APA Advertising Conference registration now open

Register today for the 2023 APA Advertising Conference to be held on April 28, at the Red & Blue Events Venue in Little Rock. Marianne Grogan, president of Coda Ventures in Nashville, Tennessee will be the primary speaker at this year’s ad conference.

“We’re so excited that we can finally have the advertising conference live and in person again,” said APA Executive Director Ashley Kemp Wimberley. “Marianne is a dynamic speaker, and we are all looking forward to her presentation.”

Grogan will discuss the results of the statewide study commissioned by APA in 2022 and demonstrate how the data can be used by newspapers for successful sales conversations.

Online

Following Grogan’s session will be a panel discussion, “Best Revenue Products,” featuring Jennifer Allen, owner and publisher of the Hot Springs Village Voice, Andrew Bagley, owner and copublisher of The Helena World and Monroe County Argus, and Rhonda Overbey, regional publisher and advertising director of the Malvern Daily Record and the Saline Courier in Benton.

The APA Better Newspaper Advertising Contest awards ceremony, emceed by Roby Brock of Talk Business & Politics, will close out the day.

Tickets for the day are $50 and include a luncheon. Visit arkansaspress.org/advertising-conference to purchase. If you have any questions, email info@arkansaspress.org.

includes lunch

Wynne newspapers impacted by tornado

We want to know about your new hires, retires and promotions!

Send your staffing changes to info@arkansaspress.org to be updated online and included in the Arkansas Publisher Weekly.

Let Us Know List Your Jobs

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

The offices of the Wynne Progress and the East Arkansas News Leader were damaged by an F3 tornado which bisected the Cross County community at 4:30 p.m. on March 31, just a few hours after another EF3 tornado ripped through Pulaski County.

The Progress building, while still standing, was on the edge of the path of the tornado. Multiple nearby structures, including those of the First United Methodist Church and Wynne High School, suffered catastrophic damage in the storm, which killed four people and injured dozens more.

On Saturday, Editor David Owens posted to the Progress’s Facebook page, “Like many of you, the Wynne Progress office was impacted by yesterday's tornado. We don't know when we will be able to get up and running again, but we will continue to share ways to give and any help needed as we work through this together.”

A later post stated that the newspapers do not expect to publish this week, as the safety of the building could not be confirmed.

Your donation will help:

• Promote the welfare of the community newspaper industry.

• Fund legislative efforts to protect transparency in state government.

• Cultivate educational opportunities for future journalists.

• Ensure the viability of the newspaper industry for years to come.

To donate, mail a check to: Arkansas Newspaper Foundation 411 South Victory Street Little Rock, AR 72201

The Arkansas Newspaper Foundation is a 501c(3) organization. All donations are tax-deductible to the extent allowable under law.

A donation collection center to assist those impacted by the Wynne tornado has been set up at 187 Murray Avenue, according to Wynne Mayor Jennifer Hobbs. Hobbs also said that volunteers able to assist in cleanup with physical labor or heavy equipment can report to the East Arkansas Community College technology center at 1790 Falls Boulevard in Wynne.

ATU’s Arka Tech to celebrate centennial

The Arka Tech, the student newspaper of Arkansas Tech University (ATU) in Russellville, will mark its 100th anniversary with a come-andgo reception from 2-4 p.m. on April 10 in Chambers Cafeteria West Dining Room on campus.

The newspaper was established at what was then called the Second District Agricultural School in 1923, under the leadership of Dean Turrentine, according to an article announcing the anniversary celebration. Originally the Tuba Agricolae, the newspaper’s name was changed to The Arka Tech in 1934.

The college took the name Arkansas Polytechnic College in 1925, and Arkansas

Tech University in 1976.

The publication’s modern era has been shaped by the mentorship of two faculty advisors: Gerald Edgar, a journalism professional who served on the Arkansas Tech faculty from 1957-86, and Tommy Mumert, assistant professor of journalism, who has been with the university since 1989. Refreshments will be served at the reception. Remarks will be made at approximately 2:30 p.m. ATU students, faculty, staff and alumni as well as members of the community are invited.

To RSVP, email to Megan Toland of the ATU journalism faculty at mtoland1@atu.edu.