Arkansas Publisher Weekly: May 25, 2023

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Earn your press pass Guest Column: The Lowe Down: Respecting the cost of freedom

By Pam Lowe

Arkansas Press Association

Publisher Weekly Vol.18 | No. 21 | Thursday, May 25, 2023 | Serving Press and State Since 1873

Turner retires from industry after masterful 40-year career Rusty Turner is among the fortunate ones.

Prior to his retirement last week as editor of the Northwest Arkansas DemocratGazette, he spent 40 years in his dream career and the final 14 years in what could be described as his dream company.

Turner has had a front row seat in the explosive growth of the Northwest Arkansas region, covering events in a variety of editorial positions in what has been a rapidly- changing and dynamic newspaper landscape.

Rusty Turner

Over the course of Turner’s career, the four major cities in the region (Fayetteville, Springdale, Rogers and Bentonville) have retained many of their unique individual elements, but increasingly have been viewed within the arc of a booming and more cohesive metropolitan area.

From a newspaper perspective, a key event occurred in 2009 when competing WEHCO Media and Stephens Media entered into a joint agreement which was the forerunner of the region’s current Continued on Page 2

Turner retires from industry after masterful 40-year career Continued from page 1

single daily newspaper operation.

“It has been very successful,” Turner said of the digital newspaper. “It has allowed us to provide a much more robust news operation than a lot of our peer newspapers across the country.

It was at that point that Turner, who had spent his career working at Donrey and Stephens properties, began his association with WEHCO Media and Walter E. Hussman, Jr.. During that early period of the operation, he served as editor and publisher of the community zoned editions that were inserted into the regional Arkansas Democrat-Gazette.

The WEHCO operation eventually transitioned into the present-day Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, and Turner has served as the newspaper’s editor since 2015. He has been at the helm for the dramatic changes occurring since that time, most notably implementation of a unique subscription model in which the company lends an iPad to subscribers in order to access each day’s edition electronically.

“It has been very important to Mr. Hussman to not eliminate content providers,” he said, noting his owner maintains that limiting news coverage will lead to rapidly declining readership and subscriptions and a diminished and weak product. Turner pointed out that many communities in America now are severely underserved or, in some cases, have no newspaper at all.

In addition to the daily digital version of the newspaper, subscribers additionally have the option of a printed Sunday edition delivered to the home. The Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette Turner with wife Anita at an APA convention in the early 2000s

Continued on Page 3

The Turner family in August 2020. From left to right, son Stephen, grandson Nathaniel, daugher-in-law Amber, granddaughter Eliza, daughter-in-law Brittany, son Matthew, Anita and Turner.

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Turner retires from industry after masterful 40-year career Continued from page 2

agreement between WEHCO and Stephens in 2009. That essentially concluded one of the fiercest phases of what were numerous “newspaper wars” in Northwest Arkansas over the years.

covers 12 counties – Washington, Benton, Crawford, Sebastian, Scott, Franklin, Logan, Newton, Madison, Carroll, Boone and Johnson.

“I am extremely lucky to have worked for WECHO Media for the last 14 years of my career,” Turner said. He believes Hussman has been a visionary with his views on the changing industry and has insisted that “journalism remains the top priority” in the company.

“We had maybe a month to six weeks’ notice,” Turner said.

Thereafter, the competing staffs essentially were on the same overall operating team. The previous Stephens group was responsible for local community news and sports (including company-owned weeklies) while the WEHCO journalists were focused on more regional issues, such as the University of Arkansas, Walmart and the Northwest Arkansas Council. The latter also covered the Arkansas Razorbacks sports beat.

“Rusty has provided decades of telling meaningful stories to Arkansas,” said Brent A. Powers, president of the Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette. “He and his news teams have won many awards from the Arkansas Press Association for their work over the years. Most of all, I’m proud of how Rusty and his team handled the pandemic. During this time, our readers were kept up to date on everything they needed to know about the local community, their health and their safety. I’m sure Rusty’s next chapter will be his best.”

Turner said that plan was workable, but some debate often emerged relating to specific news coverage issues.

“At first there was a lot of tension and a lot of stress,” Turner said.

“It was very uncertain how all that was going to play out.” He said journalists able to “put aside those old competitions” successfully moved forward as a positive and productive team.

In looking back over his career, Turner notes it first was envisioned when he was in the eighth grade. His parents, natives of Arkansas, had moved to Tulsa and he graduated from high school there. His career focus already formed, he obtained a degree in print journalism in 1983 from the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville.

“I learned a lot about myself and how to build professional relationships,” Turner said. “I am really proud of how these things eventually shaped up. We were able to develop strong journalism and a strong company.”

His first job was as a reporter at the Northwest Arkansas Turner (left) with Jim Morriss, longtime editor of The Springdale News and Morning News at his Morning News at Turner has been Rogers, covering news induction in the UA School of Journalism Hall of honor, in the early 2000s. amazed at the and sports. He moved massive growth of his home region. He started work in Rogers to the Springdale News as a sportswriter in 1984. (where he has lived since 1991), when the population was 18,000.

The city limit sign now reads just under 70,000. “And that number His wife Anita accepted a teaching position in Eastern Oklahoma is a few years old,” he said. in 1986, and he began a four-year stint covering sports and then news at the Southwest Times Record in Fort Smith.

The city with the most dramatic level of change is Bentonville, where his wife grew up. Turner said the high school ritual for her It was back to the Springdale News in 1990, working as a reporter older sisters was “cruising the downtown square” and stopping in with a principal beat at the University of Arkansas. He became at the Dairy-O. editor of the NWA Morning News at Rogers a year later. Then in 1994, the Rogers and Springdale newspapers merged, and he Those days are long gone. began a role as managing editor under long-time journalist Jim Morriss, who held the position of executive editor.

“Bentonville is now a really eclectic and cosmopolitan place,” he said. Of course, that includes the Crystal Bridges and Momentary Morriss retired in 2003 and Turner was promoted to executive museums and the headquarters of the world’s largest retail editor. By that time, the Stephens-owned newspaper was company. New residents are arriving from all over the country producing zoned editions for the four major cities of the region. and from around the world.

That format continued until what Turner termed the “shocking” Continued on Page 4 Arkansas Publisher Weekly

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Turner retires from industry after masterful 40-year career Continued from page 3

even more critical function in the past five to ten years has been working at the state legislature to keep public notices and legal advertising in newspapers and also to fight off challenges to the Arkansas Freedom of Information Act.

Looking back over his career, Turner said “most of the big stories are all branches from the explosive growth of Northwest Arkansas.”

But for his specific reporting experience, he remembers being the first to break the confirmation of the Arkansas Razorbacks moving from the old Southwest Conference to the Southeastern Conference.

Turner said the APA has been successful in those areas when compared to other states, attributing that to the hard work of the association staff and the input of local newspapers from around the state.

Another memory is reporting the plan to tear down Carnall Hall on the U of A campus, a building where he had attended class as a freshman. The structure had been closed and was in poor condition after a history as the first women’s dorm, a fraternity house, a sorority house and a classroom facility. The initial reporting played a part in a decision to renovate the building as a hotel and restaurant as part of an academic hospitality program at the university.

“It is vital that we continue to defend the public’s right to know,” Turner said.

“There are no adequate words to express how valuable Rusty Turner has been to the Arkansas newspaper industry and our trade association,” said Ashley Kemp Wimberley, executive director of the APA. “He served for two years Turner also has vivid as president of memories of visits to the Arkansas Press Northwest Arkansas Association board of from President directors, has testified George H.W. Bush, numerous times President Bill Clinton during legislative and President George sessions to protect W. Bush. He was the state’s FOIA, has photographed while emceed numerous attending the latter events, served as visit and made the moderator of political front page of the New debates – all while York Times as part of continuing his work the crowd laughing as one of the state’s at a joke told by the best newspaper president.

Turner in the Northwest Arkansas Morning News newsroom in the early 1990s, trying to fix a ceiling fan, with editors.

Looking to the future Leeanna Walker on the left and Chad Eiler on the right.

“I joked with him that of newspapers, Turner his retirement won’t said subscription keep him off my speed dial. I always appreciate his wise counsel, revenue has to be a bigger piece of the puzzle. dependability and friendship.”

“That seems to be the key to surviving in this type of In retirement, Turner plans to travel more, especially to see his environment. We remain a trusted source of information. Our two grandchildren in Wichita, Kan., where his son Stephen (a news stories are produced by people who are a part of the Wichita State graduate and aerospace engineer) and wife reside. community. That’s a story we need to be telling more often. We are the ones who are writing about our friends and our neighbors His other son, Matthew, and wife live in Springdale. Matthew has an engineering degree from the University of Arkansas and works and our local businesses. for J.B. Hunt Transport Services.

“We also are the ones doing the work to hold local government Turner and his wife, the principal at Northside Elementary, are accountable. If no one is watching the store, something bad is active in the Central United Methodist Church in Rogers. He also going to happen.” is a member of the Rogers Downtown Rotary Club.

Turner thinks the role of the Arkansas Press Association is vital.

He serves on the board of Arkansas Public Theatre in Rogers and He served as president of the organization from late 2019 to the is involved in both performing and working backstage. summer of 2021, most of that period during the challenge of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Turner plans to “enjoy life” in retirement and hopes to stay involved in the industry by pursuing freelance writing and He said the APA “has always been very important in providing training and support” for newspapers and staff. But he believes an possibly teaching journalism classes.

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May 18 declared Rusty Turner Day by Fayetteville mayor

Turner was presented with a proclamation from Fayetteville Mayor Lioneld Jordan which announced May 18, 2023, Turner's last day at the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, as “Rusty Turner Day” in the city.

Bailey tapped as first woman to lead newsroom at the Times Austin Bailey, formerly editorial director of the Arkansas Times, has been promoted to editor-in-chief, replacing Lindsey Millar. She is the first woman in the nearly 50-year history of the Times to lead the newsroom.

Millar announced in February that he planned to leave in May after 12 years at the publication. He will continue as a contributing editor.

Austin Bailey

Arkansas Publisher Weekly

Bailey joined the Times in 2021. Previously she was editor of World Ark, Heifer International’s magazine. A native of Asheville, North Carolina, she has also worked as a reporter at the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette and the Pocono Record in Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania. She will focus primarily on the daily news on arktimes.com.

to editorial director and will work mainly on the monthly Arkansas Times magazine.

Smittle, a native of Cave Springs, joined the Times in 2016 as the entertainment editor.

Additionally, former Managing Editor Stephanie Smittle has been promoted

Benji Hardy will replace Smittle as managing editor. Hardy was previously an associate editor at the Arkansas Times, and has also worked for ProPublica and served as editor for the Arkansas Nonprofit News Network.

Stephanie Smittle

Benji Hardy

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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

•

Sections are feature videos and printable cheat sheets

•

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

For more information, contact Ashley Kemp Wimberley at ashley@arkansaspress.org

ARKANSASPRESS.ORG 6

E&P seeks “News Pets” Photos for recognition, free subscription Editor & Publisher is looking to lighten the mood by featuring photos of newsroom pets in their newly created E&P News Pets Hall of Fame.

“We at E&P know that news publishing is not a game for the weak of heart,” said the magazine in an article outlining the request. “Each day requires a commitment to not only serving our communities, but also fueling those critical ‘top line’ revenues that help us keep our business moving forward. With all the stress we experience each day, we know that some of you have looked to hiring furry (or scaly,

Arkansas Publisher Weekly

reptilian, or otherwise) friends to help create some calm at the workplace.”

Those wishing to nominate their “barketing managers” or other newsroom pets may upload a photo at editorandpublisher.com/stories/ nominate-your-news-petand-well-make-em-astar,243514 “News Pets” selected to be featured will receive a complimentary full-year subscription to the print edition of Editor & Publisher magazine.

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Guest Column: The Lowe Down: Respecting the cost of freedom

By Pam Lowe In the shadows of veteran memorials erected in towns and cities across the United States this weekend, Americans can find veterans gathered to remember and revere their fallen comrades in simple, honest observances. There likely will not be much fanfare for those who gave so much in order that our generation and those beyond experience a life of freedom.

As each living veteran prepares to attend these memorial services, I can only imagine the heaviness of thought and sense of duty they will feel. And as they stand among the many veteran graves in cemeteries scattered across the country, the spirits of the fallen veterans will be almost palpable in the light breeze as they pay tribute.

Despite what those who will celebrate the three-day weekend with barbeques, float trips, picnics and such, Memorial Day isn’t a holiday, it’s a day we honor those who gave the ultimate sacrifice.

Of all Americans, our servicemen, women and veterans know better than most that every day is a debt paid by blood, human lives and suffering. Every U.S. citizen should be thankful that somewhere at any given moment our military is protecting our freedom.

Just as each of our living veterans have a life story, so do each of the men listed on the veteran monuments. The lives of those brave people could have all been the subject of a feature film worthy of an actor of such as Tom Cruise or Charlize Theron’s caliber to portray them. But major motion pictures weren’t produced to honor them, nor were books written to tell the world of their courage. It’s up to you and me to make sure that they are not forgotten and that future generations realize their enormous gift to all Americans. And let us not forget the parents, spouses, children, and families who have also paid the dearest price of living the reality of never seeing their Arkansas Publisher Weekly

loved ones again and holding them to their breast. They should also be honored this weekend.

President John F. Kennedy said, “The cost of freedom is always high, but Americans have always paid it. And one path we shall never choose, and that is the path of surrender, or submission.”

We owe our veterans who gave up their lives for our country more than a little respect. Some people may not know of their ancestors who may have given their lives or perhaps they don’t have relatives who lost their lives during a war. To these folks I suppose the holiday is nothing more than a chance to grill, swim, and relax during a three-day weekend. But Memorial Day should mean something to all of us because of the sacrifice made by these brave soldiers.

Let me share with you just a couple of our local families who have holes in their hearts over the loss and sacrifice of a loved one. People like Carolyn Miller, who lost her young husband, Edwin Cleo Harmon in the Vietnam War. Carolyn saw the Army car coming up her driveway and knew what it meant. She ran into the house to get her Daddy. They were told that Cleo was gone. After his death, she received a tape from Cleo in the mail and a fistful of letters in the days that followed. Carolyn shared that receiving the posthumous tape of Cleo was a blessing at the time.

Then there’s Tammy Carr and her brothers, Bobby and Denny Cates. Tammy was almost five years old when her hero, her dad, Private First Class Norman G. Cates of Success was killed in the vicinity of Thu Bon on Go Noi Island near Liberty Bridge. Norman was in the 1st Marine Division, 2nd Battalion, 5th Marines, H Company. He was an Antitank Assaultman.

He will always be daddy to Tammy and her brothers.

Lonnie Parker’s niece, Kathy Parker

Woodward has spent her life trying to keep her uncle’s memory alive and searching for men in his unit that might have information about him. In Lonnie’s five months in Vietnam, he wrote over 100 letters home. He turned 20 years old on January 1, 1967 in Vietnam. Every Christmas, even when she was suffering from Alzheimer’s Disease, Lonnie’s mother would ask the family, “You know what’s next?” The answer was always, “Lonnie’s birthday.” There are stories like these for every fallen veteran. In 2015, PBS estimated that 1.5 million American men and women had been killed in all U.S. wars. That’s a lot of brave Americans and even more broken hearts.

In my hometown, there are 22 sections of the cemetery to walk and canvas in order to place the flags. It’s a dedicated and purposeful mission for our local veterans, most in their 70s and 80s with serviceconnected physical ailments, as they walk that cemetery row by row in order to commemorate every military grave with a U.S. flag.

So how does a community and a country repay a debt so precious? Its citizens must fight to maintain the very things our fallen fought to protect; democracy and freedom. This is important now, more than ever. And furthermore, we must ensure that younger generations learn about the sacrifice of all veterans, particularly those who gave their lives, and those of our military servicemen and women. The only worthy recompense is to make sure these heroes are never forgotten. Lest we forget.

Wherever you may live, participate in local veteran memorial services, place the symbol of American freedom and democracy; Old Glory, on the graves of deceased veterans. Go to the wreath ceremonies and pay tribute. Reflect on what personal strength and bravery it must have taken to face death and the true cost for our freedom.

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Guest Column: The Lowe Down: Respecting the cost of freedom Continued from page 9

I am proud to honor and share the names of the fallen veterans engraved on our monument in print in order that their sacrifices be commemorated. As long as we speak their names, their memory lives on. The following are just some of our Clay County, Arkansas heroes: WORLD WAR I - 1914-1916

George B. Conley

George G. Hughes

Doyne D. Travillian

Ellis R. Beard

Eugene E. Cottle

Everett T. Jackson

Frank H. Turner

Getie Brown

Woodson B. Crawford

James E. Kisner

Lester R. Turner

Frank T. Coffeen

George O. Culbertson

Millard Jones

Charles E. Ward

Homer Crumb

Emmett D. Dempsey

Howard P. Lawson

Dois W. Ward

Guy B. Crutchfield

Span Duncan

Loyd W. Leonard

Herbert E. Ward

James A. Dortch

Lee F. Evans

Thomas Y. Leonard

John D. Wilson

Bishop Gage

Clifford C. Fowler

Lest F. McGhee

Virgil W. York

Joseph H. George

William E. Galemore

James W. McNamara

Ira L. Gibbs

Elvis R. Gates

Frankie H. McNeely

KOREA - 1950 - 1953

Everett F. Harrell

Donald E. Glasgow

Loyd C. Maddox

Joe J. Bookout

Landon W. Hill

Elbert L. Glasgow

Lavoice L. Mansker

Julius E. McKinney

Arthur Kee

Lowell A. Goforth

Erwin W. Martin

John T. Melton

Elvis O. Pollard

Loyd E. Gossett

Charlie H. Moore

Delbert W. Oakley

William D. Sinks

William H. Green

Gaylon M. Orr

Arlanza Oliver

Robinson C. Walker

John R. Gregory

Oscar C. Palmer

Henry D. Weese

Calton C. Halcomb

Ralph W. Pankhurst

Charles R. Tyler

WORLD WAR II - 1939 - 1945

Floyd B. Haley

Doyle M. Parrish

Claudine E. Smith

Reginald K. Alexander

John R. Harber

Roger D. Parrish

George Ray Wells

James D. Arnold

Glen W. Harmon

Albert R. Poyner

Samuel T. Barger, Jr.

Avery L. Harpole

Durward E. Presson

VIETNAM - 1961 - 1975

Lester E. Bass

Edward E. Harris

Leo B. Presson

Barry J. Bridges

Willard T. Bodkin

Kenneth L. Harris

William E. Pulliam

Norman G. Cates

Richard W. Braman

Davison Hayes

Arnold C. Ramer

Carlos W. Conrad

Earl B. Brandon

John S. Hayes

John L. Raney

Donnie D. Ezell

Ray T. Brandon

Vilas L. Hendrick

Norman N. Rapert

Herschell W. Green

James T. Branson

Joseph G. Herren

J.D. Redman

Edwin C. Harmon

Harley B. Bricker

Vernon High

James E. Reynolds

Lonnie E. Parker

Hamilton B. Carrall

Elbert Hiller

Audra L. Rieves

Winston T. Robinson

William C. Causey

James L. Holland

Harold D. Robertson

James H. Clark

Gerald R. Helms

Osie J. Smith

W. Lucien Cockrum

Delbert D. Howell

Marshall M. Sneed

________________________ Pam Lowe is managing editor at the Clay County Courier in Corning. She can be reached at plowe@cherryroad.com.

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