Arkansas Publisher Weekly: April 3, 2025 by Arkansas Press Association

Make plans to attend the upcoming APA Advertising Conference next week in LR

Arkansas Newspaper Foundation Intern Applications

Arkansas Press Association

Jeremy Gulban, CherryRoad Media make innovative changes

The overarching strategy of CherryRoad Media, owner of 94 community newspapers in 18 states, is to bring the company’s technological expertise into local markets.

Five of those newspapers are in Arkansas, including the Marshall Mountain Wave, Areawide News in Salem, Pocahontas Star Herald, Clay County Courier in Corning and the Clay County Times-Democrat in Piggott.

CherryRoad’s chief executive officer, Jeremy Gulban, was in Arkansas last week, making stops in Piggott, Pocahontas and Salem to present at public meetings a new production system that he anticipates will improve both quality and economy in the company’s publications.

“We want to be as efficient as possible,” Gulban said. With that in mind, the company handles all accounting, pagination, ad composition and circulation in a centralized format, enabling local staffs to concentrate on editorial tasks and advertising sales.

Gulban selected the company’s Arkansas newspapers to be the first in line for the new process that incorporates high-speed digital printers at the local level to replace regional web printing that has resulted in expensive production costs along with

significant distribution expenses.

Gulban displayed a prototype newspaper for the local groups and answered questions about how the new system will operate. He pointed to improved print and photo quality, more opportunities for color pages, and most importantly, the ability of local staffs to enjoy later news deadlines. Community leaders present were pleased with the quality of the photos and the readability of the tab-format newspaper printed on 12-by-18-inch sheets.

The Marshall, Salem, and Thayer (Missouri) newspapers will be produced on digital equipment at Salem, while the Pocahontas, Vol.20 | No. 14 | Thursday, April 3, 2025 | Serving Press and State Since

See CHERRYROAD Page 2

Editor Vince Marshall and Operations Coordinator Shauna Marshall show off the new version of the Areawide News to local residents in Salem.

Jeremy Gulban

CherryRoad

Continued from page 1

Corning and Piggott newspapers will be printed in Corning. Having two systems in Arkansas will provide necessary backup. Following the successful transition here, the company will implement the new system at smaller circulation newspapers across the country. Previously, the Arkansas newspapers were printed at a central web plant in Hutchinson, Kansas, resulting in multiple logistical issues. Other web plants owned by the company are in Delphos, Ohio, and Slayton, Minnesota.

All but eight of the company’s newspapers nationwide are weekly products, so there is potential for large-scale savings with the new production method. Some of the larger circulation weekly newspapers will continue to be printed in the traditional manner.

“The reaction has been very positive,” Gulban said following the public meetings in Arkansas. In addition to each edition of the weekly newspaper, the new system also can be used for special sections and targeted advertising products.

“We had a big win last week,” Gulban said following his visit to Arkansas, noting the success of the exciting new process. “All six publications will be delivered in the new format this week. Feedback continues to be very positive.

“I really feel like this digital printing concept is a game changer. It allows us to print exactly the number of copies for which we have paying customers, allowing us to survive on 500 copies or less. This eliminates all the waste associated with web press printing. It also will allow us to steer readers online for additional content which helps change reader behavior. I believe the more elegant look and feel will keep the copies floating round the community longer and that will give us additional visibility, which can be converted to additional subscriptions of any form.”

CherryRoad Media was formed in 2020 in response to Gulban’s passion for local journalism, with the first acquisition being the Cook County News Herald in Grand Marais, Minnesota. The new company is an offshoot of CherryRoad Technologies, which has been in the Gulban family since 1983, providing innovative solutions in accounting, payroll and other business functions for thousands of customers nationwide.

The company website notes CherryRoad Media began when Gulban “decided to chase his passion for journalism and communication” and “his enthusiasm for the news industry continues to evolve and his commitment to helping local communities throughout the country has only been strengthened by the relationships he has developed.”

As an indication of his commitment to community

journalism, Gulban for the past several years has served on the board of directors of the Arkansas Press Association.

“I feel like the invisible hand is pushing us toward a future where technology controls every aspect of our lives,” Gulban said. “We are getting closer and closer to some of the futures states I read fictional stories about in the 1980s. While technology has done so much to make our lives better over the last 30 years, it also is destroying some aspects of the life I grew up in, like the community newspaper.

“We need to have real human interaction and storytelling. It is part of being alive. A computer is only as good as the data that goes into it. It has no ability to feel emotions, sense injustice or spot a slight tell in an interview that leads to the uncovering of malfeasance. This is what community newspapers do. They are used to telling the stories that need to be told in a community. They cannot be replaced by technology alone. If we lose that storytelling, then we will lose a large piece of the community itself.”

The company’s initial foray into community journalism hit a bump when the COVID-19 epidemic struck in full force shortly after the acquisition of the first newspaper in Minnesota, resulting in a statewide shutdown.

“We had a two-person staff there and they were just great in the way they handled everything,” Gulban said.

The eventual success of that first acquisition led to the next step, which just happened to be Arkansas. The newspapers in Marshall and Flippin-Yellville were acquired, and then shortly after that, Pocahontas and Corning. The Piggott property was next in line. Flippin-Yellville was later sold to a local publisher, as were later acquisitions in Eureka Springs and Berryville.

CherryRoad was off and running, with scores of newspapers acquired during the next few years. One of the most memorable for Gulban was in International Falls, in far northern Minnesota. The previous newspaper actually closed, and the company formed

This week’s Clay County Times-Democrat printed in the company’s new tab format.

CherryRoad

Continued from page 2

the weekly Rainy Lake Gazette

“We met with local people and just had a great response,” Gulban said. “We came up with a plan to open the new paper and we just received a lot of encouragement from the community.”

A major step forward came when the company acquired multiple properties from the Gannett Co. in Missouri, Nebraska, Iowa and Kansas.

Gulban said sometimes it seems that there is “no rhyme or reason” to whether a newspaper can be profitable, but experience has often shown that a “committed local staff” and an “engaged business and civic community” are the most obvious keys.

CherryRoad developed a new subscription system for its newspapers from scratch and has streamlined the renewal process. For example, under the new digital printing system, each subscriber can be notified personally within their own copy of the product when the renewal is due.

“We are moving more to a subscription-based revenue model,” Gulban said, noting traditional advertising sources are diminishing. As part of that plan, the company is emphasizing “perks” in which local businesses will provide coupons for services or goods tied to the newspaper subscription. “In many cases, the value of the coupons will easily exceed the cost of a subscription,” he said.

“Shifting more of our revenue toward subscriptions will be more stable and predictable,” he added.

Gulban said the new printing method also will allow for special projects tied to local advertisers. An additional emphasis will be the continued development of local magazines with full-color, high-quality advertising. The company can print the magazines at its plant in Minnesota.

Creation of local staff-created newsletters, to be transmitted at least a couple of times a week, also is on the company’s agenda. The goal is to provide more timely communication of breaking news and important local events.

Being involved now for several years in the community newspaper field, Gulban has grown to understand the challenges faced but also continues to develop solutions that make sense going forward.

“Our most loyal local customers are aging out and we have struggled to get younger people to pay for news, resulting in ever-declining circulation numbers,” he said. “We have a problem in that an entire generation has grown up without regularly reading a newspaper. How do we get them to be our paying customers? Because our audience is shrinking, we are increasingly viewed as irrelevant by advertisers. Two years ago, this thinking was widespread amongst national advertisers, but now we are starting to see it with local businesses, particularly those owned by younger people.

“Additionally, many local businesses in rural communities are disappearing due to competition from national chains as well as internet sales. Our production model was built for producing large numbers of newspapers at the lowest cost possible. As our print

volumes shrink that production process is no longer efficient.

“On the subscriber side we need to deliver relevant, fair and accurate information on a regular basis. We need to do this in the formats that readers want, be that print, website, phone, text, emails, newsletter and many other forms that we cannot yet think of. We will have to constantly adjust how we deliver news to meet consumers in their preferred channel. Far too many newspapers spend all their time and effort on a print product that has diminishing returns.

“With that being said, we need to keep producing a print product and getting several hundred copies floating around town. This is how we maintain our relevance and visibility. I can’t tell you how many times I have heard people say, ‘oh, I didn’t know we still have a newspaper in this town.’ We need to fight that narrative.

“We also want to launch the subscriber perks program as a first step toward placing the newspaper at the center of the flow of commerce within the community. We want to keep those dollars local by matching businesses with consumers, rather than having the dollars flow to global technology platforms. This would provide the funding for the news gathering to replace the dwindling advertising dollars. We also want to put our several premium, glossy products per year in each market. We believe we can get advertisers to engage in those types of projects.”

CherryRoad operates with a “lean” corporate staff, Gulban said. Lee Bachlet is the chief operating officer, Jennifer Fischer is deputy publisher and Jeff Elmblad is director of distribution and circulation.

Gulban grew up in Denville, New Jersey, and earned a bachelor’s degree in economics with minors in political science and business from Drew University in Madison, New Jersey. Except for 10 years living in Chicago, he has spent his career at the company headquarters in New Jersey.

He and his wife Antoinette live in New Jersey with their dog, Jax. His parents and his sister and her family live in South Florida. “They are all involved in the business,” Gulban said. “I really appreciate the support they have given me in this endeavor.”

“Honestly, we really lead a rather boring life,” he said about his time outside of work. “We do like having dinner with friends. I keep meaning to take up golf but haven’t made the time. It’s on the list to do this summer.”

Gulban’s rapid move into the community newspaper field has been something of a whirlwind of activity, leading to both exciting and rewarding experiences in smaller communities across the nation.

“I get a lot of satisfaction out of meeting with people in the communities and seeing their appreciation for what we are doing to help keep this piece of their community alive,” he said. “They gave me the Key to the City in Pocahontas last week. That’s something I never thought I would experience in my life.

“I also have met so many great people in this industry who have been so welcoming and supportive. It’s a camaraderie that I never experienced in the technology world. There is also a sense of doing something that matters.”

UA Little Rock recognizes two journalists as distinguished alumni

Two journalists were recently honored by the University of Arkansas at Little Rock at the annual Distinguished Alumni Awards Ceremony at the Clinton Presidential Center on February 26. Libby Smith, longtime travel editor for the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette was given the Presidents Award while award-winning reporter and photographer for UA Little Rock’s student newspaper, The Forum, Emily Wells received the 2024 Edward L. Whitbeck Memorial Award, classifying her as UA Little Rock’s top graduate of the year. Wells earned a bachelors degree in mass communications with a minor in theatre arts. Smith and Wells were recognized with other graduates and an honorary alumnus

for “their professional accomplishments and contributions to the community.”

“This year’s alumni honorees are brilliant representatives of our brand,” Chancellor Christina S. Drale said. “They excel in journalism, art, business and science, and they continue to make a positive impact. In addition to their impressive achievements, each is known for their generosity and kindness. Summer, Libby, Kevin and Jerry, thank you for the work you do in your communities and your dedication to UA Little Rock. Emily, as our Whitbeck Scholar, you are a shining beacon of our future. Congratulations to our exceptional honorees.”

A-State senior wins 2025 APW scholarship

Luke Morse, a senior at Arkansas State University, was awarded the 2025 Arkansas Press Women scholarship. Morse will receive a $1,000 scholarship and a membership to APW with the award to be presented to him during the Arkansas Press Women Awards Ceremony June 21 in Conway.

“Luke’s dedication, talent, and hard work set him apart as a rising star in journalism,” APW President Angie Faller said. “We are proud to support his journey and look forward to seeing the impact he will make in the field.”

“I’m honestly lost for words about being selected for this scholarship,” Morse said. “I got the email and was in disbelief... I’m truly looking forward to being able to finish out my degree here at A-State with the help of

the APW Scholarship.”

Morse studies creative media production with minors in journalism and music. He interned at KAIT8 as a technical media producer, growing his passion for broadcast journalism.

On campus, he works as an audio engineer and video production assistant for campus events and productions. He’s set to graduate in the fall of 2026 and plans to work in broadcast journalism, either as an audio engineer or an on-air anchor.

“I want to be able to show the public what good journalism can be because, in our world right now, people don’t trust journalists all too often,” Morse said. “I want to be able to help change that after I graduate.”

Since graduating, she has interned with Arkansas Advocates for Children and Families and has focused on her budding film career with acting and production roles.

“I received support through UA Little Rock through generous scholarship, support from faculty and staff and through an engaging campus community, despite a pandemic,” said Wells. “Because of the Donaghey Scholars Program, I am debt free and able to pursue my dreams without worrying about student loans. I will always be grateful for my time at UA Little Rock and everything I learned there. No matter where I go, I will always be a Trojan at heart.”

Newsprint imports remain unaffected by newest tariffs

President Donald J. Trump announced Wednesday the structure of his new tariffs, implementing a 10% baseline tax on most imported goods in addition to the 25% tariffs levied against Canadian and Mexican goods earlier this year and even higher rates in reciprocal tariffs for dozens of nations.

Rates for Canada and Mexico did not go up from the 25% already applied.

Newsprint remains unaffected by the tariffs after United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) goods were declared exempt from the original 25% tariffs and

From left to right: Kevin Kresse, Jerry Damerow, Chancellor Christina Drale, Emily Wells, Libby Smith, Summer Khairi, Kristi Smith and Guy Choate pose at the Clinton Presidential Center on Feb. 26 while honoring UA Little Rock’s Distinguished Alumni. Photo by Nelson Chenault.

SAVE THE DATES

Tariffs

Continued from page 4

Make plans to attend the upcoming APA Advertising Conference next week in LR

the new additional 10% tariff announced Wednesday. Newsprint and other paperbased goods used for newspapers and magazines were originally scheduled to expire April 2, but the exemption for USMCA-compliant goods was extended.

The extended exemption comes after industry groups and leaders submitted letters to officials like US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick on behalf of members of the publishing industry.

“Tariffs could end up harming production by American businesses, particularly by including newsprint and paper used by U.S. newspapers, magazines, book publishers and printers, put jobs at risk, increase costs, and harm small businesses,” said a joint letter by the PRINTING United Alliance and the News/Media Alliance to Lutnick.

Nations around the world, including Canada — who exports the most newsprint of any nation and supplies the majority of America’s newsprint — are planning retaliation measures.

The 10% tariffs will start being collected April 5 while higher rates will begin being collected April 9.

Mark your calendar for APA’s 2025 Advertising Conference next week in Little Rock.

The conference will kick off Thursday, April 10, at 1:30 p.m. with four Revenue Roundup panel discussions covering event planning, digital sales, special sections and tabs and

magazines. That evening, dinner and drinks will be served in a premium suite at Dickey-Stephens Park while the Arkansas Travelers baseball team takes on the Tulsa Drillers in the third home game of the 2025 season.

Attendees will reconvene Friday morning, April 11, for a celebratory brunch and mimosas at the APA Headquarters prior to the presentation of this year’s Better Newspaper Advertising Awards.

Those who still need to book hotel accommodations at the discounted APA room block rate should email ashley@ arkansaspress.org

A registration form and full schedule for the 2025 Advertising Conference can be found on pages 7 and 8 of this week’s Arkansas Publisher Weekly

Carrol Howard, former North Little Rock Times columnist, dies at 86

Carrol Janis Hinkle Howard, former columnist for the North Little Rock Times and society page editor for the Alton Telegraph, died on March 18 in Prairie Grove. She was 86.

She was born in Bell City, Missouri to Charles M. and Prattie A. Hinkle. After graduating from Roxana Senior High School in Roxana, Illinois in 1956, she attended the University of Illinois UrbanaChampaign.

From there she took a job at the Alton

Telegraph in the late 1950s as the society page editor. In the late 1970s and early 1980s, she served as a columnist and special features editor for the North Little Rock Times

Carrol was preceded in death by her husband of 35 years, Kenneth J. Howard, Sr., her son Michael Howard and sister Mary Hinkle Meyer. She is survived by sons Kenneth Howard, Jr. and James Howard, daughters Mary Howard and Carol Morris, seven grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

Guest Column: Ad-Libs: Brand loyalty is a powerful force

By John Foust

My grandmother Martha lived in Wilson, which is in eastern North Carolina. As a widow, she remarried later in life to a widower named Herman. I was in my twenties then, and it was a special privilege to see those sweet lovebirds spend their final years together.

A few years after they married, they moved to a retirement community in Durham, about thirty minutes away from Raleigh, where I was living.

Being so close, I visited them as often as I could. I remember calling before one visit to ask if there was anything they needed. Herman said he needed a can of Barbasol shaving cream from a particular drug store in Wilson. I was happy to do that and, although I mentioned that Barbasol was sold everywhere, he insisted that it had to come from that favorite drugstore. I ended up buying the shaving cream in Raleigh and took it to him, never letting on that it came from a different store. Everything worked out fine.

Brand loyalty is a powerful force. For years, Herman was loyal to Barbasol shaving cream and that drug store. He wasn’t unpleasant about it at all; that was simply his choice. Like Herman, we all have loyalties to specific brands. Some of us wouldn’t think of driving anything but a Toyota. Some always have Cheerios in their kitchen cabinet. And others will drive past two grocery stores to get to the store they like best.

Branding is a big topic that has inspired countless books, articles, seminars and lectures. But for our purposes today, let’s narrow it down to one question: How can you deal with an advertiser who doesn’t consider your newspaper, because of a strong loyalty to

another advertising choice?

Franklin, who has been a sales manager for many years, told me about his team’s approach. “We acknowledge that loyalty runs deep in the advertising industry. We have plenty of advertisers who are loyal to us, so we understand how some people are loyal to others. Maybe a business has had good results running ads somewhere else. Maybe they have a long-term relationship with the other ad department. Or maybe it’s a comfortable habit or a resistance to the perceived difficulty of setting a new course.

“When we hit that brick wall with a potential advertiser, we do two things,” Franklin explained. “First, we develop a plan to stay in touch. We don’t become a pest, we just reach out to them every now and then to keep ourselves top-of-mind. We might send information about a relevant special section or even an interesting article about their favorite team.

“The second thing is to watch carefully for signs of change in their business, because change may indicate a willingness to consider new ideas. Is there new ownership or management? Is there a new ad manager? Are they planning to open a new home office or store location? Big or small, a hint of change may open the door for a sales appointment.”

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 inhouse training. Email for information: john@johnfoust.com.

2025 APA Advertising Conference Registration Form

Newspaper/Company

Address

City State Zip

TICKET OPTIONS:

Full Conference, $125: Includes Thursday afternoon sessions and breaks, Thursday night dinner and drinks in a premium suite at Dickey-Stephens Park, tickets to the Arkansas Travelers vs Tulsa Drillers game, Friday morning mimosa brunch and APA Better Newspaper Advertising Awards

Baseball Game +1, $40: Ticket to the Arkansas Travelers vs Tulsa Drillers game for additional guests not attending full conference

Friday Only, $50: Brunch and APA Better Newspaper Advertising Awards

ATTENDEE NAME:

Email Address:

Choose ONE: Full Conference Baseball game additional guest Friday Brunch & Awards

Email Address:

Choose ONE: Full Conference Baseball game additional guest Friday Brunch & Awards

Email Address: Choose ONE: Full Conference Baseball game additional guest Friday Brunch & Awards

Additional names can be added on back or in email reply.

Full Conference @ $125 = Baseball +1

@$40 = Friday only @$50 = Total $ =

2025 APA Advertising Conference Schedule

THURSDAY, APRIL 10

2025 APA Advertising Conference Schedule

1:00 PM Registration Opens - APA Headquarters

1:30 PM Welcome, Introductions and Announcements

THURSDAY, APRIL 10

Revenue Roundup Panel 1: Event Planning

1:00 PM Registration Opens - APA Headquarters

2:00 PM Revenue Roundup Panel 2: Digital Sales

2:30 PM Break

1:30 PM Welcome, Introductions and Announcements

Revenue Roundup Panel 1: Event Planning

3:00 PM Revenue Roundup Panel 3: Special Sections/Tabs

2:00 PM Revenue Roundup Panel 2: Digital Sales

3:30 PM Revenue Roundup Panel 4: Magazines

2:30 PM Break

4:00 PM Adjourn for break/attendees check into hotel

3:00 PM Revenue Roundup Panel 3: Special Sections/Tabs

5:30 PM Gates open at Dickey-Stephens Park

3:30 PM Revenue Roundup Panel 4: Magazines

6:00 PM Dinner and drinks served in APA Premium Suite

4:00 PM Adjourn for break/attendees check into hotel

5:30 PM Gates open at Dickey-Stephens Park

6:30 PM First Pitch - Arkansas Travelers vs. Tulsa Drillers

6:00 PM Dinner and drinks served in APA Premium Suite

6:30 PM First Pitch - Arkansas Travelers vs. Tulsa Drillers

FRIDAY, APRIL 11

9:00 AM Friday Only Registration Opens - APA Headquarters Brunch and Mimosas

10:00 AM 2025 APA Better Newspaper Advertising Awards

12:00 PM APA Board Meeting (Board of Directors only to attend)

2025 ANF Student Internship Program

2025 ANF Student Internship Program Fact Sheet for Newspapers

Student fact sheet

The Arkansas Newspaper Foundation announced the student internship program for the summer of 2025. We believe that this program will benefit students directly by providing paid internships to those students who are interested in the newspaper industry. We hope to encourage students to work at the newspaper and to enjoy a positive experience during their internship. Again this year, recent high school graduates enrolled in an Arkansas accredited college are also eligible. (Recent high school graduates must provide college enrollment papers or other proof of admission with completed application.)

The Arkansas Newspaper Foundation is again funding its student internship program for the summer of 2025.

This program will benefit newspapers directly by providing paid internships to Arkansas college students interested in the newspaper industry. We hope to encourage students to work at a newspaper and to enjoy a positive experience during their internship.

In addition to college students, recent high school graduates planning to attend an accredited Arkansas college or university this fall are also eligible for the program, but must provide proof of college admission or enrollment with their completed application.

The Arkansas Newspaper Foundation announced the student internship program for the summer of 2025. Information will be sent to journalism programs at various Arkansas colleges and universities. We believe that this program will benefit newspapers directly by providing paid internships to students who are interested in the newspaper industry. We hope to encourage students to work at the newspaper and to enjoy a positive experience during their internship. Again this year, recent high school graduates enrolled in an Arkansas accredited college are also eligible. (Recent high school graduates must provide college enrollment papers or other proof of admission with completed application.)

• Three intern opportunities are available from the Arkansas Newspaper Foundation. ANF will be providing $3,000 to APA member newspapers to be paid fully to the intern.

•There will be three intern opportunities available from the Arkansas Newspaper Foundation. We will be providing $3,000 to APA member newspapers to be paid fully to the intern.

•There will be three intern opportunities available from the Arkansas Newspaper Foundation. We will be providing $3,000 to member newspapers to be paid fully to the intern.

•Interested students must complete an application form and return it to the ANF prior to April 11, 2025. The students that are selected to participate in this project will be notified on or before April 30, 2025.

• Interested students must complete an application form and return it to the ANF no later than April 11, 2025. The students that are selected to participate in this project will be notified on or before April 30, 2025.

•Interested newspapers must complete an application form and return it to the ANF prior to April 11, 2025. The newspapers that are selected to participate in this project will be notified on or before April 30, 2025 on first-come, first-served basis.

• It is suggested that interns work 7-9 weeks on a schedule that fits with the newspaper ’s temporary employment criteria. Interns are not employees of the Arkansas Newspaper Foundation; therefore, the newspaper is responsible for setting up employee procedures for the intern.

•It is suggested that interns work 7-9 weeks on a schedule that fits with the newspaper’s temporary employment criteria. Interns are not employees of the Arkansas Newspaper Foundation; therefore, the newspaper is responsible for setting up employee procedures for the intern.

• It is suggested that interns work 7-9 weeks on a schedule that fits with the newspaper’s temporary employment criteria. Interns are not employees of the Arkansas Newspaper Foundation; therefore, the newspaper is responsible for setting up employee procedures for the intern.

• Students will have the opportunity to request a location on their application form, as they may wish to work at a newspaper close to their home during the summer months.

• Interested students will be required to complete an application. Applications will be sent to the selected newspapers for review and selection.

• Newspapers also have the option of finding their own intern that meets the application criteria.

•Students will have the opportunity to request a location on their application form, as some students may wish to work at a newspaper close to their home during the summer months. In turn, newspapers have the option of finding their own intern that meets the application criteria.

•Newspapers agree to complete an intern evaluation form upon completion of the program.

• Please return completed application to Ashley Kemp Wimberley at ashley@arkansaspress.org

•If you know of someone who is interested in applying, please have him or her email Ashley Wimberley, ashley@arkansaspress.org

•The interview process and selection should be completed by May 9, 2025

Extension for the interview process may be requested.

Arkansas Newspaper Foundation 2025 Intern Application Form

City State Zip

Campus Address (if different)

High School Attended

Year Graduated

If a recent graduate, please provide proof of college enrollment.

COLLEGE/UNIVERSITY INFORMATION

School Name

Major

Minor

Credit Hours Completed

Newspaper Interest (Check as many as you wish)

Editorial (writing, reporting) Photography

Advertising (sales/ad design) Online Journalism

Check Region(s) of Arkansas You’d Be Most Interest In: East Central South West North No preference

Have you previously worked for or interned at a newspaper, other than a school/college newspaper? Yes or No If “yes’: Newspaper Year Town

Have you previously worked for your high school/college/university newspaper? Yes or No

If “yes’: Newspaper

Town Adviser

List computer equipment and software with which you have experience:

Do you have experience with photography? Yes or No If “yes” please describe:

Do you have a valid driver’s license? Yes or No Do you have/own a vehicle? Yes or No

List three references (no relatives), including at least one from your school, college or university: 1.

Work experience/resume, including part-time and full-time jobs. (Resume & essay may be attached.)

List of college activities: (clubs, organizations, fraternity/sorority)

List of any high school, college scholarships or awards received:

I hereby verify that all information is correct to the best of my knowledge.

While every attempt will be made to match students with newspapers in their region selected, it is possible the students will have to commute to that newspaper or rent an apartment. Application must be complete and legible. Application must be completed and submitted no later than April 11, 2025. Email applications to: ashley@arkansaspress.org Mail: ANF Internship Program, ANF, 411 S. Victory, Little Rock, AR 72201.

2025 ANF Student Internship Program Fact Sheet for Newspapers

The Arkansas Newspaper Foundation is again funding its student internship program for the summer of 2025.

• Three intern opportunities are available from the Arkansas Newspaper Foundation. ANF will be providing $3,000 to APA member newspapers to be paid fully to the intern.

•There will be three intern opportunities available from the Arkansas Newspaper Foundation. We will be providing $3,000 to member newspapers to be paid fully to the intern.

• Interested newspapers must complete an application form and return it to the ANF no later than April 11, 2025. The newspapers that are selected to participate in this project will be notified on or before April 30, 2025.

• Students will have the opportunity to request a location on their application form, as they may wish to work at a newspaper close to their home during the summer months.

• It is suggested that interns work 7-9 weeks on a schedule that fits with the newspaper’s temporary employment criteria. Interns are not employees of the Arkansas Newspaper Foundation; therefore, the newspaper is responsible for setting up employee procedures for the intern.

• Newspapers also have the option of finding their own intern that meets the application criteria. The interview process should be completed by May 9, 2025.

• Interested students will be required to complete an application. Applications will be sent to the selected newspapers for review and selection.

• Please return completed application to Ashley Kemp Wimberley at ashley@arkansaspress.org.

•Newspapers agree to complete an intern evaluation form upon completion of the program.

•If you know of someone who is interested in applying, please have him or her email Ashley Wimberley, ashley@arkansaspress.org

•The interview process and selection should be completed by May 9, 2025. Extension for the interview process may be requested.

Arkansas Newspaper Foundation 2025 Intern Application Form

This application must be received by ANF no later than April 11, 2025. ANF, 411 S. Victory, Little Rock, AR 72201 Email to: ashley@arkansaspress.org

Newspaper

Phone

Publisher/General Manager

Editor/Managing Editor

Advertising Manager

Intern Preference

Editorial (writing, reporting) Photography Other: Describe ____________________________________

Advertising (sales/ad design) Online Journalism

If editorial, is there a special area of concentration (such as sports, features, human interest, column writing or hard news) that you desire — if so, please indicate preferences:

If you prefer a photography intern, will your newspaper supply camera equipment? Yes No

Duties of intern (or atttach job description):

Intern’s immediate supervisor at newspaper (name and position):

In applying as a Host Newspaper, your newspaper agrees:

Intern’s immediate supervisor at newspaper (name and position):

• to interview and intern selection deadline of May 9, 2025

• should the intern’s employment end any time prior to the scheduled 7-9 week period, notify ANF immediately

In applying as a Host Newspaper, your newspaper agrees:

• to apply all of the money from the Arkansas Newspaper Foundation to the intern’s salary

• to interview and intern selection deadline of May 9, 2025

• should the intern’s employment end any time before the 7-9-week period is complete, to return all remaining Foundation money to the Arkansas Newspaper Foundation

• should the intern’s employment end any time prior to the scheduled 7-9 week period, notify ANF immediately

• to acknowledge new hourly wage regulations

• to apply all of the money from the Arkansas Newspaper Foundation to the intern’s salary

• should the intern’s employment end any time before the 7-9-week period is complete, to return all remaining Foundation money to the Arkansas Newspaper Foundation

• to acknowledge new hourly wage regulations

(Newspaper Name) __________________________________ hereby agrees to accept the terms and conditions of the internship program as stated above if it is selected to receive an intern from the Arkansas Newspaper Foundation.

Publisher’s Signature Date

Publisher’s Signature _____________________________ Date _______________

Newspaper selection will be made on a first-come, first-served basis. Notifications will be made by on or before April 30, 2025.

Publisher’s Signature _____________________________ Date _______________

NOTE:

Newspaper selection will be made on a first-come, first-served basis. Notifications will be made by on or before April 30, 2025.

There are new regulations concerning hourly wages. Please make due note of these when implementing the internship program at your newspaper.

NOTE:

There are new regulations concerning hourly wages. Please make due note of these when implementing the internship program at your newspaper.