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APA, other media groups file brief Guest Column: Winning back lost advertising By Peter Wagner
Arkansas Press Association
Publisher Weekly Vol. 15 | No. 24 | Thursday, June 11, 2020 | Serving Press and State Since 1873
Reluctant ‘face of journalism’ sees value in quality reporting A jarring, full-color photo of Tony Holt’s battered, swollen face greeted readers of the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette this past week, standing as an example of the risks a good journalist will take to report the news. Holt, a Democrat-Gazette reporter, was assaulted on June 1 while reporting on demonstrations that had escalated into vandalism and violence in downtown Little Rock. Holt cannot remember the details of the assault, nor does he recall who or how many people attacked him. He was treated at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences Medical Center for a broken nose and concussion. His left eye was swollen shut. The newspaper took the photo he posted of himself on social media and featured it in a house advertisement to emphasize the importance of quality journalism. The house ad refers to Holt as “the face of journalism today” and explains that “the support of subscribers is crucial and essential to keep reporting the news impartially, without fear or favor.” Holt said he recognizes the importance of the message, and the messenger, especially in a time of crisis across the country. When asked for permission to use his image in the ad, he was glad to help. “I decided to take one for the team,” Holt said in a telephone interview. “I realize how dire things are financially for newspapers across the country, and if this could further spare us from any of the financial difficulties others are having, I’m more than willing to do that. If it sells more copies, I’m good with it.” Holt’s assignment June 1 was to report on the peaceful protests that had been occurring at the State Capitol in Little Rock. By 10 p.m., the time of a citywide curfew, demonstrators had marched east on Capitol Avenue to the area of Capitol and Broadway. At some point, “it went from a peaceful protest to an unruly mob very quickly,” Holt said. Holt said he recalled talking with an Arkansas Democrat-Gazette photographer about the time a demonstrator ignited some fireworks, then he split off from his co-worker to snap some photos of shattered glass doors at the Regions Building in downtown Little Rock. He was about to post his photos on Twitter when he was accosted by a group of people who “didn’t want me to do that,” he said. To de-escalate the situation, he walked away from the group. As he did that, one man swiped his reporter’s notebook from his jeans’ pocket. The group then came back toward Holt, he recalled, and one man, noting his press credentials said to him, “I appreciate what you’re doing here.” That’s the last thing Holt remembers before the assault. Continued on Page 2