Williams

Continued from page 2 years, Williams remains the optimist.

“So many of our advertisers have stayed with us, even during the COVID-19 period,” she said. “We feel blessed because I know some other weekly newspapers are no longer in business.”

Williams’ job title is sales promotion and accounts receivable manager, therefore she oversees the financial lifeblood of any newspaper – sales and collections.

“As you can see, I love to talk,” Williams said with a laugh. And she uses that trait in a positive manner to make sure The Graphic continues drawing advertisers.

“We are seeing an upward trend,” she said.

An example is her campaign to reinvigorate the newspaper’s business directory. After it declined to about three businesses, she kicked it back up to 16 with a 13-week sales promotion.

Now that the time period has ended, she has called each business to suggest continuing indefinitely. “I didn’t have one person turn me down,” she said.

Williams also enthusiastically cited a 26-week ad she recently sold for $205 a week. Additionally, she handles telemarketing of promotions such as county fair sponsorships, Christmas greetings and football pages.

“I feel really good about our advertising,” she said. “I have a great working relationship with all the old-time customers.”

As for new customers, she calls on them personally by delivering a newspaper and presenting ad rates. “I go back in a week to see if they would be interested. Nine times out of 10 I get an ad out of them, when all is said and done.”

Williams credits Sanders for a lot of her success. “He designs the ads, and he makes me look good. He does a great job with spec ads, which really helps.”

Of course, collecting accounts is critical and Williams seems to have a knack for that, as well. It’s not an area many employees are comfortable handling, but she is committed to being polite, yet firm. She cited several examples recently in which other members of the staff were amazed at her ability to collect very difficult accounts.

To round out the full responsibility package, she also answers the phone and waits on the counter – and handles items such as obituaries and legals, as well as some emailed submissions.

Williams basically outlined the role of the vital community newspaper employee and one that has been hers for the last 62 years (although she insists the five years working from home should not count in her total) – “if everybody is busy, and you’re not, you do it.”

Williams is a member of a five-person staff. Others are Sanders, her daughter Sharla Norris, Janice Penix and Megan Wylie.

Norris is the copy editor, keeps all circulation records and directs the mailroom operation. Penix handles most of the news coverage, including school and municipal meetings. Wylie, of course, manages the entire operation and has been focusing lately on increasing digital advertising, as well as learning pagination.

Williams is very family-focused and is proud of her grandson, Trey Norris, who graduated from Arkansas Tech and is employed by Hewlett-Packard in Conway. She appreciates the help of her sonin-law, Eden Norris, who provides lots of help on items around her home. “He is like the son we never had,” she said.

To round out the full family story at The Graphic, Williams mentioned that her father, the late Owen Stumbaugh, worked at the newspaper part-time after he retired. He delivered pages to be processed and printed and then returned the newspapers to Clarksville, while also helping with custodial and other jobs around the office.

After more than six decades on the job, the obvious question is –when does Williams plan to retire?

Naturally, she was ready for that question. “I guess I’ll be here as long as the good Lord gives me the strength to do my job and as long as Megan will keep me,” she said with a laugh. “Seriously, she has told me that I have a job as long as I am healthy and want to work.” And why not? As noted, she handles advertising and collections.

“It’s just been a very pleasant experience for me,” Williams said. “I wouldn’t trade my career for anything. I would do it all over again. I guess you could just say it’s in my blood too – printers ink is there.”

While observers note all the problems associated with publishing community newspapers today, there is no doom and gloom for Wanda Williams. She is just as positive and focused as when she was a young high school graduate all the way back in 1960. The challenge is to keep up with her pace.