Talk Business & Politics to add monthly newsmagazine in Northeast Arkansas, other changes coming in 2018

Talk Business & Politics will launch a monthly print publication in Northeast Arkansas beginning in March 2018. The tabloid-size newsmagazine will feature business and political leaders and trends in the region and complement an existing array of TB&P media platforms already serving Jonesboro and surrounding communities.

“Northeast Arkansas continues to steadily show economic growth and strength and the region is becoming a bigger player in state politics,” said Talk Business & Politics CEO Roby Brock. “Adding this print product to the market will not only allow us to further target our core influential audience with important news, but it will allow us to add even more news content from the region for the rest of the state.”

The new publication will be titled Northeast Arkansas Talk Business & Politics. Rob Gutterridge, a Pocahontas native and Arkansas State University alumnus, will be the publisher. He is executive vice-president for Talk Business & Politics’ parent company, Natural State Media, and is publisher of the Northwest Arkansas Business Journal.

“Our initial response from advertisers as well as movers and shakers in the region has been overwhelmingly positive,” said Gutterridge. “We are excited to bring this product to Northeast Arkansas to complement our TV, radio, web and email presence in the market.”

TB&P Executive Editor Michael Tilley will oversee news coverage for the publication with two experienced veterans. George Jared, who heads Talk Business & Politics’ Northeast Arkansas bureau, will contribute to the publication in addition to his existing daily reporting duties. Paul Holmes, a longtime journalist in Jonesboro, will serve as Editor-at-Large.

“George has been doing a great job for us for the last two years and he’s been a big reason we’re making this additional investment in the region,” Brock said. “And Paul Holmes, who helped us launch in Northeast Arkansas several years ago, will be a huge asset to our endeavors. We’re proud to continue our work with him.”

[optin-monster-shortcode id=”e7sf9bijmra3xikwnkeo”]

The publication will be mailed directly to business, political and community leaders in Clay, Craighead, Crittenden, Cross, Greene, Jackson, Lawrence, Mississippi, Poinsett, Sharp, and Randolph counties. For information on joining the mailing list, for a copy of the editorial calendar, or for advertising rates, contact Brock at [email protected].

OTHER TB&P ADDITIONS
In addition to the Northeast Arkansas print publication, TB&P is adding an extra day of programming to its daily digital broadcast on TalkBusiness.net. Viewers can catch programming Mondays-Friday beginning this week. The daily digital content will feature “Talk Business & Politics Daily,” “The Northwest Arkansas Business Journal Report,” and “The Supply Side,” which focuses on the Wal-Mart vendor community. The Friday digital program will feature a recap of some of the biggest headlines and newsmakers of the week as well as a preview of Sunday’s weekly Talk Business & Politics TV show, which airs statewide.

In response to our readers, viewers and listeners, starting Monday, January 15, TB&P will also add the daily digital program to our podcast stream, which can be found in the iTunes store or through Stitcher and other services. They can also be accessed at the Talk Business & Politics web site, TalkBusiness.net, under the videos/podcast tab on the homepage starting on that date.

“We’ve had consumers of our content ask for a podcast option as they commute in different regions of the state,” Brock said. “We hope to make our news and content as easy for them to access as possible.”

Also, Talk Business & Politics will expand its reach in central Arkansas through a new arrangement with Fidelity Communications, a local cable provider. Talk Business & Politics Sunday and daily shows have started airing throughout the day and evening in Benton, Bryant, Maumelle, Shannon Hills, West Pulaski County, and Beebe, reaching approximately 46,000 Fidelity households in the region.