Convention starts tomorrow. But before it can begin, we must introduce the final speaker: Andy Waters. Waters has worked at the Columbia Daily Tribune as a general assignment reporter, business writer/editor, city editor, head of online operations and general manager, his current position.
His first exposure to the newsroom came as a reporting intern during summers off from Washington & Lee University in Lexington, Va. After graduating with a journalism degree, Waters worked four years for The Associated Press in Kansas City, Los Angeles and Portland, Ore. He came back to Columbia to join other family members at the Tribune full-time in 1995.
Waters has been instrumental in the development of new technology applications at the Tribune, including installation of an access paywall for the paper’s online edition. He has spoken at a number of industry meetings about how the Tribune is using technology.
Andy is the son of publisher emeritus Hank Waters III. On Dec. 1, Andy and one of his sisters bought the Tribune from four other family members and became the sole owners.
Waters will participate on a Friday breakfast panel at the MPA Convention in September. He’ll join several others in a "Technology Discussion" that will include how they use social media, paid content and Deals of the Day to maximize profits, gain clients and build circulation.