Arkansas Publisher Weekly: December 29, 2022

Carroll County News, Lovely County Citizen return

to local ownership

‘best’

By Jim Davidson

Arkansas Press Association Weekly Publisher

2022 more “normal” with return to office and in-person

events

A return to in-person events was celebrated after two years of pandemic, with APA hosting A Day of Debates and the Arkansas Press Freedom Gala, in addition to the Tri-State Press Convention in Memphis. But there was more to the year, too: here’s a look back.

January

Gretchen Hunt

February

Alyson Hoge was named managing editor of the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette Hoge had been supervising reporting for the newspaper’s Washington and state Capitol bureaus as deputy managing editor of news since 2015. She has worked for the newspaper for 43 years, starting at age 20 as an obituary clerk at the thenArkansas Democrat. Within a year, she became a reporter based at the state Capitol. She has held numerous positions since, including city editor and state editor, and has supervised the design and copy

Gretchen Hunt was named regional editor for Paxton Media Group. Hunt is responsible for the editorial content of the Jonesboro Sun, The Paragould Daily Press, the Newport Independent and The Times Dispatch in Walnut Ridge. She more than 23 years experience in the newspaper industry, and has previously worked as a reporter, editor, managing editor and operations manager for The Times Dispatch, as well as ad sales consultant for The Daily Press, while assisting with production of the Newport Independent

Eliza Gaines was promoted to executive editor of the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette. The last person to hold the title of executive editor at the state’s largest newspaper was Griffin Smith, who resigned in May 2012. For the past two years, Gaines

has served as the Democrat-Gazette’s managing editor, the first woman to hold that position.

A federal judge ruled in favor of public access, denying a gag order in a lawsuit against the Huntsville School District. Filed in U.S. District Court in Fayetteville, the lawsuit claimed the school district knew students on the boys middle school basketball team were being sexually harassed and assaulted by older boys. The suit also alleges federal Title IX violations, the district’s failure to promptly and properly investigate reports of sexual harassment and claims of a hostile education environment. The district denied liability and allegations in the lawsuit and also denied school officials knew of the abuse and did nothing about it.

desks. She also has been chief editor of the newspaper’s daily reports on the coronavirus pandemic since the outbreak began in early 2020.

The Log Cabin Democrat moved to new offices on Front Street in Conway. The newspaper and Dave Creek Media swapped locations after Dave Creek Media needed larger offices. The Log Cabin Democrat’s new offices are at 1025 Front Street, Ste. 1. Dave Creek Media moved into the former Log Cabin

Democrat offices at 1121 and 1123 Front Street.

The Arkansas Senate Efficiency Committee voted to remove its policy banning the use of cellular devices for livestreaming or video recording by visitors to the Senate’s galleries. The policy had been put in place just two days prior. Rules requiring electronic devices to be silenced, banning signage or noisemakers of any sort and restricting members of the media to the West Gallery remain in place.

Guest Column: Cherish

friends

The committee also voted to approve a media credentialing policy under which the Senate issues credentials only to media organizations and not individuals. An initial clause requiring a media organization to either have filed an LLC with the state or to be sponsored by taxpayer dollars was removed, as it would have disqualified the Associated Press and national news outlets from covering the Senate.

New Jersey-based media group CherryRoad Media announced the acquisition of five Arkansas newspapers from Cape Girardeau-based Rust Communications: the Carroll County News in Berryville, The Lovely County Citizen in Eureka Springs, the Salem News, The Villager Journal in Cherokee Village and the Clay County Times-Democrat, which

March

The APA board of directors approved the associate member applications of the Arkansas Scholarship Lottery and the Arkansas Hunger Relief Alliance.

Alan Leveritt, publisher of the Arkansas Times for 50 years, was featured in a documentary about the threat to the First Amendment from anti-boycotting laws quietly passed in 32 states since 2015, “Boycott”, by director Julia Bacha Leveritt was waging a legal battle against a 2017 Arkansas law requiring businesses and organizations that do business with the state sign a pledge supporting and promising not to boycott Israel or face a 20% fine. “Our paper focuses on the virtues of Sims Bar-B-Que down on Broadway,” Leveritt wrote in a November 2021 op-ed in the New York Times. “Why would we be required to sign a pledge regarding a country in the Middle East?”

covers Piggott and Rector. The purchases brought CherryRoad’s Arkansas newspaper properties to nine.

Ashley Hogg was promoted to managing editor of the Advance-Monticellonian in Monticello. Her previous role at the newspaper was bookkeeper, and she has held positions as a reporter and in advertising sales as well. In her role as managing editor, Hogg continues to handle some of the bookkeeping duties as well as managing the news content of the newspaper. “Anyone who has worked at a community newspaper will tell you that to be successful, you have to be willing to handle multiple job descriptions,” said Publisher Tom White. “Ashley has proven she can do that very well. When she learns how to run the press,

Popular speaker Bill Ostendorf returned to the 2022 APA Advertising Conference as the keynote speaker. He discussed ways to more fully understand the needs of advertisers and how to create effective ads that will bring both readers and response. This year’s conference was held via Zoom on March 11 and included the Better Newspaper Advertising Contest awards ceremony.

Lee “Flash” Dunlap retired from the Harrison Daily Times, the newspaper where he literally grew up. Lee is one of four in his family who were fixtures at the Harrison Daily Times for more than a halfcentury each. His parents, the late J.E. and Leota “Sammy” Dunlap, owned the newspaper for decades before selling it in 1993. Dunlap, his parents, and his sister, Jane Dunlap Christenson, all received APA’s Golden 50 Service award, which recognizes 50 years in the journalism industry. Jeff Christenson, Jane’s husband, also worked at the newspaper for 25 years.

Sunshine Week, a national initiative highlighting the importance of transparency in government, was celebrated March 1319. Sunshine Week was established in March 2005 to educate the public about the importance of open government and the dangers of excessive and unnecessary secrecy. APA developed a house ad to commemorate the occasion, which were sent by email to member newspapers, along with Sunshine Week opinion columns. “We’ve all heard the saying that

she will know more about this newspaper than me.”

‘sunshine is the best disinfectant’,” said Ashley Kemp Wimberley, APA executive director. “During Sunshine Week, we encourage APA members and supporters to keep up the good work and find ways to make sure government transparency remains a priority in our state and our communities.”

Areawide Media announced Renee Janes has moved into the editor’s chair from the reporter’s desk she formerly occupied. She replaced Kim Break, who left to pursue other opportunities. A graduate from Missouri State University in 2014, Janes has been with the company for seven years.

The Three Rivers Edition and the River Valley & Ozarks Edition, weekly zoned advertorial sections of the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, appeared for the last time on March 6. Both editions had been published for more than 25 years. The editorial focus was on community, school and local church events, and the publications had a reputation for printing positive news, making them popular with advertisers.

Danny and Pam Cook, owners of the Warren Eagle Democrat since 1998, announced their retirement at the end of March.

Ashley Hogg

The couple owned both the newspaper and Cook’s Heating and Air. Pam said that Deborah Rawls, who started 41 years ago as a typesetter and now designed and paginated the two publications, had held off on retiring until they did, but was also ready to retire. Danny said the decision to retire after more than half a century at the newspaper was something he struggled with for a long time. “It’s been very, very hard to come to this decision. We’ve put our blood, sweat and tears into the Eagle Democrat. But we have to do what is right

April

After several weeks of uncertainty as to the future of The Eagle Democrat in Warren, a verbal agreement was reached to sell the newspaper to Smith Newspapers/ DLS, Inc. of Fort Payne, Alabama, with no interruption in publication. Warren native and APA Past President Tom White of the Advance-Monticellonian serves as publisher. The Eagle Democrat is one of the oldest businesses in Bradley County.

Bobby Burton of the Daily Record in Little Rock won the 2022 Arkansas Media Directory cover contest. His photo, “Milky Way Barn”, was taken near Marshall.

Arkansas Press Women donated $3000 to the Arkansas Newspaper Foundation to fund a student internship at the Dumas Clarion in the name of Charlotte Tillar Schexnayder. APW At-Large District Director Angie Faller and APW President Kristin Netterstrom Higgins presented the donation to APA Executive Director Ashley Kemp Wimberley, who accepted on behalf of ANF. The funds were originally collected in early 2020 for the purpose of a Welcome Reception during the annual conference of the National Federation of Press Women in June 2020 in Little Rock. Schexnayder, who was one of the earliest members of Arkansas Press Women, was to have been honored at the reception, which was replaced with a virtual event due to the pandemic. Schexnayder died on December 11, 2020, two weeks before her 97th birthday. Monies for the reception were donated by the Dumas

for us.”

Sandra Brand, editor of the Osceola Times Delta Crossroads magazine, became editor of the NEA Town Courier in Blytheville as well. Brand said she was looking forward to helming the Town Courier’s editorial staff. “I am excited about being editor of the Blytheville paper because it will give me the opportunity to help unite the county,” she said. “Although we will cover hard news, we also want to tell local stories people can relate to.”

Chamber of Commerce, Dumas Economic Development, Merchants & Farmers Bank of Dumas and APA.

APA hosted a Day of Debates on April 21 in Little Rock. The day began with a debate among Lieutenant Governor candidates at 9:00 a.m, followed by the Secretary of State candidates debating at 10:45 a.m. After a luncheon the afternoon’s debates resumed at 1:30 p.m. between Attorney General candidates. The final debate of the day was between Gubernatorial candidates at 2:45 p.m. “Newspaper readers are among the most politically engaged, and are the demographic most likely to show up to vote,” said APA Executive Director Ashley Kemp Wimberley. “This event is an ideal forum and opportunity to shine a statewide spotlight on the candidates and to introduce or clarify before the media what

skills, values, priorities and experience they have to offer our great state.”

The Randolph County Heritage Museum received a sponsorship from Dr. Pat Carroll, DDS and the Lesmeister Guesthouse to support its “Pocahontas Star Herald and Newspapers of Randolph County” exhibit. “The museum is grateful for Dr. Carroll’s generous donation, and happy for his sponsorship of the newspaper exhibit,” said director Rodney Harris. The Pocahontas Star Herald originated in the 1800s as The Herald, which consolidated with the Pocahontas Star in about 1906 to form the newspaper that still publishes today.

The Madison County Record in Huntsville was announced by the Nieman Foundation for Journalism at Harvard University as the

Sandra Brand

winner of the 2021 Taylor Family Award for Fairness in Journalism. The Record is the first Arkansas newspaper to win the Taylor Award. Publisher Ellen Kreth and General Manager Shannon Hahn reported the attempts by the Huntsville school board to cover up sexual assault allegations by junior high school basketball players, the fallout of which is still ongoing, with assistance from summer reporter Celia Kreth. Over the course of investigation, The Record reported that the local school board members sought to conceal not only the sexual assault allegations but also their decision to reduce the recommended punishment for some students and to rescind punishment for others.

MayThe APA board of directors approved the associate member applications of the Mountain Home Observer and the Arkansas Conference of United Methodist Churches.

The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette took home top honors in six categories at the Great Plains Journalism Awards luncheon at the Tulsa Press Club on May 6. The newspaper won first place in the categories of Editorial Portfolio, News Column Portfolio, Best Website Design, Page Design, Spot News Photography and Great Plains Website of the Year. In all, 14 Democrat-Gazette staff were commended as winners or finalists in the contest.

Journalist Eplunus Colvin of Stuttgart delivered this year’s commencement address on May 12 to the graduates of Phillips Community College of the University of Arkansas Stuttgart and DeWitt campuses. Colvin, who writes for the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette and Pine Bluff Commercial and who is a former editor and reporter at the Stuttgart Daily Leader.

Retired Arkansas Democrat-Gazette special projects editor Lawrence “Sonny” Albarado became a member of the Great Plains Journalism Hall of Fame as one of the hall’s second class of inductees in a ceremony in conjunction with the Great Plains Journalism Awards. The Great Plains Journalism Hall of Fame was inaugurated by the Tulsa Press Club in 2021. Albarado is the second Arkansan to be honored with membership. Journalist

Brenda Blagg was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2021.

Nate Allen, who is a member of the 12th class of the Arkansas Sportscasters/ Sportswriters Hall of Fame and the author of three books on the Arkansas Razorbacks, announced his retirement. He started his newspaper career at the Springdale News, now the Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, in 1973. Among the major events he covered are four Final Fours, including Arkansas’s 1994 national championship; four College World Series, including Norm DeBriyn’s 1979 national runner-up finish; the bulk of Arkansas’s football seasons from 19732017, including Frank Broyles’ final Southwest Conference championship and Cotton Bowl championship with his 1975 Razorbacks; Lou Holtz’s 1977 Razorbacks and their rout of Oklahoma in the Orange Bowl; and most of John McDonnell’s 42 national championships

in track and field. Allen was the only Arkansas reporter on site when the Hogs won their first national title in Syracuse, N.Y., in 1984.

A group led by local entrepreneur and civic leader Michael McCray introduced a new online news publication, Arkansas Delta Informer, to offer grassroots views and reporting for Pine Bluff, Southeast Arkansas and the Arkansas Delta. The Delta Informer addresses the need to provide more relevant and nuanced content pertinent to the African American community and gives voice to more diverse issues in local media. The venture group developed the Delta Informer with the assistance of longtime Arkansas news veteran and capital reporter Wesley Brown

Sonny Albarado

Wesley Brown

Ellen Kreth

Shannon Hahn

Celia Kreth

Spencer Bailey joined the Herald-Leader in Siloam Springs as a general assignment reporter. Bailey, a native of Oklahoma City, is a graduate of John Brown University, where he studied communication and journalism and was local editor and news editor for the student newspaper, The Threefold Advocate. Bailey’s primary coverage beat at the Herald-Leader is education.

Four Arkansas college students have accepted intern positions at APA member newspapers this year. Joe Santana and Sydney Bowman, both of Henderson State University, Sarah Smythe of the University of Central Arkansas and Mary Beth Kemp of the University of Arkansas were selected for the 2022 Arkansas Newspaper Foundation internship program.

The APA board of directors approved the associate member applications for Bismarck Field Systems and 4media Group.

last 27 years who has not benefited from the mentorship of Gerald Jordan,” said APA Executive Director Ashley Kemp Wimberley

Arkansas Democrat-Gazette reporter and editor Lisa Hammersly received APA’s Freedom of Information Act award at the Tri-State Press Convention for her team’s work digging into public records in all 75 Arkansas counties to tell the stories of those we lost during the pandemic. “Early on in the pandemic you would often hear, ‘I don’t know anyone who’s had it. Do you know anyone who’s had it?’” she said. “It was a different kind of denial than what you see in some quarters today. We saw at that time that this had the potential to be a national and international life-altering event. We wanted to put faces to the virus.” Over the course of 11 installments and approximately 150 stories, Hammersly and her team painted a picture of the pandemic’s devastation. Stories of the lives of Arkansans taken by COVID-19 were featured in the series “Lives Remembered,” which ran from May 2020 to April 2021. The series included a mix of people of all ages and from all corners of the state.

Greg Harton of the Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette and Ashton Eley of the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette were named recipients of the FreemanGreenberg Award for Editorial Writing and Charles Gordon Newman Award for News Story, respectively. The awards were announced at the 2022 Tri-State

Convention in Memphis. The families of Charles Gordan Newman and Edmund Freeman III, newspaper legends at the Pine Bluff Commercial, donated $10,000 to the Arkansas Newspaper Foundation for the establishment of new editorial awards that support journalism excellence and honor their loved ones.

Lori Freeze, news editor of the Stone County Leader in Mountain View, was inducted as APA President. “When I first joined the Leader 35 years ago, the paper was already heavily involved with APA,” Lori said. “APA has been a part of my entire career. Even in college I worked at the Leader in the summers.” Freeze has a bachelor’s degree in journalism from Arkansas State University, where she was one of the last few graduating with an emphasis in community journalism before that program was discontinued.

Freeze, who has served on the board since 2017, is honored to be president and is looking forward to her new role. “I want to hear from members about what is important to them, especially legislative issues,” she said. Freeze is a member of the International Society of Weekly Newspaper Editors and last year received one of that organization’s Golden Dozen Awards for editorial writing.

The Madison County Record in Huntsville and David Scolli of The Leader in Jacksonville took home two of APA’s top prizes at the Tri-State Convention. Ellen Kreth, publisher of The Record, along with Shannon Hahn, general manager, and

University of Arkansas Walter J. Lemke Department of Journalism professor

Gerald Jordan received APA’s Journalism Educator of the Year, given to a person who has made significant contributions to journalism education in Arkansas either at the high school or the college level, at the Tri-State Press Convention in Memphis.

Jordan was recruited to UA by Arkansas Gazette and New York Times reporter Roy Reed, who taught at UA for 16 years and was himself recipient of the Journalism Educator Award in 1998. “Without a doubt, there has not been a journalism student at the University of Arkansas during the

David Scolli of The Leader in Jacksonville won Photo of the Year.

Gerald Jordan

Celia Kreth, summer reporter, received APA’s I.F. Stone Award for Investigative Journalism. Their investigation of the ongoing Huntsville School District sex abuse case and coverup topped the field this year. “We know the great work done by so many newspapers in this state, so we were very humbled to not only be in their company but to receive the award,” Ellen Kreth said. Scolli, veteran photojournalist for The Leader, captured the Photo of the Year Award at the convention.

The 2022 Tri-State Convention in Memphis came to a close on Saturday, June 25. Approximately 250 attendees from Arkansas, Mississippi and Tennessee gathered at the Sheraton Memphis Downtown to learn, socialize and celebrate our industry. “It’s always a treat to share a convention with our colleagues in neighboring states,” said APA Executive Director Ashley Kemp Wimberley. “Not only do we have the opportunity to network and share ideas with a larger group, it also allows us to bring in numerous high caliber speakers

July

APA announced its membership approved the passage of an updated constitution and bylaws, with more than two-thirds of respondents voting in favor of the new language. The most significant change adds a membership category, Media Members, for news organizations that do not meet the requirements for membership as a print publication. This includes digitalonly publications and publications that print fewer than 50 issues a year. Other changes include redefining the purpose of the association, renaming the former membership category of Free Circulation Newspapers as Non-Legal Newspapers and a reduction in the size of the association’s board of directors.

The Arkansas Newspaper Foundation Board of Directors welcomed three new members: Steve Eddington, Rob Roedel and Skip Rutherford. Eddington is the vice president of public relations at the Arkansas Farm Bureau, a position he has held since 2003. He also serves on the Arkansas State University System Board of Trustees. Roedel is director of corporate communications for the Electric Cooperatives of Arkansas. A native of Jonesboro, he has worked in the

and trainers. The lineup at this convention was quite impressive. It was wonderful seeing everyone in person again.” The

convention included a keynote address from Arkansas’s own Rex Nelson, as well as breakout sessions from six top industry professionals: Mark Humphrey, Photojournalism via Smartphone; Dave Gould on post-pandemic business models; Paul McAdoo on legal advice for journalists; Bill Ostendorf on rethinking the way we write headlines; Russell Viers on design and Kelly Wirges on branding.

The SPJ Arkansas Pro-Chapter hosted the 2022 Diamond Journalism Awards at Diamond Bear Brewery on June 30. APA’s Immediate Past President Ellen Kreth, publisher, and Shannon Hahn, general manager, both of The Madison County Record, were the featured speakers.

Ashley Kemp Wimberley, APA executive director, was elected secretary/ treasurer for the Arkansas Association of Association Executives (ASAE) board of directors. Wimberley joined ASAE when she was named APA executive director in 2018. She joined the board in 2020 for a six-year term.

communications and marketing field for 30 years. Rutherford is Dean Emeritus of the University of Arkansas Clinton School of Public Service in Little Rock. Rutherford served as Dean from 2006-2021. Prior to becoming Dean, he coordinated the planning, construction and opening of the Clinton Presidential Library and Park in Little Rock.

APA held an educational seminar on the Arkansas Freedom of Information Act on July 21. APA attorney John Tull, who is a founding member of Quattlebaum, Grooms & Tull PLLC in Little Rock who also sits on the Arkansas Freedom of Information Task Force, spoke on the ins and outs of the FOIA and using the FOIA in reporting.

Lynn Hamilton retired July 29 from WEHCO Media, Inc., the parent company of the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, after almost 48 years with the company. He served as president and general manager of the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette since 2013. He started in October 1974 as a data processing manager for WEHCO. “It truly is about relationships,” he said. “What we do in this life – what we achieve – is always done with other people.

Treating people the way you would want to be treated. Being kind. Those are the most important things there are in life and in business.”

Lynn Hamilton

On August 28, APA launched a new statewide public notice website for the benefit of its member newspapers and Arkansas residents. APA announced its partnership with Column, a collaborative public notice platform, for the development of the site earlier this year. “As we work to preserve public notice in Arkansas, it’s imperative we have a strong tech partner to make them even more accessible to our state’s citizens,” said APA Executive Director Ashley Kemp Wimberley “While we remain steadfast in our belief public notices should remain in printed newspapers, adding a cutting-edge website that aggregates all of the notices in one location allows Arkansans to easily search for any notice published.”

collected from rural publishers and readers to help weekly newspapers adapt, survive and thrive in the 21st century. In the live webinar, Finneman reviewed the data and presented feedback from the publishers piloting the proposed memberships, e-newsletters and events model.

Arkansas Advocate, an online news outlet focusing on reporting on state government and public policy, launched August 16. The Little Rock based-newsroom is led by Editor-in-Chief Sonny Albarado, a former Arkansas Democrat-Gazette investigations editor. Albarado is joined by deputy editor Hunter Field, most recently the Democrat-Gazette’s projects editor; Antoinette Grejeda, a veteran public radio reporter and freelancer from Fayetteville and Tess Vrbin, most recently a housing and tenants’ rights reporter at the Democrat-Gazette.

Rhonda Overbey, former advertising and marketing director at the Log Cabin Democrat in Conway, was announced as the new regional publisher and advertising director for The Saline Courier in Benton and the Malvern Daily Record. Overbey coordinates and oversees all aspects of the operations of these newspapers, as well as advertising operations in the Marianna and Forrest City markets. She has additional responsibilities at Horizon Publication news organizations outside Arkansas.

newspaper the Monroe County Argus, to honor the legacies of former newspapers The Brinkley Argus and Monroe County Sun.

APA hosted a webinar, “Redefining Your Newspaper Business Model with Research”, on August 25. Dr. Teri Finneman, associate professor of journalism at The University of Kansas, is led an 18-month research project to test a new business model based on data

Helena World Chronicle, LLC, the parent company of The Helena World owned by Chuck Davis and Andrew Bagley, reached an agreement to purchase the assets of Hayden Taylor Publishing, which published the Monroe County Herald in Brinkley. The new owners rebranded the

The Madison County Record in Huntsville was announced as the winner of the 2022 Tom and Pat Gish Award for courage, integrity and tenacity in rural journalism from the Institute for Rural Journalism and Community Issues at the University of Kentucky. “At a time when newspapers need to remind the public of their value to local democracy, Ellen Kreth and The Madison County Record are an example to the nation,” said Al Cross, Director, Institute for Rural Journalism and Community Issues. The Tom and Pat Gish Award is named for Tom and Pat Gish, the couple who published The Mountain Eagle in Whitesburg, Kentucky weekly for more than 50 years and repeatedly demonstrated courage, tenacity and integrity through advertiser boycotts, business competition, declining population, personal attacks and even the burning of their office by a local policeman who state police believe was paid by coal companies.

APA received the results of a statewide study executed by Nashville-based research firm Coda Ventures in which overwhelming support for printed public notices in newspapers was reported. The study found that almost 1.9 million active consumers—or 77% of Arkansas adults – read local print or digital newspapers. Of Arkansas adults, 65% believe that publishing public notices in newspapers should be required. In addition, 84% named local newspapers as their most trusted source of information for public

notices, and 49% rely on local newspapers and newspaper websites for information about local government more than any other media.

A study in which APA President Lori Freeze, APA FOIA Task Force appointee Wes Brown, Arkansas DemocratGazette reporter Jeannie Roberts and APA Executive Director Ashley Kemp Wimberley participated won a national award. Dr. Teri Finneman and her team interviewed community journalists from

several states, including Arkansas, about the impact of COVID-19 on their newsrooms. The project was named the recipient of the Mason Multimedia Award from the Oral History Association, which recognizes outstanding oral history projects, collections, exhibits and multimedia presentations for the public.

The Mountaineer Echo in Flippin hired Peggy Mason as a staff reporter and photographer. Mason had been working

Rhonda Overbey

Antoinette Grajeda, Sonny Albarado, Hunter Field (back), and Tess Vrbin

as a freelance reporter and photographer for the past 14 months. A photo by Mason won the award for Best Front Page Photograph at the APA Better Newspaper Editorial Contest awards in June.

Teresa McCrary, production manager at the Times-Herald in Forrest City, was named an Operations All-Star by the International Newspaper Group (ING) and Editor & Publisher magazine. McCrary was nominated for the award by TimesHerald Publisher Tamara Johnson “Teresa has been with our company for more than 15 years,” Johnson said. “She is a jack-of-all-trades and can repair just about anything. She is willing to go above and beyond her assignments in the press room and in circulation to help out whenever and wherever needed. She is truly a team player.” McCrary leads an allfemale pressroom team, which is rare in the industry.

The Echo, the student newspaper at the University of Central Arkansas in Conway,

October

Scott Loftis of the Carroll County News in Berryville won first place in the Freedom of Information category of the National Newspaper Association Foundation Better Newspaper Editorial Contest for his series reporting on the City Advertising and Promotion Committee (CAPC). The judges commented it was a “fascinating read” and that the “use of callout quotes made us want to continue to read.”

Reporter Robert Cox was also honored in the contest. In all, the Carroll County News brought home five awards, which were presented on October 8.

The Courier in Russellville announced the promotion of Jody Johnson to production manager following the retirement of former production manager David Weaver. Johnson oversees the mailing of six newspapers and facility management, and share responsibility with the press manager for press operations. Additionally, Johnson manages the commercial printing and circulation operations.

Nat Lea, president and CEO of WEHCO Media, Inc. in Little Rock, became immediate past president of America’s Newspapers on October 18 as Cameron Nutting Williams, regional publisher and chief revenue officer of Ogden Newspapers in Wheeling, West Virginia

broke a story that raised a few eyebrows. According to documents obtained through The Echo’s FOIA requests, Adjunct Marketing Prof. Wayne Landers sent an email to students on April 29 offering extra credit in exchange for positive online reviews for a business. Landers admitted offering students bonus points

to leave fake reviews for a local Conway remodeling company. The bonus points were substantial, and Landers had previously been a client of the business, according to the reporting. Editor-In-Chief Bennett Tinnermon and Assistant Sports Editor Emilee Hagewood were the lead reporters on the story.

was announced as the next president. Members elected officers for 2022-23 during the Senior Leadership Conference in New Orleans. Lea was the president of APA in 2016, and served for nine years on the APA board of directors.

The first Arkansas Press Freedom Gala was held Oct. 20 at the Statehouse Convention Center in Little Rock. “The event is a celebration of both the free press as we head into our 150th year

as an association, and of individuals who have supported journalism and brought positive headlines to the state of Arkansas,” said APA Executive Director Ashley Kemp Wimberley. “A strong press keeps democracy strong.” Governor Asa Hutchinson received the 2020 Headliner of the Year Award and Hunter Yurachek, vice chancellor and director of athletics at University of Arkansas, received the 2021 Headliner of the Year

Alice McCollum, Dusty McCollum and Teresa McCrary in the pressroom at the Times-Herald in Forrest City.

Rex Nelson emceed the Arkansas Press Freedom Gala.

Award. The Distinguished Service Award was presented to Craig Renaud and the late Brent Renaud, documentary filmmakers who as The Renaud Brothers are best known for their character-driven, cinema verite documentaries like “Dope Sick Love,” “Last Chance High,” “Off to War” and “Meth Storm.” Brent Renaud was the first American journalist killed in Ukraine in 2022, while documenting the refugee crisis. Golden 50 Service Awards were presented to John Brummett, longtime Arkansas columnist, and Walter E. Hussman, Jr., Chairman of WEHCO Media, Inc. and publisher of the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette

Walter E. Hussman, Jr. announced his intent to retire as publisher of the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette at the Arkansas Press Freedom Gala. During his acceptance speech for the Golden 50 Service Award, he said he would step down from his role as publisher by the end of the year. “The time now is for the next generation,” Hussman said. He did not say who the next publisher would be. “Arkansas has

November

Three new members were elected to the APA Board of Directors, with two sitting directors re-elected. Brent Powers, president of the Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette in Fayetteville, Wesley Brown of the The Daily Record in Little Rock and Jeremy Gulban of CherryRoad Media, which owns newspapers in Cherokee Village, Corning, Flippin, Marshall, Piggott, Pocahontas and Salem, were each elected to serve their first terms as directors. Jennifer Allen, owner and publisher of the Hot Springs Village Voice and John Robert Schirmer, owner and publisher of the Nashville News-Leader, were reelected to the board. President Lori Freeze of the Stone County Leader in Mountain View, Vice President Eliza Gaines of the Arkansas DemocratGazette and Immediate Past President Ellen Kreth of The Madison County Record in Huntsville were not up for reelection.

Tara Espinoza joined the staff of The Courier in Russellville as a general assignment reporter. A native of Booneville, she is a senior doublemajoring in English and journalism at Arkansas Tech University. Espinoza has

benefited

written news, features, opinions and social media for The Arka Tech, the ATU student newspaper, for three years.

The ArkLaMiss Audience Development Conference was held at the Ameristar Hotel and Casino in Vicksburg. The conference, which was co-hosted by APA and the Mississippi Press Association, took place in person for the first time since 2019.

decades,” said APA Executive Director Ashley Kemp Wimberley. “His support has been invaluable to our association, and it would be impossible to overstate his accomplishments and the impression he has had on our industry.”

The Clarksville City Council voted 5-0 to table a pending property sale until details of the sale were advertised in The Graphic, the newspaper of record for Johnson County. Mayor David Rieder presented two resolutions for the Council to consider regarding offers on the sale of city properties. A legal notice advertising the property sales appeared in the neighboring Russellville (Pope County) newspaper, The Courier, on Aug. 10 and 17. Alderman Eddie King said the property listings need to also be advertised locally in Clarksville and Johnson County. Rieder argued that his goal was to save money and reach a wider audience, however King made a motion to publish the sale in The Graphic for two weeks, which passed unanimously.

after a nearly two year

“I was asked to return by Publisher Chris Pruett,” said Knox. “Selling advertising again gives me the chance to have more contact with our customers and the community. After doing the advertising job for more than 15 years, then being away from it for 19 months, I am thrilled to be performing those duties again.”

greatly from his innovative thinking and unwavering commitment to good journalism and the Arkansas newspaper industry for more than five

Former Osceola Times Advertising

Walter E. Hussman, Jr.

Director Steve Knox returned to that position

hiatus.

Tara Espinoza

Steve Knox

The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette was among several newspapers and media groups selected to participate in the 2022 Google News Initiative North America Subscriptions Lab. Delivered in collaboration with FT Strategies, the seven-month program is an ambitious and intensive experience addressing every step of the digital subscriptions process and aims to give participating news organizations the tools to achieve rapid improvement in key subscriptions metrics. Participants will receive customized consulting and hands-on support as they develop their subscriptions strategies, learn from industry experts and collaborate with other cohort members.

The nomination period opened for members of Editor & Publisher magazine’s next class of news media leaders to be honored as the “25 under 35.” The magazine requested nominations of “deserving honorees who are young, bright, highly skilled and capable of tackling whatever the changing news climate throws at them.” Stephanie Highfill of the Hot Springs Village Voice was in the 2019 class of “25 under 35”, and Eliza Gaines

of the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette was honored in 2021.

Arkansas Democrat-Gazette Executive Editor Eliza Hussman Gaines will become the newspaper’s next publisher on Jan. 1, 2023. Gaines has served as executive editor of the statewide daily newspaper

since January and was managing editor for the prior two years. She is the fourth generation of the Hussman family to be in the newspaper business, which the family began in 1909. Gaines was the first woman in the 143-year history of the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette to lead the newsroom.

Eliza Gaines at the Arkansas Press Freedom Gala.

Carroll County News, Lovely County Citizen bought

from CherryRoad Media return to local ownership

Carroll County Community Media LLC announced last week the purchase of the Carroll County News in Berryville, the Lovely County Citizen in Eureka Springs and the Ozark Mountain Trader, an area shopper, from CherryRoad Media of Parsippany, New Jersey.

Carroll County Community Media is a partnership between Scott Loftis, managing editor of the Carroll County News and the Citizen, photographer David Bell and former Berryville Chamber of Commerce director Steve Johnson. The purchase will be effective Jan. 1. CCCM also purchased two specialty publications, Eureka Springs Visitor and Currents magazine.

Loftis has served as the papers’ managing editor since June 2014 and was general manager from October 2021 until the paper was purchased by CherryRoad Media from Rust Communications in March 2022. He will oversee day-to-day operations as editor and publisher. Bell and Johnson, who publish a successful motorcycle magazine, Cruise the Ozarks, will be involved in charting a new path for the publications.

“I’m so glad that David and Steve are partnering in this venture,” Loftis said. “They bring a lot of talent and experience to the table that I believe will be very helpful to us.”

No publication changes are planned for the Carroll County News, which is the legal newspaper for the county. The Citizen, currently a free weekly, will become an online-only publication at the first of the year.

“This is not something we wanted to do,” Loftis said of the transition of the Citizen from print to digital. “But the reality is there’s not enough advertising revenue to support a print newspaper right now. If enough advertisers step forward, we would absolutely consider reinstating the printed paper. The good news is that we’ll be able to get the news online much quicker this way, rather than waiting until after the print edition is printed.”

The Carroll County News has been awarded first place for General Excellence for medium-circulation weekly newspapers in the APA Better Newspaper Editorial Contest five times in the past six years. Loftis has won or shared a total of 43 individual APA awards in his time at the newspaper, including 19 first-place honors. In 2020, Loftis was awarded first place for investigative reporting by the Arkansas Pro Chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists in a contest open to journalists from Arkansas and its six surrounding states. In October, Loftis received first place in the Freedom of Information category from the National Newspaper Association Foundation.

Before coming to Berryville, Loftis worked for 10 years at the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette in Little Rock and also spent 10 years at the Pine Bluff Commercial, the last four as managing editor.

“I’ve worked at larger newspapers, but Berryville is my home now,” Loftis said. “I have a passion for these newspapers. Other than my family, these newspapers are the reason I get out of bed every morning.”

Bell, whose photos have been a fixture in the Carroll County News and its sister publications, said he was joining in the purchase in part to honor his late wife, Carroll County native Mary Ann Sellick Bell. “I decided more than 35 years ago to make Mary Ann’s hometown mine,” Bell said. “This is a wonderful opportunity to have a positive impact on Carroll County.”

Johnson said local ownership will allow the papers to improve their coverage of Carroll County. “My wife, Karen, and I have always believed a local newspaper needs to cover what’s going on in our local community,” Johnson said. “Now we can better cover our schools, our clubs, our events and our unique communities here in Carroll County.”

Jeremy Gulban, chief executive officer of CherryRoad Media, said the purchase is “great news” for Carroll County. CherryRoad will continue to provide software support for the newspaper.

“Under Scott Loftis’ leadership these newspapers have won numerous awards over the last several years,” Gulban said. “I look forward to seeing what he has planned in the future as the publisher of the paper. I wish to thank Scott, David and Steve for stepping forward and taking on this challenge. We will be here to help them succeed.”

INDUSTRY QUOTE

—Aaron Sorkin

“The upside of web-based journalism is that everybody gets a chance. The downside is that everybody gets a chance.”

Guest Column:

Cherish ‘best’ friends

By Jim Davidson

If you will come along, today I would like to invite you to take a trip with me down memory lane. There is a special reason for this that I will explain a bit later

After I dropped out of Arkansas A&M College back in 1958, I made my way to Little Rock, where I had family. After looking for a job for a few days, I went to work in the stock room of a local printer, earning $1.35 per hour. I stayed with this job for seven years and then took another job selling printing on straight commission. It was here that I went to work for my first, new era, “best friend” whose name was Bert Parke. Bert was very active in the Little Rock business community, and he began to promote me.

Over the next few years, I became chairman of the Little Rock Chamber of Commerce Membership Sales Team, chairman of the Speakers Bureau for the United Way, Justice of the Peace in Pulaski County, and several other organizations. He also took me on three Little Rock Chamber goodwill tours to Houston, San Antonio, and Denver. Here I really got to

attorney Bob Gannaway, who came to me two years later and invited me to go into business with him to distribute the Earl Nightingale Attitude Motivation programs.

At this point I was earning $25,000 a year selling printing, a lot of money in those days, but I saw an opportunity to help other people and to make speeches, so I accepted his offer. I might add, Bob was my second “best friend” who was like a second father to me. We worked with our schools, and that was the best time of my whole life.

During this time, I started a daily radio program and later a weekly newspaper column. Along came my third “best friend,” Dr. Dennis Schick, executive director of the Arkansas Press Association. He helped me get my column in papers all across our great nation.

Then one day after church, I bumped into my fourth, and very best “best friend” Doyle Cook. We were the same age, from the same county and had so much in common. We hunted together, played golf

And two other “best friends,” numbers five and six, were Sen. Stanley Russ, who was Emcee for our Conway Bookcase Project banquets, and Dr. Denver Prince, who was my roommate for 11 days when we went with our church group to Israel.

Here is my point: all of these fantastic men are gone now, and I failed to tell them when they were living how much I loved and appreciated them.

There are three other “best friends” who are still living, and you can take it to the bank that I am going to tell them how much I love and appreciate them before they are gone. These men are Mickey Cox, my fishing buddy and master craftsman who built our bookcases; Cliff Garrison, former head basketball coach at Hendrix College for more than 30 years; and Judge Jim Baker, who wrote the Preface for my latest book. You can’t beat “best friends” and I love and appreciate them.

Jim Davidson is a syndicated newspaper columnist, author and radio host who