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ARKANSAS
Save the Date: ArkLaMiss conference set for Nov. 8-9
PRESS
Ar kansas
Publisher Weekly
2018 APA ‘Perfect Performance’ list
ASSOCIATION
Serving Press and State Since 1873
Vol. 13 | No. 31 | Thursday, August 2, 2018
John Robert Schirmer believes APA plays an important role in our state
It’s not news that John Robert Schirmer has little time for activities other than the newspaper business. A new board member of Arkansas Press Association (APA), John Robert is editor and publisher of the Nashville News-Leader and publisher of the Murfreesboro Diamond, Glenwood Herald and the Montgomery County News. “I still teach a history class each day at the high school,” he said. “And I am on the board of the Howard Memorial Hospital Foundation.” Previously honored as an APA Journalism Educator of the Year, John Robert received a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism from Ouachita Baptist University and a Master of Science in Education with emphasis on History and English from Ouachita Baptist University. He taught
English and journalism at Nashville High School and was the publications advisor for the school paper.
“We printed the school paper at the Nashville News,” he said. “Louie and Jane talked to me about working parttime. Later I worked full-time and I’ve been here ever since.” While working for Louie and the late Jane Graves at the Nashville News, John Robert began regularly attending APA conventions. “It’s good to see everybody and learn how other papers cope with changes in their markets. We talk about the things we have in common, things that are going well and issues like the tariffs,” he said. John Robert believes APA is doing a good job for the industry in Arkansas, and he
Wimberley speaks at SPJ Mixer
Arkansas Press Association (APA) Executive Director Ashley Wimberley spoke last week with members of the Society of Professional Journalists (SPJ) after a tour of Rock Town Distillery about APA’s recent efforts. Her talk was a part of ongoing efforts to forge partnerships and acquire associate members. “We’re promoting better understanding of APA to journalists not fully familiar with our services,” Wimberley said. “When they hear that APA is leading efforts in the legislature like the defense of journalism curriculum requirements and efforts with our congressional delegation on issues like the newsprint tariffs, they can connect the work of APA to their own interests and become more involved.”
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John Robert Schirmer proudly shows off his first place award at the 2018 APA Better Newspaper Editorial Awards held June 30 in Eureka Springs.