Northwest Arkansas newspaper war over

I'd say you're spot-on with a lot of this, except the part about "stephens slouches" and their Razorback coverage.

Morning News routinely turns out better-written stories than the DG crew and routinely holds its own in terms of reporting, which is surprising considering how little help the two Morning News guys are able to get from non-beat guys, plus the DG is HEAVILY aided by one and sometimes two Northwest Arkansas Times staffers.

I'm not on either sports staff nor am I employed by either paper. But, I know the lay of the land and I know the two guys on the beat for Stephens are hardly "slouches".

All that doesn't take away from the fact this is a shitty deal for everybody involved. My heart goes out to friends at both places.

Carry on...

 

TF, you are right. My characterization was off-base as the UA football beat guy especially is pretty solid. The "slouches" are the SE and ASE who while decent fellows are not the hardest workers you'll ever see. And of the the two revered columnists (not Neiswanger), one is a complete homer who cannot write a column without inserting himself into the thing, and the other one is way past his "use by" date and rarely writes anything outside of Admiral Stockdale-esque ramblings.

 

Not too shocking the JOAs look the same, since the company that owns the Review-Journal also owns The Morning News.

 

I heard this is about to turn really ugly very soon. Supposedly about 18 sports guys interviewed for six or seven positions last week. That means 11 or 12 are going to get axed. And, it's not just limited to sports. The word is, the entire newspaper is about to cut 40 to 50 percent of its current operating staff.

 

Here is the latest ... looks like they were all fired today ... and some will get to be hired back .... geesh.



The Justice Department has closed its investigation related to failing newspapers in Northwest Arkansas, clearing the way for a joint venture to move forward, officials of Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, Inc., and Stephens Media LLC announced.

The deal will be formalized Nov. 1, when the new limited liability company takes over publication of The Morning News of Northwest Arkansas, the Northwest Edition of the Democrat-Gazette, the Northwest Arkansas Times in Fayetteville and the Benton County Daily Record in Bentonville, and associated weekly newspapers in Washington and Benton counties and McDonald County, Mo.

The joint venture is a 50-50 partnership between owners of Stephens Media LLC and Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, Inc. The two companies have contributed all of their Northwest Arkansas assets and Stephens Media's newspapers in McDonald County, Mo., to the new company — Northwest Arkansas Newspapers.

The partnership will publish the Northwest Arkansas Edition of the Democrat-Gazette, The Morning News in Springdale and Rogers, the Northwest Arkansas Times in Fayetteville, the Benton County Daily Record in Bentonville, weekly newspapers in the two counties, plus in McDonald County, Mo., and the Razorback fan magazine, Hawgs Illustrated.

The Morning News, the Northwest Arkansas Times, and the Benton County Daily Record will be primarily local newspapers, as will the various weeklies. The Northwest Edition of the Democrat-Gazette will focus on regional, state, national and international news.

All of the publications will provide varying coverage of Arkansas Razorback sports.

Employees of the two companies have been sent notification under the Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act, which says their jobs will be eliminated on or about Oct. 31. However, all have or will be given the opportunity to apply for jobs with the new company.

Tom Stallbaumer, publisher of The Morning News, will remain publisher for the daily and weekly newspapers other than the Northwest Edition of the Democrat-Gazette. Jeff Jeffus, a vice president with Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, Inc., who has been running the Democrat-Gazette operations in Northwest Arkansas, will continue in that role in addition to being president of the new company.

Stephens Media will control editorial functions of all of the newspapers other than the Democrat-Gazette Northwest Edition, and the Arkansas Democrat Gazette will control business office, advertising, and production aspects.

Rusty Turner, editor of The Morning News, will continue in that role, but his duties will expand to include the daily and weekly papers other than the Northwest Edition of the Democrat-Gazette. Susan Scantlin will remain editor of that edition.

The partnership was pursued because both The Morning News and the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette's Northwest Edition, and their associated products, were operating at a loss. The Justice Department requested that The Morning News and the other Stephens Media products pursue a sale of the newspapers before a new company could be formed. The provision was followed and no offers were made.

 

Synopsis: Bootlickers and bloat hold on; infantry thrown under bus. The incompetence that couldn't turn a profit this century stays in place. -30-

 

Both places have big staffs, that won't be the case for much longer.
In what was once one of the most competitive markets in the country, one company will control all the print media, and, almost all of the online products.
With around 600 total employees, you gotta figure that half will be gone immediately.
You don't need two press crews or circulation staffs or marketing, or HR or any or the other admin jobs.
It is going to be one crappy Halloween for a lot of people there.

 

Thinkin' about all my Northwest Arkansas newspaper pals tonight ... hang in there boys!

 

According to that Web site, the combined editions will not have an Arkansas beat writer and instead get all Razorbacks copy from the Democrat-Gazette. Two of the former Arkansas beat writers are listed as covering specific high schools. The third is now listed as working for the remaining Stephens Media papers not included in the merger.

As if having to watch Eastern Michigan play football wasn't bad enough, these cuts will make the press box at today's Arkansas game a very dreary place.

Edit: Here's the thread where I got most of that info ... http://www.ozarksunbound.com/paper-cuts-axe-falls-on-newspaper-employees-others-return-to-the-grind-ink-by-the-byte/6729

 

thanks for the link

 

Most of the reassigned MN sportswriters are better suited to HS coverage anyway.