Arkansas Publisher Weekly: June 17, 2021

4 7

Arkansas journalists take NFPW prizes Guest Column:

Sharpen your editing with these press releases

By Jim Pumarlo

Arkansas Press Association

Publisher Weekly Vol. 16 | No. 24 | Thursday, June 17, 2021 | Serving Press and State Since 1873

ANF selects interns for summer 2021 program The Arkansas Newspaper Foundation has continued its longstanding commitment to serving Arkansas newspapers by once again helping fund summer interns at Arkansas Press Association member newspapers across the state.

In 2021, ANF will fully fund four full internships and two half-internships for student journalists in Arkansas. As with last year, the foundation is paying the complete internship costs, since Arkansas newspapers continue to recover from the effects of the coronavirus pandemic.

ANF internships benefit newspapers and students, as students receive real-world journalism experience and newspapers obtain a qualified candidate to fill a temporary position.

In previous years, newspapers were expected to provide a match to ANF’s grant for a 10-week internship for an Arkansas student. However, like last year, the ANF Board of Directors agreed to fully

Lance Brownfield

Chloe McGehee

fund a total of $15,000 in internships.

“It’s an obligation of the Arkansas Newspaper Foundation to support and promote newspapers in this state, so it was a simple decision to continue to fully fund this vital program,” said Rusty Fraser, ANF board president and publisher of the Stone County Leader in Mountain View. “These interns get a frontrow seat in a professional newsroom and can help immediately in reporting on the communities our newspapers serve.”

The summer 2021 student interns are: Lance Brownfield, the Oracle: Community Edition in Arkadelphia. Brownfield, of Malvern, is a student at Henderson State University in Arkadelphia and a graduate of Malvern High School. He previously was an intern at the Malvern Daily Record and served on the staff of the Oracle, the Henderson State University student newspaper.

Chloe McGehee, the Daily Record in Little

Remington Miller

Jacob Palmer

Rock. McGehee attends the University of Arkansas at Little Rock, where she’s majoring in mass communications and minoring in political science. A graduate of Bryant High School, she was executive editor of The Forum student newspaper at UALR and is president of UALR’s student Society of Professional Journalists chapter. McGehee has won a number of Arkansas Scholastic Press and Arkansas Collegiate Media Association awards.

Remington Miller, the Daily Record in Little Rock. Miller graduated from Robinson High School in Little Rock and is currently studying mass communications and English at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock. She’s been a student reporter at UALR’s The Forum newspaper and mass media research assistant at that school.

Jacob Palmer, the Sheridan Headlight.

Palmer is a Sheridan native who graduated from Sheridan High School and is a senior Continued on Page 2

Ladell Tyler

Erica Wilson

ANF selects interns for summer 2021 program

Continued from Page 1

at Henderson State University, majoring in political science. He previously was an intern for the Headlight and intends to attend law school.

Ladell Tyler Jr., the Helena World. Tyler is a graduate of Episcopal Collegiate School in Little Rock and is a broadcast journalism major at the University of Central Arkansas in Conway. He has experience as a freelance photographer, photo editor and digital content creator.

Erica Wilson, the Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette. Wilson, of Lantana,

Texas, Is a student at the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville, where she is majoring in English/Journalism and music education. She has been a reporter for The Traveler, UA’s student newspaper, and is a member of the Razorback Marching Band.

The Arkansas Newspaper Foundation is a nonprofit organization that provides support, professional development and educational opportunities to APA member newspapers. ANF has offered internships for more than two decades.

Fraser encouraged APA members and other journalism advocates to consider giving to ANF. “Whether through planned giving or just a one-time donation, supporters of good journalism in Arkansas won’t find a more worthy organization than ANF,” Fraser said.

To donate safely and conveniently online, visit https://www.arkansaspress.org/page/ aboutanf and select the “Click to Donate” button.

APA Convention aims to ‘reignite’ Arkansas newspapers Arkansas newspapers are poised to rebound from the Covid-19 pandemic with renewed energy and focus, and the Arkansas Press Association’s annual convention will reflect that attitude this year as it encourages its members with a 2021 convention theme of “Reflect. Refocus. Reignite.”

The APA convention is set for Thursday, July 22, and Friday, July 23. It will be held entirely online again this year. Registration for the virtual convention is $50, and participants may register at ArkansasPress.org.

The 2021 APA Convention kicks off July 22 with content focused on post-pandemic revenue and sales growth. In a session starting at 10 a.m. Ryan Dohrn, a globally recognized media revenue consultant and CEO of Brain Swell Media, a corporate training and revenue strategy firm, will focus on how newspapers can reignite sales conversations with advertisers and renew revenue growth. He has trained and coached more than 20,000 advertising sales reps and been a part of more than $500 million in ad sales.

At 2 p.m. that day, APA members will participate in a panel discussion on growing audiences, followed at 3 p.m. by the traditional “passing of the gavel” to APA’s incoming president and recognition of annual special award winners.

On Friday, July 23, the convention starts with a 9:30 a.m. business meeting, followed by workshops targeted to reporters and editors on how they can manage time and improve coverage. The annual Better Newspaper Editorial Awards will be presented virtually at 12:30 p.m. on July 23.

Sponsorships remain available for individuals or businesses, as well. To sponsor, or for additional information, call (501) 374-1500 or email ashley@arkansaspress.org.

Ryan Dohrn

INDUSTRY QUOTE

LET’S GET SOCIAL

“Good journalism... is a style of ‘reporting’ based on William Faulkner’s idea that the best fiction is far more true than any kind of journalism — and the best journalists have always known this.”

Follow us on Facebook & Twitter

—Hunter S. Thompson Arkansas Publisher Weekly

@ArkansasPressAssociation

2

@ARPressAssoc

June 17, 2021

Global Reach, Local Expertise The Brokerage experts at Colliers International | Arkansas have been helping clients invest in commercial property across our state for more than 50 years. In addition to their unmatched local expertise and experience, our professionals have access to the vast network of property and market experts in Colliers’ offices around the United States and across the globe to ensure our clients are making the best decisions wherever they choose to invest.

Let us put our global reach and local expertise to work for you.

501-372-6161 Colliers.com/Arkansas

Accelerating success.

Walnut Ridge Tubbs named editor in Malvern newspaper moves to new location Pete Tubbs has been named as the new editor of the Malvern Daily Record. Tubbs penned an introductory first-person column in the newspaper last week.

The Times Dispatch in Walnut Ridge is moving offices within the city because of a need for less office space, newspaper leaders announced in this week’s edition.

Through June, The Times Dispatch employees will be in the process of relocating to 208 West Main St. in Walnut Ridge. The newspaper had been located in its current location since 1978.

“As the business has become more streamlined through the years, we have continued to use less and less of our current building,” said Gretchen Hunt, the The Times Dispatch’s operations manager, in the June 16 edition of the newspaper. “With the recent sale of the building, the timing was right for us to downsize into a building that is more suitable for our current location.”

The move should be completed by the end of the month, Hunt said. The new location remains in downtown Walnut Ridge.

The Times-Dispatch has been in Walnut Ridge since 1978. Its current location is a former post office building.

Tubbs is a Henderson State University graduate who worked for the school newspaper, the Oracle, and for the former Arkadelphia Dispatch. When Henderson State began publishing the Oracle: Community Edition earlier this year, Tubbs was the editor-in-chief of that publication.

A Hamburg native, he graduated in May from Henderson State with a master’s degree in media and popular culture.

Last summer, Tubbs worked as an intern at the Dispatch through an internship funded by the Arkansas Newspaper Foundation.

He told readers in Malvern: “Throughout my tenure here, I hope to deliver a consistent, credible and trusted source of news for everyone in and around Malvern. I will not only treat this place as my new home, I am expecting to create a bond with the city and the people that will never leave me.”

Pete Tubbs

Through every deadline and any challenge, Metro is here with up-to-the-minute advertising, editorial, sales and creative resources to help you support local businesses and readers.

HERE

is

TO

HELP

Not seeing what you need? Call 800-223-1600 or email service@metro-email.com

to request it!

Arkansas Publisher Weekly

Visit metrocreativeconnection.com to preview the latest ads and images, including our new COVID-19 library.

4

June 17, 2021

Arkansas journalists take NFPW prizes Arkansas journalists raked in a total of 35 awards last week during the National Communications Contest sponsored by the National Federation of Press Women.

The winners were among more than 2,000 entries in the national contest, and awards were presented online during the 2021 NFPW Conference.

The conference was scheduled to be held in Little Rock before it shifted to a virtual format because of the coronavirus pandemic. Members of Arkansas Press Women who earned first, second or third place at the national competition were: Maria Aguilar, managing editor, The Threefold Advocate, John Brown University: first place in collegiate news writing.

Sally Carroll, freelance writer: Third place in specialty article writing.

Angelita Faller, news director, University of Arkansas at Little Rock: second place in specialty article writing.

Mary Hennigan, assistant editor, Arkansascovid.com: third place in news writing, online publication.

Mary Hightower, chief communications officer, University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture: second place in public

service communications programs and campaigns; third place in feature story writing for an online publication.

Carrie Hill, graphic artist, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette: First place in graphics and design.

Tony Holt, reporter, Arkansas DemocratGazette: First place in news writing for a print-based newspaper.

Tammy Keith, freelance writer: Third place in hobby/specialty article writing.

Courtney Lanning, editorial writer, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette: third place in editorial/opinion writing Grace Lindquist, news section editor, The Threefold Advocate, John Brown University: second place in collegiate feature writing.

Philip Martin, columnist, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette: Third place in personal essay writing.

Debbie Miller, assistant professor, John Brown University: Second place in faculty advisor of student publication.

Fred Miller, science editor, University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture: First Place in single news or feature release.

Kristin Netterstrom Higgins, program associate, University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture: second place in nonprofit blog writing.

Brittney Osborn, art director, Occasions Publishing Group, Jonesboro: Third place in two-page design for magazine and third place in single-advertisement advertising.

Michelle Parks, communications director, University of Arkansas Fay Jones School of Architecture and Design: Third place in magazine/newsletter feature writing.

Orry Phillips, sports editor, The Threefold Advocate, John Brown University: third place, web and social media podcast; first place in collegiate opinion writing; and first place in sports writing.

Audrey Poff, publisher, Occasions Publishing Group, Jonesboro: third place in photography; third place in magazine news story writing.

Jeannie Roberts, reporter, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, first place in obituary writing.

Helaine Williams, style editor, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, third place in specialty article writing.

Arkansas SPJ awards, member meeting set for Friday

The Arkansas Pro Chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists will announce the winners of SPJ’s 2021 Diamond Journalism awards in a live-streaming presentation on Friday, June 18. That event follows the chapter’s annual membership meeting and Freedom of Information Act panel discussion at 6 p.m.

Friday.

The Diamond Journalism awards are presented annually to outstanding professional and student journalists from Arkansas and surrounding states. This year’s contest drew a record 393 entries.

Arkansas Publisher Weekly

The Arkansas SPJ chapter also presents the Diamond Journalist of the Year, Outstanding New Journalist, and Robert S. McCord FOI Award at the event. The awards event will be streamed live from SPJ’s Facebook page and later posted to the organization’s website, www.

ArkansasSPJ.org.

The 6 p.m. meeting will be conducted via Zoom webinar at https://us02web.zoom. us/j/87965319771. At that meeting, SPJ members will vote on its 2021-22 board of directors, including Steve Listopad as president. Listopad heads the Henderson

6

State University-sponsored Oracle: Community Edition in Arkadelphia and is a board member of the Arkansas Newspaper Foundation.

Panelists for the FOIA discussion will update SPJ members on changes to open meetings and open records law from the 2021 Arkansas General Assembly.

Panelists include Rob Moritz, SPJ board member and chairman of the Arkansas FOIA Task Force; Wesley Brown, publisher of the Daily Record in Little Rock and Task Force member; and Aaron Sadler, communications director for the Arkansas Press Association.

June 17, 2021

Guest Column: Sharpen your editing with these press releases

By Jim Pumarlo The hyperpartisanship in today’s political landscape was on full display with passage of the American Rescue Plan. It passed on a straight party-line vote.

A Minnesota congressman joined in the chorus of his fellow Republicans characterizing the bill as bloated and wasteful.

Weeks later, he issued a new round of statements. This time, he took credit for the millions of dollars allocated for local projects courtesy of the $1.9 trillion economic relief package.

Double-speak? The lawmaker staunchly defended both his vote and taking credit for the local funding. He was a longstanding advocate for the projects, but opposed the federal plan as full of spending unrelated to COVID-19.

Such exchanges are commonplace at all levels of government as omnibus bills are cobbled together to include anything and everything. It makes great campaign fodder for incumbents and challengers alike in the next election cycle. It’s unfortunate, as well, that most incumbents can get by with having it both ways without constituents playing close attention.

But such proclamations by politicians are an excellent reminder for editors and reporters to be the eyes and ears for their readers and to pay close attention to the PR machines.

Don’t misinterpret. Politicians campaign on the ability to deliver critical votes – for policies and dollars – that benefit local interests. When they do so, they deserve to take credit. At the same time, the partisan debate over the federal relief package should raise the red flag for editors when lawmakers – especially

Arkansas Publisher Weekly

those staunchly opposed to the measure – suddenly “announce” money for local projects.

Incumbents always have taken advantage of the campaign season to step up their public relations efforts. Staff are adept at seeking and seizing every opportunity.

A lawmaker shows up at a county board meeting to support federal funding for a highway project or a veterans home.

An incumbent facing a stiff election challenge coincidentally asks for time on a city council agenda to brief local officials on federal or state legislative issues.

A legislative candidate – again, during the heat of a campaign – shows up at a school board meeting to voice support for a building referendum or for more state dollars for education in the interest of closing the academic achievement gap.

Election cycles unfortunately have become year-round affairs, especially the higher you climb the political ladder.

Lawmakers routinely seize all chances to get their names in newspapers.

That’s understandable, but it’s no excuse for newsrooms to ignore the obvious ploys for publicity. A lawmaker announces the rules for a state quilting contest. Another reports that shipping season has closed on the local waterway. Others remind property owners when taxes are due.

These items may well be legitimate news, and kudos to the staff for creativity. But should a lawmaker be given credit – even be mentioned – in the story? Absolutely not. There is no connection whatsoever between the news and the politician.

Funding for local projects delivered by the federal relief bill is news. The reports may well warrant mention of a local member

7

of Congress, but it’s highly questionable whether that is the story lead. A quote is likely sufficient coverage unless there are extenuating circumstances.

The flurry of press releases announcing details of the federal relief package draws attention to the broader issue of when to acknowledge a connection between the “whom” and “what” in everyday reporting.

There is no universal right or wrong, but decisions demand consistency.

Newsrooms should develop general guidelines, keeping in mind that all circumstances must be reviewed on their individual merits.

Newspapers typically confront these decisions in connection with “bad” or “uncomfortable” news. Take, for example, a business owner who asks that an embarrassing DWI ticket not be reported on the premise that the company is one of the newspaper’s largest advertisers.

Editors should be especially wary when prominent residents – politicians included – expect favorable treatment. These individuals expect that certain items will be published – and, at minimum, that they will be connected to this good news – items that would not ordinarily be reported.

Newspapers should take pause and evaluate. Bending the rules for “good” news can produce just as many headaches for editors as being asked to look the other way when “bad” news occurs.

Jim Pumarlo writes, speaks and provides training on community newsroom success strategies. He can be reached at www. pumarlo.com and welcomes comments and questions at jim@pumarlo.com.

June 17, 2021