2 5
Pulitzer winner “Inky Wretch” Greenberg dies at 84 Guest Column:
Newspapers can’t depend on retail advertisers to survive
Arkansas Press Association
Publisher Weekly
By Peter Wagner
Vol. 16 | No. 14 | Thursday, April 8, 2021 | Serving Press and State Since 1873
Managing Editor Gaines, named one of E&P’s ‘25 under 35’, sees responsibility to engage readers Named by Editor & Publisher magazine as one of the newspaper industry’s rising stars, the Arkansas DemocratGazette’s Eliza Gaines understands her generation’s responsibility to support newspapers and to value newsgathering. Gaines is the Democrat-Gazette’s first-ever female managing editor, and she’s part of the fourth generation of one of the most influential newspaper families in the country. As one of E&P’s “25 Under 35,” Gaines acknowledges there’s work to do to engage future generations.
Eliza Gaines, then-vice president of audience development for WEHCO Media, speaks to Arkansas Democrat-Gazette employees in early 2020 after being introduced as the next managing editor of the newspaper. Democrat-Gazette photo.
“I think my generation has been so comfortable getting news for free and not having to pay for news that the price of a newspaper subscription is sometimes a hard pill to swallow,” she said. “But, you can think of that subscription as an investment. It pays the newspaper to be watchdogs for your community and to tell the stories that wouldn’t be told otherwise.”
Younger generations have an intense interest in social and cultural issues, and it’s up to print journalists to remind them just how impactful a newspaper can be, she said. As managing editor of the state’s largest newspaper, Gaines has incorporated some fresh ideas and new storytelling techniques into the Democrat-Gazette with an eye on attracting new subscribers. As the vice president of audience
development for WEHCO Media prior to being named managing editor, she was instrumental in the rollout of the DemocratGazette’s conversion to digital replica editions. The newspaper’s home delivery subscribers now receive their Monday through Saturday newspapers on iPads, with a printed edition only on Sunday. Willingness to adapt has been a trademark of the family business, founded by Gaines’ Continued on Page 2
Managing Editor Gaines, named one of E&P’s ‘25 under 35’, sees responsibility to engage readers Continued from Page 1
great-grandfather in Texarkana in 1909. Her father, Walter E. Hussman Jr., is publisher of the Democrat-Gazette. “The past four generations have been completely dedicated to local newspapers, so that gives the staff reassurance that the owners aren’t going anywhere,” Gaines told E&P in its article about the “25 under 35” honor. “In an uncertain industry, it’s important to reiterate this commitment to keeping community journalism alive. A common theme throughout these four generations has been adaptability and experimentation.” Gaines is the only Arkansas newspaper industry leader named to the E&P list. Those featured were chosen in part for their resiliency during the pandemic. That’s fitting for Gaines, who started as managing editor in March 2020 just as businesses began to shutter and most Democrat-Gazette employees worked from home. Gaines has spearheaded hundreds of meetings with reporters on Zoom since that time, she said, and DemocratGazette staff kept in touch on the Slack workplace communications platform. She applauded her staff, but noted that there have been some challenges without the
“camaraderie and friendliness” of one-onone meetings. “It was a new working environment for me and a new role, but we all put our heads down and adapted really quickly,” Gaines said. “We have not had any major hiccups or huge problems we haven’t been able to overcome. Everybody wants to work together and do the best we can to put out a paper every day.”
English and a master’s degree in business and media from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Her husband, Alec Gaines, is a local attorney, and they have three children. Eliza Gaines is a member of the Arkansas Press Association board of directors.
Despite a tenure that’s been somewhat overshadowed by the Covid-19 crisis, Gaines is looking forward to staying at the helm of the newsroom for years to come, she said. Though she participates in many of the newspaper’s business conversations, it’s the newsroom she likes best. “I think I thrive in the newsroom, and this past year has proven that even more,” she said. “It was under very difficult circumstances, a lot of change, and a lot of stress. It’s only been a year, and I’ve loved it.” Before joining the Democrat-Gazette, Gaines was the editor of the SentinelRecord in Hot Springs and a travel writer for the San Francisco Chronicle. She has an undergraduate degree in
Eliza Gaines with her husband, Alec, and their children, Hamilton, Holden and Mary Helen
Pulitzer winner, “Inky Wretch” Greenberg dies at 84 Paul Greenberg, former editorial page editor for the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette and a Pulitzer Prize winner, died Tuesday, April 6, at age 84. Greenberg had been in poor health for several years, but he continued contributing columns to the Democrat-Gazette until his retirement in 2018. He began working for that newspaper in 1992. Before that, was an editorial writer for the Pine Bluff Commercial for nearly three decades. His columns were syndicated across the country. While at the Commercial, Greenberg won the Pulitzer Prize for Editorial Writing in 1969 for his editorials on civil rights. Greenberg was a finalist for the Pulitzer again in 1978 and 1986. Among his numerous awards for editorial writing were the American Society of Newspaper Editors’ Distinguished Writing Award for Commentary and the University of Missouri School of Journalism Medal of Honor. Paul Greenberg
Arkansas Publisher Weekly
Continued on Page 3
2
April 8, 2021
Pulitzer winner, “Inky Wretch” Greenberg dies at 84 Continued from Page 2
“Paul Greenberg proved the power of the pen to shape policy, persuade leaders to action and make for a better community,” said Ashley Wimberley, executive director of the Arkansas Press Association. “Our industry will miss his wisdom and insightful commentary.” Greenberg was a Shreveport, Louisiana, native who had degrees in journalism and history from the University of Missouri and did postgraduate work at Columbia University, according to the Encyclopedia of Arkansas. He briefly left Pine Bluff in the mid-1960s to write for the Chicago Daily News, but returned after about a year. He described himself as “an ideologically unreliable conservative,” and was known as the first to use the term “Slick Willie” to describe then-Gov. Bill Clinton. The moniker stayed with Clinton even into his presidency. Greenberg, who often signed his editorials and columns as “Inky Wretch”, was also the author of three books. He was preceded in death by his first wife, Carolyn Levy Greenberg, in 1995. He is survived by his wife, Brooke Malloy Greenberg, and two children.
INDUSTRY QUOTE “Freedom of the press underpins free societies around the world.” — Will Hurd Follow us on Facebook & Twitter
@ArkansasPressAssociation
Arkansas Publisher Weekly
@ARPressAssoc
Brinkley’s “Bicycle Charlie” dies Charles “Charlie” Nathan Wallace, affectionately known in Brinkley as “Bicycle Charlie,” died Thursday, March 25. He was 86. For more than 50 years, Wallace rode around town on his bicycle selling the weekly newspaper, retiring in 2018 as his health declined. The Monroe County Herald in Brinkley said this about Wallace: “Charlie was the face of the local paper. From the days of the Brinkley Argus to today’s Monroe County Herald, Charlie was a staple in the life of each newspaper and the families who ran them.”
Wallace Memorial Bike Ride scheduled for Saturday, April 10. Some proceeds of the fund are expected to be used for a memorial statue of Wallace on his bicycle with a basketful of newspapers. Wallace was a native of Bald Knob and a member of River of Life Church. He was predeceased by three brothers and two sisters. He is survived by six nieces, and other extended family. Funeral services were March 30, with burial at Upper Cemetery in Brinkley.
The newspaper referred to him as a “longtime paper boy, all-around helper and one of Brinkley’s most loved people.” According to the Herald, the newspaper staff often received phone calls if Charlie didn’t come by with a newspaper. Even though residents knew of other locations to get their newspapers, they “preferred to buy one from Charlie.” Over the years, he was gifted his bicycles by community members. The Herald is publishing a special section of the newspaper this Friday called “Tribute to our Bicycle Charlie.” Proceeds from the sale of advertising in the special section are to be donated to the Charlie Wallace Memorial Fund and to pay for funeral expenses. There’s also a Charlie
Charles “Charlie” Nathan Wallace. Monroe County Herald photo by Stephanie Haynes.
Newspaper delivery contractor attacked on route in Saline County Two men have been arrested for an attack on a Saline Courier contractor in Benton last month.
mischief, reckless driving, and obstructing governmental operations. Their first court date is later this month.
Destiny Martin was delivering newspapers near N. Sardis Road and Donna Lane early on a Saturday morning when her white Chevrolet Cavalier was rammed repeatedly by a blue Jeep. She told the Saline County Sheriff’s Office she had been pursued by two vehicles, the Jeep and a gray Dodge Ram.
According to a report from Little Rock television station KLRT, Ausbrooks thought the car was stopping at mailboxes and trying to steal from him. The vehicles pursued the carrier’s car, blocking it between them. After the Jeep rammed the carrier’s vehicle, her car spun and landed off the road.
She later identified for police the residence where the Ram was located. Police arrested Justin Ausbrooks and Chris Hall in the incident, and charged them with aggravated assault, leaving the scene of an accident, second-degree criminal
KLRT’s report included audio of the carrier’s 911 call, where she said: “I’m doing a paper route right now and these people are trying to ram me or run me off the road.”
3
April 8, 2021
LR blogger wins court decision on police photos A Pulaski County Circuit Court judge this week ruled that photographs of police officers should be disclosed under the Freedom of Information Act, rejecting the state’s argument that the photographs could reveal the identities of undercover officers.
The State Police had withheld the photographs because of its interpretation of the Arkansas Freedom of Information Act, which includes a provision that
protects the identities of undercover law enforcement officers. The judge ruled that the provision protects officers who are currently undercover, but not those who have been undercover in the past, the newspaper said. Wright ruled that it would be up to the Legislature to determine whether the FOIA protection should extend to all officers who may work undercover at one time or another.
According to a report in the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, Special Judge William Wright ruled in favor of Little Rock blogger Russ Racop, who had sued the Arkansas State Police when that agency refused to turn over photos of state police officers.
Wright’s decision came after a hearing Tuesday. The state is expected to appeal the ruling.
The Arkansas Newspaper Foundation The Arkansas Newspaper Foundation is a non-profit arm of the Arkansas Press Association that provides services to newspapers across the state. Among its many functions, ANF provides paid newspaper internships to students at Arkansas colleges and universities and continuing education grants.
Ways to give: Estate planning, memorial and honor gifts and charitable donations. The Arkansas Newspaper Foundation is a 501(c)(3) organization.
Board of Directors: President: Rusty Fraser Stone County Leader, Mountain View PO Box 509, Mountain View 72560 104 W Main, Mountain View 72560 870.269.3841 | Fax: 870.269.2171 rusty@stonecountyleader.com Secretary: Mary Fisher Yell County Record, Danville 602 Main Street, Danville 72833 PO Box 189, Danville 72833-0189 479.495.2354 | FAX: 479.495.3501 ycrecord@arkwest.com Kim Christ Arkansas Democrat-Gazette PO Box 2221, Little Rock 72203 501.378.3475 kchrist@arkansasonline.com
Arkansas Publisher Weekly
Support the future of Arkansas journalism by giving to the Arkansas Newspaper Foundation.
Frank Fellone 23 Kings River Road, North Little Rock 72116 501.758.9534 ffellone@gmail.com
For more information call APA at 501-374-1500 or email info@arkansaspress.org
Jeanette Lightfoot PO Box 20727, White Hall 71612 870.247.9333 eleganttraditions4@sbcglobal.net Steve Listopad Henderson State University HSU Box 7693, Arkadelphia 71999 870.230.5221 listops@hsu.edu
4
April 8, 2021
Guest Column: Newspapers can’t depend on retail advertisers to survive By Peter Wagner Publishers looking to reboot their markets following the pandemic need to recognize the retail sector is no longer their best revenue source. The recent demise of one Minnesota newspaper, the Warroad Pioneer, is well documented in the April issue of Reader’s Digest magazine. I have personal knowledge of the Pioneer story because I spent two days working with Warroad Pioneer publisher Rebecca Golden in 1999, speaking for her with the community on how she and local businesses might thrive. Warroad, like much of America, is a small community. The region is known for its great fishing, internationally acclaimed hockey stars and an excellent high school hockey team. The community has a decent number of small retail businesses for its size, but many of them depend on the tourist trade, not the local residents, to exist. The local supermarket distributes its weekly preprint in an out-of-town shopper and the only new car dealer, once a regular major advertiser, is investing most of its dollars into online advertising. Golden published a good paper. It was well-written and nicely designed. But her dependence on retail advertising was her Achilles’ heel. It wasn’t that the majority of local stores didn’t want to support her, they just thought they didn’t need to advertise to locals they believed were already “loyal” customers. Most didn’t understand how important a local newspaper is to holding a community together. Warroad’s local businesses either forgot, or were never taught, the importance of TOMA (Top of Mind Awareness) and the marketing axiom “Seventy-five percent of your customers live within 25 miles of your front door.” All across America, newspapers and free circulation publications are facing the same situation. Most national and regional chain stores, once a lucrative source of revenue, have deserted smaller communities. The small, local boutiques Arkansas Publisher Weekly
that replaced them are often poorly informed regarding the reach of digital advertising, too tightly financed to afford traditional advertising and are more of a hobby for the owner than a business. So where does today’s publisher turn for new revenue? And what can a paper’s ad manager do to increase the company’s bottom line? In our mostly rural communities, we’ve turned to the service providers, local manufacturing firms and once overlooked professionals as fresh revenue sources. Locally owned banks and credit unions as well as full-service insurance agencies are good examples of service providers that continue to be excellent potential advertisers. Others include locally managed hospitals and medical facilities, home construction and sales organizations, privately owned colleges, universities and regional community colleges. The city itself, the local chamber of commerce, community celebrations and annual event organizations as well as the economic development director also are emerging sources for new advertising dollars. These are major dollar advertisers who understand that the local newspaper is key to creating community and a spirit of consensus. Without a strong, united community those businesses have a limited future with a declining number of clients, students, employees and attendees. It also will lead to a diminishing tax base. These resources have the deep pockets and good reason to underwrite the future of their hometown paper. But it doesn’t stop there. Local, smaller professionals from the fancy-cuts men’s barbershop to local CPA and law firms are becoming good community supporters and local paper advertisers. Still, harvesting those new dollars requires creativity and a commitment to more oneof-a-kind special sections and numerous weekly community support pages. 5
Special projects and sections which draw strong support from the first group of advertisers include tabloid or multipage salutes to law enforcement officers, volunteer or city firefighters, health-care workers (including the EMT volunteers) in your area and even the members of your local FFA and 4-H chapters. Other ideas include “(Town Name), An AllAmerican City” and “All Roads Lead To (Town Name).” The “All-American City” project features articles about nationally recognized people — military, political, religious, business leaders — born in your community as well as nationally known products, practices and cultural changes that originated in your town. “All Roads Lead To” is a guide of exciting experiences that can be found by driving into your community via key highways located on each side of town. Both sections, and many others like them, have been well received and supported by local-minded businesses that appreciate sections that promote the history, fun and value of living in their town. We do a different approach to the annual summer series in our N’West Iowa REVIEW each year. The multiweek series usually includes coverage of 12-14 communities in our four-county area. The smaller businesses on the second list — as well as many traditional advertisers — are excellent prospects for regular monthly pages that provide a consistent, contracted advertising package at an economical predetermined cost. Some such pages include 6-pacs, 8-pacs, monthly professional page, our Home Improvement page, the “I believe in (your town)” sponsored page and our A to Z Business Directory. Even more exceptional dollars are available by selling an unlimited number of once-a-year salute pages promoting everything from Easter Sunday church Continued on Page 6
April 8, 2021
Newspapers can’t depend on retail advertisers to survive
Continued from Page 5
service schedules to homecoming courts to annual celebration ideas. So, take a big breath and put a smile on your face. There continues to be a strong future for community papers. We
simply need to direct our attention to the advertisers that believe in the community and the value of the hometown paper. It will require hard work and fresh thinking, but the survival of the printed paper is well worth the effort.
Peter W. Wagner is founder and publisher of the award winning N’West Iowa REVIEW and 13 additional publications. Wagner can be contacted by emailing pww@iowainformation.com or calling his cell at (712) 348-3550.
News Release Distributon Service Do you need to disseminate a news release regionally, by congressional district or to statewide members of the media?
Call 501-374-1500 to discuss your customized project. Arkansas Publisher Weekly
6
April 8, 2021
Legislative Report Legislative Report 93 Arkansas General Assembly Legislative Report
APA is monitoring the following filed bills of interest to our industry and the public: APA is monitoring the following filed bills of interest to our industry and the public: rd
Bill No. / Author Short Description APA Position Status is monitoring the following filed bills of interest to ourPosition industry and Current the public: Bill1007 No. / AuthorAPACreates Short Description APA Current Status HB a hotline and database for reported allegations of Pending Awaits initial hearing in House Judiciary Rep. Love HB 1007
Bill Rep. No. Love/ Author HB 1007 Rep. Love HB 1280 Rep. Haak HB 1280 Rep. No. Haak/ Author Bill
police civil rights abuses, but shields that database fromof Creates a hotline and database for reported allegations
Pending
Short Description disclosure under Freedom of Information Act. from police civil rights the abuses, but shields that database
https://bit.ly/35EM3A4 disclosure under the Information Act. Creates a hotline andFreedom databaseoffor reported allegations of https://bit.ly/35EM3A4 police civil rights abuses, but shields that database from Amends the FOI Act to permit governing bodies to meet disclosure under the Freedom of Information Act. in executive with theirgoverning attorney, to discuss certain Amends the session, FOI Act to permit bodies to meet https://bit.ly/35EM3A4 economic development projects. in executive session, with their attorney, to discuss certain Short Description https://bit.ly/36FMUkQ economicthe development projects. Amends FOI Act to permit governing bodies to meet Creates a hotline and database for reported allegations of https://bit.ly/36FMUkQ in executive session, with their attorney, discusstocertain Changes the definition of newspaper as ittodatabase relates notice police civil rights abuses, but shields that from economic development projects. requirements for timber sales on lands a Changes the definition of newspaper as it relates to to notice disclosure under the Freedom of state-owned Information Act. https://bit.ly/36FMUkQ newspaper published in print, electronically or both in print requirements for timber sales on state-owned lands to a https://bit.ly/35EM3A4 and electronically. newspaper electronically or both print Changes thepublished definitioninofprint, newspaper as it relates to in notice https://bit.ly/3a9eYPC and electronically. Amends the FOI to permit governing bodies to meet requirements for Act timber sales on state-owned lands to a https://bit.ly/3a9eYPC in executive session, theirelectronically attorney, discuss newspaper published inofprint, or both innotice print Changes the definitionwith newspaper as ittorelates tocertain
Committee Awaits initial hearing in House Judiciary
APA Position
Current CommitteeStatus
Pending
Awaits initial hearing in House Judiciary
APA is monitoring the following filed bills of interest to our industry and Committee the public: Opposes Passed House City, County and Local Affairs
HB 1280 HB 1007 Rep. Haak HB1442 Rep. Love Rep. Bentley HB1442 Rep. Bentley HB1442 HB 1280 Rep. Bentley Rep. Haak HB1443 Rep. Bentley HB1443 Rep. Bentley HB1442 HB1443 Rep. Bentley HB 1468 Rep. Jett HB 1468 Rep. Jett
HB1443 HB 1468 Bentley Rep. Jett HB 1576 Rep. Mark Berry HB 1576 Rep. Mark Berry 1468 HB 1576 Jett Berry Rep. Mark HB 1579 Rep. Smith HB 1579 Rep. Smith HB 1579 HB Rep.1576 Smith 1626 Rep. Mark Berry Brooks HB 1626 Rep. Brooks HB 1626 HB 1579 Rep. Brooks Rep. Smith HB 1634 Rep. Lanny Fite HB 1634 Rep. Lanny Fite 1626 HB 1634 1635 Brooks Rep. Lanny MilliganFite HB 1635 Rep. Milligan HB 1635 Rep. Milligan HB 1634 Rep. Lanny Fite HB 1758 Rep. Eaves HB 1758 Rep.1635 Eaves HB
Rep. Milligan HB 1758 Rep. Eaves HB 1811 Rep. Christiansen HB 1811 Rep. Christiansen HB 1811 HB 1758 Rep. Christiansen Rep. Eaves HB 1868 Rep. Haak
Opposes
Committee;Status advances to House Current
Neutral Opposes Neutral Neutral
Signed by Governor as Act 455 Passed House; failedCounty to receive motion House City, and aLocal Affairs in Senate City, County and Local Affairs Committee; advances to House Passed House and Senate Revenue and Committee Taxation Committee; advances to full and Senate Passed House and Senate Revenue Taxation Committee; advances to full Senate
Neutral
Governor as Act 455 Passedby House and Senate Revenue Signed the governor as Act 584 and Taxation Committee; advances to full Senate Passed House and Senate Revenue and Taxation Committee; advances to full and Senate Passed House and Senate Revenue Taxation Committee; advances to full Senate
Opposes Pending Neutral Neutral
economic development projects. and electronically. requirements for land commissioner to a newspaper Changes the definition of newspapersales as it relates to notice https://bit.ly/36FMUkQ https://bit.ly/3a9eYPC published in print, electronically or both in print and requirements for land commissioner sales to a newspaper electronically. publishedthe in print, electronically or both print and Changes definition of newspaper as in it relates to notice https://bit.ly/2NlbjVH electronically. timber sales on state-owned to a requirements for land commissioner sales to alands newspaper https://bit.ly/2NlbjVH newspaper in print,Tax electronically or both published inpublished print, electronically or both inCommission print and in print Establishes an independent Appeals to
Neutral Neutral
and electronically. electronically. settle disputes DFATax andAppeals taxpayers and creates Establishes an between independent Commission to https://bit.ly/3a9eYPC https://bit.ly/2NlbjVH an exemption the FOIA for and commission meetings and settle disputestobetween DFA taxpayers and creates records. an exemption toindependent the FOIA forTax commission meetings and Changes thean definition of newspaper as itCommission relates to notice Establishes Appeals to https://bit.ly/3qiZ4ba records. requirements land commissioner sales toand a newspaper settle disputesfor between DFA and taxpayers creates https://bit.ly/3qiZ4ba published print, electronically or of both in meetings print and and an exemption to the FOIA commission Provides ainmechanism for for victims crime to have
Neutral Neutral Neutral
electronically. records. their names and personal sealed Provides a mechanism forinformation victims of crime to and havemade https://bit.ly/2NlbjVH https://bit.ly/3qiZ4ba confidential a court. their names by and personal information sealed and made https://bit.ly/3edzf91 confidential by a court. for victims Establishes an independent Tax Appeals Commission to Provides a mechanism of crime to have https://bit.ly/3edzf91 settle disputes between DFA and taxpayers and their names and personal information sealed andcreates made Creates a Terrorism Offender Registry in Arkansas
an exemption the FOIA for commission meetingsofand confidential bytoaregistry court. and makes the exempt from theinFreedom Creates a Terrorism Offender Registry Arkansas records. https://bit.ly/3edzf91 Information and makes Act. the registry exempt from the Freedom of https://bit.ly/3qiZ4ba https://bit.ly/30abRRL Information Act. Creates a Terrorism Offender Registry in Arkansas https://bit.ly/30abRRL Provides a mechanism for victims of the crime to have and makes registry exempt from Freedom of Clarifies thatthe gross salary information of a public employee
their names and personal information sealed andAct made Information is disclosable under the Freedom of Information Clarifies thatAct. gross salary of a public employee confidential byunder a court. https://bit.ly/30abRRL outside the structure of aFreedom typical personnel records is disclosable the of Information Act https://bit.ly/3edzf91 request. outside the of a typical personnel records Clarifies thatstructure gross salary information of a public employee https://bit.ly/2PBUk2L request. Creates a Terrorism Registry in Arkansas is disclosable under Offender the Freedom of Information Act https://bit.ly/2PBUk2L and makes the registry thebill Freedom of outside the structure of exempt a typicalfrom personnel records Repeals a law deemed obsolete in the that requires Information Act. request. public notice indeemed a newspaper of local taxbill collections. Repeals a law obsolete in the that requires https://bit.ly/30abRRL https://bit.ly/2PBUk2L https://bit.ly/3cgVIQb public notice in a newspaper of local tax collections. https://bit.ly/3cgVIQb Clarifies salary information a public employee Repeals a Freedom lawgross deemed obsolete inAct theof bill that requires Creates athat of Information exemption for is disclosable the Freedom of Information public notice inunder a newspaper local tax collections. personal about a of crime victim or thatAct victim’s Creates ainformation Freedom of Information Act exemption for outside of a typical personnel https://bit.ly/3cgVIQb family, orthe forstructure an individual who has filed fororrecords anthat order of personal information about a crime victim victim’s request. protection. family, orafor an individual who hasAct filed for an order Creates Freedom of Information exemption for of https://bit.ly/2PBUk2L https://bit.ly/38s7NRt protection. personal information about a crime victim or that victim’s https://bit.ly/38s7NRt Repeals law obsolete in filed the bill requires family, orafor andeemed individual who has forthat an order of
Signed the governor as Act 586 and Passedby House and Senate Revenue Taxation Committee; advances to full Senate Awaits initial hearing before House Judiciary Committee Awaits initial hearing before House Judiciary Committee Passedinitial House and Senate and Awaits hearing beforeRevenue House Judiciary Taxation Committee; to full Senate Committee Awaits initial hearing advances before House Judiciary Committee Awaits initial hearing before House Judiciary Committee
Pending Neutral Supports Supports
Awaits initial hearing before House Judiciary Awaits hearing before House Judiciary Committee Passedinitial House State Agencies Committee; Committee advances to fullState House Passed House Agencies Committee; advances to full House
Supports Pending Neutral Neutral
Passed House; sent to governor House State Agencies Committee; Awaits initial hearing before House Judiciary advances to full House Committee Signed by Governor as Act 452 Signed by Governor as Act 452
Supports Neutral Neutral
Passed House State as Agencies Committee; Signed by Governor Act 452State Awaits initial hearing in House Agencies advances to full House Committee Awaits initial hearing in House State Agencies Committee
Neutral
Awaits initial hearing in House State Agencies Committee Signed by Governor as Act 452 Awaits initial hearing in House State Agencies Committee Awaits initial hearing in House State Agencies Committee Awaits initial hearing in House State Agencies
Neutral Neutral Opposed Neutral Opposed
family, for individual who has requirement filed forinan order ofto received in a an native format. Removes newspaper public notice for the Adds aorwebsite public notice requirement addition protection. https://bit.ly/3eUahMo towing of abandoned implements machinery. a newspaper public notice for the towing Removes newspaper publicrequirement noticeorrequirement for the https://bit.ly/38s7NRt https://bit.ly/3fg3Wv0 of abandoned vehiclesimplements or machinery. towing of abandoned https://bit.ly/3fg3Wv0 Removes newspaper public notice requirement for the
Passed House City, County and Local Affairs Awaits initial hearing in House Judiciary Committee; advancesastoAct House Signed by Governor 455 Committee Signed by Governor as Act 455
Neutral Pending Pending
Neutral Neutral Neutral
public notice a newspaper of local protection. Clarifies that in records requested undertax thecollections. FOIA may be https://bit.ly/3cgVIQb https://bit.ly/38s7NRt received in a records native format. Clarifies that requested under the FOIA may be https://bit.ly/3eUahMo receivedainFreedom a native of format. Creates Information Act exemption for https://bit.ly/3eUahMo personal information a crime victim thatmay victim’s Clarifies that records about requested under the or FOIA be
Committee; advances to House Passed House City, County and Local Affairs
APA Position
Committee Awaits initial hearing in House State Agencies Committee Awaits initial hearing in House Public Transportation Committee Awaits initial hearing in House Public Transportation Committee
Opposed Neutral Neutral
Awaits initial hearing in House Public Awaits initial hearing in House State Agencies Transportation Committee Committee Awaits initial hearing in House City, County and Local Affairs Committee
Opposed
Awaits initial hearing in House Public Transportation Committee Awaits initial hearing in House City, County and Local Affairs Committee April 1, 2021
Clarifiesofthat records requested under the FOIA may be towing abandoned implements or machinery. received in and a native format. https://bit.ly/3fg3Wv0 Allows city county governments to receive certain https://bit.ly/3eUahMo sales tax data from the state, and makes that data exempt from the Freedom of Information Act https://bit.ly/39U7MXc HB 1811 Removes newspaper public notice requirement for the Rep. Christiansen towing of abandoned implements or machinery. https://bit.ly/3fg3Wv0 HB 1872 Requires governing bodies meeting in executive Rep. Beaty session to maintain audio recordings of those Arkansas Publisher Weekly sessions; provide oral summaries of the sessions; and Arkansas Publisher Weekly publish a written transcript of the session in a local newspaper Arkansas Publisher Weekly https://bit.ly/3tfcYwt
7
April 1, 2021
ArkansasPublisher Publisher Weekly Arkansas Weekly
77
1, 2021 April 8,
Supports
7 7
April 1, 2021
SB 166 Sen. Clark
Bill No. / Author
Allows the public to have access in certain circumstances to court hearings involving child support and paternity matters. Short Description https://bit.ly/3pQQq3l
Supports
Passed Senate; awaits hearing in House Aging, Children, Legislative and Military Affairs Committee
APA Position
Current Status
SB 64 195 Irvin Sen. Sullivan
Makes technical statutes toto state that some school Redefines “publiccorrections records” intothe FOI Act include districts from may publish annual student in a records private entities such as progress nonprofit reports foundations newspaper. that directly support public entities. https://bit.ly/35GcSEg https://bit.ly/3rnDOkx
Neutral Pending
Signed initial by thehearing governor as Act 544 Passed House and Senate Awaits in Senate State Agencies Committee
SB 196 166 Sen. Sullivan Clark
Permits a judge to acircumstances plaintiff in a Allows the publictotogrant haveattorneys’ access infees certain FOIA lawsuit eveninvolving if the defendant receives to court hearings child support andinformation paternity based on the request following the filing of a lawsuit. matters. https://bit.ly/3aFEET8 https://bit.ly/3pQQq3l
Supports
Passed Senate House State Senate;and awaits hearing inAgencies House in House Aging, Committee; advances to full House Aging, Children, Legislative and Military Children, Legislative and Military Affairs Affairs Committee Committee; advances to full House
SB 203 195 Sen. Rapert Sullivan
Includes a “public newspaper notice forinclude the transfer Redefines records” in requirement the FOI Act to some or novation insurance policies under court order records fromofprivate entities suchmade as nonprofit foundations while establishing other guidelines that directly support public entities. for notice. https://bit.ly/3axspI0 https://bit.ly/3rnDOkx
Supports Pending
Awaits initial hearing in Senate Insurance and State Agencies Commerce Committee Committee
SB 208 196 Sen. Sullivan
Defines “meeting” the FOIA as a gathering of two Permits a judge to under grant attorneys’ fees to a plaintiff in a or more of aif governing bodyreceives to discuss any matter FOIA members lawsuit even the defendant information on which may be taken by governing body. based on action the request following thethe filing of a lawsuit. https://bit.ly/3rnDRNf https://bit.ly/3aFEET8
Pending Supports
Awaits hearing in Act Senate State Agencies Passed Senate and as House State Agencies Signed initial by governor 572 Committee Committee; advances to full House
SB 299 203 Sen. English Rapert
Exempts information obtained byfor thethe Division of Includes apersonal newspaper notice requirement transfer Workforce frompolicies disclosure under thecourt Freedom or novationServices of insurance made under orderof Information Act. other guidelines for notice. while establishing https://bit.ly/2NgcwOb https://bit.ly/3axspI0
Neutral Supports
Passed the Senate House Public Health, Awaits initial hearingand in Senate Insurance and Welfare andCommittee Labor Committee; advances to full Commerce House
SB 305 208 Sen. Caldwell Sullivan
Increases the competitive bidding for public Defines “meeting” under the FOIA threshold as a gathering of two or improvements to body $50,000 and reduces public more membersfrom of a $35,000 governing to discuss any matter notice frequency for bid two to body. one. on which action may be solicitations taken by thefrom governing https://bit.ly/2OL5Yru https://bit.ly/3rnDRNf
Opposes Pending
Passed the House Awaits initial hearing in Senate State Agencies Committee
SB 355 299 Sen. Teague English
Allows names of lottery winnersobtained of $500,000 toDivision be exempt Exempts personal information by the of from disclosure under FOIA for threeunder years.the Freedom of Workforce Services from disclosure https://bit.ly/3qUasuk Information Act. https://bit.ly/2NgcwOb Sets out a process for notice of sale of state lands, but
Opposes Neutral
:Passed Passedthe Senate and House Rules Senate and House Public Health, Senate and House; sent to Committee; governor awaits House Welfarefull and Laborvote Committee; advances to full House
Opposes Opposes
Awaits initial hearing in Senate State Agencies Committee Passed the House
Opposes
Signed by the governor as Act 432
construction and improvements. Allows namesprojects of lottery winners of $500,000 to be exempt https://bit.ly/309x6mG from disclosure under FOIA for three years. https://bit.ly/3qUasuk Increases the minimum threshold from $20,000 to $35,000
Opposes
:Passed PassedSenate Senateand andHouse HouseRules Rules Committee; awaits full House Committee; awaitsvote full House vote
Opposes Opposes
Signed by the governor as Act 435 Awaits initial hearing in Senate State Agencies Committee
SB 488 454 Sen. Hammer Mark Johnson
Exempts voted ballots from disclosure thetoFreedom Increases the minimum threshold from under $20,000 $35,000 of Information Act until 30 days after the certification an for municipal sewer systems to seek competitive bidsofon election. construction projects and improvements. https://bit.ly/38xnI0B https://bit.ly/309x6mG
Pending Opposes
Passed Senate State Agencies Committee; Senate; advances to House State Signed by the governor as Act 432 advances to full Senate Agencies Committee
SB 535 456 Sen. Davis Stubblefield
Exempts FOIA anythreshold personal from information about Increasesfrom the minimum $20,000 to $35,000 membership donations to nonprofit entities contained in for cities and or counties to make purchases without soliciting otherwise public competitive bids.records. https://bit.ly/3r6CUsg https://bit.ly/30aGV3x
Pending Opposes
Passedinitial Senate; awaits hearing in House Awaits in Senate State Agencies Signed by thehearing governor as Act 435 State Agencies Committee Commitee
SB 558 488 Sen. Garner Hammer
Implements a sales taxfrom on advertising social Exempts voted ballots disclosure on under themedia Freedom platforms that have at least 500,000 users of and of Information Act until 30 days after Arkansas the certification an generate election. at least $500,000 in ad revenue in Arkansas. https://bit.ly/30Z10dA https://bit.ly/38xnI0B
Opposes Pending
Awaits hearing Joint Energy Committee Passedinitial Senate Statein Agencies Committee; advances to full Senate
SB 567 535 Sen. Bledsoe Davis
Creates FOIA any exemptions coroners’ reports. Exemptsbroad from FOIA personalininformation about https://bit.ly/3s2cTeT membership or donations to nonprofit entities contained in otherwisestatements public records. Requires to be included in any newspaper https://bit.ly/3r6CUsg public notice paid for by a municipality or county stating
Opposes Pending
Was notinitial considered hearing Senate Awaits hearinginininitial Senate State by Agencies City, County and Local Affairs Committee Commitee
Neutral
Passedinitial Senate City, County and Local Awaits hearing before Senate City, County Affairs Committee; advances to full Senate and Local Affairs Committee Awaits initial hearing in Joint Energy Committee
SB 358 Sen. Caldwell SB 305 Sen. Caldwell SB 454 Sen. Mark Johnson SB 355 Sen. Teague SB 456 Sen. Stubblefield SB 358 Sen. Caldwell
SB 610 Sen. Flippo SB 558 Sen. Garner
SB 567 Sen. Bledsoe
does not include a newspaper public notice requirement. Increases the competitive bidding threshold for public https://bit.ly/3q3kwQx improvements from $35,000 to $50,000 and reduces public notice frequency for bid threshold solicitations from two to to one. Increases the minimum from $20,000 $35,000 https://bit.ly/2OL5Yru for municipal sewer systems to seek competitive bids on
for cities and counties make without Sets out a process for to notice ofpurchases sale of state lands,soliciting but competitive bids. a newspaper public notice requirement. does not include https://bit.ly/30aGV3x https://bit.ly/3q3kwQx
the public entity thattax paid the noticeon and the cost of the Implements a sales onfor advertising social media notice, platforms that have at least 500,000 Arkansas users and https://bit.ly/3cIFqks generate at least $500,000 in ad revenue in Arkansas. https://bit.ly/30Z10dA
Opposes
Creates broad FOIA exemptions in coroners’ reports. https://bit.ly/3s2cTeT
Opposes
Was not considered in initial hearing by Senate City, County and Local Affairs Committee
Neutral
Awaits initial hearing before SenateApril City, 1, County 2021 and Local Affairs Committee
SB 610 Publisher Weekly Requires statements to be included in any newspaper Arkansas
8
Arkansas Weekly ArkansasPublisher Publisher Weekly
8 8
Sen. Flippo
public notice paid for by a municipality or county stating the public entity that paid for the notice and the cost of the notice, https://bit.ly/3cIFqks
April 8, 1, 2021