Meet the new editor: Lexington Herald-Leader's Rick Green to give public talk, attend CI student, faculty and staff receptions

The University of Kentucky School of Journalism and Media and the campus and Bluegrass Pro chapters of the Society of Professional Journalists will welcome new Lexington Herald-Leader editor Richard A. “Rick” Green to town with a public conversation Oct. 3, from 7 to 8:30 p.m. at UK’s Singletary Center for the Arts.

Green has returned to his native Kentucky after leading the Sonoma Press Democrat to the Best in California Press award and the Louisville Courier Journal to its 2020 Pulitzer Prize for breaking news reporting, for coverage of Gov. Matt Bevin’s pardons, and two 2021 Pulitzer finalist slots for coverage of the killing of Breonna Taylor and its background and aftermath.

"The role of local journalism is vital to a healthy democracy and informed public. To have a news leader with a high-level of expertise and experience visit us and share his insights regarding the news decision-making process benefits not only our students, but the UK and Lexington communities," Erika Engstrom, director of the School of Journalism and Media said.

“We’re excited to welcome Rick Green back to Kentucky,” said Casey Parker-Bell, president of the SPJ Bluegrass Chapter and a KET anchor. “This event will give the community an opportunity to meet their newspaper’s new editor and learn about his vision for the Herald-Leader.”

Abbey Cutrer, president of the UK Campus Chapter of SPJ, said that for students, the event will “open a door to endless opportunities in the world of journalism. It's a chance for budding journalists to not only learn from one of the industry's professionals, but to also realize that the keys to Green's own successes are within reach.”

The new editor will give a brief talk about his journalism background, his approach to the craft and his hopes for the Herald-Leader, then answer questions from students, faculty, staff and other members of the public.

Green, whose family has roots in far Eastern Kentucky’s Lawrence County, grew up in rural Ohio and is a graduate of Ohio University. He has held leadership positions at the Cincinnati Enquirer, the Des Moines Register and the Desert Sun in Palm Springs, Calif., all part of the Gannett chain that owns USA Today. He has been a mentor, model and boss for many young (and not so young) journalists in Kentucky, Ohio, Indiana, California, Iowa and New Jersey. He is married to Laura Lydon Green of Louisville. They have four grown children, Abbey, Elly, Kathleen and Ben, who is a marketing and finance junior in the Gatton School of Business and Economics and a member of Sigma Nu at UK.

The Lexington Herald-Leader has been the winner of three Pulitzer Prizes and a finalist for seven others, and the 1990 Selden Ring Award for Investigative Reporting. Peter Baniak, who had been editor and general manager of the Herald-Leader, is now a McClatchy Co. vice president, managing its mid-size newspapers, including the Herald-Leader. As Baniak was, Green will be a regional manager for McClatchy, taking responsibility for the Belleville (Ill.) News-Democrat and the Centre Daily Times in State College, Pa.

The Singletary Center is at the corner of Rose Street and Avenue of Champions (Euclid Avenue). Parking will be available in the Gatton Student Center visitor lot, the lot behind Memorial Coliseum or any other employee lot.

College of Communication and Information students are invited to a reception 5-6 p.m. in the President’s Room of the Singletary Center. College faculty and staff members are also invited to a reception before the event, starting at 6 p.m. in the President’s Room of the Singletary Center. Green’s talk will begin at 7 p.m.

For more information about the event, contact School of Journalism and Media Administrative Associate Pamela Edwards pamela.edwards@uky.edu at or Associate Professor Kakie Urch at kakie.urch@uky.edu