Retired Tennessean publisher John Seigenthaler and Chattanooga Times Free Press publisher Tom Griscom were among 60 people who gathered at the East Tennessee History Center last night for a fundraiser dinner. The two men — who were introduced by Scott County’s own Sen. Howard H. Baker, Jr. — gave their opinions on newspaper’s future:

• Griscom: “The newsroom of the future will have an editor, a couple of  ‘gatekeepers,’ one or two special investigative reporters, and perhaps a couple of photographers and designers. Most of the news will be produced by lots of part-time employees and freelancers. The formal staff will greatly diminish as newspapers find it too expensive to pay salaries and benefits for full-time journalists.”
• Seigenthaler: “We need to get journalists who are ‘complete’ journalists. Journalists who can take photos and video and write for print and broadcast. Many journalism schools are still training anchors. We need complete journalists.”

Scott County’s Don Stansberry was also in attendance.