Clay Foster
President, CEO & Publisher
Clay Foster is a native son of Northeast Mississippi. In addition to being a carrier early in his life and until he graduated from the University of Mississippi, Foster has been with the Journal in a full-time capacity since 1992 and has been chief operating officer since 2000. He assumed the additional titles of president in 2005 and publisher in 2010.
His career at the Journal has included stints as pre-press manager, production director and director of operations, as well as interim assignments as advertising director and circulation director. He is a retired major in the Mississippi Army National Guard, having served 22 years, including 15 months in Operation Iraqi Freedom.
[MS 0101] - Part 1: Intro and Contribution (6:24)
Clay Foster, publisher, The NEMS Daily Journal, joined The Journal in 1992. Foster says part of The Journal’s mission is to “encourage people to get involved in the community … to make things happen.” The Journal is owned by the non-profit CREATE Foundation, which was started by a previous owner-editor, George McLean.
[MS 0102] - Part 2: Strategic Changes (7:14)
Clay Foster, publisher, The NEMS Daily Journal, is proud of the fact that his newspaper has survived the latest recession with no layoffs. Looking forward, Foster expects digital advertising revenues to “grow exponentially” in the years ahead.
[MS 0103] - Part 3: Adaptation & the Future (8:52)
Clay Foster, publisher, The NEMS Daily Journal, says “our systems are set up in a factory-based model … and that model puts us at a disadvantage when we have to compete with [the] Internet.” Foster says The Journal “needs to make speed and flexibility a part of our culture.” And, Foster says, his staff needs to learn “we’re not just a newspaper.”
[MS 0104] - Part 4: Digital Revenues (5:58)
Clay Foster, publisher, The NEMS Daily Journal, says, his organization is still debating whether to institute a limited paywall to charge for access to the newspaper’s website. The newspaper remains bullish on print and is contemplating purchasing a new press to enhance The Journal and to corral regional printing jobs.
[MS 0105] - Part 5: Prospects & Preparation (2:25)
Clay Foster, publisher, The NEMS Daily Journal, says his newspaper hires “energetic people … passionate about what we do and [who] want to be a part of what we do for the community.” “What we can’t train is attitude,” says Foster.