Arkansas Publisher Weekly: December 14, 2023

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Four additional bipartisan co-sponsors announced for Community News & Small Business Act

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Guest Column: Kevin’s Top 10 Tips for 2024

By Kevin Slimp

Arkansas Press Association

Publisher Weekly Vol.18 | No. 48 | Thursday, December 14, 2023 | Serving Press and State Since 1873

APA reaches the end of its sesquicentennial celebration The Arkansas Press Association — what an honor to be a part of the oldest trade association in Arkansas.

That’s the legacy all newspapers across our great state enjoy, and what a rich heritage it is.

In recognition of the 150th anniversary of the founding of the APA, a special commemorative magazine was published and distributed in October at the second annual Press Freedom Gala in Little Rock. A

copy of the magazine is being mailed this week to each member newspaper.

“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 this history of our association and the significant impact it has had on journalism in Arkansas through

the years.”

The Arkansas Press Association began in 1873 in a small meeting during the Arkansas State Fair in Little Rock. It was something of an inauspicious beginning as only eight newspaper publishers attended, and two chose not to participate.

But the concept of an organization that would elevate the lofty goals of professional journalism quickly caught See APA Page 3

APA Convention attendees pose in front of the Arkansas State House on May 15, 1900. This photo was featured on the cover of “Community Diaries: Arkansas Newspapering, 1819-2002” by Michael B. Dougan.

Arkansas Publisher Weekly

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December 14, 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.

IV.

VI.

Photography

X.

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

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

APA Continued from page 1

on, and the APA was able to celebrate its charter membership with 73 newspapers.

J.N. Smithee of the Little Rock Gazette was the first of a long line of newspaper leaders elected as president of the APA. The early days of the APA were dominated by what has been termed the “country press,” a large collection of small weekly newspapers scattered across the state.

Smaller newspapers continued to play a major role in the history of the organization, but journalism leaders from larger communities eventually became more involved and many of them stressed a more business-oriented approach to the industry and the trade association.

During those early years, the APA regularly met for two conventions a year, sharing new methods of production and discussing issues of common interest. Additionally, the tradition began of families gathering in fellowship and developing lifelong friendships.

The newspaper industry continued to grow in Arkansas, reaching some 200 newspapers by the late 1929s, but the Great Depression took its toll and there were only 140 remaining when the United States entered World War II in 1941.

It was during the Depression, however, that the APA took one of its biggest steps,

The registration desk at the 1962 APA Summer Convention in Fort Smith. Pictured with APA staff Lila Wooten, Jeanette Hall and Louise Bowker are Fred Wulfekuhler of the Paragould Daily Press, Porter Young of the Helena World and Pat Murphy of Southwestern Bell Telephone with his wife and their sons, Terry and Kevin.

employing Sam Schwieger in 1938 as the organization’s first manager. Schwieger initiated the APA clipping service and advertisement placement. The clipping service was sold in 1995, but advertising placement services remain an important part of the organization’s functions.

Louise Bowker was employed in 1960 as the APA’s first female manager. Bowker, who guided the APA through some eventful times, planned to stay only a year but remained in the position until 1978. During her tenure, one of the most important events relating to Arkansas newspapers occurred with the passage of the Freedom of Information Act by the state legislature in 1967. Newspaper leaders were instrumental in its adoption, most notably Robert McCord of the North Little Rock Times.

C. Dennis Schick, who had an extensive background in trade association management and newspaper advertising, was employed as APA executive director in 1979 and remained in the position for 25 years. With Jan Schick, his wife, as an integral part of the team, the association experienced significant growth and development, including the acquisition of a headquarters building at 17th and Broadway in Little Rock in 1981. That building was sold in 2000, resulting in the move to the current APA headquarters at 411 S. Victory, an extremely well-located facility within walking distance of the State

Attendees are invited to browse APA member newspapers from around the state in this undated APA Summer Convention photo.

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See APA Page 5

December 14, 2023

"Let’s give Grandma’s scratchy Christmas records a rest this year."

- Vacation

Your Vacation needs more than a few boughs of holly this Christmas. Branson is a winter wonderland of excitement, filled with jolly festivals, show-stopping holiday performances, and even an express train ride to the North Pole!

This year, give your Vacation the gift of an Ozark Mountain Christmas.

Discover more at ExploreBranson.com.

APA Continued from page 3

Candidates Blanche Lincoln and Sen. Fay Boozman on stage at the United States Senate Debate at the 1998 APA Convention in Eureka Springs. Seated in the middle is moderator Jeanne Rollberg, UALR Journalism Department Chair.

Capitol.

“This building has been great for us,” Wimberley said, “because of its coveted location, it has allowed us to fill six tenant offices upstairs. The purchase of this building was visionary on the part of the APA board in place at the time.”

Another important development during the Schick years was retaining the APA’s first legislative lobbyist. That began an orchestrated effort by APA leadership to deal with the regular challenges by legislators (and occasionally, governors) to the FOIA – an issue which reached elevated levels during the most recent session of the General Assembly.

later added other newspapers in Northeast Arkansas and Southeast Missouri. Her father, Ron Kemp, was APA president in 1993.

Wimberley guided the association through the challenging COVID-19 years, a period in which conventions and other meetings were conducted remotely. She also has been heavily involved in the continuing defense of the FOIA, including the current effort to enshrine its principles in a constitutional amendment.

Arkansas Publisher Weekly

Rusty Fraser, publisher of the Stone County Leader in Mountain View, leads an eight member ANF board in his role as president.

Eliza Gaines, publisher of the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, is the current president of the APA. She is one of nine current members of the APA board of directors.

Upon Schick’s retirement in 2004, Tom Larimer was employed as the APA executive director. Larimer grew up in an Arkansas newspaper family, publishers of the Green Forest Tribune and operators of a commercial printing business. A Vietnam veteran, Larimer previously had worked at newspapers in Missouri, Kansas and Arkansas. His father, Ted Larimer, served as APA president in 1963.

Larimer retired in 2018 and Wimberley assumed the leadership position, moving up from her tenure as APA advertising director. She also grew up in an Arkansas newspaper family. Her parents purchased the Clay County Democrat in Rector and

Another important part of the association’s agenda is the work of the Arkansas Newspaper Foundation, which provides paid newspaper internships to students at colleges and universities in the state. It also awards continuing education grants and supports the educational efforts of the APA. The annual Press Freedom Gala now provides the bulk of the funding for the foundation’s efforts.

“For 150 years, our organization has worked hard to support and – when necessary – defend freedom of the press as one of the pillars on which our Republic is built,” Gaines said.

“As we look forward to another 150 years of service in our industry, it won’t look the same,” she added. “We’ll continue to adapt to our changing world and find new ways to deliver our work to the people who want and need it. But that’s nothing new to our business. We’ve always done that. That’s why we’ve been around for 150 years.”

Long-time Executive Director Dennis Schick and Jan Schick

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See APA Page 6

December 14, 2023

APA Continued from page 5

“Arkansas’ newspaper industry has always felt like family to me, not just because I grew up in the business,” Wimberley said.

“When your family’s livelihood revolves around newspaper publishing – as mine did – you not only come to love the work of connecting people in your community to each other through news and vital information, you come to love and appreciate those who are doing the same work in their hometowns across the state.

“Though our industry has endured some tough times, the important work we do continues,” Wimberley said. “As we innovate, change and evolve into new business models, our goals remain the same -- connect the people in our communities to each other through news, information and advertising messages. We have been around for 150 years, and we optimistically look forward to the future.”

APA Headquarters on Victory Street near the Arkansas State Capitol.

New reporter Knieff joins staff McDonald joins Harrison at Harrison Daily Times Daily Times as a general assignment reporter Loretta Knieff of Yellville has joined the staff of the Harrison Daily Times as a general assignment reporter.

Scott McDonald of Harrison has recently rejoined the staff of the Harrison Daily Times as a general assignment reporter.

She comes to the newspaper from a career as a manager in the field of e-commerce. A graduate of Arkansas Tech University with a degree in history, Knieff feels news reporting is ideal for her talents.

McDonald first joined the Harrison Daily Times as a part-time stringer in 1990, then worked for the newspaper full time until 1994. Over his 30-year career he has reported for The Baxter Bulletin in Mountain Home, the Scott McDonald Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, The Morning News of Northwest Arkansas and, most recently, served as sports editor at the Russellville Courier.

“I enjoy writing about history and community activities,” Loretta Knieff she said in the announcement of her hire. She also said she is looking forward to meeting readers as she attends community happenings, and invites the public to suggest ideas for stories about people, places and things in the Harrison area.

Arkansas Publisher Weekly

Originally from Memphis and a graduate of North Arkansas College, McDonald considers himself a history buff and enjoys covering a variety of subjects in addition to sports.

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December 14, 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

Former ADG crime reporter’s debut novel to be adapted for television

Four additional bipartisan “Godfall”, the debut novel recently published co-sponsors by former Arkansas Democrat-Gazette crime reporter Van Jensen, is set to be brought to announced for television by director Ron Howard.

Community News & The novel, a supernatural mystery set in Jensen’s native western Nebraska, was published Small Business Act November 1 by Flyover Fiction, an imprint of the University of Nebraska Press. A bidding war for the production rights was won by Imagine TV, owned by Howard and producer Brian Grazer.

Jensen wrote for the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette from 2005 to 2007. He left the newspaper to write comics, breaking into the business in 2009 with the acclaimed “Pinocchio, Vampire Slayer” graphic novel series he created with then-Arkansas Democrat-Gazette graphic artist Dusty Higgins. He has also written some of the most famous characters in comics, including The Flash, Superman, Wonder Woman, and James Bond. His 2019 graphic novel with co-author Nate Powell, “Two Dead”, was based on events in 1940s Little Rock about which Jenson learned while working at the newspaper.

The release date for the “Godfall” screen adaptation has not yet been announced.

Four additional legislators have signed on as co-sponsors of the Community News & Small Business Support Act (HR 4756), America’s Newspapers reported.

The act was introduced in the 118th Congress by Congresswoman Claudia Tenney (R-NY-24) and Congresswoman Suzan DelBene (D-WA-1), both members of the Ways and Means Committee.

The latest co-sponsors are Rep. Hillary J. Scholten (D-MI-3), Rep. Jimmy Panetta (D-CA-19), Rep. Scott Fitzgerald (R-WI-5) and Rep. Nicole Malliotakis (R-NY-11).

The bipartisan legislation supports two institutions critical to sustaining hometown communities: local news organizations and small businesses.

The act makes refundable tax credits available to local newspapers to reinvest in professional journalists who cover local news topics. It also makes non-refundable tax credits available to local businesses that advertise with local newspapers, providing an additional stimulus to the local economy.

America’s Newspapers, along with other leading media organizations, has led the call for support of the local news industry through legislative efforts. Dean Ridings, CEO of America’s Newspapers, thanked the legislators for their support of local newspapers and businesses, calling the legislation a big win for local communities.

“More local reporting means more access to the hometown news citizens rely on,” he said. “And stronger newspapers mean stronger advertising vehicles for local businesses.”

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

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December 14, 2023

Father of state FOIA Guest Editorial By Ernest Dumas In all the reporting and commentary on recent efforts to gut the Freedom of Information Act, which guarantees public access to the records and deliberations of government bodies, the usual short histories of the law fail to name the father of the FOIA, which was enacted in 1967.

Gov. Winthrop Rockefeller is often credited with the law, perhaps the most important governmental reform since Reconstruction. Rockefeller indeed made the bill an administration bill, which kept it at the top of the Senate and House calendars, and he signed it into law and praised it. Otherwise, he had nothing to do with its passage. It passed both houses - 132 Democrats and three Republicans without even one “no” vote. Both political parties endorsed it.

The father of the FOIA was Robert S. McCord, then editor and publisher of the North Little Rock Times and later an editor at both the Arkansas Democrat and the Arkansas Gazette. McCord and his weekly newspaper were in a constant struggle with North Little Rock city officials, notably Mayor William F. “Casey” Laman, who liked to deliberate in private and withhold records from the newspapers. McCord was a founder and president of the Arkansas chapter of Sigma Delta Chi (now the Society

Gov. Winthrop Rockefeller signs the Arkansas Freedom of Information Act into law on February 14, 1967, as Rep. Leon Holsted, Sen. Ben Allen and Bob McCord of the North Little Rock Times look on.

of Professional Journalists), which took on the FOIA as its first crusade. McCord got his pal Sen. Ben Allen to be the lead sponsor in the Senate and his North Little Rock neighbor and friend, Rep. Leon Holsted, to handle it in the House.

Bob’s postwar classmate at the University of Arkansas and lifetime buddy, the celebrated lawyer Phillip M. Carroll, an attorney for the Gazette, had a hand in drafting the bill, and then was McDord’s attorney in his historic lawsuit against the North Little Rock mayor over the city’s refusal to abide by the new law. Laman v. McCord, the Arkansas Supreme Court’s unanimous decision favoring McCord, carried Justice George Rose Smith’s often

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recited sentence declaring the act a vital reform that must always be interpreted literally and liberally in favor of the people’s right to know what their government was doing.

Ernest Dumas has written for newspapers and about politics since 1954. In addition to multiple newspapers in Arkansas his work has been featured in the New York Times, the Philadelphia Inquirer and Newsweek.

His book, “The Education of Ernie Dumas: Chronicles of the Arkansas Political Mind” was published in 2019.

First published in the Arkansas DemocratGazette on Nov. 30, 2023. Reprinted with permission.

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.

December 14, 2023

Guest Column: Kevin’s Top 10 Tips for 2024 As 2023 ends and 2024 begins, Kevin puts on his coaching cap

By Kevin Slimp

The end of one year and the beginning of a new year seem to make me a little reflective. In the past three weeks, I’ve found myself in 13 states. Traveling has allowed me to visit with many longtime newspaper friends and a few new ones. I’m often asked for advice in our conversations, especially as publishers contemplate plans for the new year.

Readers seem to like numbered lists – and it seems as if half the folks I know are “coaches” these days – so please humor me as I offer “Coach Kevin’s Top 10 Tips (please forgive the superfluous alliteration) for 2024.”

Tip 1: Watch for community members who could be valuable to your newspaper. A close friend recently retired and was quickly contacted by a community newspaper 20 miles away asking if he’d be interested in shooting pictures at ballgames a couple of times each week. He was surprised and thrilled. He’s having a great time taking photos of high school wrestling matches and volleyball games, and the newspaper is getting a great deal. Like many new retirees, he was concerned about filling his time during retirement. It’s a win/win.

Tip 2: Make it a habit to meet with reporters and designers to discuss ways to improve the content and design of your newspaper.

Do you want to increase readership? The quickest way I know of is to improve the content and look of your newspaper.

Tip 3: Call the Small Business Bureau (in some states, grants come through the Economic and Community Development office) and ask about grants for small

Arkansas Publisher Weekly

businesses. I’ve worked with papers in several states that have received grants to pay the entire bill for on-site training.

These grants covered training costs and other expenses. A quick look at my state’s website (Tennessee) states, “For the most part, the grants that go to small business owners generally fall in three areas: valueadded agriculture, technology development and commercialization, and vocational rehabilitation.” Just about everything we do at newspapers can fit into the technology development category when applying for a grant. You can also find information about grants at grants.gov.

Tip 4: Replace your on-site backup drives every couple of years. They break down, and it can be a miserable experience when they do. Newspapers should also have off-site (cloud) backups in place. Your information can be safely stored off-site for just a few dollars each month.

Tip 5: Speaking of backups, most newspapers are Mac-based. Ensure every computer is set up to use Time Machine for automatic backups. Time Machine has saved me many times over the years. Just purchase an inexpensive SSD drive (usually around $100) for each computer to be used only for Time Machine.

Tip 6: If you haven’t already, create a master chart to track your sales calls. Be sure to include columns for “in-person,” “phone,” “text,” and “email” calls. Look over your calls with your ad manager or publisher at the end of each week. A master chart is a straightforward method for increasing the number of calls, guaranteeing increased

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ad revenue. It is also an excellent reminder to make more in-person calls rather than relying too much on email or other contact methods.

Tip 7: Don’t let the design of your newspaper become stale. If your newspaper looks the same as it did ten years ago, it’s too late. But it’s never too late to update the design.

Tip 8: Take advantage of training opportunities. Be aware of online and inperson training available through your press association and other organizations.

It comes as no surprise that most successful newspapers make training a regular part of their routine.

Tip 9: Host a focus group of diverse community members annually to get opinions and share ideas about ways to improve your newspaper. People love being part of focus groups, and it’s an effective way to get solid information to enhance your product.

Tip 10: Be a “hands-on” publisher. The most successful papers I’ve worked with in 2023 have publishers who are hands-on in the daily operation of the newspaper. Years ago, a young editor called me panicked when she had been offered the publisher’s position at a nearby daily paper. “What does a publisher do?” she asked. “It’s simple,” I replied. “Either nothing…or everything.”

Successful papers have publishers who are involved in the paper and the community Kevin Slimp is former director of The University of Tennessee Newspaper Institute and founder of NewspaperAcademy.com.

Contact him at kevin@kevinslimp.com.

December 14, 2023