Arkansas Publisher Weekly: August 6, 2020

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2020-2021 Freedom of Information Act handbook accessible online Guest Column: The future of newspapers lies in the small town

By Peter Wagner

Arkansas Press Association

Publisher Weekly Vol. 15 | No. 32 | Thursday, August 6, 2020 | Serving Press and State Since 1873

ASU’s Fowler named Journalism Educator of the Year As much a salesman as a teacher, Gil Fowler made a career in selling the importance of journalism education across Arkansas and, literally, around the world.

The longtime Arkansas State University journalism professor has provided sage advice to countless student journalists over the years.

Just as importantly, he was instrumental in guiding students toward their successful careers in journalism and public relations.

Media professionals from Jonesboro to Jordan and from Kansas to Kuwait count Fowler as a mentor, friend and worthy recipient of the 2020 Arkansas Press Association Journalism Educator of the Year award.

Gil Fowler (center) is pictured with Anas Al-Rasheed, an Arkansas State University graduate and former Kuwait Minister of Information and Nawzat Abu Alasl (left), a Jordanian journalism professor, last October in Morocco.

Fowler and the others were presenters at the Arab/U.S. Association of Communication Educators conference.

The recognition comes as Fowler retires after 42 years of service to ASU. A Jonesboro native and ASU alumnus, he was hired at the school in 1978 to establish its journalism master’s degree program. Fowler served in multiple roles at ASU, including as chair of the Department Continued on Page 2

Ballots for APA annual election mailed this week Ballots for the 2020 Arkansas Press Association election have been mailed to the designated voter at each member newspaper. Voters are encouraged to return their ballots as soon as possible. The postmark deadline for all ballots is Tuesday, August 18.

Designated voters are reminded to sign the outside of the envelope provided for the return of the ballot. A spot for that signature is clearly visible on the outside of the return envelope.

Seven candidates will appear on the ballot, including three new nominees:

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ASU’s Fowler named Journalism Educator of the Year

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of Journalism and acting or interim dean of the ASU College of Communications, Graduate School and Honors College. For the last seven years, he was Director of Graduate Studies for the College of Media and Communication.

In his role as an ambassador for the university’s journalism program, Fowler has made a number of trips to the Middle East to both recruit new students and to give American students a glimpse of the media culture in that part of the world.

“My commitment has been to help promote the field of journalism, on a statewide basis and an international basis,” Fowler said.

“I have gone out and done what I could to help students and others recognize the importance of what journalism does for society.”

Over the decades, Fowler’s students have gone on to become journalism professors themselves as well as editors at some of the most prominent newspapers across the state and nation. One of his former students was the Minister of Information in Kuwait, where he oversaw a staff of more than 50,000 people. That student, Anas Al-Rasheed, was the first-ever ASU international distinguished alumnus.

“He took the philosophy and skills he learned in media law at Arkansas State, implemented them in parliament, and they have one of the (best) free press laws of any country in the Middle East,” said Fowler, who added that international student recruitment has also benefited Jonesboro and ASU economically.

“I know that we have students who on a regular basis will call based on the recommendations of former students who know about ASU as an appropriate place and a positive place to get a degree,” Fowler said. “This place has grown because of international students, and that growth economically has helped Jonesboro and ASU along the way.”

Several of Fowler’s former students and colleagues nominated him for the APA honor.

Debbie Miller, now a communications professor at John Brown University in Siloam Springs, is an ASU graduate. She said Fowler “has spent a lifetime improving the quality of journalism in Arkansas through his teaching, scholarship and Arkansas Publisher Weekly

Gil Fowler stands outside his home in Jonesboro on Friday during a drive-by retirement party to recognize his 42 years as a journalism professor at Arkansas State University. Fowler is a recipient of this year’s Arkansas Press Association Educator of the Year award.

service.”

Lillie Fears is an ASU professor who also was a student of Fowler’s. She described him as “a visionary.”

“He has helped to shape the careers of dozens of journalists who work in media all over the nation as well as in other countries,” Fears said.

With his retirement effective July 31, Fowler has received hundreds and hundreds of well-wishes from former students, many of them from abroad. His colleagues at ASU organized a drive-by parade at his home last week. He said he’s used the time to reflect on the positive legacy of his 50year career.

“If you’re in education, your job is to help open people’s minds and open their eyes to new opportunities and new experiences, and I hope we have made a difference,” he said.

That legacy of excellence in journalism and education started in the late 1960s when Fowler got his first taste of the profession as a yearbook and newspaper photographer at Jonesboro High School.

During his time as a student at ASU, he worked at local television station KAIT. After graduating in 1971, he earned a master’s degree from Ole Miss while 2

working as a graduate assistant in the school’s public relations department. As an instructor and newspaper advisor at the University of Southern Mississippi in the mid-1970s, Fowler noted that “some of the student advertising people made more money selling ads for the newspaper than I did as a faculty member!”

Fowler obtained his Ph.D. from Southern Illinois University.

An Army veteran, Fowler served 28 years in the Army Reserve, retiring as a lieutenant colonel. His Army Reserve service included stints in field artillery, military intelligence, and public affairs.

While in his public affairs role, he was one of the Army Reserve’s highest-ranking officers in that particular division.

He and his wife, Carolyn, have two children and one grandchild and are anticipating the arrival of another grandchild within the next two weeks.

Fowler will be recognized along with other award winners in a special presentation during the Arkansas Press Association’s 2020 convention, to be held online on Sept.

24 and Sept. 25. The awards ceremony is at 3 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 24.

August 6, 2020

Ballots for APA 2020-2021 Freedom of Information annual election Act handbook accessible online mailed this week The newest edition of the Arkansas Freedom of Information Act Handbook can now be accessed for free on the Arkansas Press Association website.

Free paper copies of this essential resource for Arkansas journalists will be available in midAugust.

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Frank Leto of the Log Cabin Democrat in Conway, Jim Perry of the Harrison Daily Times and Britt Talent of the Cleveland County Herald in Rison.

Also on the ballot will be APA board members continuing in their roles: · Kelly Freudensprung of The Saline Courier in Benton · John Robert Schirmer of the Nashville News-Leader

The newest revision of the handbook, now in its 19th edition, features changes to the state’s open records and open meetings law enacted by the Arkansas General Assembly in its 2019 legislative session and again this year during a fiscal session. The handbook is edited by the Office of Arkansas Attorney General Leslie Rutledge, and designed and printed by the Arkansas Press Association.

· Jennifer Allen of the Pine Bluff Commercial · Eliza Gaines of the Arkansas DemocratGazette in Little Rock The APA executive board does not appear on the ballot. It is: · President: Rusty Turner of the Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette · Vice-President: Ellen Kreth of the Madison County Record in Huntsville · Second Vice-President: Lori Freeze of the Stone County Leader in Mountain View The newly elected APA board members will assume their seats on the board at the conclusion of the annual APA Convention to be held virtually on Sept. 24 and Sept.

25.

As with every edition, the 19th version of the FOIA handbook is conveniently sized to be carried in a pocket, purse or computer bag.

It contains the full text of the law, relevant court opinions, questions and answers about how the law pertains to specific types of governments (cities, counties and school districts) and a listing of exceptions to FOIA found outside the text of the law.

INDUSTRY QUOTE “If you believe in journalism, you don’t insult good journalists.”

-Sydney Schanberg Arkansas Publisher Weekly

The FOIA handbook is sponsored by the APA, the Attorney General’s Office, the Governor’s Office, the Arkansas Municipal League, the Arkansas Broadcasters Association, the Society of Professional Journalists – Arkansas Pro Chapter, and the Public Relations Society of America – Arkansas chapter.

To download an electronic copy of the new handbook in PDF format, visit arkansaspress. org/page/foihandbook. To request printed copies, call (501) 374-1500 or email info@ arkansaspress.org 3

August 6, 2020

UA students publish articles on homelessness Students at the University of Arkansas School of Journalism and Strategic Media have published a series of articles about the plight of the homeless that are available for Arkansas newspapers to use and publish with proper attribution.

The series, called “Nowhere to Go,” was a collaboration among seven university journalism programs in the United States.

The Howard Center for Investigative Journalism at the University of Maryland led the project, joined by the University of Arkansas, University of Oregon, Boston

University, Stanford University, the University of Florida and Arizona State University.

Arkansas students contributed seven articles to the series, which has already been made available by the Associated Press. To access the articles, visit homeless.cnsmaryland.org.

The content written by UA students include stories about homelessness among those released from jail because of the COVID-19 epidemic; convicted

felons who are homeless; life at an encampment just off the UA Fayetteville campus; the specific health and safety concerns of homeless women; homeless college students; how to adequately count the number of homeless; and a podcast about homeless veterans.

Again, the articles are free to use and reprint, but the university asks that the authors, as well as the University of Arkansas and the Howard Center for Investigative Journalism, be credited.

TownNews tackles news deserts with new program TownNews, a publishing platform used by a number of Arkansas Press Association members, has launched a new program to help local publishers and editors establish a digital news presence in news deserts, according to an article in Editor & Publisher.

The program, News Nirvana, offers a codomain, targeted advertising managed

by TownNews, and other features

Arkansas Publisher Weekly

including subscription and membership support, the report stated.

Participants may also can also share and publish from TownNews Content Exchange, a network made up of more than 600 participating news publishers.

With the program, TownNews shares half of ad revenue with the exception of local advertising. Partners would receive 100 percent of local advertising sold.

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“We were hearing the stress that COVID-19 had put on advertising and we quickly realized this program could be more vital than ever,” Rick Rogers with TownNews told E&P. “It went from startup incubator to also possible life raft for local media owners.”

To learn more, visit the News Nirvana website, www.newsnirvana.com.

August 6, 2020

Guest Column: The future of newspapers lies in the small town

By Peter Wagner The once six-day-a-week, 16,000 circulation newspaper to the north of me reduced its publication schedule to three days a week a few years ago and to just one day this summer.

The newspaper, which was once praised all across the Midwest for its innovative editorial coverage and creative revenue ideas, thrived and grew under three generations of family ownership.

Then the paper was sold to an out-of-state group and circulation and advertising income began to drop. Now, following numerous ownership changes, the paper’s subscriber numbers are estimated to be less than a fourth of the once 16,000 number.

Sixty miles south of me Lee Enterprises’ Sioux City Journal announced last month it would no longer print a Monday or Tuesday edition and would only deliver that issue online.

The problem for smaller, local publications is their potential to continue publishing is too often judged by what is happening in the often overstaffed, financially extended daily market. “As goes Gannett and McClatchy,” the naysayers whisper, “so goes the entire paper publishing business.”

But while many smaller home-owned and owner-managed papers also are struggling — especially during the downturn brought about by the coronavirus — some continue to excel. Over the long haul, it will be the smaller, local newspapers and shoppers that will survive.

There are a number of reasons for this, including closer relationships with local retailers and fewer competing digital news sites than in a bigger metro market.

Arkansas Publisher Weekly

But the biggest reason is community papers still search out and print a great amount of local information that cannot be found anywhere else. It is not included in the local radio station’s five-minute repeats of the day’s news or on even the area’s most off-the-wall website.

While metro papers have been cutting sections, laying off newsroom, circulation and sales-related employees — choosing to fill their pages with USA Today or other nationally syndicated material — community papers have kept their focus local.

With what has always been an affordable, small but highly dedicated staff, hometown papers have continued, even during the ravages COVID-19, to gather and publish local information important to, and desired by, those who live in the circulation area.

That information runs from what decisions were made at the last city council or transpired at the county supervisors’ meetings to photos and biographies of the school district’s new teachers as well as the county fair queen and her court. Local names, events and the opportunities to save at nearby stores are what continue to be important to readers today. Local is what is missing from too many metro publications.

Community paper publishers have the advantage of personally knowing and interacting with the majority of their advertisers. While metro and local markets will continue to lose retailers during the difficult period we’re experiencing, most small community businesses are managed by owners who actually live in that town. Local publishers and business owners regularly rub elbows with those shopkeepers at the weekly Kiwanis Club

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meeting, the Main Street coffee shop or the Friday night ballgame. Publishers, staff and local business owners feel comfortable with each other, trust each other and call each other by first names.

Contrast that with metro markets when chain store managers can be moved to another location with just a few hours’ notice.

It’s the volume, uniqueness and quality of the local paper’s content that continues to make hometown publications appreciated and essential to the local community.

But that doesn’t mean the future will not bring change. Smaller community publishers need to use this downtime to consider what they might do differently tomorrow — and the months down the road. What new services or publications could be added to the operation’s revenue stream? What new income could come from creating a community magazine, providing local businesses with content or advertising website design or by investing in digital commercial printing?

Or how about adding a greeting card shop or paperback bookstore to the paper’s reception area to increase day-to-day traffic? And here is a wild idea: Why not turn the paper’s front area into a coffee shop? Coffee shops turn a good profit and provide a great listening place for learning what is going on in the community.

Community papers still have a solid future.

But continuing to do things the same old way may be holding some back. The traditional way things have always been done may be holding some community papers back.

The best way for hometown papers to fit into the new normal to come is to consider what changes need to be made right now.

August 6, 2020