Arkansas Publisher Weekly: February 15, 2024

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Pine Bluff Commercial Senior Reporter Murrell saluted

by SPJ Guest Column: Ad Libs: Every salesperson needs a parachute

Arkansas Press Association

Publisher Weekly

By John Foust

Vol.19 | No. 7 | Thursday, February 15, 2024 | Serving Press and State Since 1873

Overbey values journalism’s past while looking to new strategies for the future Rhonda Overbey, publisher of The Saline Courier in Benton and the Malvern Daily Record, is a devout reader.

The book she currently is reading, “Collision of Power: Trump, Bezos and the Washington Post,” by Marty Baron, reflects the interests she developed as a journalism and political science major at the University of Arkansas.

As noted in the book, Baron had just begun serving as executive editor of the Post when Rhonda Overbey it was acquired in 2013 by Amazon owner and multi-billionaire Jeff Bezos.

Baron recounts his eight-year tenure at the newspaper – a dramatically eventful period both for American politics and the nation’s newspaper industry.

In a comment related to her interview with Baron for National Public Radio, Tonya Mosley says, “Baron describes himself as someone who’s committed to both oldschool journalistic values and the future of the industry.”

Perhaps that is an appropriate way to Arkansas Publisher Weekly

summarize Overbey’s own perspective as she brings years of experience, but also a vision of needed change and relevance, to her newspaper management responsibilities.

“A lot of newspapers across the state and country are just not seeing some of the new strategies that are needed in today’s e n v i r o n m e n t ,” Overbey said. ‘You can’t keep doing the same things just because they worked 35 years ago. It’s really frustrating to see people just doing the same projects

year after year.

“We obviously have a lot of challenges we face as an industry and one problem is that we are allowing ourselves to keep losing market share.”

She cited specific examples of local newspapers allowing chambers of commerce to take over lucrative community guides and outside companies to dominate magazine publishing.

“There are so many different places See Overbey Page 2

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The Saline Courier welcomes George, Hays, Keen to staff

Three new staff members have joined The Saline Courier in Benton in recent weeks.

Kevin George is the newspaper’s newest sales representative, having started in late December. A Benton native and graduate of Bauxite High School, George brings the experience of a 35-year career in the car business with him to the advertising department. “I decided I wanted to do something different,” George said. “I really enjoy going out and meeting new people.”

After taking some time off from journalism to raise her family, Greers Ferry native Tiffany Hays joined The Saline Courier’s newsroom in early January. Hays began her career during college as a freelancer for the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, becoming the advertorial coordinator at that newspaper full-time after graduation.

See Saline Page 2

February 15, 2024

Overbey

Saline

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where people can advertise today, and newspapers have got to make themselves be seen as more unique and more relevant,” she said. “We need to build the audience that is specific to us.”

While stressing development of new marketing approaches in a changing media world, Overbey also champions old-school newspaper values, sometimes being forgotten in today’s environment.

Examples of this are increased emphasis in her newspapers on in-depth and investigative journalism – the type of news presentation in a local community that only a newspaper can provide on a consistent basis.

For instance, The Courier was the source for extensive coverage of a recent federal court trial in Little Rock in which parents sued the Benton Police Department in the 2016 officer-involved shooting death of their teenaged son. The jury found the City of Benton and former Police Chief Kirk Lane liable and awarded the parents $32 million.

“Our staff did a great job on that story and continues to do so in follow-ups, such as the question of how the city will pay for

the jury award,” Overbey said. She noted that, for a relatively small newspaper with a limited staff, it is a financial hardship to assign a reporter to spend a full week covering a trial. But she believes that is the type of decision required to maintain relevance within the community.

The newspaper also is beefing up its investigative reporting efforts and has filed roughly 20 Freedom of Information requests in recent months. “It certainly is a big part of our job to demand transparency from our elected officials,” Overbey said.

She believes many newspapers in recent years have lost their zeal in reporting important, and sometimes difficult, stories.

“Too many people want us to be a public relations firm for the city,” she said, citing a tendency of some publishers and editors who suggest reporters contact community members for rehashing information on Facebook pages rather than developing and reporting original news stories.

“We are the only verifiable and fact-based news source for the community,” Overbey said. “Both media and the audience are fragmented, and no one ultimately will go See Overbey Page 3

“I have a deep love and appreciation for the written word,” said Hays. “Whether it is in the form of a breathtaking novel or an investigative piece that sheds light on social injustice, words have power.”

Breanna Keen joined the staff as accounting clerk & receptionist at the end of January. Originally from Little Rock, she relocated to Saline County and graduated from Bryant High School in 2021. “I have enjoyed working here so far,” Keen said. “The staff is really nice and super supportive. I think it is interesting to have a newspaper so you can really understand what is going on in Saline County.”

“We’re continuing to grow,” said Publisher Rhonda Overbey. “Our readers and the community remind us daily that the work we do is important and impactful in their daily lives.

“Tiffany brings her passion for news and heartfelt storytelling to editorial; Brianna thrives on providing excellent customer service to our readers and the public we serve; and Kevin’s decades of experience in the Saline County business community is an infusion of energy into our advertising department.”

LIST YOUR JOBS The Arkansas Newspaper Connection is a weekly newsletter published by APA connecting freelance and independent writers, editors, photographers and designers with Arkansas newspapers in need.

Lists available job openings and other opportunities at Arkansas newspapers and associate member organizations.

Send your listings to info@arkansaspress.org.

Arkansas Publisher Weekly

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February 15, 2024

Overbey Continued from page 2

Overbey observes that most successful businesses have extensive public relations teams and projects, a key part of their marketing plans. “But newspapers do not promote ourselves,” she said. “We should be using the power of our own brand to reach readers and advertisers.”

into depth like we do.”

Overbey also cites the importance of journalists sharing ideas and success stories that can help the industry become more relevant.

This also was touched on by Baron in his NPR interview – “Media in this country is in a state of crisis. I think we all have to work together to figure out how to make sure that we have a strong industry and a strong profession,” he said.

It is encouraging to Overbey that Saline County, an important part of the Central Arkansas metropolitan area, continues to show strong growth.

Part of that crisis for most newspapers is a reader base that is growing old, and the obvious challenge is to find ways to reach younger members of the community.

Of particular note are the large number of medical clinics and health-related businesses developing in the area. The newspaper is responding by creating guides and other products associated with the health industry.

Overbey and her staff are proactive in developing relationships with local school districts, including providing internships for students. She acknowledges the challenge is significant in this area, as the thinking of young people often is ingrained in nonnewspaper “media sites” that may be non-verifiable and often not in touch with issues that actually have a critical effect on their lives.

The Courier publishes five issues a week, Tuesday through Saturday, as does the Malvern Daily Record. Overbey works closely at Malvern with long-time advertising director Michelle Cummins.

Overbey also oversees the Times-Herald in Forrest City and the Marianna Courier-Index. Tamara Johnson serves as the local publisher of those newspapers.

“In that regard, it is our challenge to develop good, local and factbased news for our younger audience,” she said.

Two daily newspapers in Mississippi also fall under Overbey’s leadership, the Starkville Daily News and the West Point Daily Times Leader.

As a publisher, Overbey obviously is focused on financial issues.

She said that, while subscription-based income is important and there can be potential for growth, advertising remains the key element on the revenue side.

The parent company for all the newspapers is Horizon Publications, based in Marion, Ill.

The old newspaper revenue competitors, such as Yellow Pages and business bench advertising gave way to sophisticated internet marketing, Overbey notes.

Overbey grew up in Conway and graduated from high school there. In her time at the University of Arkansas, where she developed her interests in journalism and politics, she cited as influences professors Diana Blair and Hoyt Purvis. She spent a summer serving as an intern at her hometown Log Cabin Democrat,

“As an industry, we should have responded to the internet issues much better than we did, and we are just now catching up to some of that,” she said.

See Overbey Page 5

OFFICE SPACE AVAILABLE • 580 square feet • Close to the Arkansas State Capitol • Parking included • Use of conference room and kitchen

Contact: ashley@arkansaspress.org Arkansas Publisher Weekly

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February 15, 2024

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February 1, 2024

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Deadline for news reporting contest is March 1; $100,000 in awards to be distributed

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working for long-time publisher Frank Robins III. After graduating from the U of A in 1991, she went to work at the Log Cabin Democrat as a reporter. But she quickly noticed the advertising staff down the hall “was having all the fun” and also were “wearing good shoes and driving nice cars,” so she made the switch to the “dark side” of the newspaper business.

March 1 is the deadline for journalists to enter The Center for Integrity in News Reporting at the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill’s inaugural Adolph Ochs Awards For Impartial News Reporting.

After several years in the advertising department at the LCD, she eventually moved to the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, working there for three years.

Four awards of $25,000 will be awarded to print, broadcast, cable television and digital media outlets for fair, impartial, objective news reporting in 2023.

In 2006, Overbey accepted a position as retail sales manager in consumer publications with the Arkansas Business Publishing Group in Little Rock. “I learned so much about magazine production and consumer publications there,” she said in an earlier article in Arkansas Publisher Weekly. “What they did with their database was groundbreaking at the time.”

Named in memory of Chattanooga Times and New York Times Publisher Adolph Ochs, the awards are the brainchild of WEHCO Media CEO and UNC alumni Walter E. Hussman, Jr. and are meant to honor the most fair, impartial, objective news reporting in the nation.

Works submitted must have been published in the 2023 calendar year. Only news articles will be considered for judging. Editorials, commentary, op-eds and any forms of opinion writing or comments, while important, will not be considered.

Overbey returned to the Log Cabin Democrat as advertising and marketing director in 2008 and remained there for six years before taking a position with the daily newspaper in Muskogee, Okla. She did a brief stint as publisher of the Sedalia (Mo.) Democrat and then later the same position at the Aiken (S.C.) Standard.

“The Pulitzer Prizes are $15,000 each, so hopefully just the monetary amount will attract interest,” Hussman said. “We think it’s important to reward people who do exemplary work in what has traditionally been regarded as the most respected news reporting in America.”

In 2022 she jumped at the opportunity to return to her home state in her current position in Benton. She missed Arkansas and also looked forward to spending time with family, especially her three

For more information or to submit entries, visit JournalismAwards. unc.edu.

See Overbey Page 5

Two weeks left to enter annual APA Better Newspaper Advertising Contest Just 14 days remain to submit your best advertising of the 2023 calendar year to the APA Better Newspaper Advertising Contest.

The entry deadline this year is Feb. 29.

The annual contest recognizes the very best work from APA member newspapers and media members in multiple categories, including single ad, ad campaign, special section, best original photo in advertising and many more.

A new category this year is Best Online Ad, which recognizes the growing importance of digital advertising to news organizations.

Complete contest rules and instructions for entering are on the contest website at newspapercontest.com/Contests/ ArkansasPressAssociation.aspx. In addition, the rules are printed on pages 9 - 13 of this issue of Arkansas Publisher Weekly.

The awards will be presented during the annual APA Advertising Conference at the Winthrop Rockefeller Institute on Friday, April 19.

If you have questions about the contest or the online submission process, contact Terri Cobb at (501) 374-1500 or email terri@ arkansaspress.org.

Arkansas Publisher Weekly

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February 15, 2024

Pine Bluff Commercial Senior Reporter Murrell saluted by SPJ

Marshall Mountain Wave returns to its historic location on Nome Street The Marshall Mountain Wave is moving into its new office at 100 East Nome Street in downtown Marshall this week. But, that “new” location isn’t actually new, as the address is the former home of the Marshall Republican, a forerunner of today’s newspaper.

“The operation was once run by several people working towards getting the paper out,” Editor Charity Rolen said. “However, thanks to the digital age, we are now able to do the job with just two people. The location is changing, but the service will not.”

The Marshall Republican was established in 1890, and the Marshall Mountain Wave was established a year later. The two newspapers were consolidated into one publication in 1945. Now owned by CherryRoad Media, the move to the smaller, historic Marshall Republican building is for the sake of efficiency.

The public is invited to stop by the new office beginning Monday, Feb. 19. No changes are expected to either office hours or deadlines due to the move.

“It doesn’t matter what building we work in; we will always strive to do the best for our county,” Rolen said.

I. C. Murrell

In honor of Black History Month, the Arkansas Pro Chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists is recognizing the contributions of I.C. Murrell, senior reporter at the Pine Bluff Commercial, to the industry.

Murrell has been a professional reporter since 2000 and a daily newspaper reporter since 2003. He is in his second stint at the Commercial, having served initially as sports editor from 2011-2015. He returned to the newspaper as senior reporter in 2020.

Murrell, who was inducted into the University of Arkansas at Monticello African American Alumni Elite hall of fame in 2021, is a 10-time winner of first-place awards in statewide and company-wide journalism contests. He won first-place awards in the APA Better Newspaper Editorial Contest in 2023 for Best Picture Page/Photo Essay among smaller dailies and Best Coverage of Education among all dailies.

You can read Murrell’s full profile at arkansasspj.org/2024/02/08/arkansas-spjpro-chapter-salutes-i-c-murrell/

The Arkansas Newspaper Connection is a weekly newsletter published

by APA connecting freelance and independent writers, editors, photographers and designers with Arkansas newspapers in need.

LIST YOUR JOBS

Lists available job openings and other opportunities at Arkansas newspapers and associate member organizations.

Send your listings to info@arkansaspress.org.

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@ArkansasPressAssociation

February 15, 2024

Feb. 22 is Student Press Freedom Day

Overbey Continued from page 5

great-nephews and a great-niece. Another “pastime” is vacuuming up pet hair from her two Golden Retrievers. One of her goals this year is to visit all the parks and trails available in the Benton area.

As noted, Overbey loves to read, with focus on journalism and politics. She has enjoyed the books of the late Fayetteville writer Ellen Gilchrist and other authors with Arkansas roots.

Looking back over her career, Overbey said she initially was attracted to the “immediacy” of journalism, knowing that the work accomplished today would be in people’s driveways the next morning.

She learned a lot from Robins in her time at the Conway newspaper and respected his understanding of the industry and its

potential for influencing communities.

Overbey recalls a comment which noted Conway community leader Woody Cummins made to her concerning Robins’ views on editorial writing – “If you can’t summarize your opinion into the length of a newspaper editorial, then your understanding of the opinion isn’t clear.” She sometimes uses that exercise to formulate and evaluate her own opinion on a given topic before communicating it to others.

In an earlier article about her career, Overbey said, “The work we do is important for our communities. Not only is it imperative for democracy, it’s writing the first draft of history. It gives me chills when I think, ‘I do a job that is mentioned in the First Amendment.’ It’s a gift.”

Scholastic Journalism Week to be observed nationwide on Feb. 19 - 23 The Journalism Education Association had set February 19-23 this year as Scholastic Journalism Week.

The theme this year is “Here to Stay.”

Now in its 100th year, JEA’s mission is to support free and responsible scholastic journalism by providing resources and educational opportunities for students and advisers across the country. JEA has spent a century celebrating student journalists and the advisers who have created exceptional journalism and pushed the importance of scholastic journalism from inside and outside their classrooms.

More information, daily themes and lesson plans are at jea.org/wp/home/ news-events/scholastic-journalismweek/

Coinciding with Scholastic Journalism Week, the sixth annual Student Press Freedom Day will be observed on Thursday, Feb. 22. The theme this year is “Powerfully Persistent.”

Student Press Freedom Day is a national day of action when we celebrate the contributions of student journalists and the need to support their independence without censorship or threat to their advisers.

Promoted by the Student Press Law Center, student journalists and their supporters across the United States will spend the day raising awareness of the challenges they face, celebrating their contributions to their schools and communities, and taking actions to protect and restore their First Amendment freedoms.

SPLC promotes, supports and defends the First Amendment and free press rights of student journalists and their advisers, offers a free legal hotline for student journalists and training, online resources and nonpartisan legislative advocacy to restore student press freedom.

Learn more at studentpressfreedom.org.

LET US KNOW Any updates? Send your staffing changes to info@arkansaspress.org to be updated online and included in the Arkansas Publisher Weekly.

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February 15, 2024

Guest Column: Ad Libs: Every salesperson needs a parachute

By John Foust

Anthony is a veteran ad salesperson with a common sense philosophy. “You’ve got to have a parachute,” he told me. “When you’re in the middle of a presentation, and you hit an unexpected glitch, your prospect throws you a curve or you can’t think of what to say next, that’s when you use your parachute.”

He explained that the purpose of his kind of parachute is to pull a salesperson out of trouble and keep the conversation moving in the right direction. “The beauty of a wellstated parachute is that the other person doesn’t know it’s a rescue technique. It seems like it is a continuation of the regular conversation. There are as many parachute possibilities as there are salespeople. The one I most rely on is benefits – not the benefits of running ads in my paper, but the benefits offered by that particular advertiser.”

Based on my conversation with Anthony, four points come to mind: 1. Start with benefits. “The way I see it, there are a couple of advantages in focusing on benefits,” he said. “First, it keeps the advertiser talking, and one topic that every advertiser loves to talk about is their products and services. The second

Arkansas Publisher Weekly

advantage is that learning more about their benefits provides me with valuable details to use in their ads.

2. Bridge to the target audience.

According to Anthony, target audiences and benefits are so closely connected that they can be mentioned together. “If you’re dealing with experienced prospects, it’s a simple shift between the two areas. A big key is to help them visualize a smaller part of a larger group of people.”

3. Ask questions. By asking questions, you can direct the discussion. In most cases, the person asking the questions is in control of the conversation – and that’s a welcome confidence builder. “When the other person does most of the talking, it relieves pressure on the salesperson,” he explained. “Plus, it provides you with a lot of information you can use. I might ask something like, ‘What are some ways that people can benefit from the XYZ Widget?’ Or – if benefits have already been discussed – ‘What are some additional ways that people can benefit?’

“From that point, it’s easy to expand the discussion to target audiences with a question like, ‘And what types of people are most likely to need or appreciate those

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benefits?’ That can put everything back on track again.”

4. It’s okay to ask about audiences first.

“Sometimes it’s more practical to start with audiences, then talk about meaningful benefits,” he said. “For example, I might ask, ‘What types of people are likely to be interested in this model of Widget?’

Then I can ask, ‘What are the benefits that will appeal to that group?’ Benefits and audiences provide such easy transitions that there’s no trouble going back and forth between the two.”

Anthony’s technique makes a lot of sense.

When you feel like your sales presentation is losing altitude, the whole idea of a parachute is to give you a soft landing.

(c) Copyright 2024 by John Foust. All rights reserved.

John Foust has conducted training programs for thousands of newspaper advertising professionals. Many ad departments are using his training videos to save time and get quick results from in-house training. Email for information: john@johnfoust.com

February 15, 2024

“Serving the newspapers of Arkansas since 1873”

Arkansas Press Association

TO: APA Member Newspaper FROM: Terri Cobb, Contest Coordinator

Board of Directors

The APA Better Newspaper Advertising contest continues as an online format and process. Be sure and read the contest rules and categories thoroughly before starting. Instructions for submitting your entries are on the following pages but also on the APA contest website: http://www.newspapercontest.com/Contests/ ArkansasPressAssociation.aspx

President Eliza Gaines Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, Little Rock Vice President John Robert Schirmer Nashville News-Leader

Subject: Rules for 2024 APA Better Newspaper Advertising Contest

Contest Period: January 1, 2023 through December 31, 2023 DEADLINE to submit entries is February 29, 2024.

Jennifer Allen Hot Springs Village Voice

Members of the Kentucky Press Association will judge your online entries. You will be notified of the winner’s names but specific award announcements and award plaques will be presented during the APA Advertising Conference on April 19. More information will be available soon.

Andrew Bagley The Helena World

Please give me a call or email (terri@arkansaspress.org if you have any questions or need to obtain your login information.

Tom Byrd Mena Star

Good luck!

Jeremy Gulban CherryRoad Media Scott Loftis Carroll County News, Berryville Brent Powers Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, Fayetteville Immediate Past President Lori Freeze Stone County Leader, Mountain Home

Ashley Kemp Wimberley Executive Director

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2024 Arkansas Press Association Better Newspaper Advertising Contest Rules & Categories 1. ELIGIBILITY: Contest is open to daily and weekly newspaper members in good standing of the Arkansas Press Association. Entries must be submitted by the newspaper, not by an individual.

2. CONTEST PERIOD: All entries must have been published during this period — January 1, 2023 - December 31, 2023.

3. DEADLINE for submitting entries is February 29, 2024.

4. ALL ENTRIES should be uploaded as PDFs. Each entry submitted must be a PDF of the full-page showing name of newspaper and date of issue. Login information and uploading instructions are on the following pages.

5. ENTRY FEE: $25 per newspaper PLUS $ 5.00 per entry.

6. ALL ADS entered MUST BE ORIGINAL with your newspaper. They must be conceived and sold by your newspaper staff.* Clip art is acceptable but no ready-made ads should be submitted, such as those from advertising agencies, and advertiser-produced. All ads must be from your regularly printed newspaper. Do not submit ads from your other publications (ex. monthly magazines, real estate guides or other niche publications submitted in Category 19).

7. A SINGLE AD should not be entered in more than one category. Exception: a single ad may also be entered as one of a campaign (Category 4); or a color entry may also be entered as one of a campaign (Category 4). The spirit of the contest is to recognize as many clever, creative ideas, people and advertisers as possible. (That translates: don’t take an entry you’ve submitted for a single ad and enter it as a color entry and a most original idea entry. Choose one BEST CATEGORY for each entry.) And please do NOT repeat ads from previous years.

8. “COVERS” are not ads: DO NOT submit special section covers as ads -- they are covers. There is a category (Category 10) to recognize special section covers.

9. In order to judge a category there must be at least three (3) entries from three (3) newspapers, otherwise those entries will be judged with the next division.

10. DIVISIONS: Your newspaper has been pre-assigned a division based on your circulation.

Div. 1 - Circulation less than 1,500 Div. 3 - Circulation 3001 - 8,000 Div. 2 - Circulation 1,500 - 3,000 Div. 4 - Circulation Over 8,000 APA holds the right to re-assign a newspaper’s division to insure a fair number of newspapers are distributed in each division.

With the changes in our industry where larger corporations own several newspapers of various sizes in the association, and new operating alliances, the levelized playing field becomes more difficult to maintain. It is not always evident the extent of help received by the home office or sister papers, and we’ve been told in some cases “no help is received so it is unfair to make us compete with higher circulation papers.” There is no easy solution and we rely to a high degree on the integrity of the newspaper, SO please enter according to the guidelines. *Work done by freelancers or work outsourced may be entered, but the work must have been done exclusively for the newspaper entering the material.

If you have any questions or problems submitting your entries, please call Terri Cobb at 501-374-1500.

2024 Arkansas Press Association Better Newspaper Advertising Contest | 1 Arkansas Publisher Weekly

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Categories CATEGORY 1 – Black and White Ad May submit up to five (5) entries per newspaper. Black and white ads only. Any size ad is acceptable. NO HOUSE ADS. Each entry submitted must be a PDF of the full-page tearsheet. Ad must be ROP for a SINGLE ADVERTISER. Judges will consider the basic idea, headline, layout, copy, typography and originality.

CATEGORY 2 – Single Ad Over 10”and Under Half page May submit up to five (5) entries per newspaper. NO HOUSE ADS. Each entry submitted must be a PDF of the fullpage tearsheet. Ad must be ROP for a SINGLE ADVERTISER. Judges will consider basic idea, headline, layout, copy, typography and originality.

CATEGORY 3 – Single Ad Half page and OVER May submit up to five (5) entries per newspaper. NO HOUSE ADS or section covers. Each entry submitted must be a PDF of the full-page tearsheet. Ad must be ROP for a SINGLE ADVERTISER. Judges will consider basic idea, headline, layout, copy, typography and originality. Includes ads over two pages, including double trucks. Please use category 20 for your automotive ads.

CATEGORY 4 – Ad Campaign, Any Size May submit up to five (5) entries per newspaper. Black and white ads OR color. NO HOUSE ADS. Each entry submitted must be a PDF of the full-page tearsheet. Include any online ads that are a part of the campaign. Each entry consists of at least three but not more than five ads for a SINGLE ADVERTISER, with a continuing, common theme.

May be ROP or classified display campaign. Judges will consider the basic idea, layout, copy, headline, typography, originality and the development of the theme. Ads may vary in size but keep within the same theme and advertiser.

CATEGORY 5 – Multiple Advertiser Ad May submit up to five (5) entries per newspaper. NO HOUSE ADS. Each entry submitted must be a PDF of the fullpage tearsheet. Entry may be any size, including those up to and including double trucks, which features two or more advertisers under a common headline or theme. Judges will consider basic idea, layout, copy, headline, typography and originality.

CATEGORY 6 – Use of PROCESS Color in an Ad May submit up to five (5) entries per newspaper. NO SECTION COVERS OR HOUSE ADS. Each entry submitted must be a PDF of the full-page tearsheet. Judges will consider basic idea, copy, layout, headline, type, originality and appropriateness and clarity of color. May be single or multiple advertisers, ROP or classified display, and may be any size.

CATEGORY 7 – Best Advertising Special Section - GENERAL INTEREST- NEWSPRINT May submit up to five (5) entries per newspaper. For each entry, submit a single PDF of the entire section. See instructions attached for combining multiple pages into one PDF file. This is a separate, pull-out, stand-alone section of GENERAL INTEREST (NON-SPORTS) printed on NEWSPRINT (magazine stock paper, see category 9) inserted into your newspaper. Judges will consider basic idea, originality of theme used in ads and editorial content, as well as the section cover. Use of color is a bonus.

CATEGORY 8 – Best Advertising Special Section - GENERAL INTEREST- MAGAZINE May submit up to five (5) entries per newspaper. For each entry, submit a single PDF of the entire section. See instructions attached for combining multiple pages into one PDF file. This is a separate, pull-out, stand-alone section of GENERAL INTEREST (NON-SPORTS) printed on MAGAZINE stock paper (not printed on newsprint, see category 8) inserted into your newspaper. Judges will consider basic idea, originality of theme used in ads and editorial content, as well as the section cover.

CATEGORY 9 – Best Advertising Special Section - SPORTS May submit up to five (5) entries per newspaper. For each entry, submit a single PDF of the entire section. See instructions attached for combining multiple pages into one PDF file. This is a separate, pull-out, stand-alone section with a SPORTS theme inserted into your newspaper. Judges will consider basic idea, originality of theme used in ads and editorial content, as well as the section cover. Use of color is a bonus.

2024 Arkansas Press Association Better Newspaper Advertising Contest | 2 Arkansas Publisher Weekly

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CATEGORY 10 – Special Section COVER May submit up to five (5) entries per newspaper. Submit only the cover. Judges will consider design, layout, typography, artwork and use of color. The entry cover must have been from section inserted in the newspaper not the cover of your niche publication.

CATEGORY 11 – Use of Photo in an Ad May submit up to five (5) entries per newspaper. NO HOUSE ADS OR SECTION COVERS. Each entry submitted must be a PDF of the full-page tearsheet. The ad must feature the original photography of a staff member. Judges will consider originality, quality, appropriateness of ad theme, clarity and appeal. May be ROP OR classified display; single or multiple advertisers and be any size.

CATEGORY 12 – Use of Clip Art in Ad May submit up to five (5) entries per newspaper. NO HOUSE ADS OR SECTION COVERS. Each entry submitted must be a PDF of the full-page tearsheet. May be any size, black and white or color; ROP or classified display; single or multiple advertisers. Entries should show clever and creative use of art supplied by a clip art service. Overall idea or theme of the ad should be original; don’t submit “ready-made” ads. Judges will consider originality, appropriateness of art and other related advertising factors.

CATEGORY 13 – Newspaper Promotions and House Ads, Single ads and/or Campaign HOUSE ADS ONLY. May submit up to five (5) entries per paper. May be any size, black and white or color. Each entry submitted must be a PDF of the full-page tearsheet. The ads may promote the entire newspaper or any of its operations. For example, did you have subscriptions contests, NIE promotions, readership ads, newspaper contests, etc.? Judges will consider the basic idea, originality, layout, copy, headline, illustrations and other elements which go into the ads that contribute to the overall promotion of the newspaper. Each entry submitted must be a PDF of the full-page tearsheet.

CATEGORY 14 – Most Original Idea May submit up to five (5) entries per newspaper. Each entry submitted must be a PDF of the full-page tearsheet.

Ad may be any size, black and white or color. This includes not only ads which are particularly unique, fresh, weird, creative and outstanding, but also any ads which just don’t fit any of the other contest categories.

CATEGORY 15 – Use of Humor in Advertising May submit up to five (5) entries per newspaper. NO HOUSE ADS Ad may be any size, black and white or color. Each entry submitted must be a PDF of the full-page tearsheet. Judges will consider all aspects of the ad (basic idea, layout, copy, headline, typography and originality) plus special emphasis on how funny the ad is.

CATEGORY 16 – Special Events & Festivals Ad May submit up to five (5) entries per newspaper. Black and white OR color ads. NO HOUSE ADS. Each entry submitted must be a PDF of the full-page tearsheet. Judges will consider basic idea, headline, layout, copy, typography and originality.

CATEGORY 17 – Single Supplement ad May submit up to five (5) entries per newspaper. Black and white OR color ads. NO HOUSE ADS. Each entry submitted must be a PDF of the full-page tearsheet from your special section or other advertising supplement.

Ads can be from any category or customer. Judges will consider basic idea, headline, layout, copy, typography and originality. Any size ad is acceptable.

CATEGORY 18 – Best Automotive Ad May submit up to five (5) entries per newspaper. Any size ad. Each entry submitted must be a PDF of the full-page tearsheet. Ad must be for a SINGLE AUTOMOTIVE (CAR DEALER) ADVERTISER. Judges will consider basic idea, headline, layout, copy, typography and originality.

CATEGORY 19 – Best Real Estate Ad May submit up to five (5) entries per newspaper. Any size ad. Each entry submitted must be a PDF of the fullpage tearsheet. Ad must be for a SINGLE REAL ESTATE OR PROPERTY ADVERTISER. Judges will consider basic idea, headline, layout, copy, typography and originality.

2024 Arkansas Press Association Better Newspaper Advertising Contest | 3 Arkansas Publisher Weekly

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February 15, 2024

CATEGORY 20 – Best Employment Ad May submit up to five (5) entries per newspaper. Any size ad. Each entry submitted must be a PDF of the full-page tearsheet. Ad must be for a SINGLE EMPLOYMENT (HELP WANTED) ADVERTISER. Judges will consider basic idea, headline, layout, copy, typography and originality.

CATEGORY 21 – Best Online Ad Recognizes visual appeal and creativity in design and content of a single static or animated ad appearing online at the newspaper’s website. Submit the complete URL or submit a color copy of the ad as it appeared online. May submit up to five (5) entries per newspaper.

2024 Arkansas Press Association Better Newspaper Advertising Contest | 4 Arkansas Publisher Weekly

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February 15, 2024