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APA welcomes organizations as associate members
Guest Column:
Use your special insight to recommend election choices
Arkansas Press Association
Publisher Weekly
By Jim Pumarlo
Vol.17 | No. 18 | Thursday, May 5, 2022 | Serving Press and State Since 1873
Saline Courier historical exhibit on display at Benton museum In four years, the Saline Courier will celebrate its sesquicentennial, but one local museum has already begun telling the newspaper’s story. The Gann Museum of Saline County, housed in a 126-year-old residence, is mounting a temporary exhibit showcasing the Courier’s history. The new exhibit, which opened in early March, resides among the Gann’s extensive collections of Benton’s signature and highly collectible Niloak pottery, Indian artifacts and memorabilia from the Saline County of yesteryear. Lindsey Jordan, the museum’s director, put the Courier exhibit together. “I worked closely with Courier Publisher Kelly Freudensprung, who was generous enough to open the newspaper’s doors and allow me to take whatever caught my eye for the exhibit,” she explains. “The Gann Museum also has an extensive collection of cameras, typewriters, and photographs, all pertaining to this exhibit. It’s nice being able to share the many local artifacts we have at the museum!” It’s the first exhibit dedicated to the Saline Courier, formerly the Benton Courier, which Jordan says is the county’s oldest business. “The Saline Courier has been operating since 1876,” she says. “The Courier has noted the births, deaths, failures and triumphs of Saline County for a very long time. We are always looking for interesting exhibits to rotate in our Williams Gallery, and since we are only four years away from the Courier’s sesquicentennial, we figured it was time to tell its story.” The exhibit tells the story of a small-town, community newspaper from its Continued on Page 2
Registration now open for this summer’s Tri-State Convention Registration is now open for next month’s Tri-State Press Convention in Memphis. The event will be held June 23-25 and brings together members of the Arkansas, Mississippi and Tennessee press associations for three days of networking and industry discussion. “We are excited for our first Tri-State gathering since 2010, and our first in-person event since the 2019 APA convention,” said APA Executive Director
Ashley Kemp Wimberley. “It will be a terrific event, and a great opportunity for our members to meet publishers and editiors from other states and get caught up on what’s happening in our industry.”
Ostendorf, Russell Viers and others, as well as a trade show. A Friday night Bylines, Blues & BBQ party will include a silent auction, blues entertainment and a barbecue feast.
Events will start on Thursday afternoon with business meetings and a golf outing or tour of Graceland, followed by a welcome reception at 6 pm. Friday programming will include sessions presented by leading industry speakers Kelly Wirges, Bill
Saturday events include continental breakfast and a roundtable session. A cocktail reception and luncheon, along with the presentation of the APA Better Newspaper Editorial Awards, will close the convention. Continued on Page 4
Saline Courier historical exhibit on display at Benton museum Continued from Page 1
inception in 1876 up to the present. “We have had so many wonderful journalists, cartoonists and photographers from the Courier telling our story for so long, it’s nice to see it in chronological order,” Jordan says. She adds, “We have many artifacts from the Courier and our own collection on display including Kodak cameras and an Underwood typewriter from the early 1900s, and the first edition of the Benton Courier Centennial Number.” Bound volumes of the Courier from 1936 and 1937 are also in the collection. “A ten-year old boy set fire to the Courier office in the early 1950s, and everything was lost,” said Jordan. “Thankfully, these two books were at the home of an employee and were spared.” Jordan says her personal favorite piece is by Ron Meyer, who died in 2016. Meyer was a much-loved editorial cartoonist, columnist and general manager who published his work in the Courier for 50 years. Jordan says, “His depictions of the local happenings were brilliant, his columns wonderful and he will be greatly missed.” The building in which the museum is housed was completed in 1896 as a residence for Dr. Dewell Gann. The Gann building itself is an architectural landmark, being the only bauxite building in existence anywhere. It was built by patients of Dr. Gann who couldn’t afford his services, but who were healthy enough to work on the construction in trade. Jordan invites locals and out-of-towners to stop in for a visit with the newspaper’s history. “The Gann Museum of Saline County is happy to bring Saline County’s rich history to life with our exhibits, and we want to thank everyone who visits or donates,” she said.
APA welcomes organizations as associate members The Arkansas Press Association board of directors recently approved the associate member applications of the Mountain Home Observer and the Arkansas Conference of United Methodist Churches. The Mountain Home Observer is an online daily news outlet that has been publishing since October 2021. Its mission is described as focusing on quality neutral, locally-focused news from Mountain Home and Baxter County. CEO and reporter Christopher Fulton holds a degree in journalism from the University of Memphis and has previously written for the Daily Memphian and the Baxter Bulletin. Alison Fulton is in charge of the Observer’s advertising and communications. Their website is found at mhobserver.com. The Arkansas Conference of United Methodist Churches is the organization responsible for more than 650 United Methodist churches and ministries and 380 clergy throughout Arkansas “to make disciples of Jesus Christ, who make disciples equipped and sent to transform lives, communities and the world.” The roots of the organization date from 1836 and it serves as the regional decision-making body for Arkansas United Methodist churches. The Conference website is arumc.org. We welcome them both to the association.
Arkansas Publisher Weekly
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Chris and Alison Fulton. Photo courtesy Mountain Home Observer.
May 5, 2022
Telling the Story of Giving in Arkansas At Arkansas Community Foundation we engage people, connect resources and inspire solutions that help build local communities. We’ve partnered with newspapers for 45 years to
Our aspirearkansas.org provides health, education, family and economic
spread the word about grants and programs available to nonprofits in all corners of our state.
Thank you for helping tell the story of local giving that helps
development data for all 75 counties.
meet community needs forever.
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Since 1976, the Foundation has provided more than $318
Directory at
million in grants and partnered with thousands of Arkansans to help them improve our neighborhoods, our towns and our entire state. We want to help you tell your readers how smart
arcf.org/directory makes it easy to find
giving can improve communities. the nonprofits in your county that are working to make your community a better place to live.
Jessica Ford Chief Communications Officer jford@arcf.org 501-372-1116 arcf.org
Registration now Sports editor, two others launch podcast Andy Robertson, sports editor of the Log The podcast was Robertson’s idea. open for this Democrat in Conway, has launched According to a recent article in the Log summer’s Tri-State Cabin a podcast with Mauricio Beltran- Cabin Democrat, the three friends had Hernandez and Spencer Griffin. Called always enjoyed talking sports, and even Convention MAS Sports, the name is derived from the after moving away from each other kept up Continued from Page 1
Visit tristatepressorg.wordpress.com for more information on accommodations at Memphis Sheraton Downtown, the agenda and to register. Please make your reservations through the Tri-State Convention website by May 27 for the room block.
LET’S GET SOCIAL
first initials of the three contributors and the Spanish word for “more”. The podcast launched in February of this year and currently has 12 episodes available.
Griffin, Beltran-Hernandez and Robertson first met as journalism students at the University of Central Arkansas in Conway. Robertson and Griffin were section editors at The Echo, UCA’s student newspaper, and they also worked with BeltranHernandez at the UCA student television news station, News 6. After graduation, life and work took them separate ways: Beltran-Hernandez to Texas, where his coverage for Telemudo of the George Floyd murder protests in 2020 won a Lone Star Emmy and where he currently is a morning news photographer for KHOU 11, Griffin to a graphic design job with the Division of Workforce Services, and Robertson to the sports editor position at the Log Cabin Democrat.
a group chat on the subject. “I had wanted to do a podcast for years,” said Robertson. But he wasn’t sure of the logistics of recording, with the three friends living so far apart from each other. “With COVID-19 and the rise of Zoom [technology], that led to a way of doing that.”
“At the Log Cabin Democrat, I cover high school and college sports, whereas this allows me to talk more about professional sports, and it lets me branch out into other media, as opposed to just writing,” Robertson said. The three journalists record the podcast via Zoom on Sundays, and after editing, new episodes are released on Tuesdays. The goal of the podcast is to talk about sports and current sports news “in an entertaining and engaging way.” MAS Sports is available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts and other podcasting platforms.
S AV E T H E D AT E FOR THIS SUMMER’S
Follow us on Facebook and Twitter
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LET US KNOW We want to know about your new hires, retires and promotions!
Tri-State Press Convention June 23 - 25, 2022 Sheraton Downtown Memphis
Send your staffing changes to info@arkansaspress.org to be updated online and included in the Arkansas Publisher Weekly. Arkansas Publisher Weekly
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May 5, 2022
Schiff, Chabot introduce resolution on World Press Freedom Day condemning threats against journalists On Tuesday, May 3, Congressmen Adam Schiff (D-California) and Steve Chabot (R-Ohio), co-chairs of the bipartisan Congressional Freedom of the Press Caucus, marked World Press Freedom Day by introducing a resolution highlighting the importance of an independent press to a healthy democracy, condemning threats against members of the media, and reaffirming the United States’ commitment to promoting and defending freedom of the press at home and around the world. “A free and independent press is the bedrock of democracy, and we are greatly indebted to the journalists who risk everything to tell the truth and hold power to account,” said Schiff. “This World Press Freedom Day and every day, we stand firmly with members of the media by recognizing their remarkable contributions and sacrifices, and pledging to defend their rights at home and abroad.” “Freedom of the press and open media environments play an essential role in rigorous public debate and holding governments to account. These well established principles are at the very core of democratic self-rule. Every day, journalists around the world put their own lives and livelihoods at risk reporting from war zones and countries with repressive regimes. As authoritarian regimes from Moscow to Beijing seek to silence their critics and whitewash their crimes, the United States must reassert a commitment to a free and independent press everywhere across the globe,” said Chabot. The resolution condemns repressive and brutal actions against members of the media by state actors — including in China, Russia, and Belarus — and cites
INDUSTRY QUOTE “They take journalism really seriously because they know the force that it is and can be.” -Christiane Amanpour Arkansas Publisher Weekly
Adam Schiff
recent data that shows the growing threats to press freedom around the world: ● According to the 2021 World Press Freedom Index published by Reporters Without Borders, free and independent journalism is blocked or seriously impeded in nearly 73% of countries. ● According to the Committee to Protect Journalists, in 2021 at least 24 journalists were killed for their work, and 293 journalists were in prison — a new record. ● In a survey of 900 female journalists from 125 countries by UNESCO and the International Center for Journalists, 73% said they had experienced online abuse. And a quarter said they had been physically threatened. In 1993, the United Nations proclaimed May 3rd “World Press Freedom Day,” which serves to honor the principle of press freedom and to pay tribute to journalists around the world who have
Steve Chabot
lost their lives while pursuing stories. The theme for World Press Freedom Day 2022 is ‘‘Journalism under Surveillance,” which spotlights how developments in surveillance, big data collection, and artificial intelligence impact journalism, freedom of expression, and privacy — as well as the associated challenges to media viability. The resolution is co-sponsored by Reps. David Price (D-North Carolina), Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-D.C.), Grace F. Napolitano (D-California), Jan Schakowsky (D-Illinois), Henry C. “Hank” Johnson, Jr. (D-Georgia), Peter Welch (D-Vermont), Karen Bass (D-California.), Cheri Bustos (D-Illinois), Scott Peters (D-California), Juan Vargas (D-California), Jamie Raskin (D-Maryland), Andy Levin (D-Michigan) and Tom Malinowski (D-New Jersey). For the full resolution text, click here.
ARKANSAS NEWSPAPER CONNECTION
NEWS NEWS
Are you hiring? Let us know! The Arkansas Newspaper Connection is a weekly newsletter published by APA connecting freelance and independent writers, editors, photographers and designers with Arkansas newspapers in need. The publication also lists available job openings and other opportunities at Arkansas newspapers and associate member organizations.
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May 5, 2022
Guest Column: Use your special insight to recommend election choices By Jim Pumarlo Coverage of public affairs – recording the actions and inactions of governing bodies from local to federal levels – demands attention from newsrooms year-round. And for good reason. Elected officials regularly debate and craft public policies that affect citizens’ everyday lives. Newsrooms provide readers a ringside seat, and often a behind-the-scenes view, into the decision-making process. So why are newspapers increasingly hesitant to recommend individuals for elective office, especially those officials serving on local city councils, county boards and school boards? Regular readers of my column know my passion for vibrant editorial pages. I firmly believe that vibrant editorials are at the heart of vibrant communities. It’s time to once again encourage newsrooms to take that final step in their election coverage: Endorse those individuals you believe will best represent and advance the interests of your community. I consider endorsements among the highest calling in a newspaper’s role as government watchdog. The general election is months away. Now is a perfect time to start the internal discussion to design and implement a methodical and logical process for offering endorsements. It’s easier than you may think. I’m always perplexed by editors and publishers who shy away from recommending ballot choices, especially those newspapers that regularly take strong stances on advising decisionmakers on a particular course of action. For one community, it might be a city council’s deliberations on whether to offer tax incentives for a big-box retail development. For another, it’s a school board debating whether to close a school and reconfiguring grade levels. On a state legislative level, editors routinely weigh in
Arkansas Publisher Weekly
on tax, health care, public safety, social justice, transportation and myriad other public policies. If the newspaper as a community institution advocates for or against a position taken by an elected body, why not advance equally strong convictions about the people who ultimately will make those decisions? Newspapers that excel in elections coverage offer a continuum of reports beginning with candidate announcements. Reporters quiz individuals on a variety of issues, then follow with a critical eye their actions once in office. Do candidates stay true to course, or do unexpected circumstances prompt a change of heart in their votes? In a nutshell, the newspaper is a clearinghouse of information and has particular insight on the candidates and the dynamics behind their votes. So why not share that perspective with readers? Many newspapers find it relatively painless to weigh in on the strengths and shortcomings of, say, national or federal candidates, even candidates seeking elective office at a state or provincial level. It’s quite the opposite when recommending individuals for the local school board or city or municipal government. Yet these races are the most important for community newspapers to address in news profiles and endorsements. Endorsements in local races clearly are the most challenging, often complicated by personal relationships that candidates may have with the publisher or other key staff members. Here’s one blueprint to navigate a path that may appear to be filled with minefields. As a first step, brainstorm the priority concerns in each race. Solicit ideas from your entire newspaper family as well as key community members. These issues will be the basis for candidate interviews, and their responses will provide a
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framework for endorsements. Then evaluate candidate answers on specific public policies and how they align with community interests. Focus on the facts and avoid straying into personalities. If you’re still hesitant to endorse, consider this strategy. Frame the editorial outlining what the newspaper identifies as the key issues in a race – and where you stand on these points for the betterment of your community. Then encourage readers to vote for the candidates who are in sync with those stances. You have not identified specific candidates, but your message allows readers to connect the dots. As always, allow readers the opportunity to deliberate your recommendations. Readers still may challenge your practice of “telling us who to vote for” – their words. But they will be doubly upset if you don’t give them the chance to debate the reasons behind your endorsements Letters are the lifeblood of an editorial page. Nothing is more satisfying than an editor opening up the newspaper to a lively exchange of opinions. Take steps now to ensure that your voice is part of the conversation this election season.
Jim Pumarlo is former editor of the Red Wing (Minn.) Republican Eagle. He writes, speaks and provides training on community newsroom success strategies. He is author of “Journalism Primer: A Guide to Community News Coverage,” “Votes and Quotes: A Guide to Outstanding Election Coverage” and “Bad News and Good Judgment: A Guide to Reporting on Sensitive Issues in Small-Town Newspapers.” He can be reached at www. pumarlo.com and welcomes comments and questions at jim@pumarlo.com.
May 5, 2022