Al Cross has served as a director of UK’s Institute for Rural Journalism and Community Issues. He spent more than 26 years as a reporter for The Courier-Journal, the last 15½ as political writer; and continues the column fortnightly. His coverage ranged from presidential to local elections and included all facets of state government. He received numerous awards, including a share of the Pulitzer Prize won by C-J staff in 1989 for coverage of the nation's deadliest bus crash. He grew up in Albany, Ky., started writing for Clinton County News at 11 and announcing on WANY at 13. He appeared on KET’s “Comment on Kentucky” at 21. He is a graduate of Western Kentucky University. He is editor-manager of weekly papers in Monticello and Leitchfield, and assistant managing editor in Russellville. He was national president of the Society of Professional Journalists in 2001-2002, the only Kentuckian to hold that post.