Episode 20: Politics, Journalism, and the Cornbread Mafia with Al Cross

In this episode of Mildly Amusing, James sits down with Al Cross, longtime political journalist and former reporter for the Courier Journal. Al shares how he got his start in journalism, beginning at the Southern Kentucky Bureau in Somerset before it was relocated to Bardstown in 1979 and became the Central Kentucky Bureau. Assigned to a region he knew little about, Al recalls his brother's description of the area as the "land of priests and whiskey." During his years covering Central Kentucky, Al found himself reporting on one of the most fascinating chapters in local history, the Cornbread Mafia. He reflects on what it was like covering the story and why this area became such an interesting place for a young journalist. The conversation also explores Kentucky politics, Al's 26 years as a political reporter for the Courier Journal, and his belief that journalism should provide voters with the authoritative information they need to make informed decisions. Al spent 20 years directing the Program for Rural Journalism and Community Issues at the University of Kentucky, which was built on the idea that rural communities deserve the same quality of journalism as anyone else. James and Al discuss how newspapers and journalism have changed over the years, the challenges facing local news, and what the future may hold for the profession. It's a fascinating conversation about Kentucky history, politics, media, and the vital role journalism plays in our communities. 🎶 This episode's song is Cornbread by Lee Morgan.