Happy New Year!
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Guest Column: Americans depend on newspapers to stay informed about their communities By Benjy Hamm
Arkansas Press Association
Publisher Weekly Vol.18 | No. 50 | Thursday, December 28, 2023 | Serving Press and State Since 1873
APA puts 2023 in the books with a look back over the year APA’s sesquicentennial year was eventful, with conventions, conferences, the second annual Press Freedom Gala and the 94th General Assembly of the Arkansas Legislature bringing FOIA battles both in the spring regular session and a fall special session, among other things. Here’s a look back:
JANUARY The Standard publisher Joe May has developed a unique museum in the Clark County community of Amity, where he has published his newspaper since 1996. The free museum is located in the former newspaper office, which is adjacent to a new building in which the product currently is published. May has collected a vast array of historical items, with an emphasis on political memorabilia and an extensive assortment of Civil War mementos. He hopes the unofficial “May Museum” will outlive him so that history buffs can continue to enjoy the unusual collection for years to come. “Hopefully, this museum and those like it can show people there’s a whole lot more to history than what we were ever taught in school,” May said. “There’s always more to any story, and more stories to be told.”
the El Dorado News-Times. Seyler holds a bachelor’s degree in journalism from Arkansas State University. Jay Edwards returned to The Daily Record in Little Rock as managing editor. A former member of the board of directors of the APA, Edwards served as editor in chief of the Central Arkansas legal, business and real estate newspaper for 14 years before
taking a break in 2017 to pursue other interests. In addition, Kathy Edwards joined the newspaper as copy editor. She is a former APA administrative assistant. The Little River Journal in Ashdown completed two years of weekly publication. The staff includes publisher Mark Keith, editor Dale Gathright, and advertising See 2023 Page 2
Linna Jones was promoted to publisher of the Dumas Clarion. Since joining the staff full-time in 2016, she has worked in every aspect of the newspaper, including composition, advertising and editorial. Jones holds a bachelor’s degree in journalism from the University of Arkansas at Monticello. Randal Seyler returned to The Saline Courier in Benton as managing editor after previously serving as editor of a newspaper in South Carolina. He earlier served as managing editor of The Courier in Russellville, the Jonesboro Sun and Arkansas Publisher Weekly
The May Museum
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JANUARY (CONTINUED) salesman Terry Snead. All three have a background in rural radio. Keith, who also is co-owner of the Hope-Prescott News, believes there continues to be a niche for printed newspapers in small-town markets. “I think the rural newspaper industry has been written off prematurely,” Keith said. “There is still a component of people who want to hold a newspaper in their hands.” The Little River Journal also became a full member of APA in 2023.
Brantley started at the Arkansas Gazette in 1973 as a reporter on the City Desk. He joined the Arkansas Times as its first editor in 1991, as it transitioned from a monthly magazine into a weekly newspaper. Brantley launched the state’s first online political blog, the Arkansas Blog, in 2004. The Times returned to the monthly magazine format in 2019 but continues daily news reporting online at arktimes. com.
Max Brantley completed a 50-year journalism career by retiring as senior editor of the Arkansas Times in Little Rock.
APA began offering Earn Your Press Pass, an online training tool for community journalists. The program provides member
newspapers with real-world tools to better serve and cover their local communities. Developed in conjunction with the Kansas Press Association, the course also is being offered by other associations throughout the country and consists of eight lessons and includes more than 30 topics. “Arkansas has a legacy of great small-town journalism and journalists,” said APA executive director Ashley Kemp Wimberley. “This is just the online training we need to continue that tradition, and we are excited to be able to offer it as a benefit to APA members.”
FEBRUARY APA began a fight against an effort by some members of the Arkansas General Assembly to change the long-held law on how public notices are disseminated. Draft legislation circulating in the legislature intended to eliminate the requirement that local governments publish public notices in newspapers and instead allow them to be posted on their own websites. “One out of every two Arkansans rely on local newspapers for public notices and information regarding their local government,” said APA executive director Ashley Kemp Wimberley. “Newspapers across the state still contain the essential elements of public notice – accessibility, independence from government, verifiability and archivability.”
degree in mass communication with a journalism emphasis and a minor in sports management from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock. Previous honorees from the Arkansas journalism community include Stephanie Highfill of the Hot
Michelle Cummins was promoted to general manager of the Malvern Daily Record. She previously served as the newspaper’s advertising manager. A Malvern native, Cummins was working as a preschool teacher when she was hired to be part of the advertising team in 2003. Additionally, it was announced that Randal Seyler will serve as managing editor of the Malvern Daily Record. He also serves in the same capacity at The Saline Courier in Benton. Both newspapers are owned by Horizon Publications of Marion, Illinois.
HIDDEN?
Kolton Rutherford, senior reporter at the Log Cabin Democrat in Conway, was selected as one of Editor & Publisher magazine’s “25 Under 35” Class of 2023. Rutherford earned a bachelor’s Arkansas Publisher Weekly
WHAT WILL BE KEEP PUBLIC NOTICES IN NEWSPAPERS Public notices in your local newspaper inform citizens of changes that affect them and help hold government agencies accountable. Some state and local officials want to eliminate public notices from newspapers and place them on a government-run website – which would NOT keep them accountable.
DON’T LET SOME ARKANSAS LAWMAKERS REMOVE YOUR RIGHT TO KNOW. Call your local legislators today and ask them to oppose public notice legislation that removes your right to know.
and its 100 Member Newspapers
You can search Arkansas public notices for free at: arkansaspublicnotices.com.
Ad from the APA’s campaign to protect public notices
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Springs Village Voice in 2019 and Eliza Gaines from the Arkansas DemocratGazette in 2021. The Hot Springs Village Voice announced a unique opportunity for its readers and friends by offering a travel program to top vacation destinations across the globe. Publisher Jennifer Allen said the newspaper has partnered with Premier World Discovery in offering an array of travel packages. She explained that the Hot Springs Village community no longer has a local travel agency, so the opportunity to promote group excursions seemed apparent. Allen was a traveler on the first trip, the “Great Trains, Great Canyons” tour to Sedona, Arizona, Grand Canyon National Park, Montezuma Castle National Monument and Chapel of the Holy Cross. Arkansas Press Women honored Dr. David Keith, journalism lecturer and advisor of The Echo, the student newspaper, at the University of Central Arkansas in Conway. He was cited for “embodying the personal qualities for which Carol Griffee was widely known and respected: integrity, commitment to accuracy and excellence, and unwavering support of the First Amendment and the Freedom of Information Act.” Dr. Keith was a recipient of the Carol M. Griffee Memorial Scholarship in 2014. He has been teaching at UCA since 2005. Prior to joining the faculty there, he worked 15 years at the Log Cabin Democrat See 2023 Page 3
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FEBRUARY (CONTINUED) in Conway, 11 of those as managing editor. He also worked for many years as a reporter at the Jonesboro Sun. Eliza Hussman Gaines was interviewed while in her second month as the new publisher of the Arkansas DemocratGazette. Gaines is now in charge of the flagship newspaper and other publications that comprise the company formed by her great-great-grandfather in 1909. Gaines said remaining a family-owned newspaper is vital to her and the family legacy as she guides the company’s future. In her early days in the position, she visited company newspapers in Arkansas, Tennessee and Missouri. Gaines said she has prepared well for the new position by watching and learning from her father, Walter E. Hussman, Jr., one of the most innovative newspaper publishers in the country. “I think just by watching him and how he explained to people the newspaper business and why it is important to support newspapers and not just say ‘please buy a
subscription,’” she said. “It’s more of ‘you are investing in your community when you buy a newspaper’ and for us to be the watchdog, cover government, and do things other news sources don’t cover.” After a 40-year journalism career, Rusty Turner announced his impending retirement as editor of the Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette and executive editor of the company’s weekly newspapers in the region. A graduate of the University of Arkansas, Turner was involved heavily in the changing newspaper landscape in the northwest corner of the state, including stints at publications in Fayetteville, Rogers, Springdale and Fort Smith. He helped oversee the transition in 2015 when the four separate daily newspapers operated by Northwest Arkansas Newspapers and the Northwest edition of the DemocratGazette were consolidated to become a single regional newspaper, the Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette. In 2020, Turner began a year and a half as APA president.
A bill in the Arkansas General Assembly to allow public notices to be posted on a so-called “third party” website rather than in newspapers was pulled down by its sponsor, Rep. Frances Cavenaugh, R-Walnut Ridge, in the House City, County and Local Affairs Committee. Several APA members spoke against the 12-page proposal during a special order of business held before a standing-room-only crowd. One of those speaking against the bill was Robyn Yarbro, general manager of newspapers in Camden, Magnolia and El Dorado. “Removing public notices from newspapers will absolutely hurt your community newspaper, the people we employ and the citizens we serve,” Yarbro said. “Transparency in city and county government should be just as important to you as it is to your constituents. The only people who take issue with transparency are those who have something to hide. It is not enough to post it on a website somewhere.”
Payton, R-Wilburn, was rejected in a voice vote. That bill would have amended the Arkansas FOIA law’s definition of a public meeting by adding the words “of a quorum” into the statute. “We achieved a lot this
Inviting Arkansas became a new Media Member of APA. Co-owned by John and Michele Towne, the monthly magazine was established in 2002. The publication focuses its coverage on nonprofit organizations and the people who strive to make them successful through contributions of time, talent or money. Kim Meyer-Webb is the editor.
MARCH The Arkadelphian, an online-only daily newspaper, was announced as a new Media Member of the Arkansas Press Association. Joel Phillips founded the product in 2021. Kelly Stiles joined the publication in 2022 as advertising manager. The Arkadelphian covers police, city and county government, local business and human interest stories. The Central Arkansas Library System and several friends of the late political cartoonist George Fisher announced a 100th birthday party in his honor at the Main Library in Little Rock. The awardwinning cartoonist was the chief editorial cartoonist for the Arkansas Gazette from 1976 to 1991. A native of Beebe, he later produced cartoons for the Arkansas Times. A busy but difficult week at the State Capitol ended with a huge victory for a coalition of Freedom of Information Act advocates in Arkansas. At the end of an all-day hearing before the House State Agencies and Governmental Affairs Committee, House Bill 1610 by Rep. Mary Bentley, R-Perryville, and Sen. John Arkansas Publisher Weekly
Glenda Arnett with Steve Henry, master of ceremonies for the Brinkley Chamber of Commerce banquet.
week in making sure that we continue to have one of the best FOIA laws in the United States,” said APA executive director Ashley Kemp Wimberley. 3
Glenda Arnett was named “Citizen of the Year” by the Brinkley Chamber of Commerce for her more than 50 years of work at the Brinkley Argus, rebranded the Monroe County Argus in 2022. The life-long resident of the community received the APA Golden 50 Service Award in 2019. A do-everything newspaperwoman, she also has been dedicated to the town and volunteers for innumerable charitable activities through civil and religious organizations. The Saline River Chronicle became an APA Media Member. The online news site was founded in 2010 by Rob Reep. It provides See 2023 Page 4
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MARCH (CONTINUED) free daily news to readers in Bradley County, western Drew County and southern Cleveland County. Tim Kessler serves as reporter. The site covers local government, community news and obituaries, as well as Warren High School athletics. House Bill 1616, which would provide city and county governments the option of publishing certain kinds of public notices on a website instead of newspapers, failed
in a vote of the City, County and Local Affairs Committee of the Arkansas House of Representatives. “APA is thrilled that there will be no changes to publication of public notice in newspapers this legislative session,” said APA executive director Ashley Kemp Wimberley. “We are thankful to our members and friends of the association for their grassroots efforts in letting their legislators know they are against moving public notice to websites.”
The offices of the Wynne Progress and the East Arkansas News Leader were damaged by an EF3 tornado which hit the Cross County community on March 31. The Progress building, while still standing, was on the edge of the path of the tornado, which killed four people and injured dozens more. Among buildings which suffered catastrophic damage were the First United Methodist Church and Wynne High School.
publisher of the Helena World and Monroe County Argus; Tom Byrd, publisher of the Mena Star, The DeQueen Bee, the Waldron News and The Citizen in Mansfield/ Greenwood, and Scott Loftis, editor, publisher and majority owner of the Carroll County News in Berryville and the Eureka Springs Times-Echo. Board members reelected were Jennifer Allen, owner and publisher of the Hot Springs Village Voice and HSV Life magazine; Jeremy Gulban, publisher of the Marshall Mountain Wave, Pocahontas Star-Herald, the Clay County Courier in Corning, the Clay County TimesDemocrat in Piggott, the Villager Journal in Cherokee Village and The News in Salem, and Brent A. Powers, president of Northwest Arkansas Newspapers, LLC. In addition, the board elected as officers for 2023-24, Immediate Past President Lori Freeze, news and photo editor of the Stone County Leader in Mountain View; President Eliza Gaines, publisher of the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, and Vice President John
Robert Schirmer, editor and publisher of the Nashville News-Leader and publisher of the Murfreesboro Diamond and Glenwood Herald.
APRIL House Bill 1610 by Rep. Mary Bentley, R-Perryville, which passed out of the House State Agencies and Governmental Affairs Committee after failing once before, failed again twice in the Senate Committee on State Agencies and Governmental Affairs. The bill would have amended the Arkansas FOIA to allow elected officials to meet informally if less than a third of the entire body is present. Editor Robert Lyons, Jr., and office manager Peggy Mason purchased the Mountaineer Echo in Flippin from CherryRoad Media. The new owners changed the name of the publication to the Mountain Echo and moved it back to its original location in Yellville. The newspaper covers the communities of Yellville, Flippin, Bull Shoals, Rea Valley, Summit, Bruno, Pyatt, Peel and outlying areas. The Arka Tech, the student newspaper at Arkansas Tech University in Russellville, celebrated its 100th anniversary with a reception on campus. The newspaper was established at the school in 1923.
At Home in Arkansas was announced as a new Media Member of APA. Kelly Fraiser has been publisher since 2004. She and her husband, David, have owned the magazine since 2013. Stephanie Maxwell Newton is the editor. The Eagle Democrat in Warren celebrated its one-year anniversary after the newspaper’s near-closure. Current publisher Tom White stepped up at that time to save Bradley County’s oldest business. As a result, the 138-year-old newspaper continues to serve the Southeast Arkansas county of some 11,000 people. Ashley Hogg serves as managing editor of the newspaper, a role she also maintains at the AdvanceMonticellonian in nearby Monticello. Warren native Zach Killian is the editor of See 2023 Page 5
Carroll County Community Media relaunched the Eureka Springs Times-Echo, with the last previous issue being March 29, 2005. At that time, it was merged with the Berryville Star-Progress and the Green Forest Tribune into a new publication called the Carroll County News, which continues to publish weekly. According to publishereditor Scott Loftis, the new Times-Echo will focus heavily on Eureka Springs community coverage. New members elected to the APA board were Andrew Bagley, co-owner and Arkansas Publisher Weekly
The original Mountain Echo building in Yellville
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APRIL (CONTINUED) government in Mountain Home and Baxter County and the Mountain Home School District. It also focuses on news of interest in the Twin Lakes area, local politics, business and human interest stories. Journalist Chris Fulton owns the Observer and Alison Fulton serves as marketing and communications point person.
Chris and Alison Fulton of the Mountain Home Observer
the newspaper. The Mountain Home Observer, a daily digital newspaper, was announced as a new APA Media Member. The publication covers
University of Arkansas sophomore Natalie Murphy was the inaugural awardee of the Brenda Blagg Journalism Scholarship. The presentation was made by the U of A School of Journalism and Strategic Media. The scholarship was endowed and named in honor of the late Northwest Arkansas journalism stalwart Brenda Blagg. A native of Dallas, Murphy is on the staff of the Arkansas Traveler, the UA student newspaper, as well as The Hill, the student magazine.
Marianne Grogan, president of Coda Ventures, Inc. in Nashville, was the keynote speaker at the 2023 APA Advertising Conference held at Red & Blue Events Venue in Little Rock. It was the first inperson ad conference since 2020. The event also included a panel discussion on revenue-generating ideas featuring APA member newspaper publishers and the annual Better Newspaper Advertising Contest Awards Luncheon. The Pacesetting Times in Horseshoe Bend, the Stone County Leader in Mountain View and the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette were the Sweepstakes Winners in the APA Better Newspaper Advertising Contest. Members of the Mississippi Press Association judged a total of 574 entries from Arkansas newspapers.
MAY The Hallmark Times, a digital newspaper covering Sharp, Fulton and Izard counties in North Central Arkansas became a Media Member of the APA. Owner-publisher Lauren Siebert worked previously as a journalist at Areawide Media and the Spring River Chronicle. Graham Thomas was named sports editor of the Northwest Arkansas DemocratGazette. He replaced Chip Souza, who became general manager of The Hawg Sports Network, which is part of the NWA Media and Northwest Arkansas Newspapers, LLC. Thomas previously served as managing editor of the Siloam Springs Herald-Leader. Vicki Kelly concluded a 40-year career in the newspaper world in Southeast Arkansas, with her final stop being advertising director of the Advance-Monticellonian in Monticello. Kelly spent many years of her career working at the White Hall Journal, and still lives in that community. She also was heavily involved at one time with Arkansas Children’s Dreams, an organization that provided exciting trips for kids Arkansas Publisher Weekly
with life-threatening illnesses. An announcement was made concerning the formation of the Ernie Deane-Brenda Blagg Award for excellence in column writing. “Naming this award honors two of Arkansas’ all-time outstanding newspaper columnists,” said Skip Rutherford, Arkansas Newspaper Foundation board member and friend of the Deane and Blagg families.
Website at the Great Plains Journalism Awards ceremony in Tulsa. In addition, two AD-G staffers picked up individual awards. Columnist Philip Martin won the Entertainment Feature with “Jerry Lee Lewis” and photographer Thomas Metthe won General News Photography with “Davis Trial.” Axios-Northwest Arkansas was announced as a new Media Member of the APA. The
The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette won Best
Brenda Blagg
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Ernie Deane
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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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MAY (CONTINUED) outlet is a local branch of the news website Axios, which was launched in 2017. AxiosNorthwest Arkansas covers Washington and Benton County events and politics, as well as statewide news that is relevant to its readership. Reporters on the website
are Worth Sparkman and Alex Golden. Austin Bailey, formerly editorial director of the Arkansas Times, was promoted to editor-in-chief. She joined the Times in 2021, after previously serving as editor of
World Ark, Heifer International’s magazine. In other staff announcements, former managing editor Stephanie Smittle was named editorial director, and Benji Hardy was promoted from associate editor to managing editor.
JUNE Travis Simpson, editor of The Courier in Russellville, sold his first novel, “Strong Like You,” in the young adult fiction genre, focusing heavily on the drug scene in rural Arkansas and the way it negatively affects so many lives. It will be available for sale this spring. Simpson first went to work in the sports department of the newspaper in 2012 and was named editor in 2022. Dwain Hebda of Ya!Mule Wordsmiths, Inc., took top honors for the second year in a row at the Arkansas Press Women’s annual Communications Contest, held in Bentonville. Mary Hightower of the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture was recognized as the 2023 Communicator of Achievement. APW is an association of professional communicators in journalism, public information, business, education and government. After several years of being unable to travel due to the pandemic, APA revived the tradition of visiting member newspapers around the state. Staff members made stops at the Times-Herald in Forrest City, the Wynne Progress and the Helena-West Helena World. Staffers later in the month
of Mike Trimble,” a collection of the work of the late columnist and editorialist Mike Trimble. His career included work at six different newspapers in Arkansas and Texas. Ernie Dumas, who collected and edited the volume, discussed Trimble’s long and storied career. Arkansas Attorney General Tim Griffin announced the formation of an Arkansas Freedom of Information Act Review Working Group. APA executive director Ashley Kemp Wimberley is one of those serving on the review group, as is John Tull III, APA’s attorney who has worked with member newspapers on FOIA issues over the years. “It is important to be proactive in having these discussions in advance of legislative sessions,” Wimberley said. Helena World publisher Andrew Bagley with APA staffers Ashley Kemp Wimberley and Neil McConnell.
visited the Stone County Leader office in Mountain View. A reading and celebration was held at Wordsworth Books in Little Rock of “The Thane of Cawdor Comes to Bauxite: And Other Whimsy and Wisdom From the Pen
The Star-Herald in Pocahontas moved its office location to the historic Frisco Train Depot. The depot site houses, in addition to the 143-year-old newspaper, the Pocahontas Tourist Information Center and Transportation Museum. “We are excited to collaborate with the city and be part of such a magnificent building,” said editor John Allen French.
JULY Jeanette Stewart became managing editor of the Log Cabin Democrat in Conway following the retirement of Publisher Mark Elliott on June 28. Paxton Media Group announced the promotion on July 5, and that she will remain in her position as editor of the Van Buren County Democrat in Clinton as she takes on an extended leadership role within the company. Stewart is a 2013 graduate of the University of Central Arkansas, and previously worked at the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette and The Courier in Russellville. She started at the Log Arkansas Publisher Weekly
Cabin Democrat as a general assignment reporter in 2015. Randy Moll was promoted to managing editor of six weekly newspapers operated by NWA Media: the Westside Eagle Observer in Gravette, the Weekly Vista in Bella Vista, the Pea Ridge Times, the Siloam Springs Herald-Leader, the Washington County Enterprise-Leader and the McDonald County Press in Southwestern Missouri. Moll has been serving as the managing editor of Jeanette Stewart
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JULY (CONTINUED) the Eagle Observer for 12 years. In his new role, Mott will assist the other newspapers’ editors and staff and serve as a liaison with the Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette and the River Valley Democrat-Gazette. Additionally, it was announced that Bennett Horne, currently the managing editor of the Weekly Vista, will take over as the editor of the Siloam Springs HeraldLeader. A slate of five speakers was featured at the annual APA Convention held at the
Char Griffee, John F. Griffee III and Jessica Szenher at the APA Headquarters on June 26.
DoubleTree Hotel in Little Rock. They included Bridget Sibthorp-Moecker, director of audience for BLOX Digital, “The Trailblazers Guide to Digital Subscriptions;” Preston Tolliver and Katie Leath, both with UAMS in Little Rock, “Improving Healthcare in Arkansas Through Media and Medicine;” Janet Harris, executive director and CEO of the Winthrop Rockefeller Institute, outlining her organization’s initiatives as the convention’s keynote speaker, and Mark Humphrey, retired Associated Press photojournalist, “Photojournalism via Smartphone.” A George Fisher portrait of the late journalist Carol M. Griffee was donated by her family to the Dennis and Jan Schick Newspaper Museum, located in the APA headquarters building in Little Rock. The portrait was on display at the kickoff event for the APA Convention, showcasing recent renovation and remodeling of the building. The Arkansas Press Association celebrated its 150th anniversary with its annual Arkansas Publisher Weekly
convention at the DoubleTree Hotel in Little Rock. APA is the oldest trade association in the state of Arkansas. Several major awards were presented at the Friday night banquet, including Golden 50 Service Awards to both Ron Wylie and Wanda Williams of the Johnson County Graphic in Clarksville. Dr. David Keith of the University of Central Arkansas in Conway was presented the Journalism Educator of the Year Award. A highlight of the convention was the traditional passing of the gavel by APA past presidents, culminating in the installation of 2023-24 president Eliza Gaines of the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette. General Excellence winners were recognized in the annual Arkansas Press Association Better Newspaper Contest for 2022. Taking top honors were Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, Fayetteville, Larger Dailies; The Daily Citizen, Searcy, Smaller Dailies; The Leader, Jacksonville, Larger Weeklies; Carroll County News, Berryville, Medium Weeklies, and HelenaWest Helena World, Smaller Weeklies. Members of the Mississippi Press Association judged this year’s event. Several special awards were presented at the APA editorial contest luncheon, including Steve Watts, editor, The Daily Citizen, Searcy, Freeman-Greenberg Prize for Editorial Writing; Will Langhorne, reporter, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, Little Rock, I.F. Stone Award for Outstanding Investigative Reporting; Ellen Kreth, publisher, Madison County Record, Huntsville, Ernie Deane-Brenda Blagg Award for Excellence in Column Writing; Scott Loftis, editor and publisher, Carroll County News, Berryville, Charles Gordon Newman Award for Distinguished News Story, and Tommy Metthe, photojournalist, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, Little Rock, Photo of the Year Award. Mary Mae Fowler Fisher, a long-time weekly newspaper publisher and a former APA president, died on July 22 shortly after attending the organization’s convention. Fisher had been one of numerous past presidents participating in the traditional gavel-passing ceremony on Friday evening and then the Past Presidents Breakfast on Saturday morning. She died that Saturday 8
A reception marked APA’s 150th Anniversary.
afternoon in her hometown of Danville, where she and husband David Fisher co-owned and published the Yell County Record. The couple also owned the Conway County Petit Jean Country Headlight in Morrilton, the Perry County Petit Jean Country Headlight in Perryville and the Dardanelle Post-Dispatch. She served as managing editor of the Dardanelle newspaper. Fisher also was serving on the Arkansas Newspaper Foundation board of directors, a position she accepted in 2007. She also was extremely involved in her local community, with particular interests in Boy Scouting and the Extension Homemakers. Fisher also served for several years on the Danville School Board, including two years as president. Former Arkansas Democrat-Gazette associate editor and Voices page editor Meredith Oakley died at her home in Little Rock. A native of Portland, Oregon, she began working at the Arkansas Democrat in 1976 and developed a reputation as a fearless political reporter, editor and columnist over her 35-year journalism career. She rose up through the ranks at the newspaper and eventually became the “right hand” to her mentor, managing editor John Robert Starr. Oakley covered politics and the State Capitol in what was described as a “fierce” and “old school” See 2023 Page 9
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JULY (CONTINUED) manner and made an indelible mark in the history of Arkansas journalism. An editorial in the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette noted that, during her long career, nobody was a stronger defender of the state’s Freedom
of Information Act. In commenting on situations in which someone in the future might run across her byline while researching a bit of Arkansas governmental or political history, she said, “They won’t
know or care who I was, but my name will be there regardless. It’s as close to immortality as I’m ever going to come in this life, but it will suffice.”
AUGUST Samuel Clanton was named managing editor of The Weekly Vista in Bella Vista. A holder of a bachelor’s degree in mass communication from College of the Ozarks in Point Lookout, Missouri, he moved to Benton County after a stint in the music industry in Nashville. Lisa Thompson was announced as the new executive editor of the Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette. She succeeded Rusty Turner, who retired from the position in May. She is a graduate of the University of Arkansas at Little Rock with a bachelor’s degree in journalism with a minor in legal studies. Tamara Johnson, editor and publisher of the Times-Herald in Forrest City, won a Freedom of Information fight involving the Palestine-Wheatley School Board. Following an extended legal battle, attorneys for each side reached an agreement for school board president
a candidate for the position of interim superintendent at the St. Francis County School. Beth Chism joined Phillips Media Group as regional publisher over its Arkansas newspapers. These include the Harrison Daily Times, the Newton County Times in Jasper and the Baxter Bulletin in Mountain Home. She will report directly to Jim Holland, president of Phillips Media and former publisher of the Arkansas newspapers. Publisher Tamara Johnson at her desk in the TimesHerald offices
Derrick Boileau to plead no contest to the charge. Boileau was placed on six months’ probation and ordered to attend mandatory training provided by the Arkansas School Boards Association for violating the FOIA. At issue was a secret meeting the board held to interview
CherryRoad Media, publisher of several newspapers in Arkansas, announced that it acquired the Hutchinson, Kansas, printing operations of Gannett Co., Inc. CherryRoad also announced the purchase of eight newspaper properties in Indiana and Ohio. The company now publishes newspapers in 17 states. CherryRoad Media CEO Jeremy Gulban serves on the APA board of directors.
SEPTEMBER It was announced that “American Idol” contestant Marybeth Byrd will provide entertainment at the second annual Arkansas Press Freedom Gala in October in Little Rock. A native of Armorel in Mississippi County, she is a graduate of Arkansas State University with a degree in strategic communications. Byrd’s music is strongly influenced by country, pop and southern gospel traditions. Dave Perozek was announced as the new managing editor of the Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette and its sister publication, the River Valley DemocratGazette in Fort Smith. A graduate in English from Vanderbilt University, he previously served as metro editor of the Fayettevillebased newspaper. Marybeth Byrd
Arkansas Publisher Weekly
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SEPTEMBER (CONTINUED) The APA and other defenders of the Freedom of Information Act dealt with a barrage of challenges to the state’s transparency law during a special legislative session called by Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders. The overall “timeline” moved from extreme concern over very real threats to open government to a realization that, through intense engagement and some ultimate needed compromise, the heart of Gov. Winthrop Rockefeller’s 1967 signature accomplishment remains essentially intact. “The APA’s message was consistent throughout the session,” said Eliza Gaines, president of APA and publisher of the Arkansas DemocratGazette. “We made it clear that we supported reasonable modifications to protect elected officials and their families, and that we opposed measures that would drastically weaken our strong FOIA.” A steady stream of FOIA supporters, including several from the state’s newspapers, testified at various legislative committee hearings in opposition to efforts to undermine what is one of the country’s strongest open government laws. “I am so proud of the press association for its successful fight to defeat efforts to gut the FOIA,” said John Tull, attorney for the APA and one of the state’s foremost
experts on the state’s transparency laws. “When the session began, legislators were confident they had the votes, and but for the fight led by the APA and joined by the broadcasters and numerous private citizens from across party lines, our FOIA would no longer provide the transparency Arkansans deserve.” A new editor was announced for the Madison County Record in Huntsville. Dan Marsh accepted the position after recently serving as managing editor of the Greenwood Commonwealth in Greenwood, Mississippi. He replaced Rod Harrington, who retired in August. The Villager Journal and The News, newspaper properties owned by CherryRoad Media in North Central Arkansas, have been merged into one product. The publication now will be called Areawide News, with all operations based in Salem. It is anticipated that the combined product will contain 16 pages weekly, with two pages of sports coverage. Tom White, a former APA president, announced his retirement from the newspaper industry. He has been serving as publisher of the Advance-Monticellonian in Monticello and the Eagle Democrat in
Ashley Hogg and Tom White outside the AdvanceMonticellonian offices in Monticello.
Warren, as well as president of the parent organization, Drew County Newspapers, Inc. White will, however, remain with the organizations on a part-time basis as a consultant. Ashley Hogg, previously serving as general manager/advertising manager for the operation, will assume White’s former positions.
OCTOBER APA announced Frances Cobb Kenney, former principal harpist with the Greeley Philharmonic Orchestra, would perform for a performance during the reception prior to the second annual Press Freedom Gala. A native of Little Rock, she holds a bachelor’s of music from Vanderbilt University Blair School of Music and a master’s in music from Cincinnati College Conservatory of Music. Bobby Caldwell, owner and CEO of East Arkansas Broadcasters, announced the purchase of the Wynne Progress and the East Arkansas News Leader from long-time owners David and Sandra Boger. The newspaper operation had suspended publication following an EF3 tornado in the community on March 31. It damaged the See 2023 Page 11
Arkansas Publisher Weekly
APA celebrated its 150th Anniversary at the second annual Press Freedom Gala.
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OCTOBER (CONTINUED) Progress building and caused catastrophic damage to the nearby Wynne High School. Caldwell owns and operates 52 radio signals in Arkansas. The second annual Press Freedom Gala was a huge success. The event was held at Chenal Country Club in Little Rock and featured several significant award presentations. They included Mike Masterson, Golden 50 Service Award; Rusty Turner, Distinguished Service Award; Rex Nelson, Distinguished Service Award; the late Gov. Winthrop Rockefeller, Freedom of Information Award, and Justin Moore, Headliner of the Year Award. David Bazzell served as master of ceremonies for the event, which raises funds for journalism internships and educational training through the Arkansas Newspaper Foundation. A group of Arkansas transparency advocates from across the state announced
plans to work to protect the Freedom of Information Act with a ballot initiative for a Constitutional Amendment. The effort is attracting supporters of varied political affiliations. Among those serving on the drafting committee is APA executive director Ashley Kemp Wimberley. “Arkansas has had one of the strongest Freedom of Information Acts in the country for 56 years,” said Sen. Clarke Tucker, chair of the committee. “Taking this vote to the people, who we know value government transparency, will ensure the law remains strong for years to come.” Jeremy Gulban, a member of the APA board of directors, was elected to a position on the board of directors of America’s Newspapers at a conference in Bend, Oregon. Gulban is CEO of CherryRoad Media. Nat Lea, president and CEO of WEHCO Media in Little Rock, served as president of the organization in 2021-22.
Journalist Eplunus Brooks Colvin, a reporter for the Pine Bluff Commercial, was recognized for two major honors she received during the year – the Excellence in Journalism Award from the Martin Luther King Commission and the Media Award from the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People. A native of Wichita Falls, Texas, and a current resident of Stuttgart, Colvin was initially hired as a freelance reporter for the Commercial and became a full-time reporter in 2020. She covers city and county government for the newspaper. Jeff Brasel was announced as the new managing editor of the Harrison Daily Times. He was serving as sports editor for the Times and its sister publication, the Newton County Times in Jasper, and will continue sports editing duties for the two newspapers.
NOVEMBER Six Arkansas journalists completed the Earn Your Press Pass online course developed by the Kansas Press Association and endorsed by the APA. The course program covers the basics of journalism in an online setting with no charge to the students. Completing the course were Jeff McDonald and Helen Murphy of the Advance-Monticellonian in Monticello, Bryan Rice of the SentinelRecord in Hot Springs, Sandy Johansen and Robin Burns of the Hot Springs Village Voice and Charity Roland of the Marshall Mountain Wave.
provides circulation and mailing software and services to newspapers, was the keynote presenter.
The Arkansas Newspaper Foundation announced that it will present the first Meredith Oakley Memorial Award at the 2024 APA Convention. The award, named in honor of the late former Arkansas Democrat-Gazette associate editor and Voices page editor, will be presented to a strong advocate of the state’s Freedom of Information Act. The convention will be held in June 2024 in Jonesboro.
Texarkana Gazette reporter Greg Bischof retired after 35 years with the daily newspaper. Bischof earned a bachelor’s degree in communications with a journalism emphasis from the University of Texas at Arlington. He was hired at the Gazette in 1989 to cover the police beat and expanded his career from there.
Several members of the Arkansas newspaper industry attended the annual ArkLaMiss Circulation, Marketing and Arkansas Publisher Weekly
Craig O’Neal, veteran broadcaster in the Little Rock market, announced his retirement. O’Neal became the top DJ in Central Arkansas in the 1970s. He eventually joined KTHV Channel 11 as a sports anchor and later moved to the sports desk, spending 24 years with the station. A much sought-after emcee, he helped raise more than $40 million for various charitable causes.
Meredith Oakley
Audience Development Conference in Vicksburg, Mississippi. Brad Hill, CEO at Interlink, a Michigan company that 11
Three members of the Arkansas Press Women are serving in leadership roles for the National Federation of Press Women. Former APW president Debbie Miller See 2023 Page 12
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NOVEMBER (CONTINUED) of Bentonville is serving as national vice president and is next in line to be president. Current APW president Kristin
Netterstrom Higgins of Bryant was appointed to fill the secretary position. Former APW president Helen Sheffield
Plotkin of Conway serves on the national board as the professional contest director.
DECEMBER his role in the adoption of the state’s strong Freedom on Information Act. He called McCord the “father of the FOIA” while serving as editor and publisher of the weekly North Little Rock Times. Dumas said McCord was in continual struggle with North Little Rock city officials who liked to conduct business in private and withhold records from newspapers. Sen. Ben Allen and Rep. Leon Holsted were sponsors of the bill, which was enacted and signed by Gov. Winthrop Rockefeller in 1967.
APA members are invited to “Be Our Guest” in this undated summer convention photo.
The Arkansas Press Association mailed a special commemorative magazine to member newspapers to mark the close of the sesquicentennial celebration of the organization. Founded in 1873, APA is the oldest trade association in the state. “We really appreciate the support we receive from all our member newspapers,” APA executive director Ashley Kemp Wimberley said. “They have made us a
very strong association in the past and continue to do so now. We trust they will enjoy reading about the history of our association and the significant impact it has had on journalism in Arkansas through the years.”
Two Arkansas Democrat-Gazette commentary writers earned prizes in a national contest sponsored by America’s Newspapers. In the Editorial Writing category, David Barham, editorial page editor of the newspaper, received second place honors in the over 35,000 circulation bracket. In the Column Writing category, John Brummett captured third place. The Democrat-Gazette was the only newspaper in the competition with two honorees.
In a guest editorial appearing in Arkansas Publisher Weekly, Ernest Dumas paid special tribute to Robert S. McCord for
Our offices will be closed Monday, January 1 Arkansas Publisher Weekly
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Guest Column: Americans depend on newspapers to stay informed about their communities By Benjy Hamm
Director, Institute for Rural Journalism, University of Kentucky
Nearly 220 million American adults turn to their local newspapers regularly for news and information they need to stay informed, feel more connected to their neighbors and improve their lives and communities. That readership number is based on a recent national study by independent research firm Coda Ventures for the America’s Newspapers organization. Most likely, the number of readers is higher. Many people who say they receive news on their phone or from social media instead of newspapers fail to understand that the sources for those stories are often journalists at U.S. newspapers. We sometimes take the work of journalists for granted, but those who work at newspapers are filling an important role in the health of our communities and country. Everyone, even nonreaders, benefits from the work of journalists. News coverage has led to improvements in food safety, decreases in traffic and plane fatalities, better care for veterans and nursing home patients, support for victims of natural disasters, and exposure of all sorts of wrongdoing. I have long loved this quotation by Frank Batten Sr., a media visionary and former chairman of Landmark Communications, who said about journalists and newspapers: “Our calling was never more important. We have the capacity to inform, to enlighten, to awaken and to inspire. We have the opportunity to enrich the lives of thousands of people every day.”
Arkansas Publisher Weekly
Across the United States, journalists and other newspaper employees are serving their communities and democracy every day by informing, enlightening, awakening and inspiring millions of readers. The news they provide is accessed in many forms. Many people still use the word newspaper as the all-encompassing term for those various forms, but now news is delivered through websites, social media, electronic editions, email alerts and newsletters, in addition to the traditional printed paper. Those delivery methods have changed significantly in recent years. But one thing remains constant: Americans depend on the trusted news coverage provided by newspapers. The 2023 study by Coda Ventures, based on surveys of 5,000 people, revealed that respondents ranked local newspapers and their websites as the most accurate sources of original news reporting. The results also listed the top five reasons Americans seek out local news – to stay informed, feel connected in the community, decide where they stand on local issues, find places and things to do, and talk to other people about community news. Survey respondents consistently said they prefer newspapers in print and digital formats over TV, radio and social media as their main source for news and information important to them. They like the fact that newspapers use different ways to deliver their news stories to various audiences. The survey showed that people who are 39 and younger listed
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social media as the No. 1 way they prefer to access news, though they also like news websites and email alerts. People in the 40 to 74 age group ranked news websites as their top choice, followed by email alerts and the printed newspaper. Those 75 and older prefer the print edition but also like news websites and email alerts. Based on the frequent reports of struggles within the news business, many people might be surprised to learn that newspapers and their digital offerings reach so many readers. Those struggles, primarily financial, are real and affect many media companies, not just newspapers. But the new ways of delivering news allow newspapers to reach even larger audiences. Frank Batten might not have anticipated the widespread use of the internet and social media when he first made his comments in the 1980s, but his words remain true today. Newspapers and their dedicated employees continue to inform, enlighten, awaken and inspire – enriching their communities and the lives of millions of people who benefit from their work every day. Benjamin R. “Benjy” Hamm is the director of the Institute for Rural Journalism and Community Issues at the University of Kentucky and associate extension professor in UK’s School of Journalism and Media in the College of Communication and Information. This column was written for National Newspaper Week 2023 and can be downloaded for reprinting at www. nationalnewspaperweek.com
December 28, 2023