Arkansas Publisher Weekly: November 30, 2023

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Remember ANF with year-end donations Guest Column: A bridge over troubled waters for local journalism

By Dean Ridings

Arkansas Press Association

Publisher Weekly Vol.18 | No. 46 | Wednesday, November 30, 2023 | Serving Press and State Since 1873

Niche publications have become the main event for Bettis It’s always rewarding and exciting when opportunity and philosophy mesh.

the former retaining the Arkansas Times and the latter Arkansas Business.

That’s what happened when Mitch Bettis met Arkansas Business Publishing Group owner Olivia Farrell in Little Rock in January 2013 to discuss his taking over the day-to-day operation of the company.

Farrell realized the growing opportunity in niche publications and added numerous titles to her company’s portfolio. Bettis said the vision then, and now, was to be “really great to a smaller group rather than mediocre to a larger group.”

Since acquiring the company, Bettis has led a staff, now numbering 78, that has generated exceptional growth – setting revenue and profit records year after year. ABPG now features some 30 niche products, ranging from weekly to annual publication. Arkansas Bride and Little Rock Soirée are among the most noted titles.

“I couldn’t believe there was a place like this,” Bettis said of his three-hour conversation with Farrell. “There was a clear focus on excellence, and everything aligned with my personal values.”

Bettis said Farrell stressed paying the staff well, reinvesting in the product and serving as a partner with the community.

Part of the recent growth has come with the acquisition of a similar publishing property in Fort Worth in 2020.

The timing was perfect for Bettis as he had become disenchanted in his position as regional publisher for a newspaper company in Arkansas and Northern Louisiana.

Prior to that, he had been regional sales manager for 12 properties in Southern Missouri.

Bettis’ company has bucked the industry trend of declining print products by continuing to post record revenue in that area. “Print is still very good for us,” he said.

“I was becoming increasingly miserable,” Bettis said of his position Mitch Bettis in the publicly-traded corporate world. “I got to the point where I just couldn’t do it anymore. I would have much rather been working as a greeter at Walmart.”

Revenue breakdowns in the past year were 60 percent print, 28 percent digital and 12 percent other. The latter category includes events and subscriptions.

Digital growth has been strong with the development of Flex 360, a special team focused on providing services to businesses across the country. Among the clients are banks, law firms and universities. The team provides guidance and services in website development, improving SEO, social media outreach and all the various ways readers and customers can be reached digitally.

As a result of the meeting with Farrell, Bettis became president and general manager of ABPG in February 2013, beginning a dynamic career arc that resulted in his acquisition of the company in 2019.

The signature product, Arkansas Business, was founded in 1984

by Farrell and Alan Leveritt. Farrell had worked initially as an advertising sales representative at a sister publication, the Arkansas Times, eventually becoming its publisher.

“We now generate millions of dollars in digital revenue each year,” Bettis said.

Leveritt and Farrell ended their business relationship in 1995, with Arkansas Publisher Weekly

See Bettis Page 3

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November 30, 2023

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!

Arkansas Publisher Weekly

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October 13, 2023

Bettis Continued from page 1

As an example, Bettis respects and appreciates his various vendors and has a policy that they be paid within two to four weeks of receiving an invoice. As for his company team, he wants to be sure that “no employee is ever placed in a second-rate position.”

Bettis said his company has a very specific mission and focus in the niche publishing world. “We want to provide exceptional content that will change the arc of a person’s life in a very specific audience,” he said.

“We don’t have to be all things to all people. We try to be great at reaching specific audiences.”

A person of faith, Bettis has a “founding ethos” that can be understood in various Biblical verses.

He references Galatians 5:13, Philippians 2:3-4 and Ephesians 5:21. All three passages emphasize the need to demonstrate love and respect to others.

Bettis said his mother receives Arkansas Business in the mail each week, but she has “zero interest” in the publication. “We don’t write for my mom and that’s okay. We want to be great at targeting a specific audience.”

Bettis stresses an employee-friendly workplace. This includes “throwing a party” each month for employees and Mitch Bettis and Lance Turner at CFO of The Year 2023 establishing a “dog and kid-friendly” office, featuring a children’s playroom for times when mom or dad needs to take Three goals are at the forefront of his approach: care of kids during working hours.

1. Understand the audience.

The company provides a minimum 10 percent match for 401k 2. Be great at service. plans and strives for 20 to 25 percent. “We pay above average 3. Provide outstanding content. wages for the market and provide above average benefits,” Bettis “If we do those three things, then the sales will take care of itself,” said. “We are always looking to see how we can help the family.” he said.

Bettis and his associates recently completed a five-year plan for The company is in growth mode and is open to new and successful the company, anticipating continuing growth in print and digital. niche products. He identifies three general factors in determining “We are pretty optimistic about the industry,” he said. “Helpful content is not going away.” whether a potential product will be successful: In today’s publishing environment, Bettis has learned that “people crave trusted content, and they can then use it to help make decisions.”

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2.

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Additional acquisitions also are a possibility.

An audience that is underserved.

Content that can be impactful.

Reaching an audience that is affluent and educated.

The weekly Arkansas Business remains the cornerstone of the company. It is mailed to some 8,000 decision-makers across the state. The publication has extensive staff in both Central and Northwest Arkansas but reaches all corners of the state.

Hundreds of hours of research are conducted before deciding on any specific niche product. An example is Texas Next, a publication delivered to eighth, 11th and 12th grade students in the Fort Worth area. The magazine focuses on educational and career opportunities for students. A similar product, Arkansas Next, has been produced by the company for about 20 years.

“I have a heart for rural counties,” Bettis said, noting his own upbringing in Arkadelphia. “We do a lot of articles on the success and development of our rural areas,” he said.

Bettis was born and raised in Arkadelphia, where he assumed a paper route for the Daily Siftings Herald.

Bettis feels very strongly in his value-based approach to doing business, so much so that his operating corporation, Five Legged Stool, LLC, specifically outlines that philosophy.

“I know it may sound corny, but I fell in love with the business as a paperboy,” he said. He also enjoyed the entrepreneurial aspect of the job in which one buys a product at wholesale and collects retail payment from customers.

There are “five key stakeholders” to which he feels accountable, as opposed to his experience in the corporate world in which he recognized only one priority – “send every nickel to the stockholders.”

“And I just loved standing in front of that press every day and watching as it produced something that people loved,” he said.

His five stakeholders are readers, advertisers, vendors, employees and stockholders. “We want to be successful for all our critical partners,” he said.

Arkansas Publisher Weekly

Bettis said his was the “classic refrigerator journalism family,” See Bettis Page 5

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November 30, 2023

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Discover more at ExploreBranson.com.

Bettis Continued from page 3

Bettis owned the weekly from 2001 to 2016, when he sold it to a staffer who still operates the newspaper along with her daughter.

cutting out articles and photos for display in the kitchen.

He got his start at the Daily Siftings-Herald covering “crap” sports assignments such as Tuesday night men’s softball. “And I just loved it.”

During that period of ownership, Bettis moved back to Arkadelphia in 2008 and spent a year teaching mass communications at his alma mater (the second of his dreams accomplished).

He worked his way up the ladder and eventually landed a full-time position in the summers. He was immersed in all phases of the operation. “I grew up shooting PMTs and working in the back shop.

I knew this was something I hoped to be a part of. And one of my goals was to eventually own a community newspaper.”

He re-entered the world of newspaper publishing by accepting a position as regional sales manager for GateHouse publications in the Lake of the Ozarks area of Missouri. His next stop was Little Rock in 2012, where he was the regional publisher for Arkansas newspapers in Heber Springs, Stuttgart, Hope, Arkadelphia, Prescott, White Hall and Newport and a Louisiana newspaper in Bastrop.

Bettis went on to Ouachita Baptist University in Arkadelphia and majored in mass communications. One of his advisors was Dr. Bill Downs, who continued to be a mentor for Bettis throughout his career.

A year later, a friend who worked at Arkansas Business, aware of Bettis’ desire for a career change, suggested he meet with Farrell.

As noted, they immediately identified a common philosophy concerning the industry and his new and exciting journey was underway.

In an OBU alumni profile, it was noted “the impression that Downs made affected Bettis’ professional life ‘as a manager of people.’ Downs was not only a man of faith and compassion, Bettis said, but he also offered feedback – and much of his time – to his students.”

Looking back, Bettis said his principles were formed by his parents, Donnie and Evelyn Bettis. His mother was a long“What both of those things time secretary at OBU and his taught me,” Bettis said in the father (who passed away three profile piece, “is that we can have years ago) was the “Coke Man” for high expectations of others, we The ABPG offices in downtown Little Rock the Arkadelphia area, delivering can rise, we can do more and we the soft drink product at many different stops in the community, can do better. And we can do it with our faith.” including the Ouachita and Henderson college campuses.

Bettis went on to earn a master’s degree in media studies from “My dad had the most genuine and joyful spirit. He loved people in Oklahoma State University and completed all but the dissertation a way that very few people love people,” Bettis said. for a doctorate in the same field.

“Dad was a regular working-class guy, but he developed solid His first newspaper position was leading the sales team at the relationships with all kinds of people in the community,” Bettis Southwest Daily Times in Liberal, Kansas, owned at the time by said. He was named “Citizen of the Year” in Arkadelphia and was Southern Newspapers, headquartered in Houston. He moved from given the key to the city. there to the position of publisher at the Craig Daily Press in western Colorado, owned at the time by the Simon family of Lawrence, Bettis was flooded with positive cards and messages from his dad’s Kansas. After two years there he became publisher of the Aspen friends and customers at the time of his death, making him proud (Colorado) Times, owned by the Swift family of Nevada, while also to have been known as the “Coke Man’s son” in his years growing serving as group manager for properties in Glenwood Springs, up in Arkadelphia.

Snowmass, Carbondale and Basalt.

Bettis and his wife Meg have three children – Jackson, 21; Addy, “That was an incredible experience for me,” Bettis said of the 16, and Elli, 12. His wife homeschools the children.

Colorado newspaper operations.

He acknowledges he has few interests outside of work, no hobbies, It was then on to fulfilling his earlier dream of owning a community other than enjoying time with his family. “We are still very much in newspaper. The opportunity came at Meeker, Colorado, located in teenage mode,” he said. the extreme northwest corner of the state.

It’s perhaps too easy or glib to say Mitch Bettis has found his niche The Rio Blanco Herald Times covered Meeker and the nearby in niche, but he certainly has done just that in a big way. His impact communities of Rangely and Dinosaur. Published by a staff of five, on the industry in Arkansas and beyond has been profound and, Bettis said “it was incredibly hard work, but the community was with his creative energy and vision, the future is indeed bright for both himself and his genuinely treasured stakeholders, as well. very good to us.”

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November 30, 2023

UA Journalism professor Foley’s history film debuts on Arkansas PBS this week

The Eagle Democrat moves to new home Foley had access to the microfilm of in central Warren Patterson’s original 1896 article archived at the Museum of Missouri History in St. Louis, and felt the best path to recount the events was to combine the storytelling elements. In addition to the historical recreation of the interview, the film features documentary storytelling by scholars from eastern Oklahoma and western Arkansas.

Professor Larry Foley

University of Arkansas Fulbright College School of Journalism and Strategic Media Professor Larry Foley’s most recent film, “Indians, Outlaws, Marshals and the Hangin’ Judge,” got its network television premiere yesterday on Arkansas PBS and at www.myarpbs.org/live.

The film depicts the wild and violent frontier days in and around Fort Smith and Indian Territory, when Judge Isaac C. Parker over 21 years sentenced 160 people to the gallows. Seventy-nine of these convictions were carried out, earning Parker the nickname “Hangin’ Judge.”

The story of the Old West’s most notorious judge is told through his last known newspaper interview. Actor Jennica Schwartzman plays Ada Patterson, who as a reporter for the daily St. Louis Republic was known as the “Nelly Bly of the West.”

The real-life Patterson interviewed Parker as he was bedridden with kidney disease in 1896. Parker is portrayed in the film by actor Bill Rogers.

Arkansas Publisher Weekly

“Larry Foley’s meticulous research and commitment to authenticity, combined with a talented cast, bring to life the fascinating and contradictory legacy of Judge Isaac Parker,” said Arkansas PBS Executive Director and CEO Courtney Pledger.

Former SJSM Chair Foley received the MidAmerica Regional Emmy Award for Best Director for “Indians, Outlaws, Marshals and the Hangin’ Judge.” He joined the faculty at UA in 1993 following a 17-year career as a TV reporter, producer, and public TV executive. He has been writing, producing and directing documentary films for more than 40 years, his films having earned eight Mid-America Regional Emmy Awards from the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences, and 24 Emmy nominations in writing, journalistic enterprise, history, cultural history, special program and community service. His films have also received four Best of Festival of Media Arts awards from the international Broadcast Education Association.

Encore presentations of “Indians, Outlaws, Marshals and the Hangin’ Judge” will air on Arkansas PBS at 10 a.m. on Sunday, Dec. 3 and 8 p.m. on Monday, Dec. 4. Foley’s other films can be found on Tubi, Amazon Prime, and Pluto TV.

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The Eagle Democrat in Warren has recently moved its offices to a new location at 101 South Martin Street.

“We appreciate everyone’s patience during this transition,” Publisher Ashley Hogg said in a statement announcing the move.

The newspaper’s new office is centrally located near the intersection of Hwy 278B and Hwy 63. Operations had previously been housed in a downtown storefront owned by Danny and Pam Cook. The Cooks sold the newspaper to Smith Newspapers, Inc. in 2022, but had retained ownership of the building.

“Our staff is working diligently to make The Eagle Democrat’s coverage of Bradley County better than ever,” Hogg said.

November 30, 2023

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.

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VI.

Photography

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Final Bits of Advice

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Sections are feature videos and printable cheat sheets

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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

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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

Reporter Bischof retires from Texarkana Gazette after storied 35-year career Texarkana Gazette reporter Greg Bischof retired this month after 35 years with the daily newspaper.

According to the article announcing his retirement, Bischof is “the longest-serving reporter at the Gazette and easily the newspaper’s best-known (and best-liked) reporter.”

“He’s an old-school newspaper man, who goes from covering quorum court meetings to parades without missing a beat,” wrote Gazette reporter Lori Dunn in the article. “He’s usually wearing a smile and always carrying his notepad and trademark collection of pens, pencils and Gazette business cards.”

Bischof is a graduate of L.D. Bell High School in Hurst, Texas, where an English class sparked his interest in writing. He attended Tarrant County Community College, where he started as a public relations major before deciding he preferred news reporting. He holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Texas at Arlington in communications with a journalism emphasis. While at UT he wrote for the

university newspaper, The Shorthorn, covering the Arlington City Council as a student reporter. In 1989 he was hired by then-Gazette Editor Les Minor to cover the police beat, and expanded his career from there.

The Gazette started a special section on veteran appreciation in November 2000, with the late John Fooks as the primary writer. Bischof contributed stories to the section, taking over as primary writer upon Fooks’ retirement. Each year, Bischof wrote several in-depth stories profiling local veterans and their experiences in combat.

For that work he received the prestigious Chapel of the Four Chaplains Legion of Honor Award in 2018.

Bishoff’s good nature has made him a favorite in the newsroom, where he will be missed. “He has probably seen scores of reporters, photographers and copy editors pass through the Gazette’s doors, and he has been a friend to all of them,” Dunn wrote. “He has always been quick to share his knowledge, his assistance and a joke or two.”

ASU multimedia journalism program cut by ADHE; to be phased out by 2027 Arkansas State University’s accredited multimedia journalism program in the School of Media and Journalism will be no more after the 2027 spring semester, The Herald, ASU’s student newspaper, reported.

According to an article published November 15, ASU alerted students on October 24 via email that the Arkansas Department of Higher Education had discontinued the degree due to low enrollment.

For Fall 2023, there are 20 students enrolled in the major. Those students will remain enrolled and will continue the degree path, but beginning next semester multimedia journalism cannot be selected as a major.

It is unknown how many students are currently pursuing multimedia journalism as a minor.

According to The Herald, the University of Arkansas has the only other accredited multimedia journalism program in the state.

ASU is considering combining the multimedia journalism program with the creative media production program, the other major in the School of Media and Journalism. This proposal is still under discussion.

Greg Bischof reads a speech he wrote for his retirement party Nov. 18, 2023. (photo by Lori Dunn)

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“I think one of my primary concerns is that we continue to have the reputation as one of the top journalism programs in the state,” Interim Dean Brad Rawlins told The Herald. “I am very interested in making sure that whatever changes we make within the program are done in a way that it continues to maintain the reputation we have as a journalism program.”

November 30, 2023

Guest Column: A bridge over troubled waters for local journalism

By Dean Ridings, CEO, America’s Newspapers

Among the liberties enshrined for Americans in our founding documents, freedom of the press stands first among equals. “A popular government, without popular information, or the means of acquiring it,” wrote James Madison, “is but a prologue to a farce or a tragedy — or, perhaps both.” For generations, local journalism has been the lifeblood providing citizens the means to acquire the information required for enlightened selfgovernance.

Yet today, a perfect storm of economic disruption jeopardizes this proud tradition foundational to our democratic experiment. As digital technology has upended traditional revenue models, many newspapers have struggled to achieve sustainability. This has led to the proliferation of so-called “news deserts” across the land — communities bereft of comprehensive local reporting.

But amid these headwinds, local newspapers have shown remarkable resilience. Despite the economic challenges, most organizations are optimistic about the future and are committed to serving their communities through print and digital platforms. And while not all have achieved financial stability, even local newspapers in the most challenging environments are aggressively innovating and continuing to evolve their business models to achieve sustainability. While not all have achieved financial stability, this fortitude reveals an industry positioned for success given prudent policy support.

That is why Congress has developed legislation targeted specifically at

Arkansas Publisher Weekly

converting struggling newspapers into sustainable businesses. The Community News and Small Business Support Act would provide temporary tax credits to inject resources into local newsrooms and incentivize small business advertising partnerships.

For qualifying newspapers, the Act offers credits of up to $25,000 per journalist in year one, phasing down subsequently — timely aid to rebuild battered newsrooms.

Concurrently, thousands in credits encourage small businesses to advertise in local outlets, seeding a symbiotic growth cycle benefiting community partners.

These smart incentives offer a bridge over the stormy seas local publishers navigate.

More reporters can be hired to supply the essential news rural residents rely upon.

Once-robust papers decimated by staff cuts can restore breadth and depth. And critically, with expanded resources, outlets can consistently deliver high-quality journalism while adapting for the future.

We remain clear-eyed that fuller remedies will come only through many efforts: philanthropic funding, developing new rural business models, training journalists in community engagement. But federal incentives can help accelerate this work before the lights go out — offering temporary ballast to sustain community papers until achieving financial shipwright.

Some may argue that the government should stay out of the newspaper business altogether. But this phased, targeted support is a lifeline — not a takeover. Credits empower local organizations to freely navigate disruption on their own terms,

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while safeguarding press independence.

Critically, the Act includes an inbuilt sunset mechanism that promotes fiscal restraint.

The tax credits phase down after year one, and expire completely five years from enactment.

This ensures temporary support to bridge the storm — not endless government intervention or expenditure. The sunset clause limits assistance to a fixed term designed to deliver struggling newspapers across the passage to sustainability.

Once achieved, the market discipline of performance, not federal credits, will dictate individual outcomes.

The Community News and Small Business Support Act — https:// supportcommunitynews.com/ — represents a hand across troubled waters for community journalism. The industry has shown its mettle, achieving profitability through performance. This legislation will help the vulnerable remainder make the passage to sustainability — ensuring citizens nationwide can stay informed on the issues directly impacting their lives.

Dean Ridings is the CEO of America’s Newspapers. On behalf of its approximately 1,700 newspaper and Solutions Partner companies, America’s Newspapers is committed to explaining, defending and advancing the vital role of newspapers in democracy and civil life. We put an emphasis on educating the public on all the ways newspapers contribute to building a community identity and the success of local businesses. Learn more: newspapers.org

November 30, 2023