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Oral History: Cathy Hughes

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Oral History of S.C. Newspapers

Cathy Hughes

The Times and Democrat
Orangeburg, SC

Orangeburg publisher came up through the ranks

USC grad and former SCPA President reflects on career

Video Interview

This video has been edited for length. If you’d like to listen to the full raw audio from our interview with Cathy Hughes, contact SCPA.

Photo Gallery

Cathy Hughes
Cathy Hughes
The SCPA bulletin announces Hughes as the new SCPA President on March 17, 2003.
The SCPA bulletin announces Hughes as the new SCPA President on March 17, 2003.
Hughes recalls the fire of 1972 at the Times and Democrat. Photo credit: The Times and Democrat.
Hughes recalls the fire of 1972 at the Times and Democrat. Photo credit: The Times and Democrat.
Hughes, (left) and Carole Steverson go through damages at the Times and Democrat after the fire of 1972. Photo credit: The Times and Democrat.
Hughes, (left) and Carole Steverson go through damages at the Times and Democrat after the fire of 1972. Photo credit: The Times and Democrat.
Hughes in the early days.
Hughes in the early days.
Cathy Hughes was presented with the S.C. Order of the Silver Crescent in 2017 by Secretary of Commerce Bobby Hitt at a Chamber event held at The T&D. Cathy was recognized for her outstanding achievements and community contributions.
Cathy Hughes was presented with the S.C. Order of the Silver Crescent in 2017 by Secretary of Commerce Bobby Hitt at a Chamber event held at The T&D. Cathy was recognized for her outstanding achievements and community contributions.
Hughes writes about doing “whatever it takes” to deliver the newspaper to readers in President’s Column of SCPA's bulletin.
Hughes writes about doing “whatever it takes” to deliver the newspaper to readers in President’s Column of SCPA's bulletin.

Related Links

Biography

Born: May 2, 1950

Newspaper History:

  • Ad Director, The Times and Democrat(1972)
  • General Manager, The Times and Democrat
  • Publisher, The Times and Democrat(1999-present)

Honors and Awards:

  • Summa cum laude
  • South Carolina Press Association President, 2003

Education: BA in Journalism at the University of South Carolina, 1971 

Family:

  • Husband, Randy Hughes
  • Daughters, Kelley H. Boetsch and Holley H. Van Horn
  • Three granddaughters

SCPA's oral history project is dedicated to preserving the heritage of our state's journalists and newspapers.

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This program is funded by the South Carolina Humanities Council, whose mission is to enrich the cultural and intellectual lives of all South Carolinians. This program is co-sponsored by the University of South Carolina’s School of Journalism and Mass Communications.