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Guest Column: A few words about AI: And skipping the parts you already know about By Kevin Slimp
Arkansas Press Association
PUBLISHER WEEKLY Vol.20 | No. 3 | Thursday, January 16, 2025 | Serving Press and State Since 1873
Era-Enterprise Editor Dawn Teer determined to make a difference Dawn Teer is a determined woman, so much so that she started college classes at age 45, eventually earning a degree in professional and technical writing from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock. That degree, and experience, led to a career in journalism, with Teer currently serving as editor of the Era-Enterprise covering Stuttgart/DeWitt and all of Arkansas County. Earning that degree in 2013 was especially exciting for Teer as it came at the same time as the college graduation of her daughter, Bethany Hildebrand. The mother-daughter graduates were the topic for a feature story on KTHV, Channel 11, in Little Rock. “My dad always wanted me to graduate from college,” Teer said. “I promised him that I would do it. It took a while, but I got it done.” Teer credits two mentors for providing the impetus for her determination. One was Rosary Jones, an English professor at Phillips Community College of the University of Arkansas in Stuttgart. “She wrote a note on one of my papers telling me that I am a good writer and really helped me begin what I call my journey of learning.” Another important factor for Teer came when journalist Bill Shrum of Stuttgart visited the college and spoke about the history of the community and his coverage of it for the local newspaper. “I knew then that I wanted to be like Bill,” Teer said. As it turns out, they now work together at the Era-Enterprise. Shrum, who has vast knowledge of the community, writes a column, “Bill’s Corner of the World.” Teer also now writes a column entitled, “Dawn’s Delights.” Teer did not undertake any journalism training in college but enrolled in numerous editing classes. “I learned early on that I have a gift for editing,” she said. “Errors just really jump out at me.” Teer’s first real experience in newspaper writing came when she completed a series of articles on the chairmen of the various committees which promote and conduct Stuttgart’s World’s Championship Duck Calling & Wings Over the Prairie Festival. The success of that effort led to her writing an article about John Cover, one of the principal organizers of the Gillett Coon Supper, another legendary Arkansas County event. Teer lived in Gillett at the time, so it had special meaning for her. Teer continues to attend and cover the annual event, which draws Arkansas Publisher Weekly
Dawn Teer
political candidates and officeholders from all over Arkansas. “By the way, I don’t eat coon, but the ribs and brisket are very good,” she said with a laugh. That writing success led to a part-time reporter position for Teer at the Stuttgart Daily Leader and then in 2017 becoming a full-time member of the staff at the White Hall Journal. After only two months in the White Hall position, her group publisher, Ed Graves, asked her to take a position as editor of the Heber Springs Sun-Times. In 2019, Teer moved back to Stuttgart and began working as a freelance writer, often providing articles to the Daily Leader and the Era-Enterprise, then located in nearby DeWitt. In August 2024, Teer received a call from Clarissa ReavesWilliams, co-owner of the company that had just purchased the Era-Enterprise. “We had a three-hour phone conversation, and I told people that Clarissa did most of the talking,” Teer said, prompting See TEER Page 2
January 16, 2025