that young people are willing to pay for,” Bagley said. “They are interested in sports, features and local culture issues that affect them. They want a little more than city council and school board coverage. This type of information provides some hope for the future.”
Bagley was especially pleased with the level of support given to the convention by Jonesboro and Arkansas State University.
“Being an East Arkansas guy, I was proud to have it held in this part of the state and see it go so well. You can’t say enough about the red-carpet reception given by ASU and the location certainly should be in the rotation going forward.”
Bagley anticipated visiting newspapers across the state following the convention, but that is on hold for now because of health issues faced by his wife, Sandra Bagley. He hopes eventually to be able to make several trips through the state to communicate directly with members.
Newspapers across the state are, of course, looking for additional revenue opportunities and Bagley hopes to help develop and promote new ideas for members. He noted some newspapers might consider renting excess office space in buildings they own. Other newspaper operators, such as Jennifer Allen in Hot Springs Village and Scott Loftis in Berryville-Eureka Springs, have been successful in organizing local travel clubs.
Bagley is working in his own markets to develop a non-profit model that eventually will operate a radio station and may be used to help fund additional reporters at his newspapers.
“We all are going to have to be more creative going forward,” Bagley said. “This is especially true in communities where the advertising base is declining. If we don’t survive, more and more areas are going to experience news deserts. This is not just related to coverage of government. It involves such things as school sports and 100th birthdays. All that goes away if we don’t survive.”
Looking forward, Bagley and other APA members plan to continue developing relationships with legislators to protect the FOIA and public notices and to encourage newspaper advertising from state agencies.
“I know there is some hostility among legislators directed toward newspapers, but I believe a lot of that involves larger media outlets,” Bagley said. “We don’t need to be lumped all together.
“The legislators need to recognize what some of these proposed measures would do to hurt small newspapers. They would kill the very newspapers that they want to keep in their small towns. We’ve got to communicate who we are. Our representatives need to recognize that we provide jobs and then support us just like they would any other small business in their community.”
Outgoing Arkansas Press Association President Eliza Gaines of the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette presents the gavel as Bagley assumes the presidency of the 151-year-old association. Bagley is the first APA president from the Helena World in 35 years and the first one associated with a newspaper in Brinkley since 1950. Photo by Sandra Bagley.
Little Rock Public Radio reporter selected for National Press Foundation’s 2024 Elections Journalism Fellowship
Josie Lenora, politics and government reporter for Little Rock Public Radio, is one of 34 journalists from across the country selected for the National Press Foundation’s 2024 Elections Journalism Fellowship.
Lenora is the only journalist from Arkansas selected for the fellowship, which is sponsored by Arnold Ventures. The fellows represent journalists from nonprofit, local, and national newsrooms, including Axios, CNN, NBC News, PBS, USA Today and Politico. Lenora and her cohort of fellow journalists will meet July 28-30 in Detroit, Michigan, to get an in-depth look at the coverage of elections, rather than horserace politics.
Lenora’s reporting at Little Rock Public Radio covers the Little Rock City Board of Directors, the Arkansas state legislature, ballot amendments and the administration
of Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders. She said she is looking forward to expanding her reporting skills during the fellowship.
“I try to constantly ask myself how I can maximize my skills, how I can be a better reporter,” Lenora said. “So, learning that I was chosen for the fellowship was exciting and a tremendous honor. I am grateful for any opportunity to broaden my skill set. It means the world to me to see my name on a list next to so many amazing government reporters from across the country. I am especially thankful to my news director Daniel Breen for recommending me for the fellowship. The newsroom would not be so successful without his leadership.”
For more information on the fellowship visit nationalpress.org/newsfeed/34journalists-selected-for-npfs-2024elections-fellowship/
Utah Press Association executive elected president of NAM
Utah Press Association Executive Director Brian Allfrey was elected president of Newspaper Association Managers, Inc, during the group’s 101st Annual Summer Conference Aug. 2 in Oklahoma City.
Allfrey will serve a one-year term as president of NAM. He has served as chief executive in Utah since 2012, and previously worked in advertising sales and management for Utah newspapers. Since 2022, he has served as executive director for the Nevada Press Association and Montana Newspaper Association through management agreements with Utah Press.
Also elected to officer positions were Vice President Phil Lucey, executive director of the North Carolina Press Association and Secretary Ashley Kemp Wimberley, executive director of the Arkansas Press
Association. Carolyn Nolte, president and CEO of the Florida Press Association, was elected to serve a three-year term on the board.
Mark Maassen, executive director of the Missouri Press Association, becomes immediate past president. Laurie Hieb, executive director of the Oregon Newspaper Publishers Association and a NAM past president, was appointed to serve a one-year, unexpired term on the board. Continuing director is Emily Bradbury, executive director of the Kansas Press Association.
Founded in 1923, NAM is a consortium of state, provincial, and national trade groups representing the newspapers and affiliate digital media in the United States and Canada.
Josie Lenora
Incoming NAM President Brian Allfrey (left) of the Utah Press Association receives the NAM Presidents Cup from outgoing President Mark Maassen of the Missouri Publishers Association.
E&P to recognise photojournalists, graphic designers and videographers
Editor & Publisher magazine is seeking to recognize “Creative Visionaries,” exemplary visual journalists who have the instinct to capture the essence of a story with creative vision, courageous spirit and a passion for journalism.
“Talented visual journalists take us inside a moment, or a series of them, communicating information and inspiring emotion,” E&P said in the announcement of the contest.
“Whether it’s through a single image, hours of video footage, fantastic supporting
graphics or amazing design talent, Top-of-the-field news photographers/ videographers and graphic designers are creative visionaries. They capture stories, appending narratives and scripts with visual complements.”
Nominate your Creative Visionary at https://www.editorandpublisher.com/ stories/nominate-your-newsroomscreative-visionaries-our-salute-tophotojournalists-graphic,25118 by August 30. Chosen winners will be featured in the October 2024 issue of E&P.
Statement from America’s Newspapers on the release of Evan Gershkovich
By Dean Ridings
America’s Newspapers, on behalf of its more than 1,700 members across the country, celebrates the release of Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich His detention served as a reminder of the critical importance of a free press, not only in the United States but around the world.
The work that reporters like Evan Gershkovich do is fundamental to the health of our democracy. Whether reporting in local communities or in global environments, journalists serve as the eyes and ears of the public and focus on the truths that might otherwise remain hidden. By providing citizens with information to make informed decisions, newspaper reporters play an indispensable role in maintaining the transparency and accountability that are the foundations of a democratic society. A free press is not a luxury; it is a necessity for a functioning
democracy.
Evan’s ordeal also serves as a reminder of the risks that journalists around the world face every day in pursuit of the truth. Many continue to operate in environments where press freedom is under constant threat, facing intimidation, imprisonment and even violence. We salute their courage and dedication to their profession in the face of such adversity.
We extend our thanks to the U.S. government for its efforts in securing Evan’s release. Their commitment to protecting press freedom demonstrates the value our nation places on the vital role of a free press.
Dean Ridings is the CEO of America’s Newspapers. Learn more at newspapers.org.
APA member newspapers, media members and associate members can list job openings and other opportunities for reporters, editors, photographers and designers in the Arkansas Newspaper Connection, a weekly newsletter published by APA, at no charge.
Send your listings to info@arkansaspress.org
580 square feet
• Close to the Arkansas State Capitol
• Parking included
• Use of conference room and kitchen
Contact: ashley@arkansaspress.org
Lately I’ve been thinking about the well known television campaign for Wrangler jeans. This was the one with the tagline that was spoken as it appeared on the screen: “Real. Comfortable. Jeans.” The narrator paused after each of the three words – to match the punctuation. The combination of the two packed a memorable punch, because it emphasized each word. Wrangler jeans weren’t described as “real comfortable,” they’re “real” and “comfortable.” Plus, Wrangler is synonymous with “jeans.”
There’s real power in a pause – whether it’s in a TV spot, a sales presentation, a meeting or a conversation. While there are many points to make about pausing, let’s take a look at three:
1. Pause for emphasis. Teresa, who is a marketing agency executive, once told me about her perspective on pausing. “When I’m pitching a new campaign, I create a little mystery – even if it’s just for a few seconds,” she said. “The new campaign won’t seem as special if it casually appears on the screen or the flip chart. I keep it hidden until the right moment. After I do the set-up, I say something like: And here (pause to change slides or remove the cover sheet on the flip
Guest Column: Ad-libs The power of a pause
By John Foust
chart) is the first ad in your new campaign. “It’s a little like an entertainment awards presentation,” she explained. “The presenter says: And the winner of the Oscar for best picture is (pause to open envelope) and announce the name. That puts the spotlight on the winner.”
2. Pause for clarity. Maybe you’ve heard about sales conversations that began like the one I witnessed some years ago: Hi thank you for meeting with me today I’m here to talk to you about your advertising we talked on the phone last week and you shared some of your concerns about your current marketing let’s take a moment to explore that and look at some possible solutions how does that sound?
Whoa. Slow down. Use some verbal punctuation. Otherwise, all the other person hears is an unintelligible mumble.
3. Pause for control. There’s an old saying, “The kindest word in all the world is the unkind word unsaid.”
Control is especially important in tense group meetings and one-on-one conversations. If someone pushes one of your hot buttons, pause. Don’t say anything, just pause for a moment. There
are a lot of pitfalls in shooting from the hip with a negative comment. Instead of risking a response you may regret later, ask yourself: What is the upside in being diplomatic right now? By pausing you’ll give yourself a chance to collect your thoughts and think logically, instead of emotionally.
Pausing is equally important when you’re asked a question. Resist the temptation to jump in immediately with an answer. Simply pause, take a breath and give your answer. The result will probably be a better answer.
Countless conversations over countless years prove that silence is truly golden, even in small doses. In fact, you could say that a pause is a Real. Effective. Technique.
(c) Copyright 2024 by John Foust. All rights reserved.
John Foust has conducted training programs for thousands of newspaper advertising professionals. Many ad departments are using his training DVDs to save time and get quick results from in-house training. Email for information: john@johnfoust.com
