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APA Legislative Report

2019 APA Advertising Conference registration

ARKANSAS

Ark a nsa s

PRESS

Publisher Weekly

ASSOCIATION

Serving Press and State Since 1873

Vol. 14 | No. 5 | Thursday, January 31, 2019

Hard work just part of the job for sportswriting award winner Whether Paul Boyd goes to North Carolina in June to pick up his award as Arkansas Sportswriter of the Year will depend on his work schedule. That’s not a surprise, since the 31-year veteran sportswriter won this year’s honor largely because of his exemplary work ethic. Boyd, a sports reporter at the Northwest Arkansas DemocratGazette, covers Rogers High School sports. And Rogers Heritage. And volleyball. And track and field. And minor league baseball. And University of Arkansas women’s basketball. And about anything else his editors throw at him.

annually presents an Arkansan with the state’s top sportswriter award. This is the first win for Boyd, though he was named a finalist by the organization several years ago. He made clear that he truly appreciates the honor and is thankful for

win contests. That’s not what we’re in the business for.’ Being in this for a while now, I don’t know that I would go that far, but I agree with his sentiment. We’re in this business to serve our readers.” Boyd’s dedication to his job has taken him to just about every gym or small town in Arkansas over the course of three decades. Aside from a brief stint early in his career as sports editor in Dennison, Texas, he’s worked in either northeast or northwest Arkansas.

He started at the Jonesboro Sun in 1987 before moving to Texas. He relocated to Clay County after that, covering sports for newspapers in that “No reporter anywhere county for about year. works harder than Paul He then went back to to keep our readers the Sun in the mid-90s. informed,” said Chip Souza, sports editor at Paul Boyd (right), sports reporter for the Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, interviews a In 2003, he started as Tuesday after a high school basketball game. Boyd was named this year’s Arkansas night sports editor for the Northwest Arkansas coach sportswriter of the year by the National Sports Media Association. the Morning News of Democrat-Gazette. “I never worry if Paul is on top of every the recognition by his peers, yet just as Northwest Arkansas and became a sports reporter for the Democrat-Gazette after aspect of his beats, which are wide and distinct is his commitment to his job. the northwest Arkansas newspapers’ varied. There are days Paul may write a prep feature in the morning, cover a Boyd got his start at what was then the merger. (UA women’s basketball coach) Mike family-owned Jonesboro Sun under Neighbors media session in the afternoon legendary publisher and editor John Boyd joked that he has covered games and cover a Northwest Arkansas Naturals Troutt, Jr. Troutt wasn’t big on contests, in plenty of places across Arkansas and plenty others that don’t exist anymore. game that night. His work ethic and ability Boyd said. to smoothly shift from one assignment to another are both rare and invaluable to “Am I thankful? Absolutely,” Boyd said. “There aren’t many places (I) haven’t “But I’m going to quote John Troutt here been,” he said. “I’ve covered games our organization.” because I heard him say it many times in in Lynn, Arkansas, and Strawberry, The National Sports Media Association Jonesboro: ‘We’re not in the business to Arkansas, and places that don’t even Continued on Page 2

NEA Town Courier now in publication

The new year meant a new start for two newspapers in Mississippi County, as the Blytheville Courier and Town Crier of Manila combined to publish the NEA Town Courier. The first edition of the merged paper was published on Jan. 2. The two newspapers served the region for a combined 168 years and will continue to do so, the newspaper said. According to a report in the NEA Town Courier, the paper will “continue to be the watchdog for our area and report what’s happening in city and county governments, along with providing coverage of local school districts, crime, community organizations, etc.” The merger provides a “bigger, better product” at a reduced subscription rate for many customers, the newspaper said. The NEA Town Courier publishes a print edition on Wednesdays and Saturdays. It provides updates on its website, www. neatowncourier.com, as news develops. Print subscribers have access to the complete edition of the website at no extra cost.

Hard work just part of the job for sportswriting award winner Continued from Page 1

have schools anymore. So, some of those are kind of interesting.” It’s not the places that resonate with Boyd, though. It’s the people. He said he is driven to stay in this line of work because of the quality people he meets and the stories he is able to convey to readers. He noted two recent preps features that stood out to him — one about a 16-yearold soccer player whose parents are in prison and another about a young football player who relocated to Rogers from Mississippi to get away from illegal drugs and gangs. “This job is about the relationships and the people,” Boyd said. “You meet some really, really interesting characters and you meet some really, really great people.” High school sports coverage is just another outlet for Boyd to cultivate good stories about people, he added. “There’s something a little pure to me

about prep sports,” he said. “When you go to a high school gym, those people are all about their town and their team, and there’s just something I enjoy about that.” Boyd’s favorite stories are those found on the volleyball courts and at track and field events. Though volleyball and track may not lead the sports pages every day, he comes by his interest honestly. One of his babysitters when he was a child growing up on a farm in Cash was Glenda Patterson, future head volleyball coach at Jonesboro Westside. Patterson was a champion for high school volleyball in Arkansas. Boyd also spent a lot of time at Earl Bell’s pole vault training facility located just down the road from Cash. Bell was a world-class Olympic pole vaulter. Souza praised Boyd’s versatility. “He is relentless in his pursuit of good journalism. He is the very definition of a team player, which is very important in these days of shrinking newsrooms,” Souza said.

New owners to publish Little River News Blossom Media, Inc., has entered into an agreement with Red River Media, Inc., to purchase the Little River News, which serves Ashdown and Little River County. Blossom Media is owned by Little River News General Manager Quinton Bagley and his wife, Jamie. The Bagleys, along with their daughter, KaitLynn, have lived in Ashdown almost nine years. “This was an opportunity that we just couldn’t pass up,” Quinton Bagley said. “We are excited about the future of Little River County and the role that the Little River News will play. I honestly feel that the future is bright for Little River County and we look forward to being part of it.” Bagley said there will be some changes to the Little River News in the coming weeks and months as he switches hats from general manager to publisher. Arkansas Publisher Weekly

“We want to get back to our roots and report the news of Little River County that our readers want to know about,” Bailey said. “One of the first changes you will notice is that we have welcomed back former Little River News editor Carolyn Myers to be our community editor. We feel she will be a great asset as we begin a new chapter in the paper’s history. Another change that you will notice immediately is our advertising and submission deadline has changed. It will now be at noon on Monday beginning the week of Feb. 4.

“We look forward to working with our current advertisers and attracting new ones. All in all, we are blessed to have this opportunity, we are blessed to call Little River County home and we know that this would not have been possible without God’s blessing.” The Little River News, the oldest business in Little River County, was first established 2

at Richmond in 1888 but was relocated to Ashdown In 1898, where it has continued to operate. The Little River News was printed in a wooden building on the site of M.S. Johnson Grocery, which was at the southeast corner of Main and Commerce streets. W.F. Joyner was the owner of the newspaper in Richmond. The name was changed to The Ashdown Herald when R.P. West bought and moved it to Ashdown in 1892. O.T. Graves and F.M. Graves bought the Herald and changed the name back to the Little River News in 1898. There were 11 owners until the time of J.Y. Wright in 1940. W.B. Coley, Jr., who had owned and published the Foreman Sun, succeeded Wright as owner and editor of the Little River News. The last issue of the Foreman Sun was published on December 26, 1974, and the Little River News has been the only newspaper in Little River County since that time. January 31, 2019

Washington’s Newseum sells to Johns Hopkins The Freedom Forum, creator and main funder of the Washington-based Newseum, announced last week it was selling its building on Pennsylvania Avenue in Washington to Johns Hopkins University. Johns Hopkins will use the building as a center for its graduate programs.

and educational exhibits, garnering fivestar reviews from critics and visitors alike,” said Peter Prichard, chair of the Newseum board of trustees. “Our patrons learned about the joys, the duties, and even the dangers journalists experience in their work, and why a free and fair press is so important to a well-functioning democracy.

The sale follows an assessment of what the Freedom Forum described as the Newseum’s “unsustainable operating costs.” The review showed that a sale was the best way to maintain the Freedom Forum’s First Amendment-based mission, according to a news release. The purchase price for the property was $372.5 million. One of the factors involved in the sale was the Newseum necessarily charges admission fees for support, though the nearby museums of the Smithsonian Institution — all taxpayer-funded — need not charge admission. “The Newseum on Pennsylvania Avenue has delighted millions with its entertaining

Industry Quote of the Week “I admit that I am hopelessly hooked on the printed newspaper. I love turning the pages and the serendipity of stumbling across a piece of irresistible information or a photograph that I wasn’t necessarily intending to read.”

Bloomberg Internet, TV and Radio gallery at Newseum in Washington D.C. Photo credit: Sam Kittner/Newseum

“We stand ready to continue much of the Newseum’s important work for decades to come — through digital outreach, traveling exhibits, and web-based programs in schools around the world, as well as

2019 APA Convention June 26-29, Hotel Hot Springs Arkansas Publisher Weekly

The Newseum will remain open through 2019. “All of the artifacts on display in the museum will remain on exhibit for our visitors to learn from while the details of the agreement are settled,” said Carrie Christoffersen, curator and executive director of the Newseum. “Our collection preserves journalism and news history, and we will continue to be responsible stewards of our permanent collection of historic artifacts and newspapers.” In its news release, the Freedom Forum said the mission of the Newseum is to increase public understanding of the importance of a free press and the First Amendment. Visitors experience the story of news, the role of a free press in major events in history, and how the core freedoms of the First Amendment — religion, speech, press, assembly, and petition — apply to their lives.

Arkansas Democrat-Gazette names two new VPs Two veteran employees of the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette have been promoted to vice-president positions, according to the newspaper. The newspaper last week reported that Nick Elliott was promoted from production director to vice president of operations and Kathy Faver was promoted from controller to vice president of finance.

- Jill Abramson

Mark Your Calendar

hopefully in a new physical home in the area.”

Nick Elliot and Katy Faver. Photos by Jeff Mitchell

“These promotions are being made in recognition of significant contributions and commitment to the success of our newspaper,” the Democrat-Gazette quoted Lynn Hamilton, president of the newspaper, as saying. 3

According to the newspaper, Elliott joined the staff at age 18 in 1986, working in the prepress department. Elliott has a bachelor’s degree in business management and a master’s degree in business administration from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock. He was named production director in 2008. He manages production for six other Arkansas newspapers and is a production consultant for WEHCO media newspapers in a five-state area, the newspaper reported. Faver has an accounting degree from the University of Arkansas at Monticello, and she started in the Arkansas Democrat’s business office in 1984. After leaving the newspaper to start a family, she returned in 2002 where she served in various administrative capacities. She was named controller in 2013 and handles the newspaper’s administrative functions, according to the Democrat-Gazette article. Her responsibilities include oversight of accounting and human resources. January 31, 2019

92nd Arkansas General Assembly

Legislative Report

APA is monitoring the following filed bills of interest to our industry and the public: Bill No. / Author

Short Description

APA Position

Current Status

HB 1003 Rep. Gazaway

An act to add antibullying measures at schools, to allow school boards to meet in executive sessions for bullying investigations

Opposes

Awaits initial hearing in House Education Committee (Rep. Gazaway has indicated he is re-filing the bill and withdrawing the executive session provision)

HB1015 Rep. Mayberry

Requires journalism to be offered as an elective course in public high schools

Supports

Awaits initial hearing in House Education Committee

HB 1041 Reps. Ladyman, Eads

Raises the threshold for municipalities to competitively bid projects from $20,000 to $50,000, thus abolishing public notice requirements for municipal expenses between $20,000 and $50,000

Opposes

Passed the House; awaiting hearing in Senate City, County and Local Affairs Committee

HB 1163 Rep. Capp

Allows municipalities to maintain three copies of revisions or codifications of ordinances available to the public in the clerk’s office rather than publish notice of the revisions or codification.

Opposes

Awaits initial hearing in House City, County and Local Affairs Committee

HB 1178 Rep. Wardlaw

Changes state procurement law for a variety of purposes, but adds a specific Freedom of Information Act exemption for requests for information from potential bidders

Opposes

Passed House State Agencies Committee; awaits House action

HB 1231 Rep. Lowery

Establishes rights for student journalists at Arkansas higher education institutions

Supports

Awaits initial hearing in House Education Committee

SB 3 Sen. Garner

Requires reporting from physicians and healthcare facilities requiring detailed information about abortion procedure complications and exempts the required report from the Freedom of Information Act.

Opposes

Awaits initial hearing in Senate Public Health, Welfare and Labor Committee

SB 118 Sen. Kim Hammer

Requires educational institutions to provide students and faculty broad latitude to engage in free speech and prohibits individuals from suppressing free speech

Neutral

Awaits initial hearing in Senate Education Committee

Arkansas Publisher Weekly Arkansas Publisher Weekly

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January 24, 2019 January 31, 2019

YOU ROCK. WE ROCK.

Little Rock.

APA 2019 AD CONFERENCE March 7 & 8

Embassy Suites, Little Rock

Arkansas Publisher Weekly

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January 31, 2019

CONFERENCE SCHEDULE THURSDAY, MARCH 7, 2019

FRIDAY, MARCH 8, 2019

1:00 PM

Registration Opens

1:30 PM

Welcome, Introductions & Annoucements Session One: Presented by Diane Ciotta

8:00 AM 9:00 AM

Building Strong Relationships by Understanding Needs •Having a ‘Business Development Specialist’ Focus •Identifying Prospects’ Business Needs vs “Advertising Wants” •Determining a Comfortable Program Investment Professionally

2:30 PM 3:00 PM

Break Session Two: Presented by Diane Ciotta

Need Fulfillment through Integrity Based Recommendations •Selecting & Supporting Appropriate Options with Benefits •Presenting Long Term Commitments with Confidence •Managing Unavoidable Challenges with Conviction

5:00 PM 6:00 PM

Reception

8:30 PM

Hospitality hour

Breakfast HOT Ideas!

Bring your best advertising ideas (and samples) to share with the group! Prize money will be awarded.

10:00 AM Break 10:15 AM Panel Discussion NOON

Public notices and other timely issues

2019 Better Newspaper Advertising Awards Luncheon

Group Dinner

at BRAVO! Promenade Shopping Center

GUEST SPEAKER Diane Ciotta | Training Classics/The Keynote Effect Diane has effectively motivated advertising sales professionals around the country to focus on their prospects’ needs vs. their own, through dynamic skills enhancement seminars. Her speciality in the publishing industry is based on personal experience and is portrayed with an incomparable ability to relate to her participants, which results in immeasurable return on investment. Diane concentrates on increasing confidence and uses Jersey sarcasm combined with Italian passion to emphasize proven successful concepts and techniques for driving incremental revenue while improving client retention. She understands all aspects of the business and has published a children’s educational newspaper in her hometown as well as authoring her book focused on common sense based success in sales entitled Shut-Up & Sell! Diane was born, raised and still happily resides in central Jersey. Arkansas Publisher Weekly

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January 31, 2019

ARKANSAS PRESS ASSOCIATION

2019 AD CONFERENCE SIGN UP TODAY!

Newspaper:______________________________________________________________________________ Mailing Address:__________________________________________________________________________ City/State/Zip:____________________________________________________________________________ Phone:______________________ Fax: ____________________ Email: _____________________________ Attendee Name: 1. _____________________________________________________________________________________ 2. _____________________________________________________________________________________ 3. _____________________________________________________________________________________ 4. _____________________________________________________________________________________ Please list any additional names on a separate sheet.

Conference Fee ($125) Includes: Thursday Dinner, Breaks, Breakfast, Awards Lunch, and all Conference Materials. Total Attendees:

_____x $125 Full Conference Fee

$_____

_____x $40

Awards (Lunch Only)

$_____

TOTAL

$_____

Payment Options: _____Bill Me Credit Card #________________________________________

_____Check Enclosed

Expiration Date ____________________ VCN#___________ Register online at http://www.arkansaspress.org/event/2019AdConference or send registration and payment by Friday, March 1 to: Arkansas Press Association, 411 South Victory, Little Rock, AR 72201 or Fax 501.374.7509. Reserve your hotel room at http://embassysuites.hilton.com/en/es/groups/personalized/L/LITCPES-APA-20190307/index.jhtml The deadline to reserve your room is February 12. Arkansas Publisher Weekly

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January 31, 2019

Arkansas Newspaper Foundation Continuing Education Grant Application

Arkansas Newspaper Foundation (ANF) has available four (4) continuing education grants in the amount of $200 each for the 2019 Ad Conference, to be held March 7 and 8 at the Embassy Suites in Little Rock, AR. Each grant of up to $200 will help defray the cost of registration and hotel expenses for one attendee from a qualifying Arkansas Press Association member newspaper/media group. There will be one grant awarded per Arkansas media group, with priority going to first time attendees. If all grants have not been awarded based on this criteria, the remaining grants will be awarded on a first-comefirst-served basis. Criteria • Application is required. Grants will be awarded to one person within one media group. • Grantee must be a current employee of an Arkansas Press Association member newspaper in good standing, and must be a resident of Arkansas. • The Continuing Education Grant will be funded up to $200 for Conference costs, for the reimbursement of registration fees, food, lodging and/or mileage. • Attendance at the Conference is required for grant recipients. Should a recipient become unable to attend, ANF should be notified no later than March 1. • Receipts are required for reimbursement, including conference registration receipt. No monies will be disbursed without a receipt. • Applicants are encouraged to retain conference receipts up to 30 days after attending the Conference. In the event a grant recipient becomes unable to attend, the award will move to the next eligible applicant. • Grantees agree to write a summary of the Conference for publication in the Arkansas Publisher Weekly. • Receipts, verification of attendance, and summaries must be turned in no later than March 31, 2019. Once receipts have been received and reviews, disbursement of funds will be made within 10 business days. Application should be emailed to Terri Cobb at terri@arkansaspress.org no later than February 22, 2019. For more information, email Terri at the address above or call (501) 374-1500.

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Arkansas Newspaper Foundation Continuing Education Grant Application

First Name

Middle Initial

Last Name

Newspaper Name

City

Newspaper Address Fax

Work Phone Applicant’s Email

Publisher Signature

Date

I, , have read and agree to the ANF Education Reimbursement Grant specifications and terms. I agree to attend the conference and provide the required invoices, receipts, and verification of attendance, plus a written summary of my experience at the conference.

Reimbursement of Grant Awards Submit an itemized, dated invoice with copies of receipts to the Arkansas Newspaper Foundation for reimbursement. Invoice and receipts are to be submitted by March 31, 2019. Send invoices and all receipts including conference registration to Fax (501) 374-7509 ATTN: Terri RE: ANF Continuing Education Grant

Email terri@arkansaspress.org SUBJECT: ANF Continuing Education Grant

Any grant for which required information has not been received within thirty days after the conference will be considered expired. The Arkansas Newspaper Foundation is not liable or responsible for injuries, additional expenses, or other unexpected occurrences.

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