Arkansas Publisher Weekly: September 3, 2020

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APA, DemocratGazette ask high court to quash gag order

Arkansas Press Association

Publisher Weekly

Guest Column:

Ten ways to mess up an online presentation

By John Foust

Vol. 15 | No. 36 | Thursday, September 3, 2020 | Serving Press and State Since 1873

New APA president to focus on rebound from pandemic Six months into a global health pandemic that has constrained the economy and further eroded an already fragile advertising market, the incoming Arkansas Press Association president acknowledges that times are tough for the newspaper industry.

Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette Editor Rusty Turner said some uneasiness is expected, especially since many businesses have been closed or their employees have been working remotely since March. Yet Turner recognizes some bright spots amidst the gloom, and said he wants to use his term as APA president to help member newspapers bounce back from economic uncertainty to be stronger than ever.

In several ways, the rebound has already begun, Turner said, noting that newspapers “certainly are relevant again.”

“A lot of good journalism is being done despite the difficult circumstances,” he said. “We’ve had some small communities

Continued on Page 2

Turner in his office at the Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette.

Registration deadline nears for APA virtual convention The registration deadline is approaching for this year’s Arkansas Press Association convention, scheduled for streaming online on Thursday, Sept. 24, and Friday, Sept. 25. As with every annual convention, the virtual seminar this year will include the APA’s annual awards presentation and will honor winners of the Better Newspaper Editorial Contest.

The 2020 registration fee is $50 for APA

members and $75 for nonmembers.

Registration costs have been deeply discounted this year so that more APA members may access the online training and events associated with the convention.

To register, visit ArkansasPress.org/ events/2020convention Participants this year will hear from newspaper guru and design expert Kevin Slimp for two sessions on Thursday, Continued on Page 3

New APA president to focus on rebound from pandemic Continued from Page 1

On the other hand, it’s also been inspiring at a certain level because the staff has worked so hard and done such a good job in these extraordinary times. They don’t seem to have missed a beat. We’re fortunate to have a staff that does that, and a membership that does that, too.”

Turner said his APA presidency will continue what has been a long tradition of standing up for the Arkansas Freedom of Information Act and for government transparency through newspaper public notices.

His tenure as president will coincide with a legislative session that starts in January, with the public notice debate likely at the forefront for newspapers.

“We want to continue being a leader when it comes to protecting the public’s right to know whether through defending the Freedom of Information Act or having access to information from an independent source through publication of public notices,” Turner said. “That’s an important part of our job.”

Rusty and his wife, Anita, at the 2017 APA Convention in Little Rock.

where newspapers have gone away and come back, and that’s encouraging.”

Most of Turner’s staff is currently working from home, and he said he was concerned early in the COVID-19 crisis about what newspapers would write about if most events were canceled and commerce shut down. What journalists have found, though, are story after story of neighbors helping neighbors and people taking action to care for others. Likewise, newspapers have adapted to use the internet and digital media to their advantage, adding readers and cultivating loyalty with upto-the minute health coverage available online.

As APA president, Turner said he intends to focus on making sure association members are equipped with the tools and resources they need to emerge successfully in a post-coronavirus world.

“Our agenda right now is just to find a way through the pandemic and a way back to what our new normal is going to be,” he said. “We have to help each other figure out what our business models are going to look like as the world continues to change around us.”

Turner praised his employer, WEHCO

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Media, for its bold strategy to implement Sunday-only delivery of printed newspapers and supply subscribers with iPads for digital replica editions Monday through Saturday. The company’s example shows newspapers can succeed “in the new world” if they are able to make a commitment and investment, he said.

Turner added that he believes it’s a part of his responsibility as a newspaper executive to give back to the industry.

He was the president of the Arkansas Associated Press Managing Editors board before joining the APA board several years ago.

He will be installed as APA president on Sept. 24 during the APA annual convention, which is being held online this year because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Turner, currently vice president of the organization, has filled the top leadership position on the board since last fall, when previous APA president John Bland resigned after leaving the newspaper industry.

“It’s been a very different time,” he said.

“I’ve had some conversations with the APA staff that past presidents probably never imagined. It’s been quite strange.

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Turner has long advocated for newspapers, and was drawn to the industry as a sixth grader in Tulsa when he wrote a Tulsa World columnist for advice about what he’d need to know in order to pursue a career in the newspaper business. He went on to be an editor at his high school newspaper, and he was a reporter for the Traveler at the“ University of Arkansas, we fight newspapers fortresses.” where he majored in journalism.

In these times

and

for ideas,

are our

-Heinrich Heine

He’s spent almost all of his 37-year career in northwest Arkansas, first as a reporter for the Northwest Arkansas Morning News in Rogers, then at the Springdale News. He spent a few years at the Times Record in Fort Smith before returning to Benton and Washington counties. In 1991, he was named editor of the Rogers newspaper, and in 1994 was named editor of the combined Springdale and Rogers newspapers. In 2015, he was named editor of the Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette.

Turner is a member of the Rotary Club of Rogers, and he has served on the United Way board, the Rogers Public Education Foundation board and the board of the Arkansas Public Theater.

His wife, Anita, is an elementary school principal in Rogers. They have two sons and two grandchildren.

September 3, 2020

Registration deadline nears for APA virtual convention

Continued from Page 1

Sept. 24, and from Bill Ostendorf, CEO of Creative Circle Media, for two sessions on Friday, Sept. 25.

In addition, a panel of Arkansas newsroom experts will discuss how newspapers can maintain the trust of readers.

Custom-made cooling face masks with the convention logo and theme are available for $10 each at the APA’s online store, and new journalism-themed T-shirts are for sale for $20. Visit ArkansasPress.org/ store to preorder shirts or masks.

APA will recognize Educator of the Year and Freedom of Information Award winners on Sept. 24, and the event will conclude on Sept. 25 with a virtual luncheon and the APA Better Newspaper Editorial awards.

The convention theme is “Arkansas Newspapers: We’ve Got You Covered.”

APA, Democrat-Gazette ask high court to quash gag order The Arkansas Press Association and the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette last week asked the Arkansas Supreme Court to remove gag orders in place blocking the release of information about a shooting at Southern Arkansas University in Magnolia on Aug. 11.

Four men are charged with capital murder in the shooting death of Joshua Keshun Smith.

Columbia County Circuit Court Judge David Talley Jr. issued gag orders on Aug. 17, denying any access to details about the investigation into Smith’s death. The

orders prohibit anyone associated with the case from releasing information about the investigation or making statements out of court.

Attorneys for the APA and the DemocratGazette argued to the high court that the action was “in excess of the circuit court’s authority, erroneous on their face and an abuse of discretion,” according to a report in the Democrat-Gazette. The organizations asked the Supreme Court to overturn what they called unconstitutional orders because they placed a prior restraint on the press and improperly restricted free speech. The orders also

violate Rule 38.1 of the Arkansas Rules of Criminal Procedure, which state that no orders shall prohibit news media from publishing information in its possession related to a criminal case.

Democrat-Gazette Managing Editor Eliza Gaines told the newspaper: “The public deserves accurate, detailed and clear information concerning the proceedings of the criminal justice system in a case.

Public interest and extensive news media coverage does not mean that a restrictive order should automatically be applied to a case.”

WEHCO Newspapers, Inc. acquires Pine Bluff Commercial WEHCO Newspapers, Inc., announced Monday it has acquired the Pine Bluff Commercial from Gannett Co., and immediately moved to include that newspaper as part of the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette.

The four-page Pine Bluff Commercial was folded into the Democrat-Gazette and its digital replica edition effective Sept. 1.

on printing costs and invest more in journalism.”

According to the newspaper, DemocratGazette Publisher Walter Hussman Jr. said he was concerned that Gannett would close the Commercial. Acquiring the newspaper is a way to “save money

The four-page Commercial will have local news, daily records, obituaries, opinion and sports, and it will be published in digital replica format seven days a week.

The printed newspaper will be delivered

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to Commercial subscribers until Oct. 12.

After that, subscribers will receive a print edition only on Sundays as part of the DemocratG a z e t t e , Hussman said.

The Pine Bluff newspaper had been published Tuesday through Saturday.

The Commercial has about 2,100 subscribers. A newspaper broker approached Hussman about acquiring the newspaper, Hussman told the Democrat-Gazette. WEHCO acquired the Continued on Page 4

September 3, 2020

UA-Fayetteville journalism students to WEHCO Newspapers, Inc. take over COVID-19 information site Student journalists in the University of As the workload on the site grew, Orpin acquires Pine Arkansas School of Journalism and requested that UA operate the site full-time.

Bluff Commercial Strategic Media will assume management According to a news release, the school

Continued from Page 3

Commercial’s accounts receivable and collections. No money is changing hands at the present time.

and operations of ArkansasCovid.com, a website established to provide definitive data and information about the coronavirus epidemic in the state.

“will devote a mix of graduate students and students in Wells’ data journalism class to operate ArkansasCovid.com, providing

“While many newspapers are eliminating some days of publication, we are adding back two days in Pine Bluff so we can cover the news every day,” Hussman was quoted as saying. “Due to the collapse of advertising, not just during the COVID-19 pandemic but over the past 14 years, print publication is no longer economically sustainable.”

The Pine Bluff Commercial was founded in 1881 and is one of only two Arkansas newspapers that have won a Pulitzer Prize.

Hussman said there will be a news staff of four in Pine Bluff. Former Arkansas Press Association President Byron Tate will be the editor.

“The Pine Bluff Commercial has historically been a newspaper that prides itself on having high journalistic standards and providing readers with a first-class local news product, emphasis local. With this announcement we are planting our flag once again to be that newspaper,” said Tate on Monday.

The Commercial’s offices will relocate to the Donald W. Reynolds Community Services Center, 211 West Third Ave., Suite 105, in Pine Bluff.

The newspaper’s new website is ArkansasOnline.com/ PineBluffCommercial.

INDUSTRY QUOTE “In many ways, the effort to meet the information needs of a commuinty is the ultimate public benefit — helping to bring news and coverage to a geographic or orhter community to help them make better decisions and be better informed.”

Misty Orpin.

Rob Wells.

The website was started in March by Misty Orpin of Springdale as a personal project. It has since drawn acclaim for “its colorful data visualizations, frequent Twitter updates and … incisive analysis,” according to a news release from the university.

The ArkansasCovid Twitter account has more than 11,000 followers.

A UA journalism intern has assisted on the site since May, and Orpin has partnered with Rob Wells, an assistant professor of journalism, on ArkansasCovid.com.

students an extraordinary opportunity to work with a real-time data journalism website.”

UA will take over the site fully on Sept. 14.

“There are not many journalism programs in the country that offer students an opportunity to operate and publish realtime news and data on a topic that affects every person in the state,” Wells said in the university’s news release. “We have a big responsibility to keep up the high standards Misty Orpin has set to this point. I can’t wait to see what my students will produce this semester.”

-Don Day,

Stanford JSK Fellow Arkansas Publisher Weekly

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September 3, 2020

Saving local journalism is a bipartisan cause

By Dean Ridings

(Editor’s note: The Arkansas Press Association and America’s Newspapers encourage newspaper publishers to publish this editorial and accompanying cartoon or a similar one of their own) In a presidential election year and in the midst of the dual crises of the coronavirus pandemic and widespread economic misery, the divisions among Americans can seem to easily overwhelm the bonds that unite us.

the news media as part of the solution and not the problem: Nearly half, 49%, say the media could do “a great deal” to heal political divisions, while another 35% say journalism could contribute a “moderate amount” of healing.

and accurate journalism: People subscribe to newspapers or other media; businesses that advertise in newspapers; and newspapers that their newsrooms with journalists cover the community.

That’s why it’s so heartening to see in recent weeks that Americans of all persuasions, and their political leaders on both sides of the aisle, are coalescing around a cause for a community pillar with a history of helping this nation navigate past buffeting winds of turmoil: Saving local journalism.

Perhaps the best example of this growing recognition of the importance of local journalism — and the urgent need to support it in a time of its own crisis — is

The legislation provides a sun-setting five years of tax credits for subscriptions, advertising and newsroom payrolls.

And make no mistake, local journalism — primarily the newspaper that brings news of its community from high school sports to mayoral campaigns — needs saving.

Even before the pandemic lockdowns and before shuttering Main Street businesses sent advertising revenue off a cliff, local newspapers were operating on a financial knife edge.

They are being whipsawed

by Big Tech companies like Facebook and Google that suck up nearly all available ad dollars while paying no or minimal compensation for the local journalism content they display on platforms.

A joint survey of 20,000 Americans which was conducted by Gallup and the Knight Foundation just before the pandemic unleashed its wrath upon the nation, found Americans understand very well the consequences of civic life without robust local journalism.

The vast majority of Americans, more than eight in 10, say — in general — that the news media is “critical” or “very important” to democracy. More Americans report they are following local news closely. A followup question shows that these citizens are more likely to vote and to feel attached to their communities.

Most encouragingly, Americans still see Arkansas Publisher Weekly

the bipartisan response to an important piece of legislation introduced this summer by U.S. Representatives Ann Kirkpatrick, a Democrat from Arizona, and Dan Newhouse, a Republican from Washington state.

The Local Journalism Sustainability Act has attracted 49 cosponsors as of Aug. 26. These Congressional representatives range all over the supposedly immutable political divide — from liberal representatives, including Democrats Eleanor Holmes Norton of Washington, D.C., to conservative Republican Vern Buchanan of Florida.

There’s a lot to like about the Local Journalism Sustainability Act, which will cost taxpayers nothing while helping the three stakeholders of trusted, fair 5

who local local staff who

Whether or not this legislation passes in this election-shortened Congressional session, it still stands as a way forward for bipartisan action on a crisis that affects not just newspapers, but all elements of a thriving community.

That’s why, if you don’t see your Congressional representative in this list of cosponsors for H.R. 7640, please consider asking him or her to be part of the solution that safeguards your access to local news and information.

There is plenty of precedence for supporting journalism on all sides of the partisan divide. Consider Vice President Mike Pence, surely among the president’s most fervent supporters. During his 12 years in Congress, he repeatedly introduced legislation for a federal so-called shield law to protect the sources of journalists reporting on issues important to the American people.

“This isn’t about protecting reporters,” Pence said in 2005 to the Inland Press Association, one of the two associations that merged to become America’s Newspapers. “This is about protecting the peoples’ right to know.”

Those words and that sentiment could refer right now to the Local Journalism Sustainability Act. Your right to know — your access to accurate and fair local news — transcends any partisan divide.

September 3, 2020

Guest Column: Ten ways to mess up an online presentation

By John Foust These days, ad professionals are conducting more digital presentations than ever before. While there are some similarities with in-person meetings, there are some significant differences. Let’s take a quick look at ten of the biggest mistakes in online presentations: 1. Problems with technology. “Can you hear me now?” is more than a line from an old television spot; it’s a reality of many online conversations. As you plan the presentation, be sure to consider the meeting platform, webcams, and desktoptablet-phone differences. It’s better to address those issues ahead of time than to be surprised when things are underway.

2. Unprofessional appearance. Even if you’re presenting from home or an informal business environment, it’s important to look professional. While a business suit is not necessarily required, be sure to look neat. And don’t forget to smile.

3. Camera movement. My wife had a recent call in which one of the participants started walking around with his laptop computer. For several minutes, the camera treated everyone to jerky views of his ceiling and kitchen cabinets, all while he was talking.

For goodness’ sakes, keep the camera in

Arkansas Publisher Weekly

one position.

4. Distractions. We all know it’s not good to see someone fumbling with papers during a meeting at a conference table.

That’s just as bad in an online presentation, because it indicates disorganization.

In addition, be sure to clean up your background, so it is simple and free of clutter.

5. Hard-to-see exhibits and graphics.

Advance planning is the key here. If you display ads or charts, prepare carefully so everything will go smoothly. If you hold something up to the camera, make sure it is super-simple and in steady hands.

6. Winging it. There’s a sneaky little voice in some salespersons’ minds that says, “Hey, you’re not meeting in someone else’s office. You’re in familiar surroundings, and you know so much about your product that you can make the sale just by talking off the cuff.”

Don’t listen to that voice. The only way to be at your best is to prepare and practice.

7. Not acknowledging everyone. There is often a tendency to talk to the main contact and pay little attention to others in a meeting. That’s always bad manners, whether face-to-face or on a screen.

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8. Talking in a monotone. It’s not just what you say; it’s how you say it. One of the fastest ways to lose attention is to speak in a tone of voice that lacks energy and enthusiasm.

Put some excitement in your words.

9. Talking too much. A remote call is not a license to “talk at” people. Whatever the format, a sales conversation should be a dialogue, not a monologue. Think of ways to encourage. Ask plenty of questions and respond to their answers with respect.

10. Not listening between the lines. Watch for facial expressions and listen for voice infections, just like you do in on-site presentations. If you don’t, you may miss something which could be a deal maker or deal breaker.

John Foust has conducted training programs for thousands of newspaper advertising professionals. Many ad departments are using his training videos to save time and get quick results from in-house training. E-mail for information: john@johnfoust.com

September 3, 2020

ARKANSAS PRESS ASSOCIATION 2020 VIRTUAL CONVENTION SCHEDULE Thursday, September 24 10 – 11 am

Session: Hidden tools to increase your productivity and speed up your work in InDesign

Friday, September 25 9:45 am

Rusty Turner, APA President 10 – 10:45 am

Presented by Kevin Slimp, Publisher of Market Square Books and CEO of Newspaperacademy.com 11:15 – Noon

Session: Getting people to pick up your paper Panel Discussion: Maintaining trust with your readers

11 – 11:45 am

12:00 – 2 pm

(virtual luncheon at noon, award presentation begins at 12:30) APA Better Newspaper Editorial Awards

Panelists: Rusty Turner, Frank Leto, Lori Freeze, Britt Talent

Arkansas Publisher Weekly

Session: Better headlines for readers Presented by Bill Ostendorf

Gwen Moritz, Moderator

3 – 4 pm

Session: Alternative and creative story ideas to attract more readers Presented by Bill Ostendorf, Creative Circle Media Solutions

Presented by Kevin Slimp 2 – 2:45 pm

APA Business Meeting

Gavel Passing, Installation of APA President and Special Awards Presentation

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September 3, 2020

THANK YOU TO OUR 2020 ARKANSAS VIRTUAL CONVENTION SPONSORS! Headline Sponsors

Breaking News Sponsors

Special Section Sponsors

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September 3, 2020