Suzie Campbell elected OPA president for 2025-2026

Suzie Campbell, publisher of the Countywide & Sun in Tecumseh, officially assumed the role of president of the Oklahoma Press Association (OPA) on July 1.

OPA members elected Campbell during the association's annual business meeting, held June 6-7 at the OPA Convention in Shawnee. She succeeds Shauna Belyeu and will serve a one-year term as president.

Before her newspaper career, Campbell held various positions, including nearly 10 years at Tinker Air Force Base.  She also worked at an attorney's office and OU Health Sciences Center before opening her own business, Magic Memories, in late 2004. She began working part-time at the Countywide & Sun in 2005.

"In March, my mother saw an advertisement for a graphic artist at the Countywide. I faxed a resume to then-owners Gloria and Wayne Trotter, and Gloria called me for an interview," said Campbell.

Although she told the Trotters that she only averaged about five years at a job before she became bored and began looking for something new, she was hired immediately.

"In August of that same year, I went full-time, and I can honestly say I have never been bored."

At the Countywide & Sun, Campbell worked as a graphic artist, advertising sales rep, circulation manager and in accounting.

The Trotters tried to convince her to purchase the paper over the years, but it wasn’t until March 2017 when they received an offer from someone else that Campbell decided to buy it.

"The newspaper had always been locally owned, and I wanted it to stay that way," she said. 

On April 1, 2017, Campbell became owner and publisher of the Countywide & Sun.

"I thought I knew what I was getting into, but there is so much more that I still have to learn. Thank goodness Wayne and Gloria are still a phone call away, and Brian Blansett [publisher of The Lincoln County News] is a great friend and mentor."

Campbell said her goal after graduating from Dale High School in 1982 was to own her own business.

"I never dreamed it would be a newspaper. Now, I can’t imagine doing anything else. Newspapers are still the best source for local news," she said.

As a professed tech nerd, Campbell embraces the digital format of newspapers while still holding tight to the print version.

"We have very diverse generations to serve. We have the older generation, who still cling to the printed paper, and the younger generation, who are all about the digital. As news leaders in our communities, we need to embrace the digital tools available to reach our younger citizens," Campbell said.

As the newly elected president, Campbell said she is looking forward to visiting with other OPA members to discuss their ideas, needs and challenges.

Other officers elected for one-year terms at the business meeting were Erin Dyer-Thompson, co-publisher of the El Reno Tribune, as vice president; Brian Blansett, publisher of The Lincoln County News, for a second one-year term as treasurer; and Shauna Belyeu, general manager of The Eufaula Indian Journal, as immediate past president.

The membership also renewed a three-year term on the OPA Board of Directors for Ed Choate, publisher of the Muskogee Phoenix, Connor Choate, co-publisher of the Marietta Monitor, and Jason Collington, editor of the Tulsa World, were elected to fulfill vacated terms. 

Katherine Miller, publisher of The Norman Transcript, was elected as a new board member serving a three-year term.

Other members of the OPA Board of Directors are Brett Wesner, Wesner Publications, and Shaun Witt, Oklahoma Watch.

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