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Your connection to industry & member news | Jan. 16, 2025
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By Eric P. Robinson, USC School of Journalism and Mass Communications
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Despite lack of anti-SLAPP statute, SC Court awards attorney fees for harassing lawsuit
South Carolina remains one of the minority of states without an anti-SLAPP statute, which would allow for early dismissal of defamation lawsuits against both media and non-media defendants when the defendant(s) can show that the lawsuit is primarily aimed at suppressing discussion of an issue of public concern. In addition to dismissal of the case, in many states with such laws the defendant can also receive from the plaintiff(s) payment of the legal expenses incurred in defending the lawsuit.
But now a South Carolina court has ordered a former state Senate candidate and his attorney to pay the publisher of the Myrtle Beach Herald and MyHorryNews.com $76,474.68 for its legal fees in defending a defamation lawsuit after the court held that the lawsuit—particularly the plaintiff’s efforts to unveil an alleged unnamed source, which the newspaper insisted did not exist—was frivolous.
The lawsuit—which included defamation, emotional distress and other claims—stemmed from a 2020 print and online article reporting on public court records describing incidents in which the candidate’s now ex-wife alleged physical and other abuse. The article noted that it was based on “public court records including interview notes, police reports and third-party affidavits,” in order to avoid relying on the candidate’s or the ex-wife’s narratives.
The lawsuit alleged that the newspaper obtained the information from a confidential source, despite the newspaper’s denials of this. After the defamation lawsuit was dismissed when the newspaper’s motion for summary judgment was granted in 2023, the newspaper’s publisher filed a motion against the candidate under the South Carolina Frivolous Civil Proceedings Act. This law allows for recovery of attorney’s fees in defending a lawsuit or claim that a reasonable attorney would recognize as not warranted under existing law, or that is intended merely to harass or injure the other party. Read more
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2025 Directory is in the mail The 2025 edition of the S.C. Media Directory is being mailed to SCPA members over the next week.
The guide, published annually by SCPA, includes detailed information on daily, weekly, monthly and online news publications in South Carolina including contact info, circulation and readership figures and advertising information. It also includes info about SCPA's collegiate, associate and individual members, as well as South Carolina's TV and radio stations.
Each member organization receives a free copy.
It is also delivered to members of the Legislature and ad agencies throughout the state and Southeast.
Additional copies can be ordered for $50.
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 | Rep. John McCravy during the first day of session in Columbia, S.C. on Tuesday, Jan. 14, 2025. (Travis Bell/STATEHOUSE CAROLINA)
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| Statehouse Carolina offers 50% discount for SCPA membersNeed more images of your legislators in action in Columbia? Or are you posting to social media and could use beauty shots of the statehouse? Statehouse Carolina produces editorial-style images of The Legislature, Governor's Office, State Agencies and more.
StatehouseCarolina.com is owned and managed by veteran newspaper photojournalist and former full-time statehouse photographer Travis Bell.
Becoming a member of Statehouse Carolina gets your publication unlimited access to all images on the site. All SCPA members receive a 50% reduced rate for membership.
The site includes a search engine that makes it easy to search by name or type in a word like exterior for images of the statehouse.
Join Now. Contact Travis Bell at 803.312.2942 or statehousecarolina@gmail.com. Need photo training?SCPA has also received feedback that members would like photo training. Plans are in the works but Bell also has a "how to" photography blog, The Light Curve, with lots of good stories and videos about photography. There's no charge for the site thanks to sponsors. If someone would like to keep up with new content on the site, the best way is to subscribe to see new posts.
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SCPA preparing necrology report for Annual Meeting SCPA will recognize the members we've lost in the past year at our Annual Meeting on April 4, 2025. If you've lost a friend, family member or colleague in our industry that should be included in SCPA's necrology, please email us. If you've read his or her obituary in the eBulletin over the past year, they will be included.
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Please pay SCPA annual membership dues SCPA members should have received 2025 membership dues invoices in early December. Please pay dues in January. If you haven't received your dues invoice or have any questions, please contact us.
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|  | SPECIAL THANKS to 15 SCPA members who volunteered to judge SCPA's Collegiate Contest over the past month! SCPA will recognize college award winners on Feb. 28 at the Collegiate Meeting & Awards Presentation.
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Termination letter sent to former Jasper County superintendent reveals findings of secretive investigation
RIDGELAND — A pink slip the Jasper County school board sent to Rechel Anderson offers details of a secretive investigation and the ultimate firing of a woman paid to lead a long-struggling public school district in South Carolina.
The letter, dated Dec. 10 and provided to The Post and Courier, was signed by former board chair Priscilla Green. Investigators with the law firm Haynsworth Sinkler Boyd concluded that Anderson, the district's former superintendent, pursued personal ventures during work hours, lied about her whereabouts during a campus lockdown and requested district employees use school resources for her own businesses.
Anderson's attorney, Paul Porter, confirmed the authenticity of the letter but took issue with its findings.
"It is evident that the report referenced in the letter is throwing everything it can against the wall in hopes that something will stick. All the charges levied are provably false, speculative, and/or based on the one-sided opinions of a small group of people who have personal grievances or vendettas," Porter said in an email.
The full investigative report supporting the findings in the termination letter has not been made public.
By Mitchell Black, The Post and Courier Beaufort County | Read more
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Beaufort County launches a second investigation to uncover who's leaking info to the public
BEAUFORT — An investigation to identify the source of leaks within Beaufort County government is underway. It's the second such search the county has undertaken in the last seven months.
"The county is conducting a workplace investigation to ascertain whether there have been violations of the county’s Employee Handbook or policies in regard to the release of confidential, privileged and/or personal information to the public," county spokesperson Hannah Nichols wrote in an email to The Post and Courier.
By Tony Kukulich, The Post and Courier Beaufort County | Read more
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Roberts takes on new role at Summerville, Moncks Corner newspapers
Brandon Roberts has been promoted to the dual role of publisher and managing editor of The Journal Scene and The Berkeley Independent newspapers. With nearly 20 years of experience in the media industry, Roberts brings a wealth of expertise in news and leadership to the position.
Roberts, 45, was hired in June 2023 as the managing editor of Summerville Communications Inc. He began working in the dual role this past December.
“We are excited to promote Brandon to oversee Summerville Communications,” said P.J. Browning, CEO of Evening Post Publishing and president and publisher of The Post and Courier. “He has proven to be an excellent editor with strong leadership skills. He enjoys meeting people and believes that a great newspaper helps to serve its community.”
Roberts will continue to oversee the editorial teams of The Summerville Journal Scene and The Berkeley Independent. As Publisher, he will oversee the advertising departments and be the primary representative and liaison to the communities the newspapers serve.
From Summerville Journal Scene | Read more
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FTC 'Click-to-Cancel' ruling prompts website, subscription changes
Can your newspaper subscribers cancel their subscription with just a click? If you can't answer yes, that needs to change.
The Federal Trade Commission has announced its "Click-to-Cancel" rule in October, which applies to any subscription or membership service that allows people to sign up and cancel with just a click. In basic terms, if you can click to sign up, you should be able to click and cancel.
If they can sign up online and have to call or email to cancel, this is no longer acceptable.
While I would be shocked if any newspaper was not allowing subscribers to cancel, this rule is more aimed at big companies that auto-bill fees and make consumers jump through hoops to end a service.
This moment is a good wake- up call to look at how readers sign up and cancel our
newspapers. While you can work to be in compliance with the new rule, maybe it's time to
change how people subscribe.
By Katelyn Mary Skaggs for National Newspaper Association | Read more
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Gloria Fair, former Herald-Journal News Editor, dies
Gloria Baxley Fair, 82, of Greer, died peacefully on January 8, 2025.
A native of Rockingham, N.C., she was the loving and supportive wife of James R. “Jim” Fair of Greer, having celebrated 52 years of marriage, and a daughter of the late John Thomas and Pearl Reynolds Baxley. Following graduation from Rockingham High School, Gloria attended Western Carolina University, majoring in Spanish and French. During her time in high school and college, Gloria was a majorette.
An award-winning news editor, Gloria dedicated much of her career to serving the readers of the Spartanburg Herald-Journal. Her quick wit, sharp eye, and kind heart made her a cherished colleague and friend. Her love of editing and her enthusiasm and commitment to journalism brought insight and clarity to a wide range of stories. She was a tough editor with a critical eye who cared about what matters most in news – getting the story right but also making sure that it was fair. ...
Her husband and family would like to express their sincerest thanks to the Rainey Hospice House of the Upstate and the many nurses who so lovingly cared for Gloria.
A memorial service will be held in the Spring.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association of South Carolina by visiting www.alz.org or by mail to 123 W. Antrim Dr., Greenville, S.C., 29607.
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Celebrated Southern cooking icon Nathalie Dupree dies at 85
Nathalie Dupree was famously guided by a principle known as the "pork chop theory." One pork chop in a pan goes dry, but two or more and the fat from one feeds the other, she was known to say.
That ethos steered the Southern cooking icon's teachings to her students and work in the community. It helped her become a successful chef, author and television personality, fostering a community along the way. In a competitive culinary landscape, especially for women, Dupree chose to lift others up as her own career blossomed.
Dupree, a three-time James Beard Award-winner who authored more than a dozen cookbooks, died Jan. 13 in Raleigh. She was 85.
She is survived by her husband Jack Bass and their four children.
A former recipe columnist for The Post and Courier, Dupree was a pioneer of "new Southern cooking" that arose more than four decades ago and blended regional ingredients with French and Southern cooking techniques. ...
Dupree lived in Charleston for more than two decades before relocating to Raleigh in 2020. During her time with The Post and Courier, she divulged recipes of her own — and others — with readers, sharing her hospitable and accessible cooking through print and video content. She offered tips for pantry cooking or biscuit-making in the warm, relatable tone that over the years endeared her to chefs, colleagues and home cooks alike across the South and country.
By Parker Milner, The Post and Courier | Read more
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By John Foust,
Advertising Trainer
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| Avoid jumping to conclusions
There’s a story going around about a new CEO who was on a tour of one of the company’s facilities. As he was talking to the assembled group, he noticed a young fellow leaning against the wall. The CEO was angry at such disrespect while he was delivering an important speech. He pointed to the guy and asked, “How much money do you make?”
The guy said, “About $400 a week.”
The CEO reached for his checkbook, wrote a check to cash for $1,600, handed it to the guy and said, “Here’s a check for four weeks’ pay. Now get out of here and don’t come back.”
After the guy pocketed the check and walked out, the CEO turned to the group and asked, “Does anyone want to tell me the meaning of that little event?”
A voice in the back said, “Yeah, you just tipped the pizza delivery guy $1,600.”
True or not, this story usually generates a chuckle – and it illustrates the pitfall of making assumptions. Imagine the problems the CEO created for himself in just a couple of minutes: In addition to embarrassing himself, he made a terrible first impression by showing a careless lack of judgment. How would they look at him in the future? How could they trust his decisions or his leadership? Or to take it to the extreme, would the board of directors allow him to keep his job? Read more
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