Arkansas Publisher Weekly: January 12, 2024

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APA welcomes new Associate Members Guest Column: Aspirations for the new year

By Pam Lowe

Arkansas Press Association

Publisher Weekly Vol.19 | No. 2 | Friday, January 12, 2024 | Serving Press and State Since 1873

After a stint in banking, Edwards finds life’s work in journalism wrote and encouraged me to keep at it. When you hear something like that from someone like him, you pay attention to it.”

In a career that involved years working in the finance and real estate sectors, Jay Edwards now feels thankful to be focused on what he really loves – writing.

Edwards graduated from Catholic High and moved on to the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville, where he majored in finance and real estate. But the advice from Father Tribou must have lingered, as he also enrolled in numerous university writing classes.

He has found fulfillment at the Daily Record in Little Rock, currently serving as managing editor of a publication that focuses on legal, business and real estate news in Central Arkansas.

Edwards has written columns and articles for the Daily Record over the years and especially enjoys the comprehensive profile features he produces on a regular basis.

He also appreciates now working with his wife, Kathy Edwards, who serves as the copy editor for the publication. The two handle the editorial functions at the newspaper, which normally runs 24 pages a week.

Edwards earlier directed the editorial department at the newspaper for 14 years before retiring in 2017.

He pursued several freelance writing opportunities before accepting an offer to return in the fall of 2022.

“I don’t suppose you could say I grew up with ink in my blood, but I liked my involvement in this industry from the start,” Edwards said. “For one thing, I’ve always liked writing.”

Edwards has a special memory from his high school years that showed an early indication of where he might eventually travel in his career.

The publication is printed at Monticello under the guidance of Tom White, who served with Edwards on the board of directors of the Arkansas Press Association. Edwards also served on the board of the Arkansas Newspaper Foundation.

Jay and Kathy Edwards

The legendary Father George Tribou, principal and rector at Catholic High School for Boys in Little Rock, also taught English classes and Edwards was one of his students.

Kathy Edwards was employed for several years as an administrative assistant at the APA office.

Father Tribou called him into his office one day and Edwards had no idea what to expect. “It turned out he really liked something I Arkansas Publisher Weekly

See Edwards Page 2

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January 12, 2024

Edwards Continued from page 1

Three other full-time members of the Daily Record staff also work at the newspaper office, located in the Simmons Tower in downtown Little Rock.

said. “They would always make me look better than I am.”

He cited one of those staffers, Amber Davis, who helped in covering business luncheons and other similar events. She frequently wrote articles about the legal fraternity in Central Arkansas. “She noticed that the lawyers were driving a lot nicer cars than I was and eventually decided to go to law school,” he joked.

When Edwards first joined the Daily Record, the publication was owned by Mark Nichols, Don Bona and Bill Rector. Nichols, a Little Rock attorney, now is the sole owner and Bobby Burton is the current publisher.

Edwards said Davis had one of the highest bar exam scores in the state’s history and currently is a staff attorney at the Arkansas Court of Appeals.

Edwards and his wife have really enjoyed their work during the last year and especially appreciate being involved with many of their lifelong friends. “This past year went by awfully fast,” he said. “Not once have we said we made a mistake in doing this.”

Edwards said the publication has changed some since his earlier days on the staff, which he joined in 2003. The volume of public notices was significantly higher then and the newspaper had 18 to 22 employees at any given time, he noted.

In those earlier days, Edwards attended many professional luncheons and dinners on behalf of the newspaper. He also became a member of the Downtown Rotary Club in Little Rock and was involved in regularly producing a newsletter for the organization.

Mary Fisher performs at the 2012 APA SuperConvention talent show supporting the Arkansas Newspaper Foundation as Louie Graves and Jay Edwards provide backup.

The company also owned a similar newspaper in Chattanooga, the Hamilton County Herald. Edwards was the associate publisher of that publication and directed the editorial content and layout from Little Rock. That newspaper was sold to the Memphis Daily News in 2016.

Edwards grew up in North Little Rock and, as noted, graduated from Catholic High School. Kathy was a student at Mount St. Mary Academy in Little Rock. The couple knew each other in high school but didn’t start dating until after graduation.

Edwards does see a form of divine intervention in the meeting of his future wife. His first application to Catholic High was politely rejected.

Someone suggested that his grandfather, Dr. Matt Ellis, who was well known in the state as president of Henderson State Teachers College and then later Hendrix College, write a letter on his behalf – and

According to Edwards, the growth of the Little Rock publication largely was the work of Bona. team comprised of Jay Edwards, Frank Fellone, Tony Cooper and Jim Kennedy show He met with boards of The their strength before teeing off at an ANF Golf Tournament. realtors throughout Central Arkansas and convinced them to provide a subscription to the newspaper whenever a new that worked. member signed up. He later worked similar deals with the Pulaski Looking back, he sees that letter eventually leading to meeting County Bar Association and the UALR Alumni Association. Those his wife of 43 years. “I guess somehow you find where you are arrangements remain in place today. supposed to be,” he said. “We all have those defining moments.”

During his earlier tenure, Edwards always had a staff of about four After college, Edwards began his working career in the mortgage young staffers who assisted him in covering news events. “They were so capable and willing and just wonderful people,” Edwards See Edwards Page 3 Arkansas Publisher Weekly

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January 12, 2024

Edwards Continued from page 2

business in Central Arkansas, and eventually was assigned to open an office in Fayetteville. “It was a time when interest rates were high and it was a tough business,” he said.

The Arkansas

Publisher

His next stop was with T.J. Raney and Sons, an investment firm in Little Rock. He remained there for 20 years in his role in municipal bond sales and as a financial advisor.

“It was a great company to work for. And I met lots of quality people and made some lifelong friendships,” Edwards said.

ARKANSAS PRESS ASSOCIATION | VOLUME 89 - 1ST QUARTER | 2015

Edwards worked from 1995 to 2000 as a financial advisor at four different banks in Fayetteville. “I didn’t get fired four times, the banks just kept changing their names,” he said with a laugh.

He then moved back to Little Rock and spent three years working in both real estate sales and the mortgage industry before being contacted by Nichols about accepting the position at the Daily Record.

Edwards said his role, in addition to handling the editorial department, involved marketing and public relations. “I guess you could say that, during that period, I was the face of the Daily Record to the public,” he said.

It would be fair to say Edwards has indeed found his calling in his present managing editor position. “I’ve always loved this industry,” he said, noting his great regard over the years for the old-style newspaper folks. “What a passion many of them had.”

Edwards appreciates the efforts of the Arkansas Press Association and other organizations in defending the free press and combatting government officials who “want to keep information behind closed doors.”

Published Since 1927 The Arkansas Press Association Board met for their winter retreat at the Red Apple Inn in Heber Springs, Ark. (from left, front row) Rusty Turner, Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, Springdale; Rusty Fraser, Stone County Leader, Mountain View; Mary Fisher, Fisher Publishing; Jay Edwards, The Daily Record, Little Rock; John Bland, The Times Dispatch, Walnut Ridge, (from left, back row) Byron Tate, Pine Bluff Commercial; Gary Troutman, The Sentinel-Record, Hot Springs; Nat Lea, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, Little Rock.

“At this point in my career, I just don’t have the energy to fight those battles, but I really admire those who are doing it,” he said.

“I am just so thrilled that I have found something that I really enjoy doing and I am going to continue with it as long as that is the case.

I certainly am having a lot of fun with it right now.”

Edwards believes there always will be a place for the type of work he and his wife are doing. “Who knows what exact form it will take in the future,” he said.

Edwards recalled a chance encounter he once had with the late Arkansas Democrat-Gazette reporter and columnist Meredith Oakley while both were waiting for pizza orders. She encouraged him, telling him there are countless interesting topics and people to write about and to go find them.

“She said there will always be stories, no matter what,” Edwards said. “And there will always be a need for people to tell those stories.”

Edwards and his wife enjoy visiting their son Matt and his wife Sara, who work at Glacier National Park in Montana, and daughter Alexis, who is a traveling nurse in Asheville, North Carolina. They enjoy the outdoors and spend a lot of time hiking. Edwards also likes to read and play golf.

Benjamin Krain, photographer with the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, accepts the award for Photo of the Year from Jay Edwards in 2015.

Arkansas Publisher Weekly

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January 12, 2024

APA welcomes new Associate Members Dr. Ginger Blackstone of the University of Arkansas and the Arkansas Scholastic Press Association have joined APA as Associate Members.

Dr. Blackstone is Associate Professor Dr. Ginger Blackstone in Broadcast and Multimedia News, Storytelling and Promotion at the University of Arkansas Fulbright College of Arts & Sciences School of Journalism and Strategic Media. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Radio/TV Broadcasting from Harding University, a Master of Arts in Journalism from UA-Little Rock and a Ph.D. in Mass Communication from the University of Florida.

She taught for 14 years at Harding University before joining the University of Arkansas in 2023. Prior to her time at Harding she spent nearly two decades in broadcast and cable news, including 13 years at CNN and CNN Headline News as a supervising/executive

producer and producer.

Her professional awards include a Peabody for CNN’s 2008 political coverage, a Peabody for the 2005 Hurricane Katrina disaster, a Columbia duPont award for the 2004 South Asia Tsunami Disaster, a 2010 RTDNA Edward R. Murrow regional award for Best Newscast, a 2010 NATAS MidAmerica Emmy nomination for Best Newscast and two 2022 Cablefax awards for Best Live Event and Best Weather for The Weather Channel’s Hurricane Ida coverage. Dr. Blackstone also serves on the Education and Social Media Committees for the NATAS Mid-America Emmys.

The Arkansas Scholastic Press Association was founded as the Arkansas High School Press Association in 1929 by Walter J. Lemke of the University of Arkansas. The organization changed its name to the Arkansas Scholastic Press Association in 1998. Its purpose is to improve student publications in Arkansas, increase their prestige, promote the field of journalism and recognize outstanding scholastic achievements. ASPA members are

provided access to education resources, law and ethics resources and support, professional development workshops for advisors, student workshops, networking opportunities, annual contentions around the state, annual contests and awards for students, scholarships opportunities, the ASPA Hall of Fame and more.

ASPA is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization and a (509) (a) (2) public charity. Renette S. McCargo, an instructor at the Fulbright College of Arts & Sciences School of Journalism & Strategic Media, has served as executive director of ASPA since 2021. Visit. arkansasscholasticpressassociation.org to learn more about ASPA. We welcome Dr. Blackstone and ASPA to the association.

Searcy newspaper adopts “new (old) name” at first of year The newspaper formerly known as the Searcy Daily Citizen has changed its name to the White County Citizen.

all of White County, not just the county seat where we are located.”

Over the past decade the Daily Citizen had dropped from daily publication to thrice-weekly, then semiweekly. It was announced in late December that in 2024 the newspaper would produce a print edition on Thursdays only, with news updates published online daily. All print edition subscribers have access to the online content.

“When we learned that the Daily Citizen would be becoming a weekly this year, my staff pretty much immediately began looking to change the name of the print edition,” Editor Steve Watts said in his January 4 column. “We ended up dipping into the newspaper’s 169year history to find the new (old) name.”

“It is our hope that the history of this newspaper is important to you, and that you see value in having a newspaper of record in White County,” Watts said. “There has been a newspaper in Searcy since 1889 … with the support of our readers and our community’s businesses, we can thrive as a weekly and under the banner of the White County Citizen once again. We can continue to provide you with news coverage you are not going to get anywhere else. We can continue to highlight this community and provide you with accurate and objective information. It’s in our blood, it’s in our history, and it’s in our new (old) name.”

The newspaper has its roots in the Des Arc Citizen, which Publisher J.J. Baugh purchased in 1885 and moved to Searcy under the name White County Citizen in 1889. A daily edition, the Searcy Daily Citizen, was launched in 1890, with the weekly White County Citizen continuing publication until 1953.

“Under consideration was simply calling the newspaper The Citizen,” Watts said, “but that didn’t identify who we cover (although neither did the Daily Citizen). The Searcy Citizen was an option, but we cover

LIST YOUR JOBS Arkansas Publisher Weekly

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.

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January 12, 2024

Investigative Reporters & Editors provides opportunity for free newsroom training

Annual National News Literacy Week to be observed January 22 - 26, 2024

Investigative Reporters & Editors, a grassroots nonprofit organization dedicated to improving the quality of journalism, is accepting applications for Total Newsroom Training, a grantfunded program that brings customized investigative training to small- and medium-sized newsrooms.

Spots in the two-day program are limited and awarded on a competitive basis.

Preference will be given to newsrooms in rural areas and smaller cities, smaller newsrooms in large markets, and newsrooms founded and run by those coming from and serving historically marginalized communities.

Trainers will visit selected newsrooms either virtually or in person for two days of intense, inhouse investigative training, at no cost to the newspaper. The newsroom must be committed to allowing a significant portion of its staff to attend the full two days of training and to tracking their progress after the training. Training must be completed by December 2024. The winning newsrooms will attend a webinar later in the year to showcase their work.

The deadline to apply is February 17, 2024.

Learn more about the program at https:// www.ire.org/training/total-newsroomtraining/ and apply at https://docs.google. com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSf04JxgyFmzfghR WpCFf6tKFtwd5Fq8wNsobgADh0KyfmSY GQ/viewform.

For questions, email IRE trainer Adam Rhodes at adam@ire.org.

Arkansas Publisher Weekly

National News Literacy Week, an annual initiative underscores the vital role of news literacy in a democracy and provides people of all ages with the knowledge and tools to become better informed and more civically engaged, will be observed January 22-26 this year.

Presented by the News Literacy Project, a nonpartisan education nonprofit building a national movement to create a more news-literate America, and The E.W. Scripps Company, one of the nation’s largest local TV broadcasters, National News Literacy

Week this year turns a spotlight on local news and its role in a healthy democracy.

Topics to be addressed include how to solve the local news crisis, how student journalists are helping to fill the gap in local news, how to find local news you can trust and the importance of local news.

All National News Literacy Week events are free and will be livestreamed. To learn more, follow the News Literacy Project on Instagram at @newslitproject and visit newslit.org/news-literacy-week.

OFFICE SPACE AVAILABLE Starting February 1

• 580 square feet • Close to the Arkansas State Capitol

• Parking included • Use of conference room and kitchen

Contact: ashley@arkansaspress.org 5

January 12, 2024

Guest Column: Aspirations for the new year

By Pam Lowe

As the pages of 2024 lay blank before us with uncharted adventures and experiences, there are a few things I wish for all of us in the upcoming year.

who have risen to prominence on the basis of their hard work, wisdom and knowledge and stop honoring those who have not achieved, but just talked a good game.

I wish that creativity will be our sidekick in the coming year in order to sharpen our existing talents and allow new ways of thinking to lead us to new aptitudes.

I hope we do not allow anything or anyone to squelch our lofty ideals and we can maintain a clear vision for our own potential.

I hope we will have the courage to stand up for ourselves and on the side of humanity, for the unfortunate, the weak, the elderly and our children when the occasions arise that we need champions. I hope that we do not allow a few to speak for all.

I yearn for a new year when we will keep in mind that our competition isn’t other people. It’s procrastination and negative behaviors. It’s bigotry, jealousy and pride.

It’s the ugliness of trying to hold others down. It’s time that we realize as a society that we all are competing against ourselves to become better people. Most of the time we know what we need to do. So let’s make a pact that in 2024 we will be bold and start making moves and waves, if necessary.

Let’s make “I can and I will” our energy and mantra for the new year. We deserve to fight for ourselves, our children’s future and for our society. We should and can be fighters when the cause is just. We are each a light when darkness closes in. We deserve to have better days ahead. If we don’t give up and give in, we can arrive in a world and a future in which we can be proud.

I pray our society will value science, research and knowledge and will turn a blind eye to close-minded ideas and thinking. I hope that those elected to power will have good sense and those actions meant to imprison young minds, such as book banning and infringing upon citizens’ freedom to read what they choose, is put to an end. Our promise for the future lies in the reality that our children have the opportunities to read and learn from rich literary sources and books that teach about justice and humanity. I hope that people will return to reading newspapers and will see the true value in a free press. In the words of Dan Rather, “Progress, reason, science, justice... these are human ideals that must flourish for the sake of all of us.”

I pray in 2024 that only those with educational backgrounds and knowledge will make decisions that determine the education of our children. It is my desire that public education can remain a right for all American learners.

We need to return to celebrating those

Arkansas Publisher Weekly

Of all the strengths I could give to each of us, it would be wisdom to be able to carefully discern what is truth and what is false. We should possess a clear sightedness to see true greatness and potential. And the courage to stand for what is right and just, no matter what the majority of people may believe.

And my special wish for you, dear reader, I hope that in the coming year you recognize your unique gifts and breathe

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in the comfort of self-acceptance; that you make peace with who you are and all your wondrous attributes. Within the realm of self-acceptance, I hope you are patient with yourself and allow the time it takes for change to take place. Goals, like good ideas, need time to ruminate to fully bloom. Timing is everything. Remember, when God is about to do something great, He starts placing obstacles in our path.

When He is about to do something truly grand, He starts with an impossibility.

The word for 2023 according to MerriamWebster’s Dictionary was authentic. I hope for all of you that you are brave enough to live an authentic life with confidence. That you allow no one to steal your shine and you will feel confident in beating your own drum.

Above all, let us be compassionate. Be considerate to yourself and to others.

Before you speak or act, ask yourself if you’re moving in kindheartedness. Former educator and speaker Todd Whittaker says, “Hurt people, hurt people.” Self-love is vital to being kind to others. In the coming year I hope that you are able to embrace and celebrate YOU, as well as others.

Happy New Year.

Pam Lowe is the editor of the Clay County Courier in Corning. Readers may contact her at plowe@cherryroad.com. This column was originally published in the Clay County Courier on December 27, 2023.

January 12, 2024