Tanner chairman of SNPA education panel
By Staff Reports
Published in News on November 18, 2009 1:46 PM
Hal Tanner III
The announcement was made by SNPA President-elect Steve Brandt, publisher of The Greenville (S.C.) News.
The organization represents newspapers in 14 states, from Texas to the mid-Atlantic region.
The education committee works closely with the SNPA staff to develop training programs for newspaper employees.
"It really is an honor to represent the newspapers in North Carolina, in that the SNPA is a critical link to our future because of the strong relationships that newspapers have with one another," Tanner said. "I'm looking forward to working with SNPA to provide the resources and support to all newspapers as we tackle the challenges facing our industry and prepare ourselves for the future."
Tanner said the foundation in part provides cost-effective training for newspaper employees at all levels, from cub reporters to advertising sales representatives. Currently, the committee is developing a "Webinar" program that will enable newspapers to conduct specialized training via the Internet.
Tanner is a member of the SNPA board of directors. He has worked in the newspaper business for 22 years, the past nine as general manager of The News-Argus.
Prior to his return to Goldsboro, he was president and publisher of the Baxter Bulletin in Mountain Home, Ark., for two years and held a variety of positions with the Greenville News-Piedmont in South Carolina.
After graduating from Wake Forest University, he moved to Greenville to join the newspaper's management training program, which involves a succession of assignments throughout the newspaper's various departments.
He was named vice president of the newspaper company in 1993. Among his other duties, he served as business manager and circulation director and, finally, assistant to the senior group president, which gave him responsibilities with seven newspapers owned by Gannett Corp.
He was promoted to president and publisher of the Baxter Bulletin in 1997.
In the meantime, he earned a master's degree in business administration from Clemson University.
Tanner has served on the boards of many civic organizations throughout his career, including the United Way of Wayne County.
He is the son of News-Argus Publisher Hal Tanner Jr. and Mrs. Linda Tanner.
He and his wife, Leigh Trevey Tanner, formerly of Salisbury, have four children: Georgia, 17; Hil, 16; and twins Margaret and Mary Crawford, both 12.