Daniel Island News publisher to lead SCPA

Apr 30, 2020

Suzanne Detar, publisher of The Daniel Island News, has been elected president of the South Carolina Press Association (SCPA) after a digital vote of the Press Association’s membership.

Other officers elected were: Don Kausler Jr., regional editor of the Morning News in Florence, as daily newspaper vice president; Charles Swenson, editor of the Coastal Observer in Pawleys Island as weekly newspaper vice president; and Richard Whiting, executive editor of the Index-Journal in Greenwood as treasurer.
Elected to two-year terms on the SCPA Executive Committee were: Kevin Drake, publisher of the Herald-Journal in Spartanburg; Rhonda Overbey, publisher of the Aiken Standard; and Brian Tolley, executive editor of The State in Columbia, The Island Packet on Hilton Head Island and the Beaufort Gazette.

Re-elected to continuing terms on the SCPA Executive Committee were: Nathaniel Abraham Jr., publisher of Carolina Panorama in Columbia; Katie Goodman Murphy, general manager and advertising director for Bluffton Today and Jasper County Sun Times in Ridgeland; and Mike Mischner, group publisher for Camden Media Co.

“We have a strong, active press association that provides needed services and advice to our members. I look forward to working with our organization and its dedicated staff to support our member papers in providing great journalism in our readers across the state,” Detar said.

“As we contend with and adjust to the challenges and impacts of the COVID-19 virus on our industry, I am confident that our association will continue to provide guidance and support to our members.”

Detar started The Daniel Island News in 2003 and has led the paper through 16 years of growth, contraction, challenges and changes in the newspaper industry and in her community.

A 1988 graduate of Lafayette College with a degree in Government & Law and Russian Studies, Sue is also a 1991 graduate of Temple University School of Law. Prior to starting the paper, she taught political science at Charleston Southern University. Sue's legal experience is in construction and engineering law and in general business.

Detar is married to Thomas Werner and has three grown children, Benjamin, Carly and Jackson. She is a resident of Daniel Island.

Detar succeeds P.J. Browning, publisher of The Post and Courier in Charleston.

The press association was founded in 1852 and serves the state's 15 daily and 83 weekly newspapers.

The election was held digitally after the association’s annual meeting in March had to be postponed due to the coronavirus.