The recently inaugurated head editor of the Lexington Herald-Leader, Rick Green, visited UK to give a speech about his new position and his career in journalism on Tuesday, Oct. 3.
Before Green walked on stage at the Singletary Center for the Arts, Acting Vice Provost and Dean Liaison Jennifer Greer gave the audience a brief overview of Green’s awards and accomplishments throughout his career.
He oversaw the Courier Journal when they received the 2020 Pulitzer Prize for the coverage of former Kentucky Governor Matt Bevin’s pardons from several years ago, as well as two Pulitzer finalist slots for the coverage of Breonna Taylor’s death.
At the beginning of the speech, Green admitted he was going to give the speech “off of his heels,” the way that he prefers to present to an audience.
Green talked to the audience about his extensive history with journalism. His career has taken him all over the United States, working as far away as California.
Green’s career started when he walked into a newsroom for the first time as a sophomore in high school.
“I remember standing there and I said ‘Dad, this is what I want to do, I want to be a reporter. I want to be in journalism full time for my whole life,’” Green said.
Green has several strong beliefs regarding the field of journalism and its importance.
“Be an advocate, be a guardian, be the voice of people who have no voice, and protect our most vulnerable,” Green said. “Do important work that makes a difference to the people that live in that community.”
His passion for protecting his community is of the utmost importance in his work, which is visible through his expansive work covering Kentucky events.
“Protect our most vulnerable. Do work that’s compelling. Do work that’s exclusive, but for God’s sake, protect those who have no protector,” Green said. “The best cities in America exist in communities that have great newspapers. Great newspapers and great cities grow up together.”
Though Green has worked at many different papers throughout his career, he said he is excited to start his position at the Herald-Leader.
“I am so passionate about this business and I’m so passionate about the First Amendment. We need to go out into the community and sell our mission, to tell you what you can expect from this great newspaper,” Green said.
Green shared his beliefs surrounding the importance of journalism in not only our community but across the world to those who don’t have the ability to speak up for themselves — a goal he has for the Herald-Leader as he enters this new chapter of his career.
“It’s not only important for you, your family, your community, but it’s important for these little kids in faraway places who have nobody looking out for them. That’s our job,” Green said.
In a story Green told to the audience, he mentioned a man attempting to get through the pearly gates of heaven, when Saint Peter asks the man to see his scars.
In the story, Saint Peter proceeds to question the man’s passion and devotion to important causes and missions, doubting the man’s integrity.
Green understands the devotion needed in his field, gathering wounds and toughness throughout his career.
“I’ve got scars, anybody who’s been in the business for as long as my colleagues have, we’ve got scars. I’m proud of them,” Green said. “That means we’ve rolled up our sleeves and we fought the good battle. I guarantee it, we’re gonna fight like hell. We care about this community, we care about this city and we care about the commonwealth.”
Green then gave the audience an opportunity to engage with him by asking him questions about his journalistic strategies and his plans for the Herald-Leader.
The journalism majors and those passionate about journalism in attendance had the opportunity to learn about what makes a great journalist and the true reason and intention of journalism in our local community.
