Category Archives: Journalism

30 years of “Straight from the Heart”

I was invited to WBIR‘s celebration earlier this week of the 30th anniversary of its iconic slogan, “Straight from the Heart.” Most of the so-called “Dream Team” from the anchor desk 30 years ago came for the occasion. So did … Continue reading

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In Knoxville, Scripps employees “live the brand”

In the early ’90s, Ken Lowe, a hot-shot young radio and TV executive with the E.W. Scripps Company, looked around the television landscape and did not like what he saw. “I became disenchanted with TV programming,” Lowe told a group … Continue reading

Filed under: Business, Events, Food, Journalism, Knoxville, Media | 8 Comments

Feuding editor and mayor bring down the house at 34th annual Front Page Follies show

Lord knows the 34th annual Front Page Follies show had plenty of raw material this year. The annual spoof of news makers produced and performed by the local chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists (and friends) is a series … Continue reading

Filed under: Events, Journalism, Knoxville, Media, Music, Public Relations, Theater | 13 Comments

Southern Food Writing Conference attracts its own kind of stars to Knoxville — and they like!

Everybody knows how much fun we all had last month at the International Biscuit Festival, also known as Biscuit Fest. But, to me, something that was even more exciting and fun was the Southern Food Writing Conference that preceded it. … Continue reading

Filed under: Downtown, Events, Food, Journalism, Knoxville, Media | 7 Comments

Southern food under a super moon

I think I breathed an audible sigh of relief the other night when, after a bounteous dinner on the porch of a historic farmhouse, I heard author John Egerton talking about Southern food. “Take the warnings of the food police … Continue reading

Filed under: Events, Food, Historic preservation, Journalism, Knoxville | 8 Comments

Lunch with TV’s Lisa Ling, a homeless women’s choir, and the most beautiful birds you’ve ever seen

The first annual luncheon celebration for the newly created Women’s Fund of East Tennessee was a sell-out earlier this month — even though no invitations actually went out. In fact, a group of female movers and shakers has quietly been

Filed under: Art, Events, Journalism, Knoxville, Media | 4 Comments

Dancing – and raising $87K for Children’s Hospital

Lord, the costumes were hot this year at Dancing with the Knoxville Stars, an annual fundraiser for East Tennessee Children’s Hospital. The top winner for raising the most money was Renita Stinnett, pictured here. The top dance winner was Jay … Continue reading

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Pilot Celebrity Pumpers raise funds — and spirits

The annual Pilot Pumpers fundraiser for the United Way last month raised a record $63,478. Here’s the deal: during the three-day promotion at all area Pilot convenience stores, Pilot donates to United Way five cents for every gallon of gas … Continue reading

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Political year gives Follies plenty of material

Election years always provide the best material for the good folks from the Society of Professional Journalists who are writing and producing the annual Front Page Follies shows. The shows, performed largely by local journalists and PR people, are designed … Continue reading

Filed under: Events, Journalism, Knoxville, Media, Music, Politics, Public Relations | 7 Comments

The “Vol Historian” on being a “cabana boy”

Tom Mattingly, a former city of Knoxville employee before joining the UT Sports Information Office for 18 years (1987 to 2005), has for the past four years written a Sunday column and daily blog for the News Sentinel. Both are … Continue reading

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