NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP)–Michael Foust has been named assistant editor of Baptist Press, Executive Editor Will Hall announced Feb. 14.
Foust will join Baptist Press’ staff effective March 1. He has been director of news and information at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Ky., since July 2000. He joined the seminary’s news staff in September 1999.
Baptist Press is the news service of the Southern Baptist Convention.
“Michael has a number of gifts and experiences that complement those of the team we have in place. I am excited about what he will contribute to our efforts to provide news with a Christian perspective to inform and equip our readers for life, work, and ministry,” said Hall, who also is vice president for news services with the SBC Executive Committee in Nashville, Tenn.
Foust, 30, earned a master of arts degree in theological studies at Southern Seminary in 2002 and a B.S. degree in communications, with a journalism major, from the University of Tennessee in 1995.
He was a sportswriter at The Leaf Chronicle in Clarksville, Tenn., from 1998-99 and sports editor/sportswriter at The Union-Recorder in Milledgeville, Ga., from 1995-98. He also has been a sportswriter for The Review-Appeal in Franklin, Tenn., and a sports correspondent for The Courier-Journal in Louisville and The Knoxville News-Sentinel.
Foust won a second place award in column writing from the Georgia Sports Writers Association in 1997, along with a third place for game story, and, in 1996, second place in sportswriting from the Georgia Press Association and third place in sportswriting from the Georgia Associated Press.
Morris H. Chapman, president of the Executive Committee, said, “Michael Foust is well-qualified professionally and has a great record of contributing to the communication task with integrity everywhere he has served.
“I believe Michael will contribute to the goal of Baptist Press becoming the absolute best at on-the-spot newsgathering and news giving,” Chapman said. “Among news organizations, BP is unequalled, and our expectation is that with Michael Foust’s addition, it will only be enhanced in its continual pursuit and practice of excellence.
“His theological training, combined with his journalism training and experience, equips him to be an especially valuable member of the BP team, while his reputation as a Christian gentleman of great good will certainly equips him to be a great member of the Executive Committee staff,” Chapman said.
R. Albert Mohler Jr., president of Southern Seminary, said, “Michael Foust is a skilled Christian journalist. Baptist Press has added a wonderful professional journalist who will serve honorably and skillfully, demonstrating the highest standards of his profession. I congratulate Baptist Press upon his hiring and will look forward to reading his work on their premier Baptist news service.”
Foust, who grew up in Tatumville, Tenn., and his fiance, Julie Koch of Floyds Knobs, Ind., are planning a June 28 wedding.
Foust succeeds Todd Starnes, who joined Union University’s staff in Jackson, Tenn., as director of university communications.
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(BP) photo posted in BP Photo Library at http://www.bpnews.net. Photo title: MICHAEL FOUST.
