6 Arkansas Press Association PUBLISHER WEEKLY
Guest Column:
One checklist for election countdown
By Jim Pumarlo
Rick Harvey brings news career full circle in Carroll County
Credit a local radio station for helping create an early passion for writing in one of the state’s veteran journalists.
Rick Harvey, a reporter now working for Carroll County Newspapers, recalls the somewhat unusual connection. He was an elementary student in the North Little Rock Schools when the radio station announced a writing contest for local children.
He won the contest with the prize being a visit to the radio station, where he was allowed to read the article on the air for broadcast over the school’s public address system. “All the students stopped classes to hear me read. I wish I could remember the topic, but I can’t. But I do know that I was hooked on writing after that. From that moment on I was set on a course.”
Harvey’s first paying newspaper job was covering a prep football game while a student at Jacksonville High School. He was hired for the position by Mark Carter, then sports editor at the weekly Jacksonville Leader. “I remember I was scared to death,” Harvey recalls.
the Democrat-Gazette’s sister operation in Northwest Arkansas, Harvey embarked on a career in public relations. “At the time I was tired of working so many nights and weekends,” he said.
His first stop was with Easterseals Arkansas, where he was involved in public relations writing, media relations and public speaking. “That opened up a whole new environment for me,” Harvey said.
But his work clearly was outstanding because he eventually became a full-time sports reporter at the daily Jacksonville Patriot. He continued that work while studying journalism at Arkansas State University in Jonesboro and Beebe.
In 1998, Harvey landed a position as a sportswriter and copy editor at the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette in Little Rock, working with sports editor Wally Hall and deputy sports editor Jeff Krupsaw. “I was like a kid in a candy store in that job,” Harvey said. In addition to enjoying the work, he cites Krupsaw as the most important mentor in his career. “What I learned from him was absolutely invaluable.”
While at the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, Harvey also met Scott Loftis, currently the publisher and editor of the Carroll County News and Eureka Springs Times-Echo. This relationship circuitously led to his current position.
After additional time in sports reporting following a transfer to
He moved from there to the Arkansas Department of Career Education, serving as a public relations officer. He started in Fort Smith, but was transferred to Fayetteville, where he continues to live today. During that period, Harvey also did freelance writing and covered high school and college athletic events. “I never gave up my passion for newspapers,” he said.
In 2015, Harvey began employment as a public information officer for the American Red Cross. “That was an amazing, amazing opportunity,” he said, recalling coverage of a hurricane in South Carolina and flooding in Florida.
But what really stands out for him was working with the Red Cross following the disastrous Hurricane Harvey in Houston, where he served as a national spokesperson. The irony of the name of the storm was not lost on him, especially when he saw a sign in a store window that said, “Go Away Harvey.”
“I guess they really didn’t want me there,” he said with a laugh.
Following a brief stint with another public relations opportunity, Harvey was working in Fayetteville on several freelance writing projects when he received the call from his friend from the earlier days at the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
“Scott told me he needed someone to come on board at his newspapers as a full-time reporter,” Harvey said. The timing was perfect, and what added to the opportunity was the realization he primarily could do the work remotely and continue to live in Fayetteville. He regularly covers meetings through watching
Rick Harvey
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video, while traveling to Carroll County on occasion.
Harvey covers all three public school districts in Carroll County and the various municipal meetings in Eureka Springs. “I’ve been doing this for the past three years and couldn’t enjoy it more,” he said.
“Covering city government in Eureka Springs is quite intense and quite entertaining,” Harvey said. In addition to the City Council, he writes about the City Advertising and Promotion Commission, the Planning Commission and the Historic District Commission.
Harvey certainly considers Eureka Springs unique in that it has only 2,200 residents but some 60 to 70 restaurants. “Other than Hot Springs, I can’t think of another city in Arkansas that is so reliant on tourism,” he said. “It’s just phenomenal.
“Eureka Springs is a small town as far as population goes, but it’s so popular with tourists that there are times where the city has two, three, four times more people than those who live there full-time.
“As far as residents go, it’s a town where everyone knows everyone else. As a city in which the number one industry is tourism, it adds a complex factor that many cities don’t have. People in Eureka Springs are passionate about their city, which makes city government very interesting, and many times, an entertaining thing to keep up with and cover.”
Harvey said the focus on city government issues in Eureka Springs is dramatic. “There are always a lot of hot button issues. It’s a community that definitely is in tune with city government and how it affects people’s lives. And covering all this has been very rewarding.”
The latest controversial issue in Eureka Springs involves a ballot initiative calling for the end of the CAPC visitor tax with its subsequent marketing efforts — and the dissolution of the government commission itself. Those organizing the initiative believe infrastructure, including such items as the sewer system and sidewalks, has been neglected in the community. Enough signatures were achieved, and the vote will be held in the Nov. 5 general election.
Harvey
Harvey said businesses relying on tourism fear a drastic reduction in tourism promotion will severely impact the local economy. The Eureka Springs mayor and city council are opposed to the initiative.
“I don’t think it will pass, but you never know,” Harvey said. He noted that many of those in the Eureka Springs area dependent on tourism for their livelihood don’t live within the city limits and won’t be voting on the proposal.
Harvey primarily writes for the free distribution Eureka Springs Times-Echo, but also is involved with education coverage for the Carroll County News, the paid newspaper for the communities of Berryville and Green Forest.
“Scott just does a fantastic job,” Harvey said of his publisher, who has worked in the market for several years but recently acquired the newspapers. “His newspapers definitely are an important part of their communities. And I can’t thank him enough for the opportunity to get back to doing what I love.”
Harvey said the Times-Echo usually publishes about eight pages a week, while its sister newspaper runs a few pages more, 18 in the latest edition. Loftis’ publications consistently win multiple awards in the Arkansas Press Association Better Newspapers Contest, including General Excellence in their categories.
Harvey said his Eureka Springs publication faces competition from another newspaper in the community. “I actually enjoy that,” he said. “It makes you do your job better.”
The future of newspapers remains bright in Harvey’s assessment. “The forms may sometimes be different, but I believe they are still viable. I still begin every day reading the newspaper online.
“Newspapers remain vital, especially in smaller communities because what may be insignificant news to those who live in larger cities is a big deal to those who live in small towns. Fair queens, chili cook-offs, weddings, anniversaries and pageants are a big deal to people and a community newspaper lets you give those
See HARVEY Page 3
and his wife, Jennifer, enjoy travel.
Harvey with his son, Andrew.
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types of things the coverage.
“People are always wanting to read fair and balanced reporting on their community. Good journalism also holds people accountable, especially if the newspaper is doing its job. A good newspaper also brings people together.”
As noted, Harvey and wife, Jennifer, live in Fayetteville. His son, Andrew Harvey, also lives in Fayetteville and attends John Brown University in Siloam Springs. Harvey enjoys all types of sporting events, both on television and attending live. He also enjoys traveling.
“My career coming full circle from my first writing job in 1994 to back doing it 30 years later is the ultimate satisfaction for me,” he said. “Writing and journalism is in my blood, and while I’ve been blessed to have the opportunity to experience different forms of communications and public relations in the past 10-12 years, my true love is and has been newspapers.
“Having the opportunity to return to writing full-time for a newspaper came at the right time for me and has been very rewarding. From newspapers to PR work for government agencies and nonprofits, and now back to newspapers, it’s been a fun journey. I’ve been very fortunate.”
APA advocates for its members at Washington D.C. fly-in
APA Executive Director Ashley Kemp Wimberley was one of many representing newspapers, magazines and digitalonly publishers who met with members of Congress in Washington, D.C. on Wednesday as part of the Support Journalism Fly-In.
Wimberley met with Senators Tom Cotton and John Boozman and Representatives French Hill and Rick Crawford to discuss the Journalism Competition and Preservation Act of 2023, which provides temporary safe harbor for publisher of online content to collectively negotiate with dominant online platforms regarding
terms on which the content may be distributed; the Deliver for Democracy Act, which requires on-time delivery of periodicals by the United States Postal Service; the Community News and Small Business Support Act, which provides tax incentives that support local media and the Generative AI Copyright Disclosure Act of 2024, which requires a notice to be submitted to the Register of Copyrights with respect to copyrighted works being used in building generative AI systems.
The fly-in was hosted by the News/Media Alliance, a nonprofit trade association.
“[News] publications provide citizens
around the country with reliable news and information that engages communities, cover topics of interest to our daily lives. They remain a significant part of the fabric of this great country,” said News/ Media Alliance President & CEO Danielle Coffey. “The proliferation of generative AI technology, and AI developers’ scraping of news publisher content without authorization or payment to train their systems, has added to a marketplace imbalance that already existed. We seek to educate lawmakers on the risks that lie ahead absent legislation.”
Wyatt Emmerich, President of Emmerich Newspapers and owner of the Dumas Clarion, with Wimberley in advance of a meeting in Sen. Tom Cotton’s office on Wednesday morning.
Sen. John Boozman took time Wednesday to meet with America’s Newspapers CEO Dean Ridings and APA Executive Director Ashley Kemp Wimberley.
Newspapers who send Periodicals Class Mail must file an annual Statement of Ownership, Management and Circulation (PS Form 3526) with the U.S. Postal Service on or before Tuesday, October 1.
To expedite the process, you may submit PS Form 3526 online using the Business Customer Gateway. Sign in at https:// bit.ly/3snIEUA then select Mailing Services>Postal Wizard>Complete a Customer Service Form>Online Form 3526. The form can also be downloaded at about.usps.com/forms/ps3526.pdf.
Newspapers are also required to publish the statement in a print edition according to the following timetable, depending on the frequency of publication:
• Publications issued more frequently than weekly (daily, semiweekly, and three-times-per-week publications) must publish no later than Oct. 10. This applies to
• Publications issued weekly or less frequently, but not less than monthly, must publish the statement by Oct. 31. This includes weekly, bi-weekly and monthly newspapers.
• Publications issued less frequently than monthly, such as quarterlies, must publish in the first issue printed after Oct. 1.
Owners may include paid digital subscriptions as circulation in postal statements. A paid subscriber, whether digital or print, may only be counted once.
Form 3526 serves as the method for the U.S. Postal Service to establish whether a publication meets standards for the periodicals mailing rates.
LET’S GET SOCIAL
Independence County Library Batesville Guard microfilm collection to be digitized
The Independence County Library has announced its partnership with Newspapers.com, powered by Ancestry, to digitize the historic Batesville Guard newspaper microfilm collection.
The initiative aims to preserve and make accessible invaluable historical records documenting the rich heritage of Batesville and Independence County, the library announced. The collaboration will enhance the accessibility and usability of the Batesville Guard archives by providing the searchable indices with ‘hit highlighting’ and a reliable online backup.
The library’s microfilm collection will be temporarily unavailable to patrons while the digitization process is underway. Once completed, patrons will have access to both the digitized archives through Newspapers.com and the microfilm,
allowing them to research using their preferred method, the library said.
“We are excited about the opportunity to partner with Newspapers.com to preserve and digitize the Batesville Guard collection,” said Independence County Library Genealogist Kelly Denison. “This initiative will significantly enhance accessibility and ensure that these historical records are preserved for future generations.”
Newspapers.com was established in 2012 and currently contains scans of 235 Arkansas newspapers dating as far back as 1840. Users frequently search for obituaries, marriage announcements, birth announcements, social pages, national and local news articles, national and local sports, advertisements, entertainment, comics, and fashion and lifestyle pages.
Tomorrow is deadline for 2025 Report for America newsroom applications
Friday is the deadline for newsrooms interested in hosting emerging and experienced journalists for up to three years.
Report for America is a national service program that places talented journalists, called corps members, into local newsrooms to report on under-covered issues and communities, while covering a portion of their salaries.
The program currently supports 59 talented journalists in 50 newsrooms, including three reporters in Arkansas.
Prospective newsrooms must identify specific under-covered communities or issues. Additionally, newsrooms must explain why the proposed beat is vital to its audience and the community, demonstrate a commitment to inclusion and support of a diverse staff and commit to try to raise money from local funders to pay for part of the corps member’s salary.
Up to 50 new journalists will be placed nationwide in 2025. To learn more, visit www.reportforamerica.org or send an email to: recruitment@reportforamerica. org.
Election Day is fast approaching. Newsrooms are likely starting the countdown when they take a collective breath from the exhaustive campaign season and return to some level of normalcy.
Election coverage is put under the microscope by readers, especially if newspapers have a strong editorial voice. The scrutiny is ratcheted to new heights in today’s hyper partisan political climate. Editors and reporters confront passions through phone calls, emails, letters and a variety of social media avenues. Candidates as well as their supporters and detractors are quick to challenge all aspects of election content.
Pressure only builds in these final weeks as campaigns seek to elevate their candidates and issues. Newspapers should seize the opportunity to reaffirm the principles that have guided their coverage for all these months and resolve to not get hoodwinked on election eve.
Here’s one checklist of dos and don’ts to guide coverage:
Press releases: Do consider press releases of substance, and strive to give all parties opportunity to comment, if warranted. Do not give a second thought to ignoring the churn of statements that are repetitive and/or level a series of unsubstantiated charges against opponents.
Letters to the editor: Do your best to provide a forum for readers to endorse their favorite or unendorse their least favorite candidates or referendum issues; letters are the lifeblood of an editorial page. Do not be afraid to edit letters aggressively, especially those that have all the signs of an orchestrated effort.
Candidate forums: Do report on those
Guest Column: One checklist for election countdown
By Jim Pumarlo
forums that offer the potential for exploring new territory or feature races where candidates are running neck-inneck or are generating especially high interest. Do not feel compelled to devote staff time and resources on events that offer little more than a regurgitation of issues and statements that have been reported to death.
Whistle-stop tours: Do report on touring politicians who are seeking statewide office if you have the ability to quiz them on issues that connect with your readers. Do not feel driven to publish a photo and cutline of politicians who make a 10-minute stop as part of a statewide whistle-stop tour.
Candidate endorsements: Do report endorsements and noteworthy statements for or against candidates, especially those contrary to the political norm; include reaction from the respective campaigns. Do not waste precious time covering a press conference from political party chairs offering their obligatory support for a local slate of candidates.
Eleventh-hour charges: Do take the time to investigate the legitimacy of 11th-hour charges against a candidate to see if they warrant attention. Do not feel compelled to report if a campaign had the information in hand for weeks and waited for the last minute to try to blindside a candidate.
Deadlines: Do stick to deadlines, especially the ones specifically set for election season – i.e. the date for letters to the editor that raise new issues. Do not accept such feeble excuses as someone was caught in traffic or the clock on the home computer was five minutes slower than the editor’s computer.
Election reports: Do take the opportunity to take a collective sigh of relief – even celebrate – after your election edition
is put to bed and you’ve reported the votes and quotes. Do not let this signal the end of election coverage. Use your shared knowledge to translate the results, providing valuable analysis and insight for readers.
Election coverage truly tests the thick skin of newsrooms. That’s all the more reason to place a premium on fair and consistent coverage. Don’t be surprised if the brickbats still outweigh the bouquets tossed the way of editors and reporters. If all sides are crying foul, it’s a good bet you’ve put your best foot forward.
It’s understandable for newspapers to feel battered and bruised by the time ballots are cast. In truth, we should be grateful for the attention placed on each and every word, photo, ad or other element of election coverage. Despite today’s fractured media landscape, newspapers have the edge in their ability to devote resources and space for comprehensive and meaningful election coverage. Candidates recognize that and care deeply how they are portrayed to the electorate.
The vibrant newspapers are seizing the challenge of remaining the fortress of local information that is the backbone of our democracy.
Jim Pumarlo is former editor of the Red Wing (Minn.) Republican Eagle. He writes, speaks and provides training on community newsroom success strategies. He is author of “Journalism Primer: A Guide to Community News Coverage,” “Votes and Quotes: A Guide to Outstanding Election Coverage” and “Bad News and Good Judgment: A Guide to Reporting on Sensitive Issues in Small-Town Newspapers.” He can be reached at www. pumarlo.com and welcomes comments and questions at jim@pumarlo.com.