Guest Column:
Arkansas Press Association PUBLISHER WEEKLY
By Jim Pumarlo
Vol.20 | No. 10 | Friday, March 7, 2025 | Serving Press and State Since 1873
Feuer thrives covering Fairfield Bay resort, tourism community
A trip to Little Rock for Dan Feuer on Aug. 1, 2002, eventually resulted in both a wife and a new career in the newspaper business.
Feuer explains he was working for Meridian Financial Services in Asheville, North Carolina, when he met his wife, Kim, his contact person at Fairfield Bay, a resort area in North Central Arkansas. She was employed by Fairfield Bay Resort, and after getting to know each other through business contacts, she invited him to make a visit to Arkansas.
Following that initial visit, he moved to Arkansas, and the couple got married. After a brief period working at the Fairfield Bay Marina and in construction work, Feuer landed a job at the local newspaper.
He started at what was then the Fairfield Bay News in November 2002 and assumed the position of managing editor eight months later upon the retirement of Sonja Oliver. The name of the publication was changed in 2019 to the Lake Area Weekly to reflect its regional coverage.
Feuer initially was involved in delivery and accounting work, but feels he made the shift into the news role rather seamlessly. “I guess you could say I fell into the position, but believed I had the natural ability to do the work,” he said. “I seemed to have the right skills, and I am a quick learner.”
One of his first projects at the newspaper was converting to digital pagination, making the work more efficient. The full-color tabloid publication currently is produced in the local office, and production requires about three hours of his time each week.
The Lake Area Weekly, which is owned by the Fairfield Bay Resort, covers the local community as well as Shirley, Greers Ferry, Heber Springs and Clinton. School coverage is primarily the Shirley and Greers Ferry Westside districts.
Delivery is through the mail and area news racks. The newspaper also maintains an active online presence, website and Facebook page.
A significant part of the news content is submitted, but Feuer regularly covers the Fairfield Bay City Council and the Fairfield Bay Resort board meetings.
“A community newspaper is the heartbeat of the community,” he said. “It keeps people informed of all that is happening in the community and since Fairfield Bay is a tourist town with Wyndham guests, it’s important to keep visitors informed of what our community is all about and has to offer. We want to attract potential home buyers with either a part-time vacation home or a permanent residence.”
Feuer is especially proud of an offshoot of the newspaper, Lake Area Sports,
Dan Feuer
Feuer
Continued from page 1
which produces live online broadcasts of athletic competition for 12 area high schools. The organization has exploded in recent years to include eight production crews covering an average of three to five games a week in the sports of football, basketball, baseball and softball. Under the management of Jonathan Peters, viewers can choose from daily, monthly or seasonal passes.
“We have really come a long way with that part of the business,” said Feuer, who initially was involved in some game coverage but now is focused on the financial aspects of the enterprise.
The Lake Area Weekly is basically a one-person newspaper operation with Feuer working from his home except on production day.
He said there was a time when the City of Fairfield Bay and the Fairfield Bay Resort were dealing with some “unsettled” issues. But he said that has changed dramatically under the leadership of the city’s new mayor, Seth Connell. “People are really working well together now,” Feuer said.
It is a unique relationship, with the city handling such issues as grants, while the resort board is in charge of the basic infrastructure, including streets and utilities. The resort also is responsible for various amenities, including the marina, bowling alley, a restaurant and a convenience store.
The area has two excellent golf courses, Indian Hills and Mountain Ranch, the former run by the resort board and the latter by TeeBox. Both courses are on the Natural State Golf Trail.
“I enjoy stories that show how special our community is,” Feuer said, “like being recognized as the Volunteer Community of the Year, the positive growth with construction of Cobblestone Inn and Suites, the rebirth of the Conference Center and the many improvements to the amenities over the past several years.”
Feuer, who was adopted at age five, was born in Mainz, Germany, grew up in New Jersey and spent a couple of years in the Air Force. Prior to joining the financial services firm, he was involved in several occupations, including construction work.
After leaving her job at the resort, his wife worked for a time at a local pharmacy and is now retired. Feuer has twin sons in North Carolina and daughters in Massachusetts and Texas. He also has a stepdaughter in Jacksonville and eight grandchildren.
He enjoys golf, taking road trips with his wife, boating and hiking.
Feuer fell in love with Arkansas and Fairfield Bay right from the start. “It’s just so beautiful here,” he said. “What’s not to like?”
He pointed out that the area includes a 40,000-acre lake, 90 miles of ATV trails, tennis courts, pickleball courts and golf.
“It’s just a great place to live,” he said. “And I want to invite everyone to come visit Fairfield Bay. It’s a wonderful place for a second home or to enjoy retirement.”
Feuer continues to gain satisfaction from his adopted career as a journalist in a unique resort setting. “For me, our paper has given me the opportunity to interact with people one on one about the different organizations that keep our community vibrant. We are a community of retirees from all over the world which makes us special. We have nine signature events throughout the year, and I enjoy being a part of the success and sharing with our readers.”
Feuer with his granddaughter, Gabby.
Tariffs on Canadian newsprint take effect, industry braces change
After a month-long delay, a 25% tariff went into effect March 4 on all imported goods from Canada and Mexico, including newsprint. In a press release, the National Newspaper Association urged that litigation and public pressure are “the only option” to address the tariffs unless the governments of Canada and the US can negotiate a deal.
“NNA is well aware of the challenge increased costs for newsprint will have on member publishers. We encourage NNA members to contact their U.S. Representative and U.S. Senators to relay the hardship this action will cause and ask them to request a newsprint exemption from the administration,” the organization said in the release.
Newspaper Association Managers, working with The News/Media Alliance, has released a one-page briefing on recent meetings with members of Congress.
“These crippling new taxes include newsprint used by newspapers, magazines, book publishers and printers,” the briefing said.
“Originally, the tariffs were going in effect early February, then on February 4, Trump paused the tariffs for one month. On February 25, Trump said he intends to move forward with plans to impose the tariffs beginning on March 4 unless another deal is brokered, or an extension is agreed to. Although today, Trump said that he will move forward with most of tariff plans starting on April 2. Trump has invoked the International Emergency Economic Powers Act of 1977, which gives wide-ranging powers in an emergency, although the Act has never been used to implement tariffs before.”
SPJ Diamond Awards entry deadline extended to Friday
SPJ Arkansas has extended the deadline for the 2025 Diamond Awards until 5 p.m. Friday, March 7. Journalists, freelancers and communications professionals from Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Oklahoma, Tennessee and Texas can submit work that was published in calendar year 2024 in print, broadcast, podcast and communications.
One of the highlights of this year’s awards is the new A-Mark Prize for Investigative Reporting, offering $15,000 in cash to winners and their newsrooms.
With nearly 100 categories across 10 divisions, there are lots of opportunities to take home an award. Finalists will be recognized at the Diamond Awards ceremony in July. To see entry fees, visit https:// arkansasspj.org/2025-diamond-journalism-awards-entry-rules/
Reach out to these members of Congress:
SENATE:
Thune, South Dakota Barrasso, Wyoming
Crapo, Idaho Johnson, Wisconsin
Cassidy, Louisiana Young, Indiana
Daines, Montana Grassley, Iowa
Collins, Maine Cruz, Texas
Wicker, Mississippi Fischer, Nebraska
Moran, Kansas Sullivan, Alaska
Moore Capito, West Virginia Lummis, Wyoming
Schmitt, Missouri
HOUSE:
Tenney, New York Malliotakis, New York
Fitzpatrick, Pennsylvania Kelly, Pennsylvania
Moran, Texas Smith, Missouri
Book now for discounted room rates for 2025 APA ad conference
Hotel reservations are available for the APA Advertising Conference at a discounted block rate until March 21 or until rooms are sold out. The conference is scheduled for April 10-11 in Little Rock and will include an APA night at Dickey-Stephens Park to watch the Travelers take on the Tulsa Drillers.
To access the discounted rate, visit https://www.hilton.com/en/ book/reservation/deeplink/?ctyhocn=LITMBDT&groupCode=CD T92B&arrivaldate=2025-04-10&departuredate=2025-04-11&cid= OM,WW,HILTONLINK,EN,DirectLink&fromId=HILTONLINKDIRECT.
Reservations can also be made by following the instructions below:
• Visit DoubleTree by Hilton in Downtown Little Rock website
• Enter arrival/departure dates
• Click the “Special Rates” box
• Enter “92B” in the Group Code box
• Click the “Check Rooms & Rates” box. The group rate of $129.00 per night is available for Standard King and Double Queen rooms.
Guests can also call 1-800-HILTONS and reference the Arkansas Press Association room block to receive the discount.
Arkansas Advocate founder dies in GA
Former Arkansas journalist Martin R. Kirby of Augusta, Georgia died February 1. Born in 1943, Kirby was raised in McGehee and graduated from McGehee High School before earning a bachelor’s degree in English from Tulane University, a master’s degree in Creative Writing from JohnsHopkins University and a doctorate in Creative Writing from the University of South Carolina. At USC, he was advised by author and poet James Dickey, known for the best-selling book and movie “Deliverance.”
Kirby held many posts in journalism over the years, including being an investigative reporter for The Baltimore Sun, The Atlanta Constitution, The Philadelphia Inquirer and the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette. He’s also the original founder and publisher of The Arkansas Advocate
He wrote many book reviews for The Philadelphia Inquirer and The New York Times and published over a hundred poems. He taught literature and creative writing at Paine College for 26 years. He is survived by the mother of his children, Margaret L. Kirby, PhD, daughter Julia (David) Stowers, son Nathan, sister Nancy (Mason) Smith and two grandchildren.
Irene Wassell, former Arkansas DemocratGazette food editor, dies at 93 in NLR
Irene Martin Wassell of North Little Rock died February 22. She was 93.
She was born in a rural community near Siloam Springs on September 19, 1931 to Leslie Martin and Cora Edna Jones
She is survived by daughters Lisa (David) Voss, Cindie (Ernie) Nowling, son Eric (Stacie), 10 grandchildren and eight great grandchildren. She was preceded in death by husband Maj. Bill J. Wassell
After traveling the world with her husband during his time in the Air Force, the couple settled in North Little Rock. She went back to school to complete her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in journalism at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock. The next 30 years she spent working as a journalist at the Arkansas Gazette and then the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette after a short time at the North Little Rock Times. Almost 18 years of her tenure was
Irene Wassell
spent as the newspaper’s food editor. She authored several cookbooks and hosted cooking shows at the Robinson Center in conjunction with the ADG.
Former Southwest Times Record Woman’s Editor
Wanda Belt dies on February
Wanda Belt
21
Wanda Belt of Alma died February 21 at age 87. She was a newswriter and the former Woman’s Editor for the Southwest Times Record in Fort Smith.
Belt was born in Van Buren on July 22, 1937 to Roy Clinton and Dewell Victoria (Smith) Taylor
She is preceded in death by her husband, Odean Belt and brother Bobby. Survivors include daughter Cheryl (Brian) Peters, son Kevin (Verna), sister Sharon Wilson, brother Jackie and several grandchildren and great grandchildren.
ARE YOU HIRING?
The Arkansas Newspaper Connection is a weekly newsletter published by APA connecting freelance and independent writers, editors, photographers and designers with Arkansas newspapers in need. Lists available job openings and other opportunities at Arkansas newspapers and associate member organizations.
Send your listings to info@arkansaspress.org
Martin Kirby
Sunshine Week returns March 16-22 to highlight transparency
The annual nationwide journalism effort known as Sunshine Week will be held March 16-22. According to the event’s website, it’s a “nonpartisan collaboration among groups in the journalism, civic, education, government and private sectors that shines a light on the importance of public records and open government.” Sunshine Week is supported by the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation and coordinated by Joseph L. Brechner Freedom of Information Project at the University of Florida’s College of Journalism
and Communications. Last year, the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation provided the organization with an endowment of $575,000 to continue the work of
Sunshine Week after parent organization News Leaders Association (formerly the American Society of Newspaper Editors) disbanded in June 2024.
The keystone event of Sunshine Week is an in-person conference called Sunshine Fest, held in Washington, D.C. March 19-20.
Tickets are already sold out, but to be placed on a waiting list, contact Diana Mitsu Klos at consultdmk@gmail.com with your name and work affiliation. More info at https://sunshineweek.org/.
Arkansas Press Women scholarship deadline set for March 10
The deadline for the Arkansas Press Women 2025 scholarship contest is next Monday, March 10.
The scholarship winner will be honored during the APW annual award ceremony in the spring.
Arkansas Press Women awards a $1,000 scholarship each spring to an undergraduate student – male or female – who is attending an Arkansas college or university and is planning a career in mass communication, journalism or a
related field.
Funding for this scholarship comes from APW’s Maudine Sanders Education Fund. Sanders, a previous owner of the Springdale Morning News, was a longtime member of Arkansas Press Women before her death in 2011.
Visit https://arkansaspresswomen.org/ apw-scholarship/ to apply.
For more information, contact Angie Faller, scholarship chair, at amfaller@ ualr.edu
Session on opinion pages and political endorsements planned
Is there a future for opinion or endorsements in journalism? Mike Blinder, publisher of Editor & Publisher Magazine, hopes to answer this question at an upcoming session at the 2025 News Industry Mega-Conference in Orlando, April 14-16. Blinder wrote in a column ahead of the conference that we need to ask ourselves if we are rethinking our approach to opinion pages and political endorsements out of necessity to evolve and maintain credibility, or as a retreat from “journalism’s core mission.”
At the conference, Blinder will discuss the
topic with a panel of top industry leaders to “examine the shifting role of editorial commentary in a media landscape where trust is both fragile and essential.”
The announcement of the session comes as Jeff Bezos, owner of the Washington Post, comes under fire for reshaping the guidelines for the opinions section to focus on defending the free market and “personal liberties.”
“In recent years, major newspapers have scaled back or outright eliminated editorial pages and endorsements, citing concerns
over audience polarization and declining influence,” said Blinder in his column. “But does stepping away from opinion content weaken journalism’s ability to serve as a watchdog? Do endorsements still carry weight in elections, or are they outdated in an era of hyper-partisanship?”
The session aims to explore both sides of the issue and examine the broader role of journalism in democracy.
To register for the conference, visit https://member.newspapers.org/ megaconference.html.
Guest Column: The strongest argument for openness: Facts quell rumors
By Jim Pumarlo
As youths we all likely tried to hide bad behavior from our parents. The truth inevitably surfaced, and we bore the brunt of punishment. Lesson: Be up front with circumstances and repercussions typically are minimized.
Newspapers should communicate the same lesson to public officials who try to keep secret what they deem sensitive or unwelcome news: Be forthright. Make it standard procedure to volunteer the news and minimize rumors.
Newsrooms work tirelessly to deliver on the “public’s right to know,” and for good reason. In the words of David Bordewyk, executive director of the South Dakota NewsMedia Association: Open government is essential to good government.
The public’s right to know was the thrust behind the SDNA’s support for a bill that passed this year’s Legislature to require all public boards to review the open meetings laws once a year, Bordewyk writes. “Keeping an eye on government and informing readers about public meetings are among the most important jobs for community news media organizations.”
Government transparency often centers on open records and open meetings laws, Bordewyk notes, acknowledging that laws can be confusing and lead to misunderstandings. So why not require an annual refresher course? It’s a great idea, one that should be pursued by other state press associations if it’s not already on the books.
At the same time, newspapers should not wait for the often lengthy and zigzag path of a worthy idea to reach the finish line. Why not initiate meetings with local officials to review and explore the intricacies of open meeting and data practices laws.
Newspapers certainly should stand on the letter of the law when seeking access to public information and meetings. Two other points should be stressed.
First, advance requests based on the spirit of openness – no matter what the law dictates. Challenge public officials to place themselves in the position of friends and neighbors seeking answers from City Hall. Would they be satisfied with “no comment”?
Second, underscore the value of setting benchmarks for community conversation. Meeting in secret or withholding information only fuels rumors. If gossip has reached the newspaper, those affected can rest assured it has circulated broadly, especially fueled by social media. At minimum, hearsay exaggerates the facts. At worst, the whispers promote blatant falsehoods.
The opportunity to deliver facts straight from the source is one of
the strongest arguments editors can present to those otherwise hesitant to share information. Citizens still may dismiss statements as a “company line,” but parameters have been set for community discussion.
The premise of openness should be delivered to the private sector as well. Companies and individuals are not subject to the same laws as public bodies, but they ought to be aware that their news is equally important to the community and often travels more quickly than a city council vote.
Conflicts over the public’s right to know often focus on a specific meeting or particular document. Officials also should be reminded of the value of everyday openness.
I vividly recall the “news” passed along by my photographer when I sat behind the editor’s desk. Word had reached his son’s elementary school that a teacher at the middle school had lost all his fingers in a lab experiment. We promptly tracked a story for that day’s edition. The superintendent set the record straight. The teacher lost a fingertip and all was handled very calmly and professionally.
Our first inquiry, however, went to the school principal. She refused comment, charging us with sensationalism. A few minutes later she called and canceled her subscription without even seeing our report. I’ll stand by our decision to pursue and publish the story. I’m certain we prevented a lot of misinformed table talk at dinners that evening.
I applaud Bordewyk and his association for securing legislation to require all public boards to review the open meetings laws once a year. In tandem, I encourage newspapers to pursue meetings to orient public officials on the laws. Nothing is more important in newspaper missions than to preserve and advance the public’s right to know.
Editors too often find themselves demanding information in confrontation. Seize the opportunity to structure these meetings as an effort to reach a common understanding.
Jim Pumarlo is former editor of the Red Wing (Minn.) Republican Eagle. He writes, speaks and provides training on community newsroom success strategies. He is author of “Journalism Primer: A Guide to Community News Coverage,” “Votes and Quotes: A Guide to Outstanding Election Coverage” and “Bad News and Good Judgment: A Guide to Reporting on Sensitive Issues in Small-Town Newspapers.” He can be reached at and welcomes comments and questions at jim@ pumarlo.com
95th Arkansas General Assembly
Legislative Report
APA is monitoring the following bills of interest to our industry and the public:
Bill No. / Author Short Description
HB 1042
Rep. Collins To Create The Direct Democracy Act Of 2025; To Repeal The Ensuring Access For All Arkansans And Voter Protection Act Of 2023; And To Amend The Procedure For The Filing Of A Ballot Initiative Petition And Referendum Petition.
https://bit.ly/3WHRRDt
HB 1141
Rep. Richardson To Create Criminal Offenses Related To Deceptive And Injurious Media In The Course Of Election Campaigns.
https://bit.ly/3El11zK
SB 12
Sen. King To Amend The Freedom Of Information Act Of 1967; To Subject All Communication With The Board Of Apportionment To The Freedom Of Information Act Of 1967; And To Establish A Penalty.
https://bit.ly/42zIutn
SB 207
Sen. Hammer To Amend The Law Concerning Initiative And Referendum Petitions; To Require A Canvasser To Disclose That Petition Fraud Is A Class A Misdemeanor; And To Declare An Emergency.
https://bit.ly/4hB3EvY
SB 208
Sen. Hammer To Amend The Law Concerning Initiative And Referendum Petitions; To View A Canvasser To Request Photo Identification Before Obtaining A Signature; And To Declare An Emergency.
https://bit.ly/4jQqQbb
SB 209
Sen. Hammer To Disqualify Signatures Obtained By A Canvasser Under Certain Circumstances; And To Declare An Emergency.
https://bit.ly/4hAzAR6
SB 210
Sen. Hammer To Require The Signer To Read The Ballot Title Of The Petition In The Presence Of A Canvasser; And To Declare An Emergency.
https://bit.ly/4hUyDCS
SB 211
Sen. Hammer To Amend The Law Concerning Initiative Petitions And Referendum Petitions; To Require A Canvasser To Submit An Affidavit Before Signatures Can Be Counted; And To Declare An Emergency.
https://bit.ly/4hX4anw
SB 212
Sen. Hammer To Create The Document Validity Division; And To Declare An Emergency. https://bit.ly/4aZsrXU
SB 227
Sen. Tucker To Amend The Freedom Of Information Act Of 1967; And To Amend The Provisions Of The Freedom Of Information Act Of 1967 Concerning Public Meetings.
https://bit.ly/42WfEUm
SB 248
Sen. Tucker To Amend The Freedom Of Information Act Of 1967; And To Amend The Law Concerning Public Meetings Under The Freedom Of Information Act Of 1967.
https://bit.ly/4bvvF5E
SB 376
Sen. Clark To Amend The Freedom Of Information Act Of 1967; And To Amend The Provisions Of The Freedom Of Information Act Of 1967 Concerning Personnel Records.
https://bit.ly/4hk34lc
Current Status
Reported correctly engrossed - House
Reported correctly engrossed - House
Returned by the Committee, with the recommendation that it Do Pass - Senate
Notification that SB 207 is now Act 218 - Senate
Returned by the Committee with the recommendation that it Do Pass - House
Returned by the Committee with the recommendation that it Do Pass - House
Re-referred to the Committee on State Agencies & Govt’l Affairs - Senate
Re-referred to the Committee on State Agencies & Govt’l Affairs - Senate
Referred to the Committee on State Agencies & Govt’l Affairs - Senate
Referred to the Committee on State Agencies & Govt’l Affairs - Senate