KFSM 5News, The City Wire to partner

KFSM 5News and The City Wire will begin May 1 to collaborate and partner in the gathering and dissemination of important business and political news.

As the longest serving and most respected television news station in the region, 5News General Manager Van Comer said the partnership further expands the station’s news reach and connects the station with the emerging form in which niche community and regional news will be delivered.

“We are excited about our local partnership with The City Wire, which will give 5NEWS an advantage coverage happenings impacting this region,” Comer, KFSM president and general manager said.

The City Wire staff will work with the award-winning 5News team to jointly produce and share unique and indepth business, political and cultural coverage. The City Wire staff, which has more than 20 years of experience covering business, political and cultural news in the Fort Smith region, and more than eight years covering the dynamic economy of Northwest Arkansas, will be a resource for 5News Director Rick Bagley.

“The partnership between KFSM and The City Wire is an example of how the industry is becoming more suitable for strategic collaboration between media outlets. The model of delivering community news has and continues to quickly evolve thanks to the Internet and the fragmentation of traditional information venues,” said TCW Publisher Tom Kirkham. “We could not have asked for a better regional partner than KFSM. They have market reach, a quality news and management team and a solid reputation.”