Erin Dyer Thompson, co-publisher of the El Reno Tribune, officially became president of the Oklahoma Press Association on July 1, beginning a one-year term leading the state‘s newspaper and online news media organization.
OPA members elected Dyer Thompson during the association‘s annual business meeting June 5 at the OPA Convention in Norman. She succeeds Suzie Campbell as president.
A third-generation Oklahoma newspaper publisher, Dyer Thompson is the fifth member of her family to serve as OPA president, continuing a leadership legacy that spans generations. Previous family members to hold the office include her grandfather, Ray J. Dyer (1955); her father, Jack Dyer (1977); and her brothers, Sean Dyer (2001) and Ray Dyer (2018). Ray J. Dyer also served as the Field Manager for the OPA from 1932 to 1934.
“When you grow up in a newspaper family, it rubs off on you—literally,” she said.
Some of her favorite childhood memories include sitting on the den floor with her brothers and sisters, rolling newspapers with ink-covered hands before loading them into the family station wagon for delivery.
“That happened on more than one occasion. It was always fun, though!” she said.
She began working at the family newspaper while still in high school and continued through college, taking on nearly every job imaginable—staffing the front desk, selling advertising, delivering papers, hand-inserting sections, cleaning and helping wherever she was needed.
After graduating from the University of Central Oklahoma, she joined the family business full time in 1994 in the advertising department.
“I swore I‘d never be in the newspaper business, but here I am and loving it,” she said.
Dyer Thompson joined the OPA Board of Directors in 2022 and has led several association committees. She has also been active in her community through organizations including El Reno Main Street, Uptown Business and Professional Women of El Reno, and the Sacred Heart Catholic School Advisory Council. She currently serves on the El Reno Mobile Meals Board of Directors and on a committee for Catholic Charities.
As OPA president, Dyer Thompson said one of her primary goals is to strengthen relationships among member newspapers while reminding communities why local journalism matters. “Oftentimes, local residents don‘t realize their local newspaper is a snapshot of their town‘s history,” she said. “We document what is happening in our towns— good or bad. We tell the stories of the people. We hold local government accountable.” “The El Reno Tribune doesn‘t belong to the Dyer family,” she added. “It really belongs to the town.”
She also hopes to expand continuing education opportunities for OPA members as newspapers continue adapting to new technology and changing reader habits.
“This world is moving fast, and it‘s important we keep up with technology,” she said. “I believe people will always read the newspaper, whether it‘s on their mobile device or computer. We have to embrace digital transformation while keeping our print editions relevant for as long as possible.”
Dyer Thompson and her husband, Daniel, have been married for 23 years and have two adult sons, John D. and James.
Also elected to one-year officer terms were Shaun Witt, director of audience development for Oklahoma Watch, as vice president; John Denny Montgomery, co-publisher of the Purcell Register, as treasurer; and Suzie Campbell, publisher of the Countywide & Sun, as immediate past president.
Members also renewed board terms for Connor Choate, publisher of the Marietta Monitor and Brett Wesner, owner of Wesner Publications. Carol Conner, publisher of The Fairfax Chief; and Scott Wesner, owner of Wesner Media, were elected to fill vacant board positions. Suzanne Mackey, co-publisher of the Garvin County News Star, was elected a new three-year term. Katherine Miller, publisher of The Norman Transcript, also serves on the OPA Board of Directors.
