Is The Morning News of Northwest Arkansas still for sale?
News — By Christopher Spencer on October 5, 2009 at 5:27 pm
** UPDATED 10/07/09: Clarified that Tom Stallbaumer’s publisher role in the emerging Northwest Arkansas Newspapers venture will likely be as head of the company’s editorial division. **
**UPDATE 10/07/09: No offer was accepted to buy The Morning News of Northwest Arkansas. According to sources, Morning News editor Rusty Turner will be going on a fact-finding tour of The Northwest Arkansas Times and the Benton County Daily Record, both Wehco Media properties, this week to meet with editors and get the low down on staffing and news coverage. As stated earlier, Morning News publisher Tom Stallbaumer will head the new company’s editorial division as publisher. Reorganization is gonna occur faster rather than slower, sources indicate. It’s thought that the Department of Justice will formally offer “no objection” to the merger very soon.**
[Full disclosure: I worked for The Morning News as a reporter until April of this year.]
By Christopher Spencer
Ozarks Unbound
FAYETTEVILLE — All indicators point to “Yes” for the time being.
You might recall that early last month it was announced the Northwest Arkansas newspaper properties owned by Wehco Media and those of Stephens Media might merge after receiving the blessing of the U.S. Department of Justice. The new entity known as Northwest Arkansas Newspapers LLC would be a combined operation.
When asked today if The Morning News was for still for sale, editor Rusty Turner of that newspaper referred me to the initial press release which stated that the paper’s sale period will extend through the required period. I’m thinking it’s Oct. 5, also known as today, but I’ve been unable to officially tag it as a final sale date.
In the meantime, I filed a Freedom of Information Act request with the U.S. Department of Justice’s antitrust division. The response I received was of the “ongoing enforcement proceeding” variety and didn’t shed much light.
We shall see what comes during this spooky October.
SIMILAR POSTS
- Wehco and Stephens marry as Northwest Arkansas Newspapers LLC. is formed Friday | Ink By the Byte at 12:24 pm on October 24, 2009
- Morning News falls through the cracks | CF at 8:30 am on March 8, 2010
- NWA newspaper merger accelerates as employees apply for their old jobs | Ink By the Byte at 8:14 pm on October 19, 2009
- Warren Stephens: The heavy hand of publishing | CF at 1:36 pm on September 21, 2009
- NWA newspaper merger becomes “officially” official as papers drop simultaneous press releases | Ink By the Byte at 6:30 pm on October 26, 2009
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10 Comments
One of these days I need to get you to teach me how to file an FOIA.
Happy to, hehe. It couldn’t be easier. Luckily, you don’t have to put any special language in except to say you’re requesting this info under the Freedom of Information Act. There are a ton of exceptions and challenges rarely go to court, but I figured it was worth a try.
Where did you get your updated info today?
*grin* As the update indicates the information is “from sources” – an oft-abused journalistic method of protecting an anonymous but trusted source. Basically, it puts my credibility on the line versus the sources. I’m OK with that.
Well, I’m not sure the part about Stallbaumer is true. I know Jeffus was announced as President, and there will be a five-man editorial board/board of directors. As far as I know, nothing else has been made official.
Thanks for pointing that out. Nothing is official as far as I know and I did add an update that clarified that Stallbaumer’s role is likely as head of the editorial division as publisher – not head of the entire company as it was easy to assume from my previous update.
Any word from your sources how many of my ex-coworkers at the Daily Record are going to be cut? Inquiring minds want to know.
Pierce,
I’d say if I knew, but i doubt anyone has yet translated exactly what the dollars and cents of reducing budgets will mean as far as actual employees goes. You’ll know when I know.
Well, let’s see. When I worked for Community Publishers at the Times in Fayetteville, there was one person doing layout, one person editing sports and one person editing news on a typical night. The Daily Record in Bentonville had a similar setup.
So that’s three for each paper. Compare that with the baker’s dozen or so working at night in Springdale.
WEHCO since has “exercised its option” to buy both the Times and the Daily Record, which before then essentially were held in place by a joint operating agreement to do the Democrat’s evil bidding and put a “local” facade on the Democrat’s fishwrap.
If WEHCO continues its hair-thin but apparently successful formula for the various cities, the folks in Springdale should be demanding answers about the the future of their jobs. NOW.
I’m told there are lots of questions but no answers, and Morning News workers are being left, to quote one of them, “twisting in the wind.”
At least half of those nighttime folks soon will be out of jobs, not to mention daytime workers and others found to be in “redundant” positions.
Fear not, though: Cronies, nepotists and pets of entrenched editors no doubt will find someone has looked out for their best interests.