Tom Curley on regional collaboration
From NEAR Hall of Fame Induction | 2009 | Tom Curley · · New England Auto Racers
“In 1988 we formed the Stock Car Connection — the Stock Car Connection was a group of identical Universal cars between the ASA Midwest, Bob Harmon's All-Pro down in Alabama and our cars up here in the Northeast.”
On , Tom Curley, Former CEO of Associated Press at Independent, spoke about regional collaboration during NEAR Hall of Fame Induction | 2009 | Tom Curley on New England Auto Racers.
About Tom Curley
Tom Curley, former president and CEO of the Associated Press, has been inducted into the New England Auto Racers Hall of Fame. During his induction speech, he recounted his career in auto racing, including his work as a technical expert for CBS at the Daytona 500, his role in forming the American Canadian Tour (ACT) and the Stock Car Connection, and the creation of a crate motor program with General Motors in 1999 to control costs in weekly racing. He also shared a personal anecdote about being punched by AJ Foyt while working as a photographer. Curley has also spoken about press freedom and the challenges facing journalism. He has criticized government secrecy post-9/11, stating that "the government is pushing hard for secrecy" and that journalists must "push back equally hard for openness." He has advocated for a focused lobbying effort for open government and has discussed the case of AP photographer Bilal Hussein, who was held without charges, calling it a clash between people and their access to information. Curley has also addressed the digital transformation of news, noting that by 2012, 250 million consumers would have touchscreen devices, and emphasized that while technology changes how journalists work, it does not change what they do. He has described the journalist as increasingly being targeted in conflict zones and political campaigns.