Profile: Ann Pelham
PelhamA1.JPG (104275 bytes)Ann is the publisher of the Legal Times in Washington, DC. She has been with the newspaper since 1988 when she started as a reporter. Since then she has served as managing editor, executive editor and associate publisher before being named publisher in 1998. Previously she wrote for Governing magazine, Congressional Quarterly and served at the UPI Moscow bureau. She began her career as a reporter at The News and Observer in Raleigh, NC.

PERSONAL:
Born Oct. 12, 1952. Grew up in Greenville, South Carolina. Married since 1976 to Robert Cullen, a novelist and writer. Daughter Catherine Cullen is a senior in high school; son Pete Cullen is a junior at Colby College.

Education: Duke University, B.A., 1974.

How would you describe yourself? "Loud, curious, engaged, creative."

PROFESSIONAL:
Favorite part of your current job: "Finding new products and other ways to showcase and leverage the talents of our staff. Enjoying a good scoop. Reading a well-written story on our own front page."

Least favorite thing about your job: "Cutting costs when the economy falters."

Biggest challenge: "Anticipating – and successfully responding to – the ways the Internet is changing the business models of newspapers, such as slowly eroding the classified revenues that have helped pay for strong newsrooms."

Most serious challenge to newsgatherers today: "Maintaining the investment in quality journalism, which so far most of us have been able to do despite the economic downturn."

Main benefit you derive from MDDC membership: "Meeting colleagues from other publications in the area and hearing about how they’re solving problems, meeting challenges. We also enjoy the contests, both for news and advertising."

FUN:
Fantasy job: "Running a newspaper (really)."

Favorite music: "Dance music of all sorts, from Motown to Gloria Gaynor to Shaggy."

Favorite car and the car you drive now: "Now: a Honda CRV (a fuel efficient SUV!). Favorite? Probably that new Lexus hardtop convertible — the SC 430."

Last book read: "A Constant Gardener" by John LeCarre.

Last movie seen: "Bridget Jones’ Diary"

Favorite TV show: "The West Wing"

Hobbies: "Tennis, hiking, poker with a regular co-ed neighborhood group, cooking, golf (next year, when my daughter goes to college)."

Last or favorite vacation: "Favorite was rafting on the Middle Fork of the Salmon River. Always love the beach in South Carolina."

How would you most like to spend one day: "At the beach, starting with kayaking in the marsh, then playing tennis, body surfing in the ocean, reading on the beach, and finally watching a movie."

If you could meet anyone else (any time in history), who would it be? "Leonardo da Vinci"

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