxville mayor and ambassador to Poland. She’s chair of the board of the Knoxville Botanical Garden and Arboretum.

Joe Sullivan, former publisher of Metro Pulse, left, and Barbara and Bernie Bernstein.

Joe Sullivan, former publisher of Metro Pulse, left, and Barbara and Bernie Bernstein.

City Councilman Duane Grieve, left, with his wife, Marsha, and Charles Glisson.

City Councilman Duane Grieve, left, with his wife, Marsha, and Charles Glisson.

From left, Jason  Woodle, Marlene Davis and City Councilman Finbarr Saunders.

From left, Jason Woodle, Marlene Davis and City Councilman Finbarr Saunders.

Becky Hancock, left, executive director of the Tennessee Theatre, and Robyn Ulrich of Scripps Networks.

Becky Hancock, left, executive director of the Tennessee Theatre, and Robyn Ulrich of Scripps Networks.

Chicken sandwiches from Knox Mason.

Ashley Farm chicken sandwiches with “fall sauce” from Knox Mason.

This picture looks like an album cover to me! From left, Jim  Samples, vice president of international for Scripps Networks; Mark Heinz of Dewhirst Properties; Ashley Capps of AC Entertainment; David Dewhirst; and Zak Weisfeld of Lusid Media, one of the event sponsors.

This picture looks like an album cover to me! From left, Jim Samples, vice president of international for Scripps Networks; Mark Heinz of Dewhirst Properties; Ashley Capps of AC Entertainment; David Dewhirst; and Zak Weisfeld of Lusid Media, one of the event sponsors.

From left, Marie Alcorn of United Way, Terry and Donna Wertz and Alice Mercer.

From left, Marie Alcorn of United Way, Terry and Donna Wertz and Alice Mercer.

School board member Lynne Fugage and her husband, Scott.

School board member Lynne Fugate and her husband, Scott.

From left, David and Sandy Martin, Mark Heinz and  Gay Lyons.

From left, David and Sandy Martin, Mark Heinz and Gay Lyons.

Realtor Barbara Apking, left, and Regina Santore.

Realtor Barbara Apking, left, and Regina Santore.

Very appropriate and whimsical centerpieces.

Very appropriate and whimsical centerpieces.

Flossie McNabb, right, owner of Union Ave Books, and Christine Hawks.

Flossie McNabb, right, owner of Union Ave Books, and Christine Hawks.

From left, Margaret  Samples, Peter Acly and Sheena McCall.

From left, Margaret Samples, Peter Acly and Sheena McCall.

Shrimp toast with capers.

Shrimp toast garnished with eggplant miso.

Jim Samples of Scripps Networks with Amanda Shell Jennings of Moxley Carmichael.

Jim Samples of Scripps Networks with Amanda Shell Jennings of Moxley Carmichael.

Michael and Evelyn Gill.

Michael and Evelyn Gill.

Erik Bledsoe and Karen Simsen of the University of Tennessee.

Erik Bledsoe and Karen Simsen of the University of Tennessee.

Deborah Franklin an Steve Drevik.

Deborah Franklin and Steve Drevik.

Laura Still and Brent Minchey.

Laura Still and Brent Minchey.

Brothers John, left, and Steve Cotham.

Brothers John, left, and Steve Cotham.

Ham biscuits.

Pork belly on Cruze Farm buttermilk biscuits with sorghum barbecue sauce.

Elaine Clark, left, and Anne Woodle.

Elaine Clark, left, and Anne Woodle.

From left, Steve Dupree, Gay Lyons and Councilman Duane Grieve.

From left, Steve Dupree, Gay Lyons and Councilman Duane Grieve.

The Pour Guys: owner Jerry Kruze, right, with Xxxx Xxxxx.

The Pour Guys: owner Jerry Kruse, right, with Rick Kridner.

Kukuly and the Gypsy Fuegos.

Kukuly and the Gypsy Fuegos.

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8 Responses to Knoxville Mercury hopes to rise

  1. Alan Carmichael, on February 19th, 2015 at 3:39 pm said:

    Coury’s could be a post-Christmas sweater: elf on ski vacation after the Christmas rush.

  2. Gay Lyons, on February 19th, 2015 at 5:02 pm said:

    Fun party with great food & a great crowd.Enjoyed the photos!

  3. Cynthia Moxley, on February 19th, 2015 at 5:05 pm said:

    Alan: Hmm. Good point. Maybe you’re right. I liked it!

    Gay: Thanks. When someone says Knox Mason, I say, “Yes!”

  4. Kim Trent, on February 19th, 2015 at 5:17 pm said:

    It was a wonderful evening that showed how many people want their efforts to succeed. Matt Gallaher of Knox Mason donated all the delicious food and the folks at Dewhirst Properties, The Pour Guys and Lusid Media made it all possible. I can’t wait to see the first issue in March!

  5. Cynthia Moxley, on February 19th, 2015 at 5:19 pm said:

    It was very well done, Kim. I know you had a lot to do with that. I’m just glad they had pinot grigio!

  6. Kim Trent, on February 19th, 2015 at 6:08 pm said:

    Cynthia – I made sure they had Pinot Grigio when I saw you would be there! I also made sure they had Pinot Noir for me.

  7. Cynthia Moxley, on February 19th, 2015 at 8:44 pm said:

    Kim: You go, girl!

  8. Rusha Sams, on February 20th, 2015 at 2:32 pm said:

    I, too, am hoping Knoxville Mercury rises and stays at the top! We need it!!! Thanks for sharing the pictures of all the supporters and the usual great fare from Knox Mason. Quite a night, it seems.

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