Arkansas Publisher Weekly: August 18, 2023

Guest

Ad lessons from a wall poster

By John Foust

Johnson wins FOIA fight at Times-Herald in Forrest City

Challenging a local school board or city council on a violation of Arkansas’ Freedom of Information Act sometimes can involve determination and courage on the part of a community journalist.

But, in the end, that is indeed a major responsibility at times for a committed local publisher.

That was the case during the past year for Tamara Johnson, editor and publisher of the Times-Herald in Forrest City.

Last September, she filed a complaint with the Palestine Police Dept. against the Palestine-Wheatley School Board for holding a secret meeting to interview a candidate for the position of interim superintendent at the St. Francis County school.

It took almost a year for the case to be resolved after the First Judicial District Prosecuting Attorney’s office declined to prosecute the case and several local judges recused themselves. Eventually, Marshall Wright, the city attorney of Forrest City, agreed to serve as prosecutor in the case before retired Circuit Court Judge Ralph Wilson of Osceola.

Over a period of more than nine months the case was continued several times, with attorneys eventually reaching an agreement for board president Derrick Boileau to plead no contest to the charge. Boileau was placed on six months’ probation and ordered to attend mandatory training provided by the Arkansas School Boards Association for violating the FOIA.

The other six school board members also will be required to attend the training, according to an order by Wilson dated July 31.

Johnson said the secret meeting occurred after several problems the newspaper had with the board concerning its methods of operation. This involved such actions as creating confusion on meeting dates and agenda items.

“I told them this has got to stop,” Johnson said. “I originally thought we had a good relationship with the president and the board. What I really wanted all along was for them to take some training on the Freedom of Information Act.”

Tamara Johnson at her desk in the Times-Herald offices.

See Photo of the Year Award page

Photo of the Year Award Presented

Tommy Metthe of

The Photo of the Year Award is presented to the top-voted photograph from among all the winning entries in APA’s annual Better Newspaper Editorial Contest, with the judges considering the photograph’s timeliness, originality, contrast, mood, dramatic effect and appeal.

The situation came to a head when the board president failed to contact the newspaper concerning the meeting with the superintendent prospect and held the session across the street from the school in a shop owned by one of the board members. The newspaper obtained a photo of vehicles of board members parked in front of the shop during the meeting.

“I just really didn’t think they would do something as blatant as that,” Johnson said. “That just went too far.”

The publisher said she sends letters to local boards and councils each year asking to be notified of all meetings in advance. She also makes it clear that booklets detailing the requirements of the FOIA are readily available upon request. “I feel like we tried our best to avoid this,” Johnson said of the conflict with the school board.

Johnson said the public is concerned about boards or councils trying to hold secret meetings. “I have people that will call me,” she said. “People don’t necessarily want to go to the meetings, but they like for us to be there to tell them what happened.”

Concerning her filing of the original complaint, Johnson said, “You don’t do something like this unless you are prepared to go the whole way. And the feedback I have received from the public has been positive.”

According to Arkansas law, violation of the FOIA is a Class C misdemeanor, punishable by up to 30 days in jail and a fine of up to $500.

According to Wright, he will nolle prosequi the charges against the other six board members as part of an agreement with Palestine-Wheatley board attorney Cody Kees. They will have one year to complete the required FOIA training, or the original charges can be refiled.

“The Arkansas FOIA is very clear when it comes to members of a governing body meeting to conduct business,” Johnson said. “The situation with the Palestine-Wheatley School Board was clearly a violation of the state law. Maybe this case will send a message to other governing bodies that it is just as important to follow the FOIA as it is any other law in this state.”

Johnson was disappointed with the actions of the school board in light of what she considers a solid level of trust developed with readers and institutions in the St. Francis County area during her almost 33 years at the Times-Herald.

Her strongest goals are to instill in readers and community leaders a belief that the newspaper’s reporting is indeed accurate and that she, as editor and publisher, is a person who handles her tasks in a fair manner.

Johnson said her long tenure at the newspaper has resulted in an understanding of the community and comprehensive knowledge of its history and institutions.

She was employed by long-time owner and publisher Bonner McCollum in 1990 as a reporter under the guidance of veteran editor Kersh Hall. She became managing editor in 1996 and was promoted to publisher when the newspaper was sold to Horizon Publications in 2017 (the company also owns the Saline Courier in Benton and the Malvern Daily Record).

McCollum still maintains an office adjacent to Johnson’s in the Times-Herald building. “We have a great relationship, and he helps me from time to time and offers some good advice,” she said.

The Times-Herald publishes an afternoon edition five days a week from Monday through Friday. “I believe we are the only

One of the many awards on display at the Times-Herald

FOIA fight

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newspaper in the state that does that,” Johnson said. “I am really pleased with the fact that our readers and advertisers can always know the Times-Herald is going to be there every weekday afternoon.”

Additionally, the Times-Herald publishes a TMC each week, the East Arkansas Advertiser, as well as the neighboring Marianna Courier-Index. The seven press runs are handled by the only allfemale crew in Arkansas.

“I wouldn’t trade them for anyone,” Johnson said. “They can really make that old press sing.”

The press crew is supervised by long-time employee Teresa McCrary, who recently received the national Production Manager of the Year award from Editor & Publisher Magazine. “We were all very proud of her for that honor,” Johnson said.

The newspaper now is comprised of Johnson, McCrary, press assistant Dusty McCollum, salesperson Bill McLoud, reporter/ photographer Brodie Johnson, composer Mae Watson, bookkeeper Teresa Wall and circulation manager Bobby Teal.

The staff reporter, Brodie Johnson, is the publisher’s son. She said the original plan was for him to help with news temporarily, but he now has been on the staff four years. “He enjoys covering the news just as I do,” she said.

He handles the police and fire beats on a regular basis. “Brodie really enjoys the relationships and camaraderie he has developed and has made a lot of friends,” she said.

Sports coverage is handled by a retired local newspaperman, Fred Conley, on a contract basis. Additional sports stories are supplied by Arkansas Razorbacks reporter Otis Kirk.

Of course, Johnson is focused on the major challenges faced by community newspapers in the current environment.

“One concern that stands out to me is trying to convince advertisers that the local news they enjoy needs to be supported by them,” she said. “Not all of them are willing to back the newspaper with their money.”

Johnson said a concerted effort is made to make their advertising dollars effective through combining print and online messaging. “Don’t get me wrong, though, we do get some good support. It must be recognized that we are in the Delta and money is not plentiful here.”

The veteran publisher said special promotions are critical to the budget, with the annual Farm Family of the Year section a major income source. This year, the newspaper also is printing a Cross County farm family section due to the current absence of a newspaper in nearby Wynne.

Johnson firmly believes in the critical role of the newspaper in any healthy community. A local publication is important in providing a watchdog role for local boards and commissions. Radio stations may provide a 30-to-60-second report on local meetings, she said, “but if they want the real story, they pick up the newspaper.”

Concerning her reason for staying in the industry for so long, Johnson said it relates to “being able to interact with the community. It is important to me to have been able to develop genuine trust over all these years. Plus, I really enjoy going to the public meetings.”

Johnson laughingly said that, in a way, she didn’t have a choice in entering the newspaper field.

She said her father, who was postmaster in nearby Wheatley (also in St. Francis County), “decided I would go into journalism because he knew I liked to write.”

Johnson graduated from Wheatley High School in 1982 and then attended her first year of college at the University of Central Arkansas in Conway.

When she got home for summer break, her father told her, “You start to work Monday” at the weekly Brinkley Argus, then owned by veteran newspaperman Mason Clifton

“I ended up working there during holiday and summer breaks and I just grew to love it,” Johnson said.

After focusing on journalism classes under academic advisor Dean Duncan at UCA (and her work on the student newspaper, The Echo), she landed a reporter position at the Newport Daily Independent, then owned by Orville Richolson

She eventually served about six months as editor of the Independent before accepting a public relations position at Medallion Foods in Newport. “I quickly found out I wasn’t cut out for that,” she said, moving on to her position at Forrest City.

Johnson will reach 33 years at the Times-Herald on Sept. 17.

She has been married 31 years to Rob Johnson, who is manager of the local radio station. They joke they met at the police station. At the time he was covering the police beat for the radio station, while she was doing the same for the newspaper.

“Ironically it has come full circle as our son is now covering that same beat,” Johnson said.

The Johnsons also have a daughter, Hilary Trickey of Jonesboro, and five grandchildren.

Dedicated journalists are crucial to the future success of community newspapers, especially those who take their role seriously as guardians of the public’s right to know. Tamara Johnson has proven through her long tenure in the industry and her willingness to meet the challenge of honoring and protecting the freedom of information that she is indeed a true professional worthy of respect from her readers and her peers.

A Greater Voic e

AMPLIFYING THE POWER OF THE PRESS.

Bank OZK proudly supports the Arkansas Press Association (APA) and its vital mission to nurture Arkansas newspapers with the knowledge and resources they need to grow and thrive. As one of the state's most esteemed professional associations for 150 years, the APA has been a powerful voice for freedom of the press. By connecting our communities through authentic and impactful content, we can unlock even greater possibilities.

MEDIA INQUIRIES

Michelle Rossow

Chief Communications O cer

michelle.rossow@ozk.com | (501) 471-8475

Photo of the Year Award

Photojournalist Tommy Metthe of the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette in Little Rock was announced at the recent APA Convention as the winner of the 2023 Photo of the Year with his photo, “Memorial Day,” depicting Janice Sutton visiting the grave of her parents, Eddie and Shirley Hardy, after a Memorial Day service at the Arkansas State Veterans Cemetery in North Little Rock. Eddie Hardy was a U.S. Army veteran who served in the Korean War.

Metthe said the following as the recipient of this award:

“It’s a great honor to receive the Photo of the Year award from the Arkansas Press Association.

“Much of my job as a photojournalist is not the actual time taking photos as much as it is talking and listening to people tell their story. We often meet people at either the highest or lowest points of their lives.

“While Mrs. Sutton wasn’t at the lowest point of her life on this day, visiting her parent’s grave on Memorial Day. It was still obviously an emotional time and brought back some memories. So, listening to her talk about her parents and her memories was nice to hear.

“One of the most rewarding parts of my job

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is getting to meet people who let me into their lives and hear their stories. It often gives more insight into their lives and allows to make a better and more compelling photo.

Memorial Day was no different; after the service many family members visit their loved ones. It’s always nice to hear the families’ stories of the loved ones and their service.”

Connecting People and Communities

At the heart of journalism lies an unwavering drive to improve lives. Whether chronicling the history of a community and its people, or standing as the watchdog for truth and integrity, journalists are passionate about making a difference for others.

We understand

For over 140 years, AT&T has been investing in Arkansas, connecting people and communities across the state with each other and the world

Congratulations to the

of the APA on 150 years of outstanding journalism, helping make Arkansas a great place in which to live and work.

Gaines outlines goals for year as APA Board President

Recently inducted APA President Eliza Gaines, publisher of the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette and other newspapers in Arkansas and two other states, recently outlined her goals for her one-year term.

“We have to be proactive in protecting our FOIA and legal notice laws,” said Gaines. “I’m eager to get a head-start on strategies for the 2025 legislative session. I also think that as the voice of the industry, we have a responsibility to better educate Arkansans—especially non-readers—on the importance of having a local, reliable news source in their community.

“Another goal is sharing the success stories of newspapers -- big and small -- across the country that have found a path to sustainability.”

Gaines, who has served on the APA Board of Directors since 2017, and also serves on the boards of the Southern Newspaper Publishers Association Foundation and

America’s Newspapers, was installed as APA’s 145th president on July 21 during the Honors Banquet at the annual APA Convention, with a historic 16 Past Presidents on hand for the Gavel Passing. She is the 10th woman to serve in the role. Her election also marks the first time that three women have served as the president in three consecutive years, as she succeeds Past President Ellen Kreth of the Madison County Record in Huntsville and Immediate Past President Lori Freeze of the Stone County Leader in Mountain View.

“I’m honored to represent an association that is still going strong after 150 years and whose motto is ‘Free Press, Free People,’” said Gaines. “I’ve seen firsthand the association’s commitment to government transparency and the sustainability of newspapers across the state.”

APA signs on to letter condemning raid on Kansas newspaper

The Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press and scores of news media organizations nationwide, including APA, sent a letter on Sunday condemning the August 11 police raid of the Marion County Record, a weekly newspaper in Marion, Kansas, during which law enforcement officers seized the newspaper’s electronic equipment, including personal cell phones, and reporting materials.

In a letter sent to Marion Police Chief Gideon Cody on Sunday, Reporters Committee attorneys noted that, under any circumstances, the raid and seizure appeared overbroad and unduly intrusive, and raised concerns that the execution of the warrant may have violated federal law strictly limiting federal, state, and local law enforcement’s ability to conduct newsroom searches.

The letter urged Cody to immediately return any seized equipment and records to the newspaper; purge any such records retained by the police department; and initiate a full, independent, and transparent review into the department’s actions.

According to news reports, the Marion

See Raid page 8

Eliza Gaines

Raid Continued from page 6

Police Department executed a search warrant at the Record’s offices and at its publisher’s home last Friday as part of an investigation into allegations of identity theft and illegal use of a computer. The Record’s owner and publisher said the raid happened after the newspaper contacted the police department about information it had received from a source, suspecting that the paper was being “set up.”

Joan Meyer, co-publisher of the newspaper, died shortly after the raid at her home. She was 98 and reportedly in good health. Her son, the Record’s editor and co-publisher Eric Meyer, attributed her death to the stress of the intrusion.

Meyer worked with his staff Sunday to reconstruct stories, ads and other materials for its next edition Wednesday while also arranging his mother’s funeral.

Meyer said that one Record reporter suffered an injury to a finger when Cody wrested her cellphone out of her hand, according to the report. The newspaper’s surveillance video showed officers reading that reporter her rights while Cody watched, though she wasn’t arrested or detained. Newspaper employees were hustled out of the building while the search continued for more than 90 minutes, according to the footage.

The raid of the small weekly newspaper — virtually unprecedented in the United States — was apparently prompted by a dispute involving a local restaurant owner in Marion, a town of about 1,900 residents located about 60 miles from Wichita. Kari Newell claimed that the paper’s reporters had illegally stolen her identity to access a government database that contained records of her arrest for drunken driving in 2008. Newell is attempting to obtain a liquor license for her establishment.

The newspaper countered that it received that information unsolicited, which it verified through public online records. It eventually decided not to run a story because it wasn’t sure the source who supplied it had obtained it legally. But the newspaper did run a story on a city council meeting in which Newell herself confirmed she’d had a DUI conviction and that she had continued to drive even after her license was suspended. The allegation led officials to seek a search warrant from a local magistrate judge to search the newspaper and the Meyer home. It was announced on Wednesday that the seized items would be returned. The Kansas Bureau of Investigations has taken lead on the case.

Second Annual Press Freedom Gala to be Held October 12

APA will hold its second Press Freedom Gala on Thursday, Oct. 12 at the Chenal County Club in Little Rock. The evening will begin with an hors d’oeuvres reception at 6 p.m., followed by a dinner and the program at 7 p.m.

“The Press Freedom Gala is a celebration of both a free press and of individuals who brought positive headlines to Arkansas and either work within or are strong supporters of the media industry and FOIA,” said APA Executive Director Ashley Kemp Wimberley.

The honorees this year are:

• APA Headliner of the Year — multi-platinum musician and songwriter Justin Moore

• APA Distinguished Service Award — Arkansas DemocratGazette Senior Editor and Columnist Rex Nelson.

• APA Distinguished Service Award — longtime journalist and recently retired editor of the Northwest Arkansas DemocratGazette Rusty Turner.

• Golden 50 Service Award (more than 50 years in the newspaper industry) — Independent Columnist and Correspondent for the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette Mike Masterson.

• APA Freedom of Information Award — presented posthumously to Gov. Winthrop Rockefeller for his signing of the Arkansas Freedom of Information Act into law in 1967. The award will be accepted by Rockefeller’s family, including William Rockefeller and Winthrop P. Rockefeller, Jr

A native of Poyen, Moore won Artist of the Year: Breakthrough Artist at the 2012 American Country Awards and New Artist of the Year at the 2014 Academy of Country Music Awards. He has charted 21 times on the Billboard Country Hot 100 and Country Airplay charts, including his current number 1 hit with Priscilla Block, “You, Me & Whiskey,” the number 1 singles “Small Town USA”, “If Heaven Wasn’t So Far Away”, “Til My Last Day,” “Lettin’ the Night Roll,” “You Look Like I Need a Drink,” “Somebody Else Will, “The Ones That Didn’t Make It Back Home,” “Why We Drink,” “We Didn’t Have Much,” and “With a Woman You Love”, and the top 10 hits “Backwoods,” “Point at You,”and “Small Town Throwdown” with Brantley Gilbert. “If Heaven Wasn’t So Far Away” also won Mainstream Inspirational Country Song and Inspirational Video at the 2011 Inspirational Country Music Awards. His seventh album, Stray Dog, was released in May of this year.

See Press Freedom Gala page 9

Justin Moore

Press Freedom Gala

Nelson is a college sports broadcaster, columnist, reporter, author, political appointee, and chronicler of Arkansas history. A native of Arkadelphia, he graduated summa cum laude from Ouachita Baptist University in 1982 receiving a B.A. in Mass Communications. Nelson was inducted into the Arkansas Sportscasters and Sportswriters Hall of Fame and was named Rural Advocate of the Year for the state of Arkansas in 2016 by Governor Asa Hutchinson and the Arkansas Rural Development Commission.

Distinguished Service Award recipient Turner worked as a sportswriter, news reporter and editor at various publications in Northwest Arkansas for many decades. A 1983 graduate of the Walter J. Lemke Department of Journalism at the University of Arkansas, he worked at the The Arkansas Traveler student newspaper then later at the Springdale Morning News and the Northwest Arkansas DemocratGazette until his retirement in May of this year. Turner also served two years as

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President of the APA Board of Directors and has been instrumental in lobbying efforts to protect the state’s Freedom of Information Act laws.

Harrison native Masterson will be honored for his service to the newspaper industry for more than 50 years. His award-winning investigative journalism career has often involved critical, and even dangerous, work, providing a voice for the underdog and the unrepresented or uncovering information that resulted in the freeing of persons imprisoned by crimes they didn’t commit. For the past 23 years, he has written three personal-opinion columns a week for the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette. Former Arkansas Razorback linebacker and radio personality David Bazzel will serve as the master of ceremonies. Amorel native Marybeth Byrd, a 2019 The Voice semifinalist and 2023 American Idol top-10 contestant, will provide entertainment. Tickets are $200 each or $1,500 for a reserved table for eight. Visit arkansaspress.org/shop/ to purchase. For sponsorship information, email pressfreedom@arkansaspress.org.

All proceeds from the event will benefit the Arkansas Newspaper Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.

Rex Nelson

Rusty Turner

David Bazzel

Mike Masterson

Marybeth Byrd

Gov. Winthrop Rockefeller

Ragsdale, long-time ad manager, GM and publisher, dies

John R. Ragsdale of Malvern died Saturday, August 12. He was 85.

The son of A.J. and Rachel Crowder Ragsdale, he was born in DeWitt and spent his childhood around Pine Bluff. After graduation from Woodlawn High School in Cleveland County, he went to work at the Pine Bluff Commercial Over his career Ragsdale served as advertising manager at the Log Cabin Democrat in Conway, the Paragould Daily Press and a newspaper in Okmulgee, Oklahoma. He was the manager of the Warren Chamber of Commerce manager in the mid to late 1960s before serving as General Manager/Publisher of the Daily Siftings Herald in Arkadelphia from 1969 through late 1981, at which point he and his wife, Betty Jane Gavin Ragsdale, became the owners and publishers of the Nevada County Picayune in Prescott. In

1995 the couple bought the Gurdon Times, publishing both it and the Picayune until 2001, when they sold the newspapers to Rupert and Sandra Phillips

Ragsdale was predeceased by his parents and Betty, his first wife of 51 years, his daughter, Phyllis Jackson, his grandson, Dustin Harris, five sisters and two brothers. Survivors include his wife of 14 years, Betty Vines Ragsdale; son John “Ricky” Ragsdale, Jr. and wife Teresa of Little Rock, daughters Lisa Beebe and husband Tom of Bentonville, Darlene Gregory of Jonesboro and Sherry Ergle and husband Rex of Sikeston, Missouri, brother Vernon Leon “Pete” Ragsdale of DeWitt, nine grandchildren, eight great-grandchildren, and two great-great-grandchildren.

Services were held August 15, with burial following in Pansy Cemetery in Cleveland County.

I remember going to the ophthalmologist a few years ago for my regular eye checkup. In the exam room, there was a large poster on the wall which featured a number of photographs of the same view of New York City from the water. The top left photo showed the unenhanced view, and after that, each one demonstrated what the view would look like with various eye disorders – nearsightedness, farsightedness, cataracts, glaucoma, macular degeneration, etc.

It was a powerful message, because it gave the doctor a way to explain important facts at a glance. It enabled patients to see things through the eyes of people with specific eye conditions. It showed – in the most graphic way – what was happening with their vision.

As I looked at the poster, I couldn’t help but think about this business of advertising and the importance of seeing things from others’ perspective. It goes beyond seeing things from our clients’ perspective. We have to see things from all of their customers’ points of view. And perhaps most challenging of all, we need

Guest Column: Ad lessons from a wall poster

By John Foust

to help each one of our clients see things from their consumers’ perspective.

David Droga, who founded the Droga5 global advertising agency, said, “I really believe in the power of advertising... the power of advertising that’s in sync with what consumers want.” The key is in the words “in sync,” which is a shortened way to say “synchronized.” In the old war movies, the grizzled old officers would say, “Okay, everybody, let’s synchronize our watches.” In other words: Before we get to the drop zone, let’s all set our time at 0500 hours.

Successful advertising executives like David Droga have a deep respect for the importance of seeing things from the other person’s point of view. They are constantly asking questions, probing for information, learning about other people and their needs and ideas. And they carefully consider demographic and psychographic research (much of which is available to newspaper advertising departments).

I’ve heard that some ad copywriters even picture a person representing a

client’s target audience sitting in a chair in their office. The idea is to talk to that person about the product, then use it as a springboard for consumer-centered copy. How does the target consumer talk? What words resonate? What product offers can generate interest? It’s a way to individualize and humanize a large group of people. It’s a way to get in sync. When you’re in sync, you forget about yourself and concentrate on the other person. Like the famous saying, “Knowledge is power.” How else are you going to have a feel for how Client A is likely to respond to a new campaign idea? How is Target Audience B likely to react to Offer C? And how much does Advertising Manager D rely on input from the company owner?

The bottom line is that those who see things from the other person’s point of view will sell more ads and create better ads than those who don’t.

(c) Copyright 2023 by John Foust. All rights reserved.

John Foust has conducted training programs for thousands of newspaper advertising professionals. Many ad departments are using his training videos to save time and get quick results from in-house training. Email for information: john@johnfoust.com