Arkansas Publisher Weekly: February 2, 2024

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Annual APA ad contest now open for entries through Feb. 29 Guest Column: More or Less Knowing when to use more of something and when to use less

Arkansas Press Association

Publisher Weekly

By Kevin Slimp

Vol.19 | No. 5 | Friday, February 2, 2024 | Serving Press and State Since 1873

Hahn, Madison County Record, tackle tough stories and gain national attention

Government disclosure act “Player on player sexual abuse ignored” and amendment for incidents that occurred in the athletic approved, lawsuit locker room at the Huntsville School District. dropped; signature Shannon Hahn has played a key role in those achievements, serving 12 years on collecting for both the staff, the last five as general manager. to commence “This was a national award that meant everything to us,” Hahn said of the Taylor immediately competition that included as other finalists The Washington Post and Miami Herald/ ProPublica.

Hahn outside the Nieman Foundation for Journalists in Cambridge, Massachusetts.

Hahn is proud of the impact the award presentation had in recognizing what small newspapers can accomplish. The Record has a staff of five and circulation of approximately 4,000.

The Madison County Record in Huntsville stands as a sentinel for what a small, rural newspaper can accomplish in reporting controversial and difficult subjects accurately and fairly.

“We were able to focus national attention on what small newspapers all over the country are doing,” she said. “We went toe-to-toe with much larger newspapers and came out on top. And I think the end result is we were able to reference just why people are in this business.”

The weekly newspaper not only has received major journalism awards from the Arkansas Press Association, but also has been recognized nationally for its unwavering devotion in providing its readers objective and comprehensive coverage of events that affect the heart and core of the community.

According to the Taylor Award designation, the Record began its investigation into a cover-up of sexual assaults by boys on the Huntsville junior high basketball team after concerned parents shared Title IX documents with the staff, fearing the school district would not be transparent in its own review of the matter.

The newspaper staff received the 2021 Taylor Family Award for Fairness in Journalism from the Nieman Foundation at Harvard University for its coverage of

Taylor Award judge Pat Beall said, “This small paper was punching far, far above its weight class, from its initial decision to

Arkansas Publisher Weekly

The popular name and ballot title for an initiated act proposed by Arkansas Citizens for Transparency was approved by Arkansas Attorney General Tim Griffin on Monday, clearing the way for collecting the signatures necessary for its inclusion on the November ballot.

The popular name approved by the Attorney General is “The Arkansas Government Disclosure Act of 2024”.

“The final language was not what we preferred, but it does put us in a more secure position moving forward to protect the Freedom of Information Act and public notice in Arkansas,” said ACT Drafting Committee Member APA Executive Director Ashley Kemp Wimberley. The APA Board of Directors on Tuesday voted unanimously to support the current language as written.

See Government Disclosure Page 2

See Hahn Page 2

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Government Disclosure Continued from page 1

The proposed initiated act calls for the creation of a state commission to assist citizens with their records requests and give courts the authority to issue civil penalties against government bodies that don’t comply, would define a public meeting as “a communication between two or more members of a governing body for the purpose of exercising a responsibility, authority, power, or duty of the governing body concerning official action,” including discussions between a government employee and one or more elected officials “to poll the votes.”

It would also repeal a state law that allows school boards to meet in executive sessions to discuss legal matters, allow government bodies to meet in closed session to discuss how to respond to a cybersecurity incident, allow litigants to recoup legal fees if a court finds they “substantially prevailed” in their lawsuit, clarify that government bodies must disclose public records requested under FOIA within three working days or explain the reason for nondisclosure, and require the disclosure of records pertaining to “planning or provision of security services” for constitutional officers, the

Governor’s Mansion and state Capitol that are more than three months old unless the Arkansas than three months old unless the Arkansas Transparency Commission “finds that confidentiality is essential to the ongoing security service.”

Griffin last week approved ballot wording for a proposed constitutional amendment that would create a right to government transparency, make it more difficult for the General Assembly to change the FOIA and take away the state’s sovereign immunity in cases concerning government transparency.

ACT’s Ballot Question Committee had filed suit against the Attorney General on January 23, claiming his repeated rejection of the proposed amendment is a misuse of his powers. The group wrote in a court filing Tuesday it was dropping the lawsuit so signature collection could begin on the approved language ACT needs to collect 72,563 signatures for the initiated act and 90,704 signatures for the amendment by July 5 to be included on the November ballot.

HOW YOU CAN HELP Arkansas Citizens for Transparency is a broad nonpartisan coalition of Arkansans working to protect our Freedom of Information Act through an Arkansas Constitutional Amendment and Initiated act.

APA member newspapers, media members and associate members can help in the fight to protect the Freedom of Information Act in Arkansas by gathering signatures, raising awareness and writing editorials.

A member update and training session on the Arkansas Government Disclosure Act and Amendment of 2024 is planned for 2 p.m. Thursday, February 8, both in person at APA in Little Rock and via Zoom. Email ashley@arkansaspress.org to reserve your spot.

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publish stories critical of the community’s popular basketball team to its willingness to push back on violations of public meeting laws. This strong, impactful series cannot be read outside the context of how the fairness and accuracy of these stories, published by a family-owned, third-generation newspaper in a small community where school basketball is king, would have been challenged in ways no national or major regional news organization would have experienced.

These stories allowed the voices of young victims to eloquently rebut the adults’ attempts to dismiss the abuse.”

Another judge, Emily Corwin, said the newspaper “didn’t just shine light on this injustice. It did so with a remarkable commitment to fairness, presenting facts without sentimentality, protecting families’ identities, and returning to update its audience on developments month after month.”

Arkansas Publisher Weekly

Hahn said she and Record owner Ellen Kreth had many serious discussions about the events and subsequent coverage, recognizing that, in a small town, controversies such as this have the potential to “shutter the doors” of a newspaper. “But we decided that would be done with us doing what is right. That’s what we do, that’s our job and that’s why we’re here.”

Arkansas Freedom of Information Act provisions were employed extensively in gathering information and timelines as a basis for the articles, identifying coverups, illegal school board meetings and violations of the law in not reporting sexual abuse and assault in a timely and appropriate manner.

Ultimately, the school superintendent and a coach resigned and all the school board members except one drew opponents in the next election and were defeated. The remaining board member also ultimately 2

resigned.

Hahn said the response to the events at the school was community-driven, including public forums for school board candidates and the eventual election. “We were simply the trusted messenger of the story. It was never OUR story. Our task was to be 100 percent fair. The important thing was for us to stay the course.”

There is no question that such a controversial story can have a huge and personal impact in a small community.

“There was not an area of my life where it didn’t have an effect,” Hahn said, noting that her children were students in the school and, of course, she is known personally as a face of the newspaper. “You are in a fishbowl in a situation like this.”

She went on to say that virtually every member of the community also was affected in some way. “It was a very trying See Hahn Page 3

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Hahn Continued from page 2

time for our community and our staff.

There are still some heavy divisions, and it depends on which side of the story your friends and family fall. Some of these divisions run deep and wide.”

In addition to the Taylor Award, the Record also has received several other major recognitions in the past few years: – The Tom and Pat Gish Award for Courage, Tenacity and Integrity in Rural Journalism from the Institute for Rural Journalism and Community Issues at the University of Kentucky.

– APA’s I.F. Stone Award, which recognizes extraordinary investigative reporting of governmental wrongdoing.

– Finalist for Freedom of Information Act Award by 2021 Investigative Reporters and Editors Awards.

– Semi-Finalist for the Goldsmith Prize, awarded by Harvard Kennedy School’s Shorenstein Center on Media, Politics and Public Policy.

Hahn said the guidance of Kreth has been invaluable in tackling difficult stories and finding ways to uncover needed information.

“I would say you probably will not find a bigger supporter of the FOIA,” Hahn said of her owner and mentor. “I have been taught, led and supported by her for the past 12 years, and I carry that same passion in holding our public officials accountable.

She has taught us well in how to use the FOIA appropriately and correctly.”

Hahn said the Arkansas FOIA has been a model for the nation and she supports any efforts to maintain its strength, including the ongoing campaign to pass a state constitutional amendment to secure its tenets.

Of course, not every aspect of the newspaper business relates to controversial and difficult stories, and Hahn certainly appreciates the “fun side” of covering the community. “We are there for all the celebrations and everything in between,” she said.

In a recent column, Hahn said, “There is a famous quote by George Orwell,

APA Executive Director Ashley Kemp Wimberley, Hahn and Record Publisher Ellen Kreth, along with reporter Celia Kreth, received APA’s I.F. Stone Award for their investigative reporting

‘Journalism is printing what someone else does not want printed. Everything else is public relations.’ While I believe that quote to be true, the beauty of managing a community paper like the Record is that I am allowed the freedom to still lean into my heart some. And sometimes, that heart wants to sprinkle in some public relations.”

Hahn loves it when community members line up on Wednesday in the Record office to purchase that week’s newspaper. “They often joke with me, asking if the paper this week contains good news or bad news.

And I tell them it’s probably a matter of opinion.”

As is the case with most small newspapers, Hahn has been involved in basically every aspect of the operation. “General manager is just a title for all of the jobs tied together,” she said.

Graphics designer Opal Dennis has worked with Hahn for the past 11 years.

“We have weathered some heavy, heavy storms together,” Hahn said.

Dan Marsh was employed as editor in August of last year, replacing Rod Harrington, who retired. One of Hahn’s daughters, Cidaly Dupwe, serves as typesetter and also attends Northwest

Arkansas Community College in Rogers.

Hahn acknowledges the common challenges to community newspapers, such as costs associated with printing, mailing and labor. “All of us face the same challenges and try to find a way to navigate them in ways that are not just survival but beneficial to us and our communities.

“We have to have revenue to cover the costs and I would definitely say that finding ways to meet those revenue needs is the heaviest weight I carry as a general manager. Things keep changing and we really do have to continue re-inventing the wheel.

“I am happy to say that we have great support from our businesses and advertisers and that is something I will never take for granted. I think you have to listen to your community, and one of my goals is to meet our advertisers where they are. Your advertisers need to be winning for you to be winning. And I really believe the want for each other to succeed is there.”

The Record contains an average of 16-20 pages each week and is printed at the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette facility in Little Rock. Hahn said her staff also produces at See Hahn Page 4

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Hahn Continued from page 3

a minor in political science from Northeastern State University in Tahlequah. “I always liked to write, but I originally didn’t have any intention of being in journalism,” she said.

least one special section each month.

A big part of Hahn’s love for her work clearly comes from the great relationship she has with the newspaper’s owner. That perhaps was portended when her first day on the job was on Kreth’s birthday.

She was interested in politics and did volunteer work in local, state and Congressional races in Oklahoma.

“We make a really good team, mostly because Ellen is an owner who gives everyone on the staff a seat at the table. You really need that. We joke that we are our very own dysfunctional family. She always encourages us to try things that we want to do, and I don’t take that for granted.”

Originally working in accounting after graduation, she eventually accepted a position managing the law office of a friend in Tahlequah.

After moving to Huntsville, Hahn’s first involvement with the newspaper was writing a column, “Madison County Mom.” She then noticed an advertisement for an editor’s assistant, landed the fulltime position and has been at the newspaper ever since.

Kreth, who also is an attorney in Little Rock, served as APA president in 2021-22.

Hahn is pleased with the ongoing growth of Huntsville and Madison County. She noted the community’s excellent location, approximately 30 minutes from the expanding Northwest Arkansas Corridor, as well as from the unique community of Eureka Springs. It also is about an hour away from Branson, Mo.

“Once you’ve got newspapering in your blood, it’s hard to get it out,” she said.

Hahn and her husband, who is an optician, have three daughters and two sons.

She said Huntsville is a “hidden gem” in that it retains the advantages of small-town life, while enjoying easy access to the various opportunities in nearby larger communities.

In addition to Cidaly, their daughter, Katherine Hahn, graduated from Massachusetts Institute of Technology and works in cancer research for Hahn enjoys travel with husband Daniel Dupwe.

Pfizer in Washington, D.C., while another daughter, Angelyn “I think Huntsville is finally getting its recognition as a hub for a beautiful area of Northwest Arkansas,” Dupwe, graduated from the University of Central Arkansas and she said. “We are growing at a comfortable pace, and I believe we works at the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette in Little Rock. are on the right track.”

Both sons are students in the Huntsville School District. Ethan She said the community recently passed a tax to build a much- Dupwe is a junior in high school and Samuel Dupwe is an eighth needed Madison County Jail, a major infrastructure project. Voters grader. also passed a millage increase to construct the new activities Daniel has been in a band, Maud Crawford, for 20 years and the center for the Huntsville School District. couple enjoys live music in venues across the state. They also find Hahn and her husband, Daniel Dupwe, first moved to Huntsville time to do a lot of hiking. after researching communities in Northwest Arkansas. They settled Of course, Hahn’s most committed interest remains the Madison on their current location because of the school district’s excellent County Record. “My heart is in this newspaper for probably an academic ranking, especially in the area of language arts. unhealthy level,” she admits. The fortunate recipients of that Hahn grew up in Tahlequah, Okla., and graduated from high devotion are her readers and advertisers and, on a larger scale, all school there. She earned a bachelor’s degree in accounting with who appreciate dedicated community journalism.

LIST YOUR JOBS Arkansas Publisher Weekly

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.

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February 2, 2024

Annual APA ad contest now open for entries through Feb. 29 APA member newspapers and media members are encouraged to submit their most creative and eye-catching work from the 2023 calendar year to the annual APA Better Newspaper Advertising Contest.

The Better Newspaper Advertising Contest recognizes the best work from APA member newspapers 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 a digital presence for news organizations.

The awards ceremony will be held during the annual APA Advertising Conference on Friday, April 19.

The entry deadline this year is Feb. 29.

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

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

Hussman, Center for Integrity in News Reporting announce four new journalism awards in the amount of $100,000 The Center for Integrity in News Reporting at the University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill has announced the inaugural Center for Integrity in News Reporting Awards. Four awards of $25,000 each will be awarded to print, broadcast, cable television and digital media outlets for news reporting.

The awards are the brainchild of WEHCO Media CEO Walter E. Hussman, Jr. In an interview with Editor & Publisher magazine, Hussman expressed his increasing concern at the loss of public trust in news reporting and cited a Gallup Poll with the Knight Foundation that surveyed 20,000 people in all 50 states, revealing this lack of trust was worse than ever and at record lows.

“To further the goal of trying to enhance the public trust in news reporting, our family has trademarked the name Center for Integrity in News Reporting,” Hussman Arkansas Publisher Weekly

said. “So far it’s in its infancy. We have not yet incorporated it, do not yet have a board of trustees and we have not decided on whether to make it a 501 (c) (3) organization. But we have decided to move forward with one initiative: four national journalism awards, which reward fair, impartial, objective news reporting in 2023.”

directors and is organizing the judging process.

“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.”

LET US KNOW

The Newspaper Association Managers organization will judge entries. APA Executive Director Ashley Kemp Wimberley sits on the NAM board of 5

The call for entries began on January 29. The submission deadline is March 1. Entries can be submitted online at JournalismAwards. unc.edu. If you have questions please email JournalismAwards@unc.edu.

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

February 2, 2024

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February 1, 2024

PRESS Act unanimously passes U.S. House of Representatives The Protect Reporters from Exploitative State Spying (PRESS) Act was passed by the House of Representatives on January 20, clearing the way for a move to the Senate.

“House passage of the PRESS Act in a unanimous vote moves America closer to establishing our first federal press shield law ever. The PRESS Act will greatly strengthen the meaning of the constitutional promise of press freedom,” said Rep. Jamie Raskin, D-Maryland, one of the Act’s key sponsors in the House.

“This awesome bipartisan vote at a time of

party polarization underscores the binding power and universal appeal of freedom of the press as a leading constitutional principle. This is a significant victory for the people and our First Amendment values.”

The PRESS Act is the strongest federal shield bill that Congress has ever proposed and is vigorously supported by major media outlets and civil society organizations.

Forty-nine states and the District of Columbia have shield laws or equivalents recognized by courts, although without an overarching federal shield law journalists

still risk being jailed or punished for refusing to reveal sources or their newsgathering material in federal courts, congressional inquiries, and administrative proceedings.

The bill is co-sponsored in the House

by Rep. Raskin and Rep. Kevin Kiley, R-California and a bipartisan group of 18 other representatives. In the Senate, it is co-sponsored by Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Illinois; Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-South Carolina; Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah and Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Oregon.

$10,000 Higher Ed Media Fellowship now open for applications Journalists and the media play a critical role in shaping public understanding of the role of higher education in shaping the next generation of citizens. However, the resources needed to produce high-quality reporting on pressing education issues have been declining for years.

For that reason, Institute for Citizens & Scholars has opened applications for the

Higher Ed Media Fellowship, a $10,000 six-month non-residential fellowship program for journalists interested in diving deeper into underreported issues in higher education.

In addition to funding, selected fellows receive mentoring support and expensespaid professional development at the CTE Symposium this April in Overland Park,

Kansas.

The fellowship is funded by ECMC Foundation and the application deadline is February 15.

For more information or to apply, visit citizensandscholars.org/fellowships/forbusiness-policy-leaders/higher-ed-mediafellowship/

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 2, 2024

Guest Column: More or Less

Knowing when to use more of something and when to use less

By Kevin Slimp

In late January, I had such a good time visiting with the publishers of the Wyoming Press Association at their annual convention. I spoke on a few of my favorite topics: Growing papers, increasing ad revenue, and redesigning pages, among others. During the last session on the convention’s final day, I sat around a large table – actually, several tables moved together in a large square – to meet with the publishers and critique their newspapers.

Meeting with publishers to review their papers has always been one of my favorite parts of my work. The nervousness is palpable in the room as participants begin apologizing for how their papers look before I even get a chance to see them. I’m quick to assure everyone I will be kind in my evaluations, even though I rarely see a paper that looks terrible.

Following my return from Wyoming – where it was 10 degrees warmer than my home in Tennessee as my neighbors enjoyed the most significant snowfall in 30 years – I met online with the staff of an excellent newspaper in South Florida.

My assignment was much the same as in Wyoming. The Florida group and I would review their paper for 90 minutes as I suggested changes.

After completing my work with the staff in Florida, it dawned on me that much of what I recommended in Wyoming and Florida came down to knowing when to use less of some things and more of others. The lists I included in my most recent columns have been so popular I’m stretching my luck by including a “More or Less List” this month. I feel confident you will find items in the list that might be helpful with your newspaper. For any editors reading this column, feel free to use your red pen to replace the word “less” with “fewer” when necessary.

Arkansas Publisher Weekly

Kevin’s List of More or Less for Newspapers: USE LESS words in headlines (this is the first opportunity for editors to use their red pens). Headlines draw attention to a story. Fewer words often do a better job of drawing the readers’ attention. Two years ago, I was working on-site with a newspaper in a state where Marijuana had just been legalized. The front page’s primary headline had something to do with where people could make their purchases. Instead, I suggested a much bigger headline with only three words: Cannabis for Sale!

USE MORE subheads. While the headline draws attention, the subhead draws the reader even closer by explaining the story’s main point. Let the headline gain the readers’ attention while the subhead explains something about dispensaries in the area.

USE MORE big fonts in headlines. Fewer words leave more room for bigger fonts.

While visiting page designers, they often tell me they’ve been instructed never to use a headline font more than 40 (or 60) points in size. That’s ridiculous. If it’s a big story, use a big font. Don’t let the triple digits scare you.

USE LESS color on pages. This one surprises most publishers and designers.

It’s also a suggestion that can quickly make your pages much more attractive and draw readers to the stories. Too much color on a page confuses the readers’ eyes and leads them to look past the stories. My rule of thumb: Nothing color goes on the page except photos and ads.

USE LESS small photos and MORE big photos. Placing multiple similarly sized images with a story causes most readers to flip to the next page. Small pictures tend

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to have faces too small to be recognized, darker ink (a result of the reduced pixel size forcing the press to drop more ink onto the page), and confuse the reader.

My suggestion: Instead of two, three, or four small photos, determine which is most important and use it as the dominant photo. Perhaps use one or two other smaller pictures with the story if there is room.

USE LESS typefaces and MORE font styles. I know Adobe includes hundreds of typefaces with Creative Cloud, but you probably only need two or three for your news pages (we’re not including the ads).

One is a serif typeface for your body text.

The other is a sans serif that can be used for cutlines, kickers, headlines, etc. The exception to this rule would be to have a second serif typeface, different from the body typeface, for headlines. Instead of using even more fonts for subheads, etc., use the light, semibold, and bold styles of the typefaces you already use.

Use MORE space and Less text. Now I’ve gone to meddling. It’s okay, I’m allowed.

I’ve been a writer for a long time, so I’m preaching to myself. Research continues to indicate most readers don’t read entire stories. Long stories can take up space that could be used to make the stories easier to read. Cutting a few lines of text leaves room for increased font size and leading.

Your readers – and local eye doctors (yes, I’ve gotten emails from appreciative optometrists) will thank you.

I can think of at least ten more items to include in this list, but I’m way past my 800word limit. I’ll save those for another day.

Kevin Slimp is former director of The University of Tennessee Newspaper Institute and founder of NewspaperAcademy.com.

Contact him at kevin@kevinslimp.com.

February 2, 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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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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