Morning News Zones Out, Goes Regional … Temporarily

For several days in late September, the zoned editions of The Morning News started looking like … well, the old, regional Morning News of Northwest Arkansas.

rInstead of having zoned editions for Fayetteville, Springdale, Rogers and Bentonville, all the editions were identical for those cities (except for the city listed on the masthead) from Sept. 21 through at least Sept. 26.

rThe Morning News of Northwest Arkansas shortened its name to The Morning News and began publishing its much-advertised zoned editions at the beginning of September.

rFrom that time until Sept. 21, the editions were being laid out in The Morning News’ Springdale office.

rOn Sept. 21, the “universal desk” took over that duty at The Southwest Times-Record in Fort Smith. (Both newspapers are owned by Donrey Media Group of Fort Smith.)

rMaybe it was a bit too much for the Fort Smith newspaper to handle, in addition to putting out the Times-Record. Some other oddities popped up in The Morning News during that period. Nate Allen, the Donrey sportswriter, was identified after his byline as a Times-Record staffer. Apparently, that’s the way the Times-Record bylines Allen when it publishes his articles in Fort Smith.

rWe assume all of this is temporary. Otherwise, it wouldn’t mesh with The Morning News’ new slogan: “Get Local.”

rTom Stallbaumer, publisher of The Morning News, was unavailable for comment.