Contact: David Carew
(615) 661-0249, ext. 8077
dcarew@mleesmith.com

Tennessee Journal Begins Its 30th Year Providing Inside Intelligence on State Government, Politics, and Business

Flagship Publication of One of America's Most Successful Newsletter Publishing/Printing Companies Still Going Strong After 29 Years

BRENTWOOD, TN, January 20, 2004 — The Tennessee Journal, the first publication ever published by nationally-acclaimed newsletter publisher/printer, M. Lee Smith Publishers LLC, is entering its 30th year covering Tennessee politics and government. Hailed as "an essential newsletter" by U.S. Senator Lamar Alexander and as "informative and very helpful" by former Tennessee Governor Ned McWherter, The Tennessee Journal continues to be widely viewed as the state's premier intelligence source for political and legislative news.

"I launched The Tennessee Journal in January 1975 because I believed there was a strong need for a newsletter communicating inside intelligence of what was happening in The General Assembly and in state politics as a whole," said M. Lee Smith, Publisher of The Tennessee Journal and Chairman of M. Lee Smith Publishers LLC.

"The intent was never to compete with Tennessee's daily newspapers. Instead, it was to offer a deeper analysis as to what had just happened in The General Assembly and in state political races-and to provide informed speculation as to what was likely to happen next and why."

Smith said a key to the publication's longevity and enduring value has been the caliber of its editors. He cites current editor/writer Ed Cromer as a prime example. "Ed Cromer, who has been solely responsibly for the newsletter's editorial content since 1997, is, by anyone's reckoning, one of the finest journalists in Tennessee. As a former Capitol Hill reporter for both The Tennessean and Nashville Banner, Ed brings a wealth of background and experience to his position that our readers benefit from each and every week."

Published each Friday throughout the year except during Christmas week, The Tennessee Journal is available via subscription for $227 per year. Subscribers may receive the four-page newsletter in either hard-copy format or via e-mail. No-risk subscriptions may be ordered by clicking here calling (800) 274-6774.

Click here for more information about The Tennessee Journal.

M. Lee Smith is now available for interviews in connection with this story. To schedule an interview, please call David Carew at (615) 661-0249, ext. 8077 or send e-mail to dcarew@mleesmith.com.

About M. Lee Smith Publishers LLC

Founded in 1975 by Tennessee attorney M. Lee Smith, M. Lee Smith Publishers LLC of Brentwood, Tennessee now publishes a wide variety of newsletters and other information products of interest to Tennessee human resource professionals, employers and other business people, and attorneys, including Tennessee Employment Law Letter, Employment Law Desk Book for Tennessee Employers, Tennessee Attorneys Memo, and 2004 Tennessee Attorneys Directory.

M. Lee Smith Publishers is the only company in America that publishes a state-specific employment law newsletter for all 50 states plus Washington, D.C. The company now offers a total of 130 newsletters and other information products and services for HR professionals, business executives, and attorneys, including national award-winning training videos, guidebooks, software, Internet-based research services, and state-specific and national employment law seminars, conferences, and audio conferences.

The company also offers full-service publishing and printing for other companies' newsletters.

Click here for more information about M. Lee Smith Publishers.