Newspaper Notes

Subscribers to the Northwest Arkansas Times woke up recently to find their newspaper looked a little different. Since the merger between Stephens Media LLC’s local paper and the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette Inc. took effect, the Times has begun to look and feel more like the other paper. 

Subscribers took to the newspaper’s Facebook page to express their distaste.

“Not enjoying the new format of the Times, looks like The Morning News with the Times front page slapped on the front,” one reader commented.

Another reader wrote, “Yuck! The Times looks like The Morning News today! Please change it back.”

Readers were also disappointed to learn that Times sports writer Nate Allen was a victim of the consolidation and they quickly did something about it. After a Facebook group called “Bring Nate Allen back to our paper!” was created, Allen was offered a two-year freelance contract by the new entity to write a sports column three times a week.

Allen thanked his Facebook supporters, saying “I have never had such a following other than the last batch of bill-collectors chasing me from Roger’s Rec to the Bank of Fayetteville. Like George Bailey, you have made me feel like the ‘richest man in the world.'”