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Remember ANF on Giving Tuesday, at year-end Guest Column: New tools elicit warning: Latest versions of Photoshop include use of artificial intelligence By Kevin Slimp
Arkansas Press Association
Publisher Weekly Vol.18 | No. 44 | Thursday, November 16, 2023 | Serving Press and State Since 1873
Risinger, Clay County Times-Democrat, still going strong to office manager in 2005.
What is the heart of a small-town weekly newspaper?
She incorporated page design to her repertoire in 2006 and added bookkeeping/payroll and the title of general manager in 2012 upon the retirement of co-publisher Nancy Kemp.
Those with knowledge of the industry will attest it is a staff member who, over a long period of time, masters all the related skills and “gets the paper out” 52 times year after year no matter the circumstance.
In short, she has done it all. “Overall, I guess I probably enjoy pagination more than anything else, but I also have always liked doing bookkeeping work, as well,” Risinger said.
If that is a valid definition, then Dianna Risinger has been the heart of weekly newspapering in Eastern Clay County for more than three decades.
Ron Kemp and wife Nancy were copublishers of the Rector and Piggott newspapers when Risinger first began her career. The publications were sold to Rust Communications in 1997, with the Kemps continuing as co-publishers.
It was Aug. 29, 1989, when she reported to work as a part-time delivery person at the Clay County Democrat in her hometown of Rector. She quickly established herself as an employee who was ready and willing to take on any task needed to help the staff produce a solid weekly publication.
The two newspapers were merged in 2011 into the current Clay County Times-Democrat, serving Eastern Clay County from its office location in Piggott. The TimesDemocrat was acquired in 2022 by CherryRoad Media, which also owns other Arkansas properties in Corning, Pocahontas, Salem and Marshall.
Dianna Risinger
“Every time someone needed help with something, I was willing to do it,” she said. “And I have pretty much done it all now over the years. By learning everything, I began to work my way up.”
“Without a doubt the most memorable event in my newspaper career was the ice storm of 2009,” Risinger said.
Within a year she was manning the front office at the newspaper and began handling advertising when the main salesperson quit. She enjoyed working with local businesses but admits traveling to some nearby communities for sales was not her all-time favorite assignment.
The January storm hit Clay County with a vengeance and knocked out electricity and other infrastructure throughout Rector and Piggott and the surrounding area.
Risinger expanded her duties into circulation and billing and eventually moved her working location in 1998 to the office of the Piggott Times, a sister publication in the town where she now lives. Continuing to grow in her skills and experience, she was promoted
The disaster occurred on a Tuesday, which was production day, and staffers worked in Rector City Hall and the Clay County Courthouse in Piggott to meet the weekly deadline. Both buildings had the See Risinger Page 3
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Congratulations on 150 years. Simmons Bank congratulates the Arkansas Press Association (APA) on 150 years in business and all it has achieved for our state. As Arkansas’s first trade association and the oldest professional association in the state, APA has paved the way for the freedom of press. Simmons recently celebrated 120 years in business, so we feel a special connection with organizations that share a long history of serving our local communities. We’re proud to be in great company with the APA and look forward to the next 150 years!
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October 13, 2023
Risinger Continued from page 1
The two newspaper executives parked in front of the newspaper office in Piggott and were visiting with Risinger when a county deputy was noticed outside looking at the vehicle. Within a few minutes two other officers arrived on the scene.
necessary generators to facilitate the work. “We worked all night to get the papers out,” Risinger said. “The jail in Rector City Hall was near where we were working and one of the policemen said I could lie down on one of the cots to rest for awhile if I wanted to. I tried it for just a bit, but it just felt funny, and I couldn’t do it. But it did lead to one of my grandsons telling people that I had spent the night in jail.”
“One of them came into the office and asked me if I knew whose car it was,” Risinger said. “I told them it was rented in Jonesboro by my new bosses, who were standing right there. The confusion eventually was cleared up and we all got a good laugh out of it. We ran a picture of the ‘criminals’ on the front page and started referring to them as Bonnie and Clyde.
Risinger spent much of her initial ice storm work at the courthouse in Piggott until both newspaper offices were able to set up portable generators. “All of us really worked well together to make sure we kept getting our papers out,” she said.
“The people at CherryRoad are all really good to work with,” Risinger said, adding that many of the functions she previously performed are now handled by others throughout the company. “And if I have any questions, they have people on staff who are friendly and helpful.”
Risinger and her husband Tim decided to buy a generator for their home in Piggott, and her kids and grandkids stayed there together until power was restored in the area. Looking back over the years, Risinger said the biggest change was moving from the conventional “cut and paste” method to digital forms of production. She helped produce grocery ads using border tape, screens and clip art and composed news pages by hand, then transported them to Kennett, Missouri, to be shot in the camera room, made into plates and printed.
Most of her duties now involve gathering news and paginating with the help of freelance writers in Piggott and Rector and her daughter, Jennifer Hargrove, the only other full-time employee at the newspaper.
Like mother, like daughter. Hargrove started part-time in 1999 and continued in that role until becoming a full-time She now has, of course, mastered employee in 2016. She also has all the various forms of modern developed the skills associated newspaper production and the Risinger’s grandson Waylon Hargrove assists in getting the newspaper with the community newspaper produced. changes that have ensued, such as industry but has focused primarily on working with remote locations used by national companies such advertising sales and pagination in recent years. as CherryRoad. For example, the Clay County newspaper recently With the birth soon of twin granddaughters to Risinger’s son, changed its printing location to Hutchinson, Kansas. Matt Vaughn and his wife, Casey, the number of Risinger’s “I had a niece from St. Louis visit the other day and she heard me grandchildren will increase to seven. The Vaughns, of Rector, talking on the phone about JPEGs and TIFs,” Risinger said. “She also have a daughter, Lillian, age 5. Hargrove and her husband, commented that she couldn’t believe she would ever hear words Michael, live in Greenway and are the parents of sons Zachary, like that coming out of my mouth. I told her I may not be quite as Landon and Justin Gilbee and Waylon Hargrove. old as she thinks I am.” Risinger acknowledged the difficult challenges faced by small Risinger has developed a good working relationship with the newspapers but said the Times-Democrat has fared better than management of CherryRoad Media, including CEO Jeremy some. The newspaper normally consists of 8 to 10 pages each Gulban and deputy publisher Jennifer Fischer. The two visited week but relies heavily on promotions and special sections for Piggott following the acquisition of the newspaper, resulting in a needed revenue. This year’s Clay County Farm Family of the Year humorous adventure that made the front page that week. special section was especially successful. Hargrove recently sold Gulban and Fischer flew into nearby Jonesboro, rented a car from a the annual Rector Community Guide and currently is working on a local dealership and drove to Piggott. It turned out that a mistake basketball special section. was made by the dealership – the “rental car” unfortunately was The newspaper, in keeping with the nationwide trend, has lost owned by a customer, who subsequently reported it stolen to local authorities. See Risinger Page 4 Arkansas Publisher Weekly
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Risinger Continued from page 3
circulation numbers but still retains a loyal list of 1,300 subscribers. As part of a parent company that emphasizes digital solutions, the Clay County Times-Democrat maintains a robust website that includes an electronic version of each week’s newspaper. In many areas of the country, local businesses are combatting difficult trends such as declining population and online competition. By most measures, Clay County is one of those areas. Despite that reality, residents of such communities still enjoy the unique qualities of rural life. And there are indeed examples of dedicated employees working every day to make sure their communities remain viable. Dianna Risinger remains one such crucial figure as she meets a challenging deadline each week to keep her fellow citizens informed. That level and length (34 years in this case) of commitment may be increasingly rare, but always deserves appreciation and respect.
Risinger at her desk at the Clay County Times-Democrat
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 members of the APA on 150 years of outstanding journalism, helping make Arkansas a great place in which to live and work.
© 2023 AT&T Intellectual Property. AT&T, Globe logo, Mobilizing Your World are registered trademarks of AT&T Intellectual Property and/or AT&T affiliated companies. All other marks are the property of their respective owners.
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EARN YOUR
PRESS PASS What is Earn Your Press Pass? Earn Your Press Pass is a simple course, covering the basics of community journalism. It is designed to train those with limited or no news experience to work for their local newspaper,helping to create valuable coverage. It is taught by Lindsey Young, a community journalist and publisher with 10 years of high school teaching experience.
What does the course include? V.
I.
Introduction
II.
Newspaper Jargon
Writing Techniques A. Writing on deadline B. Fun with leads C. Using quotes D. Headline writing E. Cutline writing F. Thinking outside the pyramid
A. Parts of a newspaper B. Other terms to know
III. Interviewing
A. Who should I interview? B. Preparing for an interview C. Conducting an interview D. Interview follow-up E. Source problems and issues F. Let’s practice.
IV.
VI.
Photography
X.
Final Bits of Advice
•
Sections are feature videos and printable cheat sheets
•
Lessons will continue to be added/updated.
Associated Press
VII. Style Editing
A. Tips for effective editing B. Revising and rewriting C. Let’s practice.
Types of Stories
A. Newsworthiness B. News-writing basics C. Breaking and hard news stories D. Covering a meeting E. Working a press release F. Writing a feature story G. Covering sports H. Opinion writing
IX.
VIII. Journalist Rights and Ethics
A. Taking good photos B. Editing photos C. Dealing with submitted photos
A. Keeping yourself organized B. Preparing files for layout C. I have nothing to write about. Help!
A. Your right to know B. Avoiding libel C. Journalism ethics D. Contradictions of community journalism
“I was extremely impressed. Lindsey even taught this old dog some new tricks. The content is solid, it’s easy to use, and you can sign into and out of the program as your time allows. Lindsey’s engaging nature makes the lessons enjoyable, which makes you look forward to the next segment.” DONNIS BAGGETT, TEXAS PRESS ASSOCIATION
Executive vice president and a 50-year veteran of small and large Texas newsrooms
Arkansas Publisher Weekly
ARKANSASPRESS.ORG
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For more information, contact Ashley Kemp Wimberley at ashley@arkansaspress.org November 2, 2023
2023 ArkLaMiss Circulation, Marketing & Audience Development Conference November 9 – 10, 2023 • Vicksburg, Mississippi
Remember ANF on Giving Tuesday, for year-end donations Giving Tuesday, created in 2012 with the simple idea of a day to encourage people to do good that has since grown into a celebration of generosity, is on November 28 this year. As we move into the season of year-end gifts, we ask you to support the important mission of newspapers with a gift to the Arkansas Newspaper Foundation.
Brad Hill, CEO of Interlink and a member of the US Postmaster General’s Mailers Technical Advisory Committee, discusses all things postal last week at the ArkLaMiss Circulation, Marketing & Audience Development Conference at the Ameristar Casino Hotel in Vicksburg, Mississippi. The annual event is sponsored by APA and the Mississippi Press Association.
Founded in 1982, ANF provides services to APA member newspapers by funding paid internships to journalism students at Arkansas colleges and universities, grants for attending seminars and conferences and by aiding and advancing newspaper journalism education and newspaper readership across the state. Arkansas newspapers provide an essential service to their communities and play a vital role in our democracy. Your gift is an investment in one of the fundamental sectors of our society. Your contribution will make an impact whether you donate $5 or $500.
The Mississippi River as seen from the Ameristar Casino Hotel.
Hill provided conference attendees with one-onone consultations.
Checks may be mailed to the Arkansas Newspaper Foundation, 411 South Victory Street, Little Rock AR 72201. ANF is a 501 (C))3) nonprofit, and all donations are tax deductable.
LET US KNOW Any updates? Send your staffing changes to info@arkansaspress.org to be updated online and included in the Arkansas Publisher Weekly. Arkansas Publisher Weekly
Jennifer Allen of the Hot Spring Village Voice returns to her seat after presenting her Hot Idea at the Hot Ideas Exchange, moderated by Ashley Kemp Wimberley.
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THANK YOU. Behind every business and bold move were those who made things happen. We appreciate our communities and customers for letting us serve them. We thank Arkansas newspapers for sharing our safety education, energy assistance and efficiency resources with readers.
American Press Institute to partner with The Associated Press to strengthen local election reporting for 2024 The annual Arkansas Press Women Professional Communications
Arkansas Press Women Communications Contest open for entries
Contest, which honors excellence in print, broadcast, electronic media, photography, marketing, public relations, graphic arts and journalism in Arkansas, is now open for entries.
The American Press Institute announced last week that, beginning this fall, it will collaborate with The Associated Press to share resources and insights to support news organizations’ evolving needs around local elections and democracy throughout 2024.
Contest categories for APW and NFPW reflect today’s responsibilities of professional communicators. You will find categories for:
This effort will provide local outlets with the resources they need to strengthen understanding of American democracy as news organizations look ahead to next November’s election.
• Writing and editing for print or online • Photography
“AP has played a unique role in U.S. elections for over 175 years by counting the vote, declaring winners, and reporting the results with clarity and context,” said AP Washington Bureau Chief Anna Johnson in the announcement. “We are pleased to work with the American Press Institute to share our expertise with local newsrooms as they prepare to cover one of the biggest stories in American politics.”
• Graphics and design • Radio and television • Web and social media, including podcasting; • Advertising • Communications programs and campaigns
“News leaders today have to balance so much, including daily reporting needs with bold goals for the future,” said Kevin Loker, API’s director of strategic partnerships and research. “In this collaboration with the AP, we look forward to helping news leaders think ahead — so together we can build stronger local election coverage in service of our communities in 2024.”
• Public relations materials; • Preparing information for the media • Speechwriting. • Books, short stories and poetry (judged in the writing category)
An election reporting survey has been launched to gather insights on local news organizations’ needs and challenges. The survey results will inform programming and resources from both organizations in 2024. If you are a journalist or media leader who wants to share your needs, please take a few minutes to complete the survey at https://share.hsforms.com/1z-m9isLtTAKPPFhZlMAog4y0qo?
An entrant in the Arkansas professional contest does not need to be a member of APW, but entry fees are lower for members. Entry deadline is noon on Wednesday, January 17, 2024. All state winners will be recognized at an event in spring 2024. Visit the contest portal at https://nfpwcontest.secure-platform. com/a/organizations/AR/home to enter. Contact Arkansas professional contest directors Kristin Netterstrom Higgins at arkpresswomen@yahoo.com or Richard Plotkin at rsplotkin@ conwaycorp.net with questions about the contest or if you need assistance.
Additionally, you can subscribe to the API Need to Know newsletter at https://americanpressinstitute.org/category/need-to-know/ to receive notice of these upcoming election resources via email.
INFO ON INDUSTRY DEATHS SOUGHT While Arkansas Publisher Weekly has worked throughout the year to publish industry obituaries on a timely basis, some death notices may have been inadvertently missed. If you know of a person who worked in or was retired from the Arkansas newspaper industry who passed in 2023, please email info@arkansaspress.org.
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Guest Column: New tools elicit warning: Latest versions of Photoshop include use of artificial intelligence By Kevin Slimp
By now, you would think I’ve learned not to write things that will get me in trouble. So, before I write another word, I’m inserting a warning label: THIS COLUMN IS FOR EDUCATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY What is that all about, you ask? There was a day, not that long ago (okay, maybe 20 years ago), when I couldn’t get through a Photoshop class without someone in the audience getting upset. “What about journalistic ethics?” this person would shout. “I was taught we couldn’t even lighten or sharpen a photo.” Most of us made it through those early days of Photoshop without too much bloodshed, but I still fear the nasty emails I will get for writing this column. Just remember, you’ve been warned: THIS COLUMN IS FOR EDUCATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY
I teach a lot of classes in photo editing and page design, so it’s essential that I stay up to date on the latest developments in those fields. While preparing for some recent Photoshop classes, Adobe updated the software, which they do regularly. I guess I shouldn’t have been surprised that the latest versions (Photoshop 2024 and Photoshop Beta 25.2) contain several tools that allow users to use generative artificial intelligence (AI). Generative AI is a type of artificial intelligence that can create new content, such as text, images, or video. Generative AI software learns the patterns and structure of their input data and then generates new data with similar characteristics. Please keep my previous warning in mind as we discuss just a couple of tools in Photoshop that utilize generative AI. The Photoshop Generative Fill The newest versions of Photoshop include a “Contextual Task Bar” that usually sits beneath the open image (it can be moved to other places on the screen or removed altogether). Users are often amazed at the various options available when utilizing the
Contextual Task Bar for the first time. Here are two of the options in the Contextual Task Bar: Extending an Image: Imagine you are utilizing stock art from a provider for an ad or cover of a special section. To your dismay, the art isn’t quite wide enough to fit the designated area. In the past, this generally meant increasing the image size then cropping the top or bottom to allow it to fit in the space. With Photoshop’s generative AI capabilities, users can now “widen” the image with additional background material. If you need more trees on the left and right, Photoshop can create more trees. If the photo includes a family standing in front of some buildings in New York, Photoshop can generate more buildings on either (or both) sides of the family. Replacing an Area of an Image: You have a stock image of a teenager running forward to kick a soccer ball. “Wait!” you realize, “I need that to be a football!” You guessed it. By creating a selection of the soccer ball, going to the Contextual Task Bar, and then entering “football” in the See Guest page 10
This is the original stock photo from istockphoto.com, before any changes.
Arkansas Publisher Weekly
The small black box below the photo is the Contextual Task Bar. The Crop Tool is designates the expanded image space.
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This image was created using the Crop Tool and Generative Fill tool to generate more content on each side of the image.
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Guest Continued from page 9
taskbar window, Photoshop can generate a football where the soccer ball was previously laid. I know. I know. I can already feel angry emails heading my way. Just remember the warning earlier in this column. I would never suggest it’s okay to use AI to generate or change images used in stories or other types of news content. But there are times when Photoshop’s generative AI will be useful when designing ads or working with stock art. Adobe seems to cover the legal basis of generated artwork. This is from the Adobe Generative AI User Guidelines: “In general, you may use outputs from generative AI features commercially. However, if Adobe designates in the product or elsewhere that a beta version of a generative AI feature cannot be used commercially, then the generated outputs from that beta feature are for personal use only and cannot be used commercially.” The guidelines go on to add: “If you’re not sure whether your content violates the rights of a third party, you may want to reach out to an attorney or consult publicly available reference materials.” ______________________________________________________ Kevin Slimp is a popular consultant, advisor and trainer in the newspaper industry. From 1997-2018, Kevin directed The Newspaper Institute of The University of Tennessee. He currently serves as CEO of Market Square Publishing and Chief Guru at NewspaperAcademy. com. Email him at kevin@kevinslimp.com.
Arkansas Publisher Weekly
Here, the Generative Fill Tool was used to remove the background and replace it with “New York City.”
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