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| Al Cross |
The former national president of the Society of Professional Journalists and winner of its Wells Key, Cross has won numerous awards for his journalism and is a member of the Kentucky Journalism Hall of Fame. He is frequently quoted in national news stories about political issues, rural issues, and journalism, the Kentucky Press Association reports. He writes a fortnightly political column for the Louisville Courier Journal, where he was politicial writer before coming to the institute.
Cross is a professor in the university's Extension Title series, meaning most of his work is directed off campus, like College of Agriculture, Food and Environment specialists who help extension agents. He is the university's only full extension professor outside that college; he is in the College of Communication and Information. He says his short job description is "extension agent for rural journalists."
In addition to The Rural Blog, Cross edits and publishes Kentucky Health News, funded by the Foundation for a Healthy Kentucky, and the Midway Messenger, with stories and photography by students in his community-journalism classes.
Cross is a professor in the university's Extension Title series, meaning most of his work is directed off campus, like College of Agriculture, Food and Environment specialists who help extension agents. He is the university's only full extension professor outside that college; he is in the College of Communication and Information. He says his short job description is "extension agent for rural journalists."
In addition to The Rural Blog, Cross edits and publishes Kentucky Health News, funded by the Foundation for a Healthy Kentucky, and the Midway Messenger, with stories and photography by students in his community-journalism classes.
Dr. Mike Farrell, interim director of the journalism school, said the rural institute has been "a boon to journalism throughout Kentucky and rural communities everywhere, including Africa and Asia," referring to Cross's trips to Zambia, Botswana, India and China.
Cross is the author of several book chapters, most recently "Trump and non-metropolitan America: An urbanite saw a rural base where pollsters and journalists didn’t," in The Trump Presidency, Journalism and Democracy, a book published by Routledge in February. He is a graduate of Western Kentucky University and lives with his wife Patti in Frankfort.
Cross is the author of several book chapters, most recently "Trump and non-metropolitan America: An urbanite saw a rural base where pollsters and journalists didn’t," in The Trump Presidency, Journalism and Democracy, a book published by Routledge in February. He is a graduate of Western Kentucky University and lives with his wife Patti in Frankfort.
Al, This is great, and so well deserved! Congratulations!
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ReplyDeleteCongratulations, Al! You certainly deserve the promotion; not many people can manage administrative duties, public service responsibilities, and teaching in multiple venues--and do an excellent job in each. And when fund-raising gets thrown into the mix, being excellent in each area becomes even more difficult. I am happy to learn that the university has finally recognized your talents--even if they have not given you the staff that would enable you to be even more excellent in all you do.