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NLR Times, Lonoke County Democrat publish final issues New Mena newspaper publisher’s winding career path leads back to its roots
ARKANSAS
PRESS
Ar kansas
Publisher Weekly
Vol. 13 | No. 35 | Thursday, August 30, 2018
ASSOCIATION
Serving Press and State Since 1873
Newspaper industry wins battle over newsprint tariffs The newspaper industry secured a major victory yesterday, when the International Trade Commission (ITC) moved unanimously to eliminate the newsprint tariffs that had been leading to fewer pages and layoffs at newspapers across the country.
of imports of uncoated groundwood paper from Canada.” The Trump Administration had previously imposed the tariffs after a U.S. paper mill argued that Canadian manufacturers had an unfair trade advantage because of subsidies provided to them by the Canadian government.
“Since January, newspaper publishers have been beset with higher costs and economic uncertainty because of unfair tariffs that drastically increased the cost of newsprint,” said Ashley Wimberley, executive director of the Arkansas Press Association (APA). “This decision is a great win for an industry that needed a victory.”
The ITC reversed the U.S. Department of Commerce’s decision to impose tariffs on newsprint from Canada that had ranged from 28 to 32 percent. The Commission, in a statement, said that U.S. newsprint manufacturers are “not materially injured or threatened with material injury by reason
Wimberley praised the News Media Alliance (NMA) and the National Newspaper Association for their major efforts as well as APA staff, the APA board of directors and publishers across Arkansas for their calls and feedback given to the state’s congressional delegation and other federal officials. “This action demonstrates that our leaders can and will make the right decision when we work together as an industry to ensure
our voices are heard.”
In a July 27 letter to the ITC requesting the reversal, Sen. John Boozman, R-Ark., noted that 9,000 of his constituents work in a printing or publishing facility, with almost all of them being small businesses. Boozman is co-chairman of the Senate’s Paper and Packaging Caucus. According to news reports, some Canadian mills had deposited millions of dollars from the additional tariffs, and that money will be refunded. Annually, U.S. newspapers spend more than $1 billion a year on Canadian newsprint. David Chavern, president of NMA, said in a statement: “Today is a great day for American journalism. The ITC’s decision will help to preserve the vitality of local newspapers and prevent additional job losses in the printing and publishing sectors. The end of these unwarranted tariffs means local newspapers can focus once again on playing a vital role in our democracy by keeping citizens informed and connected to the daily lives of their communities.”
Subscribers give back to injured newspaper carrier Howard Shelton has always taken great care to ensure his Arkansas DemocratGazette customers receive their morning newspapers, and now those customers, Democrat-Gazette colleagues and others from across the country are banding together to take care of him.
Shelton, a longtime Democrat-Gazette carrier, was delivering papers in west Little Rock about 4:30 a.m. on August 22 when he was shot and his car was stolen. A fundraising webpage created by one of his loyal customers to support Shelton as
he recovers has raised more than $8,500 from more than 150 contributors thus far.
job. He had not missed work in more than two decades before the incident.
According to reports, Shelton had left his vehicle to place a paper at a customer’s door when a suspect fired a shot that ricocheted off the pavement and hit Shelton’s leg. Suspects then stole his vehicle, which was later found crashed in Hot Spring County.
On the GoFundMe site, customer Laurie Peterson described Shelton as “our wonderful newspaper dude.” She organized the fundraiser, noting that “Howard’s work is as a contractor, so when he doesn’t work, he doesn’t get paid. And now, he is also without his car until it’s recovered.”
Shelton is known for placing papers on porches so as not to disturb his customers. He’s also known for his dedication to the
To donate, visit www.GoFundMe.com/ howard-shelton-fund.