Veteran journalist, communications director to retire from Archdiocese of Oklahoma City

OKLAHOMA CITY – After serving eight years as the director of communications and editor of the Sooner Catholic newspaper for the Archdiocese of Oklahoma City, veteran journalist Diane Clay will be leaving the position this Spring. 

Archbishop Paul Coakley announced the departure on Feb. 21.

“Diane has been an incredible asset to me, our staff and clergy, and to the archdiocese as we navigated some of the most difficult and joyful situations, including the beatification of Blessed Stanley Rother,” Archbishop Coakley said. “We have been fortunate to tap into Diane’s background as a newspaper reporter and utilize her experience with everything from politics to motherhood to make us better. I am hopeful we will find another qualified communications expert who is being called to serve.”   

Clay, who began her journalism career at The Oklahoman in 1994, is leaving the chancery to help raise her first grandchild who is due in June. She will continue as a freelance writer for the Sooner Catholic and assist with continued planning of multiple projects, including the dedication of the Blessed Stanley Rother Shrine in November.

“Serving Archbishop Coakley and the Catholic Church in Oklahoma has changed my life, and I have been blessed by this experience and the people I’ve met in so many ways,” Clay said. “There aren’t many jobs that could pull me away from the chancery except for the role of grandma, which I am beyond excited to dive into.”

The archdiocese has begun the search for a new director of communications. As a member of the senior staff, the director of communications will represent the archdiocese, archbishop and chancery to the media by crafting communications, social media, public relations and marketing strategies. 

The director also will serve as editor of the Sooner Catholic newspaper. Along with experience requirements in journalism and/or marketing, the director must be a practicing Catholic in good standing. 

For more information about the position, to submit a resume or for questions, e-mail humanresources@archokc.org.