Nominations sought for Tom and Pat Gish Award

The Institute for Rural Journalism and Community Issues seeks nominations by Oct. 31, 2013, for this year’s Tom and Pat Gish Award for courage, tenacity and integrity in rural journalism.

The award is named for Tom and Pat Gish, who published The Mountain Eagle in Whitesburg, Ky., for more than 51 years. Tom died in 2008; Pat has health issues but remains publisher, and their son, Ben, is editor. The Mountain Eagle is a longtime Interlink customer.

The Gishes have withstood advertiser boycotts, business competition, declining population, personal attacks, and even the burning of their office to give their readers the

kind of journalism often lacking in rural areas. The family won the 2010 Eugene Cervi Award from the International Society of Weekly Newspaper Editors, which honors the maxim “good journalism begets good government,” and Tom and Pat Gish were the first winners of the award named for them.

Send detailed letters to IRJCI Director Al Cross explaining how your nominee shows the kind of exemplary courage, tenacity and integrity that the Gishes demonstrated in their rigorous pursuit of rural journalism. Documentation does not have to accompany the nomination, but is helpful in choosing finalists, and additional documentation may be requested or required.

Questions may be directed to Cross at 859-257-3744 or al.cross@uky.edu.

Letters should be postmarked by Oct. 31 and mailed to:

Institute for Rural Journalism and Community Issues

122 Grehan Journalism Building, University of Kentucky

Lexington KY 40506-0042