Northwest Arkansas newspaper war over

[JayFarrar]

Sani, if you know more pass it on, but what I am hearing is that people from both papers will be reinterviewing for their jobs.
So competing beat writers will face off and the winner gets to keep their job, while the other gets kicked to the curb.

“If we won, don’t we get first priority?” a Democrat-Gazette employee said. “I don’t know right now, so I am concerned. It only makes sense somebody’s got to go.”

“I tried to wrap my head around it [Thursday], and I basically decided, ‘What can you do, but go back to work?’” a Stephens employee said. “I guess it’s good they’re at least trying this new business model.”

http://www.arkansasbusiness.com/printable.asp?aid=116861

 

[BigRed]

Weird dynamic at play.
Both papers have about the same circulation for that area.
The Little Rock paper has a state-wide circulation of around 170k daily with about 35K of that in northwest.
The Springdale paper has about 35K as well.
Stephens Media has more papers and a higher total of circulation than the family who owns Little Rock.
Regardless, some people are going to be losing their jobs but it will take some time. From what I read, one paper has to be put up for sale first and on the market for a little bit, then the DOJ has to review and approve the JOA paperwork.
So nothing will likely change until Christmas or beyond.
Stephens Media has some deep pockets and it seems like they were one of the SEC papers that traveled by corporate jet to away games and as a result they had a huge traveling party. Nine or ten at road games.

At some places the weaker paper became the dominant paper after the JOA went in. Birmingham is one example that leaps to mind. The News was the PM and smaller paper while the Post-Herald was the morning and larger paper, from what I recall.
But after the JOA, it was the Post that went out of business but after 20 or 25 years since that was the length of the JOA.
In northwest Arkansas neither paper is particularly dominant and both have loyal followings with readers attached to certain news and sports columnists.
So it will be interesting from a detached way to see how it shakes out. From a personal and professional standpoint it makes me want to flee to a beach in Mexico and never come back.

The Post-Herald was always the smaller paper, but it was the morning paper and the News was the afternoon.
After a certain period of time, the News, as the larger paper, flexed its muscle and forced a swap of circulation cycles.
That, essentially, signed the Post-Herald's death certificate. Its afternoon circulation plunged and the News bought out the JOA in 2005, closing the paper.
As someone who was there, it was not fun.

 

[SanitizedSamolean]

Three *big* deals here should the JOA go into effect -- and it will: the new Northwest Arkansas Newspapers will have a five-member board, with WEHCO holding three of the seats. Advantage WEHCO. Second, Razorbacks coverage -- outside of Wal-Mart, the biggest beat in NWA -- will be taken by the current Dem-Gaz folks. Which isn't so bad coverage-wise since they're way stronger than the Stephens slouches -- but also advantage WEHCO. Third... as a new company, seems to me that would mean everyone's salary, benefits and accrued time off is negotiable. Advantage NOT personnel.

 

[Desk_dude]

After reading the articles, it appears as though this JOA isn't like the ones set in up in other cities where there are still separate, competitive editorial staffs.

It's more like in Las Vegas where there are separate newsrooms, but the Sun relies on features content and the section is inserted into the Review-Journal. In Arkansas, one paper concentrated on regionalized news in the area, and the other papers deals with local stuff.

 

[Terd Ferguson]

Three *big* deals here should the JOA go into effect -- and it will: the new Northwest Arkansas Newspapers will have a five-member board, with WEHCO holding three of the seats. Advantage WEHCO. Second, Razorbacks coverage -- outside of Wal-Mart, the biggest beat in NWA -- will be taken by the current Dem-Gaz folks. Which isn't so bad coverage-wise since they're way stronger than the Stephens slouches -- but also advantage WEHCO. Third... as a new company, seems to me that would mean everyone's salary, benefits and accrued time off is negotiable. Advantage NOT personnel.

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 ****ty deal for everybody involved. My heart goes out to friends at both places.

Carry on...

 

[SanitizedSamolean]

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.

 

[Inky_Wretch]

After reading the articles, it appears as though this JOA isn't like the ones set in up in other cities where there are still separate, competitive editorial staffs.

It's more like in Las Vegas where there are separate newsrooms, but the Sun relies on features content and the section is inserted into the Review-Journal. In Arkansas, one paper concentrated on regionalized news in the area, and the other papers deals with local stuff.

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

 

[Doctor Seuss]

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.

 

[Doctor Seuss]

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.

 

[SanitizedSamolean]

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

 

[JayFarrar]

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.

 

[Justin_Rice]

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

 

[Moderator1]

Got this today via The Pipeline, sounds pretty ugly down that way:

While reports are still incomplete, it appears that the sports editors and the entire sports staffs of the Northwest Arkansas Times and Benton County Daily Record were laid off this week, along with numerous writers from the Morning News and also the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette.
As has been noted here previously, the papers are merging after a truce was called in the long-running newspaper war there.
The Times, Daily Record and News will now have a sports staff of seven or eight and will no longer cover the University of Arkansas. Previously, the three papers had a combined staff of roughly 25 and the News was the place that hade nine writers, photogs and editors at Hogs road games.
One Hogs beat guy is going to be a one-man bureau, and will produce copy for the combined editions, now a one-section zoned, wrap of the Democrat-Gazette, and also for the other papers in the chain.
The other guys on the Hogs beat will be covering high schools.
The Democrat-Gazette also used this as an opportunity to shed staff even though that paper's ownership claimed to have "won" the newspaper war. Everyone who worked there had to re-apply for their jobs.

The casualty list isn't contained to sports. Every department at every paper was hit.
A more complete accounting and updated layoff list can be found at ozarksunbound.com.

 

[Inky_Wretch]

Got this today via The Pipeline, sounds pretty ugly down that way:

While reports are still incomplete, it appears that the sports editors and the entire sports staffs of the Northwest Arkansas Times and Benton County Daily Record were laid off this week, along with numerous writers from the Morning News and also the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette.
As has been noted here previously, the papers are merging after a truce was called in the long-running newspaper war there.
The Times, Daily Record and News will now have a sports staff of seven or eight and will no longer cover the University of Arkansas. Previously, the three papers had a combined staff of roughly 25 and the News was the place that hade nine writers, photogs and editors at Hogs road games.
One Hogs beat guy is going to be a one-man bureau, and will produce copy for the combined editions, now a one-section zoned, wrap of the Democrat-Gazette, and also for the other papers in the chain.
The other guys on the Hogs beat will be covering high schools.
The Democrat-Gazette also used this as an opportunity to shed staff even though that paper's ownership claimed to have "won" the newspaper war. Everyone who worked there had to re-apply for their jobs.

The casualty list isn't contained to sports. Every department at every paper was hit.
A more complete accounting and updated layoff list can be found at ozarksunbound.com.

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

 

[hawk]

thanks for the link

Got this today via The Pipeline, sounds pretty ugly down that way:

While reports are still incomplete, it appears that the sports editors and the entire sports staffs of the Northwest Arkansas Times and Benton County Daily Record were laid off this week, along with numerous writers from the Morning News and also the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette.
As has been noted here previously, the papers are merging after a truce was called in the long-running newspaper war there.
The Times, Daily Record and News will now have a sports staff of seven or eight and will no longer cover the University of Arkansas. Previously, the three papers had a combined staff of roughly 25 and the News was the place that hade nine writers, photogs and editors at Hogs road games.
One Hogs beat guy is going to be a one-man bureau, and will produce copy for the combined editions, now a one-section zoned, wrap of the Democrat-Gazette, and also for the other papers in the chain.
The other guys on the Hogs beat will be covering high schools.
The Democrat-Gazette also used this as an opportunity to shed staff even though that paper's ownership claimed to have "won" the newspaper war. Everyone who worked there had to re-apply for their jobs.

The casualty list isn't contained to sports. Every department at every paper was hit.
A more complete accounting and updated layoff list can be found at ozarksunbound.com.

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

 

[SanitizedSamolean]

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

 

[Mizzougrad96]

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

I can't find a list of sports guys on any of those sites.

 

[Mizzougrad96]

Apparently the one person I know at the Morning News is still employed.

 

[ScribePharisee]

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

..and this same incompetence has eliminated U of A coverage at the NWA station. How insane is that?

 

[ScribePharisee]

I think Jerry Jones invested heavily in this and with the stadium naming rights not going through, well, action had to be taken....