NORTHWEST ARKANSAS — Northwest Arkansas newspaper readers will get the best of the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette’s Northwest Arkansas Profiles and the Our Town section in a new combined section beginning Nov. 7.
The Morning News, the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette’s Northwest Edition, the Benton County Daily Record and the Northwest Arkansas Times merged Nov. 1, 2009, to form Northwest Arkansas Media. The combined section will be produced by staff from both publications.
The move is designed to “eliminate duplication and make it easier, less confusing for our readers,” said Rusty Turner, executive editor for the local papers within NWA Media.
Combining the two “will allow us to do more of the kind of things our readers want.”
The combined section will include the front and second pages of Northwest Profiles, then continue on the third page with the Our Town section.
Northwest Profiles, Spotlight, Carin Schoppmeyer’s column and social coverage and a calendar of events will remain. The section also will retain Dear Abby and Aces on Bridge.
“Items about the goodthings going on in our community ... and ways people can get involved” will continue, Turner said.
Northwest Arkansas Profiles’ inaugural edition was on July 2, 2000. The Spotlight feature highlights local nonprofit organizations and volunteer efforts in Northwest Arkansas.
“The focus of Northwest Arkansas Profiles will continue to highlight the region’s newsmakers and community leaders, as well as the organizations that contribute to the quality of life in Northwest Arkansas,” Susan Scantlin, editor of the Northwest Arkansas edition of the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette.
Regular rotating features Turner said the paper hopes to continue are Notable Neighbor, The OtherEight and Right Time, Right Place.
Though the section will still run engagement, wedding and anniversary announcements, there will no longer be featured weddings.
Editors of the section will be Michelle Bradford and Debbie Miller. Writers will be Kevin Kinder, Bettina Lehovec, Becca Bacon Martin, Leigh Nelms, Rich Polikoff, Carin Schoppmeyer and SaraSullivan.
“Newspapers are always works in progress. If our readers tell us there’s something they want, we’ll evaluate and see if we can do it,” Turner said.
The Morning News features sections were recently recognized by the American Association of Sunday and Feature Editors as one of the top five features sections among newspapers of similar size in the United States.
Northwest Profile, Pages 39 on 10/31/2010