Implications, Random Thoughts on the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette/Stephens Media Joint Venture

The plan for a joint venture announced today between the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette and Stephens Media in northwest Arkansas raises all kinds of questions, many of which we hope to answer in our continuing coverage this afternoon on ArkansasBusiness.com.
Among the many points to ponder should the joint venture deal go through:
Staffing: What does this portend for [...]

The Guardian UK, Walter Hussman Talk Online News Over Whole Hog in Little Rock

Walter Hussman, everyone’s favorite newspaper publisher bravely charging for online news and somehow “making it work,” is back in the headlines, entertaining a Guardian UK writer at Whole Hog Cafe and talking about how print/Internet strategy is working.
As we’ve noted before, “preserve the print edition” has been the goal. The reporter on the story doesn’t [...]

The FTC to Hold Hold Workshops on Journalism in the Internet Age

First, there was John Kerry’s Congressional subcommittee hearing on “the Future of Journalism.” And now, the Federal Trade Commission is set to hold two days of workshops in December on journalism and its survival in the Internet age:
Though some may be uncomfortable with government oversight of any aspect of journalism, the F.T.C. seems to be [...]

Holding the Bag for the Turk Plant and More in This Week’s Arkansas Business

It’s Monday and time for the latest edition of Arkansas Business. This special edition focuses on utilities and includes the lists of the largest electric and natural gas companies in Arkansas. Among other highlights:
Jamie Walden examines the cases against Southwestern Electric Power Co.’s John W. Turk Jr. coal-fired power plant in Hempstead County and says [...]

Reports: Rupert Murdoch to Charge for All Online Content

Rupert Murdoch, the Australian media baron who controls the Wall Street Journal, the New York Post, Fox News and dozens of other print and broadcast properties, says he will begin charging for all the online content of his newspapers and TV news channels sometime within “this financial year,” as his News Corp. posts a $203 [...]

Ernie Passailaigue’s South Carolina Days, the ‘Moritz Scale’ and More in This Week’s Arkansas Business

It’s Monday. On the bright side, there’s the new Arkansas Business. In this week’s edition:
Mark Hengel investigates Ernie Passailaigue’s time as head of the South Carolina. Let’s see: There was an FOI lawsuit, a conflict over a $7.5 million advertising contract, and allegations that Passailaigue, a former South Carolina state senator, benefited from cronyism. Otherwise, [...]

Smartphone Etiquette and Entrepreneurship in This Week’s Arkansas Business

Let’s peruse the latest Arkansas Business newspaper, online and on newsstands now!
Smartphones are everywhere. And they’re addicting! Mark Friedman reports that businesses are struggling about the new etiquette developing (or not developing) around these devices. Are the kids tweeting every word of your presentation because it’s great? Or are they playing Paper Toss? Meanwhile: New [...]

Media Notes: Lottery Advertising RFP, NWANews.com Lock Down and Hacked Twitter Docs

Rounding up the latest from the media-sphere, navel-gazing at its best:
Gamble — The lottery’s advertising RFP is out. Now it’s time for Arkansas agencies to make their play for the five-year advertising and marketing account.
July Surprise – On the heels of another layoff, Gannett Co. swings to a second-quarter profit. That’s good! But newspaper ad [...]

Update: Lottery Commission Issues Advertising RFP, Takes Action on Staff Salaries

The Arkansas Lottery Commission today took action to reign in staff salary spending, passing a motion requiring its personnel committee to approve of the hiring of any staff position that pays more than $80,000 per year.
ArkansasBusiness.com Assistant Internet Editor Mark Carter was live-tweeting for Capsearch from the meeting, and his reporting is available here. Also: [...]

Arkansas Lottery Commission to Talk Advertising RFP at Meeting Today

(Update: ArkansasBusiness.com’s and Capsearch’s developing story on the meeting is available here. And we’ve added a new post here with some limited details on the RFP.)
Attention Arkansas advertising agencies: The Arkansas Lottery (Scholarship?) Commission is set to discuss its advertising RFP at its meeting, taking place at 1:30 p.m. at Arkansas State University-Beebe:
In addition to [...]