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A RESOLUTION honoring Al Cross upon his retirement from the University of 1
Kentucky. 2
WHEREAS, Al Cross is a native son of the Commonwealth of Kentucky, born in 3
Albany in Clinton County; and 4
WHEREAS, Al Cross is an award-winning reporter who was employed by The 5
Courier-Journal for 26 years, including more than 15 years as a political writer from 6
1989 to 2004; and 7
WHEREAS, in 1989, Al Cross shared a Pulitzer Prize with The Courier-Journal 8
staff for its coverage of the nation's deadliest bus crash; in 2001-2002 he was national 9
president of the Society of Professional Journalists; and in 2010, he was inducted into the 10
Kentucky Journalism Hall of Fame; and 11
WHEREAS, Al Cross' coverage of the Capitol halls in Frankfort has proven 12
insightful and educational to all Kentuckians, connecting them with their civil servants 13
and elected officials and giving them a better understanding of the how our republic 14
functions; and 15
WHEREAS, Al Cross has played an important role in the media's self-monitoring 16
and professional development, serving as national president of the Society of Professional 17
Journalists (SPJ) and assuming leadership roles in local chapters of SPJ as well as 18
regional groups devoted to ethics, education, and representative government with a strong 19
press; and 20
WHEREAS, Al Cross has advocated for rural and community journalism at the 21
University Kentucky for nearly 20 years; and 22
WHEREAS, in 2004, Al Cross strengthened his commitment to quality journalism 23
throughout this Commonwealth and beyond by co-founding the Institute for Rural 24
Journalism and Community Issues at the University of Kentucky alongside legendary 25
Kentucky journalist, Al Smith; and 26
WHEREAS, at the Institute, Al Cross served as director, an endeavor that has 27 UNOFFICIAL COPY 25 RS BR 414
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helped renew the energy and spirit of community newspapers. The Institute is now a 1
national program and its mission is to "help rural journalists define the public agenda in 2
their communities"; and 3
WHEREAS, the Institute has had success in its creation of Kentucky Health News 4
(KHN), an independent news service that has improved coverage of health care and 5
health in the state, including annual County Health Rankings. Al Cross is both a publisher 6
and a contributor to KHN; and 7
WHEREAS, Al Cross continues to write a weekly column on Kentucky issues 8
which is anchored at the Northern Kentucky Tribune; and 9
WHEREAS, while Al Cross may be retiring, he will never abandon journalism. He 10
once told a colleague, "there is no such thing as a former journalist"; 11
NOW, THEREFORE, 12
Be it resolved by the Senate of the General Assembly of the Commonwealth of 13
Kentucky: 14
Section 1. The members of the Senate, both individually and collectively, salute 15
Al Cross on his retirement from the University of Kentucky, as well as his lifelong efforts 16
to provide even-handed coverage to the issues facing this Commonwealth and its citizens, 17
and his enduring influence on journalism in Kentucky and across the nation. 18
Section 2. When the Senate adjourns this day, it does so in honor of Kentucky 19
Hall of Fame journalist, Al Cross. 20
Section 3. The Clerk of the Senate is directed to transmit a copy of this 21
Resolution to Al Cross, in care of the Institute for Rural Journalism and Community 22
Issues, 343 Martin Luther King Blvd, Blazer Dining Hall, Lexington, KY 40506-0012. 23