Arkansas Publisher Weekly: June 6, 2024

Signature collection for Arkansas Government Disclosure

Amendment & Act enters final weeks; donations still sought

Artificial Intelligence

By Kevin Slimp

Arkansas Press Association Publisher Weekly

Vol.19 | No. 23 | Thursday, June 6, 2024 | Serving Press and State Since 1873

Fair, objective investigative reporting paramount to Observer

Investigative journalism is Chris Fulton’s calling card.

He and his wife Alison Fulton are publishers of the Mountain Home Observer, an online publication that is a Media Member of the Arkansas Press Association. The Observer was recently honored as a finalist in the digital reporting category at the inaugural Center for Integrity in News Reporting Awards, which reward the best examples of impartial, objective and fair news reporting nationwide, for reporting on Freedom of Information Act violations within the Mountain Home School Board.

“Long-form investigative journalism appeals to me because it is the rare chance to slow down and really dig deep into a story,” Fulton said. “Investigative journalism is a dying art in this country. It requires a great financial and time commitment from newsrooms, and it’s becoming harder and harder to employ journalists who only write a handful of stories a year.

in favor of digging into parts of a story that are often overlooked.”

His interest in investigative reporting began while a journalism student at the University of Memphis. He was fortunate to work with Marc Perrusquia at the Institute for Public Service Reporting at the university. A veteran journalist, Perrusquia has written numerous articles over the years for such publications as the Commercial Appeal and the Daily Memphian

“We live in a fast-paced, always online world now and being first is usually the focus of newsrooms these days. There’s tremendous freedom in being able to set aside the need to be the first to publish

Fulton was accepted into the program while obtaining his journalism degree and also serving as editor of the student newspaper. He has since completed two semesters toward a master’s degree at the university.

Fulton was born in Memphis, but his family relocated to Texarkana when he was young. He spent his formative years in both cities, eventually graduating from high school in Memphis. He attended the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga for a semester and then studied briefly at Arkansas State University-Newport in the high voltage lineman program.

See FULTON Page

Alison and Chris Fulton

Fulton

Continued from page 1

He then enlisted in the Navy, where he was assigned to the USS Lake Erie, based in Honolulu. Fulton worked in cryptology (secure communications) in the Navy and then lived briefly in Washington State after discharge.

Fulton used his GI Bill benefits to begin studies at the University of Memphis in 2016, and was particularly influenced by the classes of journalism professor Otis Sanford. In addition to his teaching, Sanford has been an award-winning columnist, reporter and editor. “He is a Memphis legend in the journalism field,” Fulton said. “He has had his hand in just about everything news-related that you could do in Memphis.

“He was a real mentor and inspiration for me,” Fulton said. “He really pushes his students to do their very best.

Following his time at the university, Fulton was contacted by Gannett for a reporter position at the Baxter Bulletin in Mountain Home. Shortly after arriving, Gannett sold the newspaper and Fulton and his wife decided to form their own company. They started the Observer, an online publication that covers Mountain Home and Baxter County, in December 2021 — and the timing was perfect for investigative reporting.

A major story developed over the conduct of the Mountain Home School Board under the guidance of then-superintendent Jake Long

According to Fulton, Mountain Home “public activists” Melissa Klinger and Mark Howson filed “tons of Freedom of Information requests” regarding the operation of the school, specifically relating to the charge that the superintendent and board members communicated illegally through texts prior to their regular meetings.

“It turned out that they were making decisions behind the scenes so they could rubber stamp policies at meetings and look professional,” Fulton said.

Fulton noted Klinger and Howson got the ball rolling on the investigative work, adding that he “ended up doing most of the legwork.” After denials by the superintendent and board members, he eventually got one of the members to admit the text messaging had been going on for about eight years.

At the same time, a controversial vote was on the table for a millage issue to construct a new high school due to a fire hazard associated with the existing building. A millage vote had narrowly failed the year before but was being considered again in the midst of the board texting controversy. “The group that was originally opposed to the millage proposal was really outraged that they tried it again,” Fulton said.

The millage proposal was soundly defeated the second time and the superintendent resigned, moving back to Missouri, where he eventually landed a similar position.

Fulton said the school system in Mountain Home has been politicized over the past few years, with a group called the Ozark Patriots becoming very involved and running candidates for the school board and opposing the millage efforts.

He added that Baxter County is very focused on combative social media, with opposing groups and individuals regularly expressing radically different views on local issues.

Fulton is “completely for building a new high school” and eliminating the fire hazard, especially since he now is the parent of a two-month-old daughter. “This is about a high school, and it shouldn’t be this politically controversial,” he said.

Nevertheless, he works hard to remain objective in his news reporting.

“Everyone says they want neutral reporting, but a lot of people get upset when you print it that way,” Fulton said. “What they really want is news that leans toward their own political beliefs.”

Fulton, at far left, participates in a panel discussion, “Breaking Stories Using FOIA,” at the 2023 APA Convention. Pictured with Fulton are Ellen Kreth of The Madison County Record in Huntsville, Andrew Bagley of The Helena World and the Monroe County Argus, moderator Sonny Albarado of the Arkansas Advocate and Tamara Johnson of The Times Record in Forrest City.

Fulton

Continued from page 2

Fulton said that, in the meantime, the local school district is financially broke. “It’s really kind of dead in the water right now.”

He said similar controversies, and subsequent articles, have focused on the operation of the Baxter County Election Commission and leadership in the Baxter County Republican Party.

Klinger recently sued the local school district and board over the FOIA issues, with her attorney claiming that Pros. Atty. David Ethredge failed to conduct a proper investigation into the board’s actions.

“I strive to be a neutral reporter and feel the public should be allowed the chance to form their own opinions on the lawsuit based on the facts as they emerge,” Fulton said.

Fulton has kept an even keel throughout the controversies but, on some levels, he feels “it has been my worst experience as a journalist…you just couldn’t make everyone happy.

“Some people love my stories, some don’t like what I am doing, and some people just don’t care,” with much of the perspective revolving around political orientation that essentially is national in its basis. “I’m not saying that to whine, I’m just making that observation.

“I feel that journalists pay a personal price along the way in their careers, especially if they are dedicated to doing their jobs. We often write about powerful people – often in unflattering ways. And that comes with the consequences. Sometimes it’s a lack of

OFFICE SPACE AVAILABLE

access to sources. Sometimes it’s lawsuits. On the rare occasion it’s a direct threat. And while threats do happen, I think that journalists should keep aware of the fact that we have freedom of the press, and other protections in this country.

“Last year, I participated in a round table session hosted by the State Department with journalists from Africa at the Institute for Public Service Reporting in Memphis. Hearing the threats and the real loss of life that those journalists experienced throughout their careers was a real eye opener and it cemented the fact that I am blessed to live in a country that was founded on a free and open press.”

Fulton does have some guest writers for his publication, but currently he tackles almost all the writing while his wife tends to their new baby.

He regularly covers city council and school board meetings in Mountain Home, as well as the Baxter County Quorum Court. Another regular “beat” for him is Arkansas State UniversityMountain Home.

While Fulton strives to “hold people accountable,” he also has a goal of promoting the community and county in a positive way. “I do as much ‘feel good’ stuff as I can,” he said.

Because of his limited time and the broad scope of potential stories, Fulton necessarily is selective. While he feels area newspapers,

Continued from page 3

including the Baxter Bulletin, do a good job of covering the news, the number of journalists in the area has declined over the years. “A lot of things do fall through the cracks,” he said.

On occasion, he focuses on news events in neighboring communities. An example is the nearby town of Pyatt (Marion County), where the city government apparently had not paid appropriate taxes for a long time. He has touched on the story, but simply doesn’t have the time “to really dig into it.”

He isn’t particularly drawn to covering crime stories, other than major events. “I don’t have stories about the 27th time someone is arrested for doing the same drugs,” he said. “Those types of stories just don’t really interest me as a writer.”

Fulton is thankful for his association with the Arkansas Advocate, a non-profit online publication that provides articles on statewide issues at no charge. “They are kind of like a modern-day Associated Press for Arkansas,” he said.

The Fultons made the decision to be online only because of the expenses relating to printing and distribution. “It was an affordable way to get us into the industry and to provide news for the community,” Fulton said. Potential readers, and subscribers, are directed to the product by aggressive promotions on social media. Subscribers pay $8 a month for full access to articles. There were 52,000 visits to the site last month. Fulton said subscriber revenue doubled last year and is projected to do so again this year. “The revenue is enough to feed my family, to pay the mortgage and other bills and to reinvest into the business,” he said.

Fulton does not aggressively sell advertising, but works with businesses that want to appear on the website. “I’m not on the phone selling ads. I’m doing the journalism. Everything else will occur in its own time and we are now coming up on almost three years.”

Fulton said Alison has been very involved with the operation from the start. In addition to helping with the writing and photography, she is the designer and operator of the website. “She is an excellent copy editor, and we also bounce story ideas off each other,” he said.

A native of Sarasota, Fla., her background is in graphic design and web development. She has created website designs for the cities of Memphis and North Little Rock.

When not working, Fulton is focused on spending time with

LET’S GET SOCIAL

his wife and baby Claire. “My wife and I also really enjoy being involved in the community and doing volunteer work,” he said. Alison is a member of the local Rotary Club, and the couple is active in club projects.

They also enjoy outdoor activities, such as fishing, in the beautiful lakes and mountains of the area. They also are movie buffs, especially the older classics.

“We love this area,” Fulton said. “It’s kind of Midwest and South at the same time. When you get the people here away from politics, they are wonderful and kind.”

Fulton said the true nature of people in the area came to the forefront with all the volunteer work and assistance to victims of the recent tornadoes that hit North Central Arkansas. “It’s the kind of community that anyone in the world would want to live in,” he said. “Our sheriff says this is ‘God’s Country’ and I agree with him.”

Fulton felt a personal loss due to the storms. Patricia Sontag, a resident of the area between Salesville and Briarcliff, was killed by a tornado. A trainer of dogs involved in competitions, she was the subject of Fulton’s first feature story after he moved to Baxter County. “She was a really, really kind and wonderful person,” he said.

Being a part of the journalism profession is personally rewarding for Fulton and he strongly believes in his mission.

“I’ve traveled the world quite a bit and have visited my share of Third World countries,” he said. “In a lot of those places, the only media is controlled by the state. I don’t think people realize how lucky they are to have our free press in the United States.

“Most community newspapers are managed by local people, your friends and neighbors with shared values. It is important to have us in your corner or things start to go sideways. Corruption can creep into our institutions.

“The newspaper is the glue that holds the community together and also to let you know about all the great things people are doing. Try to support your local newspaper. If you have problems, just talk to the people there.

“National politics has no doubt affected the industry, but newspapers are still probably the most important thing we have in our communities.”

Signature collection for Arkansas Government Disclosure Amendment & Act enters final weeks; donations still sought

Less than one month remains for signature collection for the Arkansas Government Disclosure Amendment & Act. The measures protect the Arkansas Freedom of Information Act, which is currently one of the strongest government transparency laws in the country, signed into law in February 1967 by Governor Winthrop Rockefeller.

“Government transparency is a nonpartisan issue — it’s actually in the platform of both the Republican and Democratic parties”, said APA Executive Director Ashley Kemp Wimberley. “It also allows journalists to do

their jobs in reporting the news. But, it’s not just a tool for journalists — it’s a tool for every citizen. Passing these measures would ensure knowing how your taxpayer dollars are spent becomes a constitutional right of every Arkansan, just as the right to free speech and the right to bear arms are.”

Volunteers as well as paid canvassers are currently circulating petitions in every county in the state in order to get the measures on the ballot. APA has set up its own ballot question committee, Arkansans for a Free Press, to assist in this effort. But the process is expensive, and time is

running short.

“Democracy demands journalism,” said Wimberley. “And true democracy demands you have a right to know how your government dollars are being spent.”

Please consider giving whatever amount you can today. Even $10 or $20 helps.

Donations may be made securely at https://bit.ly/ArkansansForAFreePress

If you prefer, checks made out to Arkansans for a Free Press Committee may be mailed to P.O. Box 2257, Little Rock AR 72203.

Schedule for upcoming 2024 APA Convention announced

The schedule for the upcoming APA Convention, to be held June 27-29 at the Embassy Suites by Hilton Jonesboro Red Wolf Convention Center, has been announced.

The registration desk will be open for check-in at 4 p.m. on Thursday, June 27. That evening, attendees will be treated to cocktails and heavy hors d’oeuvres and a tour of the Centennial Bank Athletics Operations Center at the Woodard McAlister Family Club at Centennial Bank Stadium, hosted by Arkansas State University.

BOOK

University of Florida, presenting “Partly Cloudy: Getting Public Records in an Age of Secrecy.” Following a break, Slimp will return for his second session of the day, “AI and Newspapers: What You Need to Know,” at 3:30 p.m.

ROOM NOW!

Friday, June 28 kicks off with an omelet breakfast social and the opening of the Arkansas Press Association Annual Trade Show and the Arkansas Newspaper Foundation Silent Auction. Following breakfast, Wellknown newspaper educator and founder of Newspaper Academy Kevin Slimp will present the first session of the day, “Getting More People to Read Your Newspaper,” at 9:30 a.m. At 11 a.m, John Newby of Editor & Publisher magazine will present “Knowledge is power: Using Data to Increase Revenue.”

The noon luncheon will feature Arkansas State University Chancellor Todd Shields as speaker.

Sessions resume at 2 p.m. with David Cuillier, Director of the Joseph L. Brechner Freedom of Information Project at the

The Annual Awards Honorees’ Reception will be a 6 p.m., followed by the Arkansas Press Association Honors Banquet, which will conclude with the installation of Helena World/ Monroe County Argus Publisher Andrew Bagley as APA Board President.

Saturday, June 29 begins with Guy Tasaka of Editor & Publisher presenting “Local media 3.0 — How to Build for the Future” at 9 a.m. Following a 10:15 a.m. coffee break, veteran journalist Sonny Albarado of the Arkansas Advocate will moderate a panel discussion, “Newsroom Tips: How To Best Cover Your Communities.”

The convention will conclude with the APA Better Newspaper Editorial Awards Luncheon at noon.

The 2024 APA Convention registration form may be found on page 8 of this issue of Arkansas Publisher Weekly. Rooms reservations may be made in the APA room block by calling 870-619-4482 or at bit.ly/4bkcHy1.

Barentine, mother of APA’s Cobb, passes away at 88

Peggy Barentine

Peggy June Barentine of Jacksonville, mother of APA Director of Operations Terri Cobb, died on Saturday, June 1. She was 88.

A 1954 graduate of North Little Rock High School, She married her high school sweetheart, Buford Barentine on May 27, 1955. She retired from Dillard’s Department Store after working many years in mortgage banking and was a former member of the North Little Rock chapter of Beta Sigma Phi. Following retirement she and her husband moved to Navarre Beach, where she served as class secretary at Midway Baptist Church in Gulf Breeze, Florida.

Barentine is preceded in death by her mother, Beadie E. Healy. She is survived by her husband of 69 years, Buford Barentine, sons Ron Barentine and Toby Barentine of North Little Rock, daughter Terri (George) Cobb of Cabot, grandchildren Tyler (Audrey) Cobb of Little Rock, Emily (DJ) Wyant of Scott, and Dalissa (Garrett) Berg of Ward and 7 great grandchildren.

Funeral services will be held Friday, June 7, at Smith Funeral Home, 1921 Main Street, North Little Rock, with visitation at 10 a.m. followed by a celebration of life service at 11 a.m.

Updated edition of AP Stylebook released

The Associated Press on Friday announced the release of The Associated Press Stylebook, 57th Edition, which includes new guidance, including a new chapter on criminal justice.

According to the announcement, the new criminal justice chapter provides extensive guidance and best practices for covering public safety and criminal justice and emphasizes the need for accountability journalism, including looking for warning signs that might have been missed, law enforcement response, weapons issues, and what might be done to prevent similar crimes in the future. The chapter was primarily written by a team of AP criminal justice reporters and editors, who attended trainings by Poynter and others and consulted with the Marshall Project among additional research.

The full changeover to Merriam-Webster as the Stylebook’s official dictionary also officially took effect with the release of this new edition.

Updated regularly since its initial publication in 1953, the AP Stylebook is a must-have reference for writers, editors, students and professionals. It provides fundamental guidelines for spelling, language, punctuation, usage and journalistic style. It is the definitive resource for journalists.

The AP Stylebook is available in spiralbound print biennially, and online in

several digital formats. AP Stylebook Online includes all Stylebook listings, plus an Ask the Editor feature with extensive archives, and Topical Guides about news events. Users can add their own entries, make notes and receive notifications throughout the year when AP’s editors add or update listings.

The new print edition and digital subscriptions can be ordered online at www.apstylebook.com.

The Associated Press is an independent global news organization dedicated to factual reporting. Founded in 1846, AP today remains the most trusted source of fast, accurate, unbiased news in all formats and the essential provider of the technology and services vital to the news business. More than half the world’s population sees AP journalism every day. Learn more at www.ap.org/.

Editor’s note: Kevin Slimp will speak on the topic of artificial intelligence use at newspapers at the 2024 APA Convention in Jonesboro. He has created a very brief survey for APA member newspapers and media members on the subject, which can be found at https:// form.jotform.com/Kevin_Slimp/2024ai

Almost daily, I hear from longtime readers of my column who write to tell me they’ve recently benefited from something I wrote months or years ago. I suppose it’s why I keep writing these columns after all these years.

Just this morning, I heard from a publisher who wrote that he had begun using an application I wrote about three years ago and was finding it very helpful. Another wrote yesterday to tell me she had followed my advice about holding a focus group made up of community members, some newspaper readers, and some non-readers. She wanted me to know that it was incredibly beneficial to her paper, and they had made several changes based on the results of the focus group.

Recently, I’ve heard from a lot of folks asking for advice related to artificial intelligence. Press association directors have written to ask if I would lead a convention session or webinar on the topic (yes, I plan to offer a webinar on AI soon). I even responded to a request from an industry journal in Australia and Southeast Asia to get my thoughts concerning a photo that had run in a major publication there using AI. Every time I read a story from that part of the world, I’m convinced they have a knack for writing great headlines. The headline for that story was “Tummy tat a croptop giveaway, and Slimp says, ‘Never in news.’”

I realize the use of AI is a fact of life in today’s world. However, the use of artificial intelligence requires much the same scrutiny as was given to photo editing when applications like Photoshop and Photostyle

Guest Column: Artificial Intelligence

It’s crucial to make a plan before you jump in too deep

By Kevin Slimp

became available almost 40 years ago.

In the early days of Photoshop, it was almost scary for me to face a crowd of veteran photographers. Even the use of tools we take for granted today, like adjusting levels or sharpening an image, was met with much deliberation among audiences. Longtime photographers, especially from major dailies, often protested that nothing could be adjusted in a photo. If that became the industry standard, my Photoshop classes wouldn’t have lasted very long. In the same way, we need to be very careful about the way we use AI. It would be simplistic to say that we not use it all. Much of the software we are already using had built-in AI features. However, I am suggesting that we give the use of AI even more scrutiny than we did Photoshop a few decades ago. I agree with writer Kelly McBride that every newspaper needs an ethics policy related to the use of artificial intelligence (poynter.org, March 25, 2024). Kelly’s column includes a starter kit to give newspapers a starting point for addressing the use of AI.

Looking back at the early days of Photoshop, I would emphasize that the use of Photoshop shouldn’t be to improve or alter an image. Instead, the goal was to make the image printed on the page appear as close to the original photo as possible. Knowing that dot gain, ink limits, quality of paper stock and other variables affected the printed image, photo editing applications offered tools to offset distortions that would otherwise appear on the printed page.

Much has been written about the use of artificial intelligence in the workplace. In our industry, it’s even more crucial that we give the use of AI serious thought before diving in too deep. It would be easy to ignore the issue altogether. That would be naive. On the other hand, it’s easy – especially for those of us who have a bit of “tech nerd”

built into our DNA – to get overly excited about the use of AI. Let me caution against both extremes.

We will be using AI in our work. You probably already are. However, be very careful when and how AI is used.

I was invited to speak at a local civic club in Knoxville a couple of weeks ago. They asked me to speak on the topic of artificial intelligence. I learned the audience was larger than usual and noticed that some of the folks brought pads and pens to write notes. Many were business owners, and they obviously had a lot of interest in the topic.

Before I spoke my first word, a hand went up. “Is AI going to put us all out of business?” a man in the third row asked.

I spoke to the group for about 30 minutes and spoke of the limitations and dangers of AI. I’m relatively sure everyone felt, by the time I finished, that their worlds wouldn’t be crashing in anytime soon from the use of artificial intelligence.

This week, I’m part of an international conference made up of more than 1,000 participants in Charlotte, North Carolina. As attendees come by to meet me, they often tell me they’re from “a little town you’ve never heard of.” In most cases, I’m pleased to tell them, “I’ve visited your town while working with the newspaper.” So far, every person has gone on to tell me how much they loved the community newspaper in their town.

Sometimes we forget how much people love and appreciate us. And sometimes we forget how important – and serious – our work is. Thank you for making a difference.

Kevin Slimp is former director of The University of Tennessee Newspaper Institute and founder of NewspaperAcademy.com Contact him at kevin@kevinslimp.com

SHARING THE NEWS SHINING THE LIGHT

2024 APA Convention Registration Form

Deadline to register is June 21st

Newspaper/Company or Individual Name

Address

City State Zip

TICKET OPTIONS:

Full Convention, $225: Includes convention swag; Thursday evening reception; Friday sessions, breaks, luncheon, Honorees’ Reception and dinner; and Saturday sessions, breaks and APA Better Newspaper Editorial Awards Luncheon

Friday & Saturday, $175: Includes Friday sessions, breaks, lunch, Honorees’ Reception and dinner; and Saturday sessions, breaks and APA Better Newspaper Editorial Awards Luncheon

Saturday Only, $30: APA Better Newspaper Editorial Awards Luncheon

ATTENDEE NAME: 1) Email Address:

Arkansas

Press Association Convention Red Wolf Convention Center | June

THURSDAY, JUNE 27

27 – 29, 2024

Noon Arkansas Press Association Board of Directors Summer Meeting

4 pm Registration opens

6 pm Arkansas Press Pass Night at Woodard McAlister Family Club at Centennial Bank Stadium at Arkansas State University

Enjoy cocktail hour, heavy hors d’oeuvres and a tour of the Centennial Bank Athletics Operations Center.

FRIDAY, JUNE 28

7:30 am Registration opens

8:30 am Let’s Get Crackin’ Omelet Breakfast Social

Arkansas Press Association Annual Trade Show & Arkansas Newspaper Foundation Silent Auction Open

9:30 am Session: Getting More People to Read Your Newspaper

Presenter: Kevin Slimp, Founder of the Newspaper Academy

10:30 am Brews Flash Coffee Break in the Trade Show

11:00 am Session: Knowledge is power: Using Data to Increase Revenue

Presenter: John Newby, Editor & Publisher

Noon Luncheon

Q&A with Arkansas State University Chancellor Todd Shields

2 pm Session: Partly Cloudy: Getting Public Records in an Age of Secrecy

Presenter: David Cuillier, Director of the Joseph L. Brechner Freedom of Information Project at the University of Florida

3 pm Pop It Like It’s Hot Popcorn Break in the Trade Show

3:30 pm Session: AI and Newspapers: What You Need to Know

Presenter: Kevin Slimp, Founder of the Newspaper Academy

5 pm Trade Show closes

6 pm APA Annual Awards Honorees’ Reception

7 pm Arkansas Press Association Honors Banquet

Special Awards and Installation of Andrew Bagley as APA Board President Emcee: Rex Nelson, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette

8 am Registration opens

SATURDAY, JUNE 29

8:30 am Breakfast & APA Annual Member Meeting

9 am Session: Local media 3.0 — How to Build for the Future

Presenter: Guy Tasaka, Editor & Publisher

10:15 am Breaking Brews Coffee Break

10:30 am Panel Discussion: Newsroom Tips -- How To Best Cover Your Communities

Moderated by: Sonny Albarado, Arkansas Advocate

Noon Arkansas Press Association Better Newspaper Editorial Awards Luncheon

Emcee: Rex Nelson, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette

Embassy Suites by Hilton Jonesboro Red Wolf Convention Center Room block open for reservations

Scan QR code or visit bit.ly/4bkcHy1