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Little River News suspends publication indefinitely Guest Column:
Are community newspapers akin to a circus? By Peter Wagner
Ar k ansas
ARKANSAS
Publisher Weekly
PRESS ASSOCIATION
Vol. 14 | No. 48 | Wednesday, November 27, 2019
Serving Press and State Since 1873
APA members express their thoughts on thankfulness
Editor’s Note: For the second straight year, the Arkansas Press Association asked colleagues in the newspaper industry from around the state to share what they are thankful for with Arkansas Publisher Weekly readers. Our thanks go out to Jennifer Allen, Kim Christ, Bridget Clay, Tracey Finch, Rusty Fraser, Shannon Hahn, Emily Johnson and Shantelle Redden for sharing their thoughts this year. Happy Thanksgiving!
their part to support our democracy and strengthen our industry. I’m also thankful for the local merchants who continue to recognize the benefit of advertising in community newspapers. And I appreciate my counterparts on the Arkansas Press Association board of directors, and the APA staff, for the work they do on behalf of all of Arkansas’s newspapers. Jennifer Allen (center) with staff from the Hot Springs Village Voice
completed the newspaper’s Pages from the Past project, celebrating 200 years since the first Arkansas Gazette was published. I’m thankful that project is over, and that the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette is heading forth into a new era of digital publishing with the support and guidance of our visionary publisher. It feels good to be part of a team that is actively working to forge a path to the future of journalism. Here’s to the next 200.
Jennifer Allen, Gannett/East Arkansas group ublisher and APA board member:
Of course, I’m especially thankful for my family, my friends and all my co-workers. I’m thankful for the memories I made with loved ones who have passed away, and this time of year I cherish the moments I had with those family members and friends. I think about my grandmother’s cooking and really just miss them, but I am reminded still about how lucky we are to have the family and friends who are with us today. I oversee three newspapers, and I’m very thankful for the hard-working and dedicated employees who we have at all of those newspapers. Of course, in this industry, we spend so much time with wonderful co-workers they become just like family. I’m grateful for the communities that support our newspapers, and the advertisers and subscribers that sustain us. With every subscription and with every ad purchased, our communities do
Kim Christ with husband Mark
Kim Christ, deputy managing editor, Arkansas Democrat Gazette: Firstly, I’m thankful for 30 wonderful years with my husband and the sweet and sassy family we’ve created and for all our extended family and friends. That said, it’s also great to be living in such an exciting time in human history. I’m also grateful to be part of a strong 110-member news team fighting the good fight to keep community journalism alive in turbulent times for traditional media. As I write this, my colleagues and I just
Bridget Clay with husband Kevin
Bridget Clay, APA director of member services: This has been a difficult week for my family since we lost my Dad last week to cancer, but it has made me really think about all the things I have to be thankful for in my life. I’m thankful for my wonderful family, my husband, sons, grandson, brothers and sister and my Mom. I’m thankful for my health and the health of my family. My sons live overseas, so I am especially thankful for modern technology Continued on Page 2