The HSPA board of directors approved two new members at a meeting Oct. 10 in Nashville.
Newspaper veterans Dave Eldridge, publisher and regional manager of Landmark Communications properties, and Terry R. Ward, chief operating officer for KPC Media Group, bring experience with both small- and large-circulation newspapers.
Their perspectives will be valuable as HSPA works to advocate for both small weeklies and large metros, said Robyn McCloskey, HSPA president and publisher for the Pharos-Tribune (Logansport) and Kokomo Tribune.
Eldridge manages four Landmark properties in southwest Indiana, The Perry County News (Tell City), Tell City Web Press, The Spencer County Journal Democrat (Rockport) and The Mount Vernon Democrat. He also has charge of another Landmark property, The Vandalia Leader Union, and their printing plant in south central Illinois.
He previously served as publisher of the daily Winchester (Ky.) Sun, and the Jessamine Journal, a weekly in Nicholasville, Ky., both owned by Schurz Communications of South Bend. Prior to that, he was a general manager for Landmark in north‐central Kentucky and held circulation management positions for Media News, Gannett, Dear Publications and Tatman Communications.
He currently serves as a member of the operating committee of Landmark Community Newspapers Inc.
A Lexington, Ky., native, he attended the University of Kentucky. He and his wife, Judy, have two daughters and three grandchildren.
He is a past president and board member of HSPA’s counterpart in Kentucky.
“I was honored to have been able to serve the Kentucky Press Association for many years in various capacities, and it taught me the need for representation for newspapers of all sizes,” Eldridge said. “I hope I can add value in some small way as I work with other members who already serve the HSPA.”
Ward first joined KPC, based in Kendallville, as vice president of sales, digital and marketing.
Before that he was director of sales and digital for GateHouse Media’s Community Newspaper Division, where he worked in a leadership capacity with publishers, advertising directors and sales managers, representing 142 publications and related digital portfolios at 72 operating locations in 11 states.
Prior to joining GateHouse, Ward was a publisher with Paxton Media Group.
He has a background in media management, serving as a circulation manager, advertising director, regional ad director, sales and marketing director, general manager, publisher, group publisher, and divisional director of sales and digital.
He and his wife, Quinn, have two young children.
Ward said the role HSPA plays in legislative issues and member education – and as a conduit for innovative transformation – is needed now more than ever.
“As technology has opened the door, there are now more people consuming our news and information than at any other time in history,” he said. “They’re just reading it in formats that our industry never imagined when the HSPA was founded in 1933.”
Eldridge said he has a great appreciation for the volunteers who serve their press association, advocating for the honorable labor of newspapering.
“The press association serves its members in so many ways, and it gives great value for the small investment asked each year,” he said.
HSPA needs newspapers of all sizes to not only survive but also thrive, Ward said.
“We must lead as the media landscape changes to adapt for the future, and I’m excited to be a part of that transformation,” he said.
