November 2015 | Vol. 12 Issue 11

A MONTHLY PUBLICATION SUPPORTING APA-MEMBER ADVERTISING PROFESSIONALS ArkansasAd Press Services, Inc. is a subsidiary of NewsArkansas Press Association | 411 South Victory, Little Rock, AR 72201 | 501.374.1500 INSIDE: From The Field Feature Page 2- 2016 rate cards needed New ad director already enjoying job Marka Sonoga has only been advertising manager at the El Dorado News-Times for several weeks, but she is already enjoying her new job. “The people here are very nice and friendly. It’s pretty and warm here, and I like the downtown,” Sonoga said. Born in Okinawa, Japan, Sonoga spent most of her life in Youngstown, Ohio, where she graduated from high school. Her father, who had been in the Page 5 - ‘APA Air Force died when Sonoga was only 19, which Perfect Performance’ meant she needed to work while attending college. newspapers remaining She attended night school at Youngstown State University for two years, then graduated from Penn State. During those years, she worked full time at a hospital and for an ambulance company. “Early on I thought I wanted to go into the medical field, but by the time I graduated from college I was married and decided to go another direction rather than going to med school,” she said. “So I started selling advertising for WYTV in CALENDAR Youngstown in 1999.” Marka Sonoga (seated), advertising manager at the El Dorado News-Times, discusses an ad with Peggy Cagle, NOVEMBER 26-27 continued on page 3 outside sales rep. Thanksgiving Holiday APA Office Closed Texarkana Gazette celebrates 140 years DECEMBER 25 Christmas Holiday Early last month the Texarkana APA Office Closed Gazette celebrated 140 years No Mail of service in partnership with its readers, advertisers and the JANUARY 1 community with an eight-page New Year’s Day special section. The publication APA Office Closed covered the history of the No Mail newspaper (see accompanying article) and ran several articles and MARCH 10-11 columns by current and former APA Advertising employees. Newspaper leaders at Conference the Texarkana Gazette as far back Winthrop Rockefeller as the 1930s were innovators in Institute, Petit Jean communications advancement. Mountain John Fooks reminisced about his employment at the newspaper Photo credit: Joshua Boucher, El Dorado News-Times. Working for you... since being hired in 1980. Former the transition from hot lead to the digital age in OCTOBER employee Johnny Green wrote about the changes newspaper production. Gross Advertising Sales in technology over the years. James Presley The Texarkana Gazette has only missed $ recalled the Phantom Killer hysteria of 1946, producing one issue in the past 14 decades. Reporters 379,417.35 and former publisher Buddy King discussed continued on page 2

November 2015 AdNews | 1 140 years continued from page 1 Greg Bischof and Lori Dunn wrote about their recollections of the massive ice storm In the that hit the area on Christmas Day 2000. News Due to the loss of electricity, the newspaper De Queen Bee Publisher Clark Smith recently announced the publication of a new did not print on Dec. 27 of that year. Spanish-language newspaper for De Queen and the surrounding area. Titled The De Christy Busby said the newspaper staff Queen Bee in Espanol, the newspaper will feature articles in the Spanish language with a focus on the local Latino community. acted quickly on Sept. 11, 2001, to find local “This is something we’ve been working on for several months, and we are excited angles to the horrific acts of the day. The to introduce it to our Spanish-speaking community,” Smith said. “We hope this staff created an eight-page, ad-free midday newspaper will not only provide readers with important, accurate information in Sevier edition. They knew their readers didn’t County, but also help bridge the area’s English- and Spanish-speaking communities.” want to wait to read about the happenings — of that day that changed and galvanized this Sync, the free central Arkansas weekly created in 2007 by the Arkansas Democrat- country. Gazette, ceased publication after its Oct. 28 issue, according to Lynn Hamilton, president and general manager of the Democrat-Gazette. Editor Les Minor reminded readers Sync was created with the intent of reaching a young of two bad mistakes the newspaper made: adult audience. But market research indicates that for one was running a correction that was also adults under 40, the Democrat-Gazette reaches 10 times incorrect. The second was running the more such readers than Sync or any other publication in wrong date (Nov. 23, 1961) in the masthead the Little Rock market. on Nov. 23, 1963, which carried first-day “This fact helped us decided that our resources coverage of the assassination of President could be better devoted to our core daily newspaper publication,” Hamilton said. John F. Kennedy. Sync Weekly The closure of Sync follows a national trend. Another humorous story told of a “Free newspaper weeklies recently have ceased publication in Philadelphia, Dillard’s ad that contained an embarrassing Baltimore, Knoxville, Providence (R.I.) and San Francisco, among other cities,” he said. typo. Plus the newspaper ran an excerpt Only one Sync employee was laid off. Three others were offered other positions at from Texarkana native H. Ross Perot’s the company. One employee took another job. book “My Life & Principles For Success” — concerning his delivering the Texarkana Co. reached an agreement to acquire newspaper company for $208 million last month, giving the media giant control of publications in Gazette by bike and on horseback in various more than 100 local markets in the U.S., company officials announced. parts of town. Journal Media publications dot the Midwest and South and include the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, of Memphis and the . The merger adds 15 daily and 18 weekly papers to Gannett’s portfolio. Gannett’s flagship publication is USA Today, and it has used that publication’s staff 2016 Rate to produce national content for its local operations. Cards Needed Gannett this past summer became a company that runs newspapers exclusively, having moved all of its television companies into a separate company, Tegna Inc. Arkansas Press Services, Inc. — (APS) is requesting 2016 advertising Frank E. Lockwood has been named the Washington, D.C., rate cards from all members of the correspondent for the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette. Arkansas Press Association so rates He replaces Sarah D. Wire, who took a position with the can be entered into the accounting Washington bureau of the Los Angeles Times. David Bailey, managing editor of the Democrat-Gazette, lauded program. Lockwood’s qualifications to report on Washington for Arkansas Ashley Wimberley, director of readers. marketing, said some members “Frank is a gifted journalist who has years of experience have already provided their rates covering government and politics in Arkansas and in Washington,” Frank E. for next year, but it’s important to Bailey said. Lockwood have everyone’s information when Lockwood, 48, has worked for the Democrat-Gazette since planning for 2016. 2006, when he was hired as religion editor. In 2009, he also assumed supervision of the newspaper’s Washington bureau reporter. “We are beginning to develop Lockwood’s role at the newspaper changed again in November 2012, when he some statewide 2016 ad campaigns became supervisor of the newspaper’s state Capitol bureau and its three reporters. for clients and need to know rates His tenure as religion editor ended at that time. – especially if they are going to Lockwood, a native of Hermiston, Ore., has a bachelor’s degree in history from change – in order to provide accurate Harvard University and a law degree from the University of Idaho. estimates,” Wimberley said. Lockwood also was a Knight Wallace Journalism Fellow at the University of Ad managers are urged to Michigan. “After editing for nine years, it’s exciting to be reporting and writing full-time again,” send a copy of their 2016 rate Lockwood said. “I became a journalist more than 20 years ago because I loved telling cards (regardless of whether or stories, and there’ll be plenty of Arkansas angles to cover in the nation’s capital. It’s a not any rates have changed) to great time to be covering Washington. And with two former Arkansas residents running Rebecca McGraw, at rebecca@ for president, the race for the White House will be especially interesting.” arkansaspress.org, or fax them to 501-374-7509.

2 | November 2015 AdNews From the field continued from page 1 After three years in broadcast TV she moved to print advertising representatives (currently looking to fill one of those jobs), two sales at the Youngstown Vindicator where she worked for 14 years. inside sales reps and one sales coordinator. In 2013 Sonoga and her husband, Mike, moved to LaGrange, She said there is a lot of opportunity in El Dorado. Ga., to live in a warmer climate. She took a job as regional media “Right now we’re working on a holiday magazine plus a medical director for the LaGrange Daily News and the Thomaston Times. guide, which hasn’t been done here before. I have several other Sonoga said she started looking for a new job recently because ideas for next year, which will include focusing on online,” she said. the company she was working for was a large “The El Dorado newspaper has fared corporation and was going through major “As a salesperson we need to better than many local papers. People will cutbacks and changes. know our product so we can always want to read the news about their “I saw the El Dorado News-Times job work with our customers to community,” Sonoga said. opening on a press association’s job listing,” She explained that her goal is to help local she said. “I like the fact that WEHCO is a make them successful. We are business owners and managers solve their family-owned company. It’s a great company here to help people. We must marketing, promotion and advertising needs. with good benefits.” do what’s good for them.” “As a salesperson we need to know our In announcing Sonoga as the new product so we can work with our customers advertising manager, Ronnie Bell, general manager of the El to make them successful. We are here to help people. We must do Dorado News-Times, said he is proud to have someone with such what’s good for them. In the long run, what benefits customers also extensive experience and accomplishments join his team. makes the newspaper more successful,” she said. “I believe she will bring new ideas for our customers on how to Sonoga and her husband are actually living in Smackover – leverage print and digital platforms for the best results possible,” about a 15-minute easy commute to and from the newspaper office. Bell said. “Her background of proven success will benefit everyone, “I grew up in the country so I really like where I’m living. It’s certainly including our staff, the newspaper and the community as very quiet. However, some of my friends back home thought I was a whole.” joking about the name of the town – Smackover,” she said with a Sonoga said she has a good crew consisting of four outside sales laugh. “I told them I’m not making that up.

Gazette roots run deep in Texarkana 90 80 70 60 50 40 30 20 15 10 C M Y K 50 40 30 20 15 10 CYAN PLATE MAGENTA PLATE YELLOW PLATE BLACK PLATE PAGE 1A EDITOR’S NOTE: Some of this Gardner consolidated the papers and began 08/14/2013 03:36 pm Updated information is from “A Chronicle of publishing a daily and weekly edition of the Arkansas Newspapers,” published in 1922; Texarkanian. “Arkansas Press Association 1930-1971,” In the early 1900s the papers were compiled by Robert W. Meriweather; bought by George S. Valliant. In 1913 the THROUGH and the “Palmer Newspapers Personnel Texarkanian papers were sold to James L. Handbook.” This article is reprinted from Wadley (formerly of the Hot Springs News) THE YEARS the Texarkana Gazette. and his sons, Archer R. and James L. Jr. The roots of the Texarkana Gazette date The Wadleys operated the daily and weekly back 140 years and include newspaper Texarkanian until 1926 when the papers mergers, acquisitions and ownership were sold to D.W. Stevick. Stevick also changes. Texarkana Democrat was a weekly bought the Four States Press and Texarkana founded on the Arkansas side in 1875 by Journal – two -side papers published G.H. and E.G. Wootten. In 1882 the paper by C.E. Palmer – and consolidated the was sold to Dayton B. Hayes and Ed A. newspapers into the daily Texarkana Church, who added an afternoon daily to Gazette. the weekly in 1883. In 1909 Palmer was on his way to his After another change in ownership, the honeymoon with his new bride Bettie when two Democrat papers were purchased in the train made a stop in Texarkana at night. 1884 by E.A. Warren and C.E. Mitchell. Clyde and Bettie left the train to eat dinner For a few years the papers were known as in town like most of the other passengers.

Vectorized Texarkana Gazette Logo the Independent, but the name Democrat After spending the night there, they decided By Jason Hopkins was resumed in 1890. they would stay a few days. There were J.W. Gardner bought the Texarkana several newspapers in Texarkana at the time Democrat papers in 1892 about a year later and Palmer, who was often referred to his 140th AnniversAry Fourteen decades of service in partnership with he also purchased the Daily Texarkanian, initials – C.E. – decided to purchase one of our readers, advertisers and the community a paper which had been started in 1891. continued on page 4 Section E • Sunday, October 4, 2015 • Texarkana Gazette

CYAN PLATE MAGENTA PLATE YELLOW PLATE BLACK PLATE 90 80 70 60 50 40 30 20 15 10 C M Y K 50 40 30 20 15 10 November 2015 AdNews | 3 Gazette roots continued from page 3 them. He bought the Texarkana Courier for $900. By 1912 he had Palmer Newspapers, which consists of daily newspapers in Hot changed its name to the Four States Press. Springs, El Dorado, Camden, Magnolia and Texarkana. Stevick established the Texarkana Daily News, an evening The Palmer Newspapers have long been innovators in newspaper Arkansas publication, as a companion to his morning Texas- technology. The companies were the first in the industry to side Texarkana Gazette. In March 1933, C.E. Palmer use a teletypesetter circuit. Another first was the use of and his associates (Charles M. Conway, J.A. facsimile transmissions by microwave. Newspapers McDermott and Henry Humphrey) bought the in the group were among the first to switch from Daily News and Gazette from Stevick. hot metal to cold type composition, and were W.E. Hussman Sr. became vice president of among the first newspapers in the country to go Texarkana Newspapers Inc., the publishing firm to offset lithography printing. and business and advertising manager of the two The Palmer Newspapers were one of the papers. Humphrey was the editor and Palmer first companies in Arkansas to provide group the publisher of the two papers during the 1930s major medical benefits for its employees, and and ‘40s. On Palmer’s death in 1957, Hussman one of the first newspaper groups in the region became head of the publishing firm. to provide a profit-sharing plan. In 1981 Walter Hussman Sr. retired as president In addition to those firsts, in 1946 the Texarkana of the Texarkana Gazette. His career with newspapers Daily News was the first newspaper to use spot color on spanned more than 50 years. He died July 2, 1988. Carrying a news photo. It was a photograph of a red flashlight found on the family tradition in the third generation is Walter E. Hussman at the scene of one of the famous Phantom killings. It ran across four Jr. who joined the company in 1970 and was named president in columns, and readers were asked to identify it. 1981. For more than 140 years the Texarkana Gazette has played an The Gazette is a subsidiary of WEHCO Media which also owns important part in our extended community, with no end in sight, the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette in Little Rock and is part of the only more beginnings. ‘20 Tweetable Truths’ about the newspaper industry

NAA has compiled a list of “20 Tweetable Truths” for you to share on your newspaper’s Twitter account, including facts and How to use the ‘20 Tweetable Truths’ figures about the state of print and digital newspapers and examples EDITOR’S NOTE: These tweets can be used any time you of the many positive developments taking place in the industry. are looking for facts to share about the broader newspaper The tweets, all 140 characters or less, are grouped into four industry, but they will have the greatest impact when they categories: Audience, Social Media, Advertising, and Miscellaneous. are posted my multiple groups and individuals, within a Many of the tweets link back to the NAA website and resources, and specified time period. use the hashtag #KnowYourNews. Through using this discovery- • They can be used as a mini-campaign, posted in the themed hashtag, we hope to contribute positively to discussions same day or week, or used on the same day of the week about newspapers on social media, for those interested in learning for a longer period. more about news media topics. There is a convenient “Tweet This” feature that allows you to • They can be included alongside your newspaper’s other quickly and easily share these facts: Clicking the button to the right social media posts. of the corresponding post will automatically populate the post in • You can plan your posts in advance using the scheduling your Twitter window, complete with links; all you have to do is function in your social media aggregator tool. click Send! NNA announces workshop for printers that mail papers The complexities of managing publisher of Leader in Princeton, electronic Documentation or ‘e-Doc,’ and Periodicals newspapers in the mail have KY, said NNA realized that solving the a plethora of mail preparation details, such ballooned in the past decade as consolidated multiple challenges of newspaper delivery as use of flats trays. NNA is beginning this printing operations and the digital tools in the mail required better training for training program so we can nail down some of the U.S. Postal Service have reshaped printers. best practices.” the industry. Newspaper “The days are gone where each publisher The program and registration details will Association (NNA) announced its first-ever had his own back shop, sacked his newspapers be announced in December. workshop for Periodicals printers, set for and hauled them to the post office,” he said. NNA Postal Committee Chair Max March 16, 2016, at the Crystal City Marriott “Now, a qualified Periodicals printer is Heath urged publishers to contact their in Arlington, Va. probably a regional company, and it has to printers now to ask them to save the date. NNA President Chip Hutcheson, have experts on Intelligent Mail Barcodes,

4 | November 2015 AdNews APA's 2015 Perfect Performance Club When businesses and organizations schedule newspaper advertising through Arkansas Press Services (APS), it is important that all the ads run correctly and on time. The Arkansas Press Association Board of Directors wishes to recognize member newspapers that run ads error free. APA’s Perfect Performance Club – a listing of all member newspapers that have run every ad scheduled through APS this year with no errors – will run every month in AdNews. At the end of the year, APS will reward newspapers still on the list for their staffs’ hard work and dedication to perfection.

Alma Journal Harrison Daily Times Mountain View – Stone County Leader Amity – The Standard Hazen – Grand Prairie Herald Murfreesboro Diamond Bella Vista – The Weekly Vista Heber Springs – Sun-Times Nashville Leader Berryville – Carroll County News Midweek Horseshoe Bend – Pacesetting Times North Little Rock – The Times Berryville – Carroll County News Weekend Hot Springs – The Sentinel-Record Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette Edition Hot Springs Village Voice The Osceola Times Blytheville – Imboden – The Ozark Journal Paragould Booneville Democrat Jacksonville Patriot Perryville – Perry County Petit Jean Brinkley – The Central Delta Argus-Sun Jacksonville – Country Headlight Calico Rock – White River Current Jasper – Newton County Times Rison – Cleveland County Herald Carlisle Independent Lake Village – Chicot County Spectator Russellville – The Courier Charleston Express Little Rock – Arkansas Business Salem – The News/Areawide Media Cherokee Village – Villager Journal Little Rock – Arkansas Times Searcy – The Daily Citizen Danville – Yell County Record Little Rock – The Sherwood Voice The Dover Times Lonoke Democrat Star City – Lincoln American Eudora Enterprise Malvern Daily Record Star City – Lincoln Ledger Fairfield Bay News Manila – The Town Crier Van Buren – Press Argus-Courier Farmington – Washington County Mansfield – The Citizen Waldron News Enterprise-Leader Marianna – Courier-Index West Memphis – Times Fayetteville Free Weekly McCrory – Woodruff County Monitor- White Hall Journal Fordyce News-Advocate Leader-Advocate Wynne Progress Forrest City – Times-Herald The Melbourne Times Fort Smith – Times Record The Mena Star Glenwood Herald Monticello – Advance Monticellonian Greenwood Democrat Morrilton – Conway County Petit Jean Hamburg – Ashley County Ledger Country Headlight 68 Hampton – South Arkansas Sun Mountain Home – The Baxter Bulletin Papers Remain in "Perfect" Standing

November 2015 AdNews | 5 December Monthly Sales Planner Call Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday List 1 2 3 4 5

6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Pearl Harbor Day Hanukkah Begins

13 14 15 16 17 18 19

20 21 22 23 24 25 26 First Day Christmas of Winter APA Office Closed No Mail

27 28 29 30 31 New Year's Eve

December is… Gift-Buying Season. Call on EVERYONE. Seriously, everyone. Every single client on your account list likely offers some sort of product, goods or service that someone would like to receive as a present, no matter how far- fetched it might seem initially. Even plastic surgeons and tattoo shops offer gift certificates these days. Call on every account on your list this month, in person if you can manage it…at the very least it reintroduces you to them and associates your face and name with your newspaper, which is a good start for a new year of sales.

Getting-Ready-for-Tax-Season. Call on thrift stores, churches, non-profits and charities for them to promote year-end charitable contributions and donations. Also, call on investment firms and tax accountants to promote year-end account reviews and assessments. After Dec. 31, it’s too late to donate for 2015 tax purposes.

Eating Season. Call on restaurants, diners, caterers, grab-n-go delis, grocery stores, bakeries, ice-cream shops and candy stores. Promote special meals, coupons, gift baskets, or gift certificates. Don’t forget, after all the eating comes remorse, so while you are out also call on personal trainers, fitness classes, gyms, sporting goods shops and diet centers for ads to run the week after Christmas.

6 | November 2015 AdNews to Steve Meet Neil McConnell st Knox of the NEIL MCCONNELL, APS ADVERTISING SALES REP 1 Osceola Meet Neil ... New to the Network Department Times. While I’m new to the network department, I’m not new to the Arkansas He is Association (APA). I’ve had the privilege of meeting many of you at our first to conventions over the past four years and in those years, I’ve been referred to sell a Network 2x2 in as a bit of a hybrid as my efforts have been concentrated mostly on selling the Networks and retail ads. December. I’ve spent the last 14 years in media sales and previously spent ten of those Steve is now entered years as a radio marketing consultant selling radio adverting and promotions in to win the December Little Rock for a team of radio stations and radio networks. While sales is always challenging it’s always exciting when each day brings new adventures. My sales promotional drawing. experience has taught me that with hard work, dedication and consistency one can Ad Reps! easily meet and even exceed their sales goals. You only have until I’m looking forward to the new adventures in front of me at the APA. I’m excited to be working side by side with Eva and we look forward to working with Dec. 9 to sell a new a great network of people and newspapers across the state. We are positive 2016 2x2 or 2x4 network ad. will be great year! The winner of the $150 Feel free to reach out should you need anything or have any network questions. Best, bonus cash drawing Neil McConnell will be announced [email protected] on Dec. 12. 501-517-4620

Eva’s Note – Pecking for Business I’m very happy to be working with Neil McConnell in the Network Department. One of Neil’s hobbies is raising chickens. I am sure he has observed his chickens pecking for their food tirelessly. They get up early. They don’t get discouraged when they don’t find a grain immediately. They keep their eyes open, and keep pecking until they find food. After they find a grain, they don’t go back immediately to the chicken coop and say “Well, that’s my one grain for the day, I’m good.” They keep pecking until they find more. And then they get up the next morning and do it all again. Sometimes they find a whole pile of grain. Sales can be a lot like that. One grain at a time or the whole pile, but the main thing is...keep pecking! You’ll gain more business and it could earn you $250 in December! New Promotion Alert! Put $250 under your Christmas tree in December! Sell a statewide 2x4 in December and earn $250 in bonus cash! No Drawings! No Contest! Each sales rep who sells a 2x4 statewide DAN ad OR $2,500 in SCAN ads during the month of December earns $250 in bonus cash. $250 For more information, call Eva or Neil at 800-569-8762.

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