OU: Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, Stephens Northwest Merger Moving Forward

Christopher Spencer’s Ozarks Unbound reports that the merger between the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette and Stephens Media’s northwest Arkansas operations is moving forward, with newspaper employees interviewing for their old jobs this week:
Staff with The Morning News of Northwest Arkansas, the Northwest Arkansas Times and the Benton County Daily Record were told they must re-apply for their [...]

Are We Really Ready for This?

Only this could shake us from an annoyingly long period of blog inactivity. In the face of it, one can only ask, Is the World Ready?
Of course, we know it’s possible to handily butcher the English language in 140 characters. But we expect big things from Wally.
Wally Hall on Twitter – Twitter

Molding Young Minds at UALR High School Journalism Day

Much thanks to the Sonny Rhodes and the University of Arkansas at Little Rock for inviting me to speak during two sessions of UALR’s annual Journalism Day event, which took place Thursday.
Andrew DeMillo of The Associated Press gave the event’s keynote address on “Why Journalism Matters,” and other session leaders included Frank Fellone of the [...]

The Friday Week in Review: You Lie! Edition

It’s Friday, and time for another long look back at a brutal week in politics, sports and the Web. We’re going to try for a reasoned, respectful debate here, so no shouting! But feel free to call us out in comments if we start going on about death panels. Remember: There remains some significant details [...]

Statement: ‘Both’ Morning News, DG Will Cover Razorbacks

The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette and the Stephens Media issued a joint statement this afternoon, answering some reporting on what their new venture’s staffing plans might be and (perhaps most importantly!) just who’ll be responsible for covering Arkansas’ beloved Razorbacks.
First, in response to a report by the City Wire on the “radical downsizing” that’s supposed to happen [...]

Friday Week In Review: Who Will Wear the Crown? Edition

Now that the Great Northwest Arkansas Newspaper War is settled, we can move on to other, more important forms of media self-destruction, like giving away all our online content for free!
Here now, at no extra charge, is a loving look back at the Week The Way It Was, Not Necessarily How We’d Like It To [...]

ArkansasBusiness.com: Democrat-Gazette, Stephens Employees Face ‘Uncertain’ Future

Rob Keys of Arkansas Business’ sister publication, the Northwest Arkansas Business Journal, files a report today on ArkansasBusiness.com in the aftermath of yesterday’s joint venture announcement between the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette and Stephens Media in northwest Arkansas.
Not surprisingly, uncertainty appears to be a common theme among employees of both operations:
Said an employee of the Democrat-Gazette: “There’s [...]

The Morning After: Merry Christmas, Newspaper War Is Over

A round-up of Day Two coverage of the end of the Northwest Arkansas Newspaper War, such as it was.
Michael Tilley’s City Wire has details on the board that will control Northwest Arkansas Newspapers LLC, saying that the Stephens Media gets 2 seats on a five seat board, which of course means, “Walter wins!” Also: The [...]

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 [...]

Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, Stephens Media End Northwest Arkansas Newspaper War

The war is over.
After suffering “significant financial losses during the current economic recession,” the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette and Stephens Media plan a joint venture in northwest Arkansas, the news organizations announced Thursday.
The joint venture would move forward if Stephens can’t find a buyer for its flagship newspaper, The Morning News. But Democrat-Gazette Publisher Walter Hussman says [...]