Nolan Richardson, on the February Cover of ArkansasSports360.com

Nolan Richardson, the former University of Arkansas men’s basketball coach, talks to ArkansasSports360.com Northwest Editor Chris Bahn in the February edition of ArkansasSports360.com. The magazine hits newsstands next week, but the cover story is available now. The amazing cover shot is by Eric Howerton.

Media Notes: It’s Getting Worse

Luckily, it’s Friday. After reading this, go have a cold one or three. Or maybe something stronger. Los Angeles Times kills local news section [LA Observed] WSJ layoffs may be coming next week [Portfolio/Mixed Media] The Baltimore Examiner, the city’s second daily, will close [AP] Disney cuts: 200 fired at ABC, 200 at ESPN [MediaMemo] [...]

Morris Publishing, Owner of the Log Cabin Democrat, to Explore Options

Ominous signs in Conway, where the Log Cabin Democrat’s owner, Morris Communications, says it has hired financial adviser Lazard Freres & Co. LLC (the same firm that advised Tribune Co. as it filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection) and another firm to “assist us in evaluating our strategic options regarding Morris Publishing’s existing capital structure.” [...]

Think Tank, Arkansas Project on Blogging and More at IABC

Local smart-ass bloggers Blake Rutherford of Blake’s Think Tank and David Kinkade of The Arkansas Project continue their tour on the Arkansas speakers circuit, holding forth on all things bloggy today at a meeting of the Arkansas Chapter of the International Association of Business Communicators. From Blake: The lunch is at the Little Rock Club [...]

Paper Cuts: Web Site Map Chronicles Layoffs at Newspapers

The American Journalism Review considers the sheer number of working journalists who are losing their jobs as newspapers cut back left and right. It cites figures from the U.S. Department of Labor (the number of all newspaper jobs shrank from 336,000 at the start of the year to 313,600 through October) and notes efforts by [...]

Video: An Early Electronic Newspaper System — from 1981

“So for the moment, at least, this fellow isn’t worried about being out of a job …” A 1981 local TV report on an early electronic newspaper system. Check out the participants. (Spotted on Tumblr.)

Mike Beebe’s Tax on Cigarettes Arrives at the Ledge

Gov. Mike Beebe’s 56-cent increase to the state’s tax on cigarettes was finally filed today, even as opposition brews. ArkansasBusiness.com’s Mark Carter attended today’s rally in support of the bill and files this report. The budding auteur also shot a pair of videos as Beebe and House Speaker Robbie Wills talked to the press: And [...]

Media Notes: Arkansas Democrat-Gazette Hires Online Director

The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette has hired 32-year-old Conan Gallaty has its new online director. Gallaty is in charge of expanding “original content” at ArkansasOnline.com. He previously worked as director of online operations and strategy for the New York Times Regional Media Group in Sarasota, Fla. If you like reading PDFs online, then we know you can’t [...]

Gwen Moritz: Pat Hays Has Lost His Marbles

That’s Arkansas Business Editor Gwen Moritz’s jumping off point in her column this week. It’s probably not an unusual thought for anyone who’s read anything about the North Little Rock mayor’s gerrymandered TIF district proposal, which would reroute tax dollars that are supposed to go to the North Little Rock School District to instead help [...]

A Year After Disappearance, Family Believes Glasgow Is Dead

In Arkansas Business this week, Editor Gwen Moritz follows up on the disappearance for CDI Contractors CFO John Glasgow, who was a reported missing a year ago this month. In an interview with Moritz, Glasgow’s brother Roger says his brothers and sisters have come to believe that their youngest — 45 when he went missing [...]