Clifford Richner is vice president and publisher of Richner Communications, Inc. [RCI]. Mr. Richner began working in the family business part time and summers when he was 13. He returned to RCI on a full time basis in 1982 as associate publisher. He and his brother, Stuart, became publishers in 1987 upon the retirement of their father, Robert Richner. Since becoming publisher, Mr. Richner along with his brother, has started seven community newspapers in south Nassau County. Today RCI publishes 12 Herald Community Newspapers, as well as several specialty publications.
Under Mr. Richner's leadership, Herald Community Newspapers have become recognized leaders in community journalism; winning well over 100 awards for journalistic excellence from various state and national press associations.
Mr. Richner is the immediate past president of the New York Press Association [NYPA] and currently president of two of the association's subsidiaries: the New York Press Service, and the NYPA Foundation. Prior to being elected president, he served for many years as chairman of NYPA's governmental affairs and libel hotline committees. He has been a member of NYPA's executive committee since 1994. Previously, he served two terms (1985-89) as Nassau County director of NYPA and as a director at large.
He has completed a course in Managing Weekly Newspapers at the American Press Institute in Reston, Virginia.
Mr. Richner received an A.B. degree with honors in Government from Georgetown University in 1974 and a J.D. from Georgetown University Law Center in 1978. At Georgetown, he served as editor of the Georgetown Law Journal, one of the country's leading law reviews, and received a teaching fellowship in legal writing and research. He also served as a reporter for the Georgetown Voice and the Georgetown Law Weekly.
In 1978, he entered the private practice of law as a litigation associate in the firm of Shea & Gould and later with Donovan Leisure Newton & Irvine, both in New York City. His areas of practice included trademark and copyright, securities regulation, antitrust and mergers and acquisition. He is admitted to practice before the New York State and Federal courts.
Richner has led seminars on libel law for several professional groups including NYPA and the American Press Institute.
Mr. Richner is a member of the board of visitors of Touro Law School and the board of directors of the Empire State Pride Agenda. He has served on the board of the Five Towns Community Chest. He is a member of the Press Club of Long Island/Society of Professional Journalists and the Society of News Design.
