Roberts Steps Down as Times Managing Editor

Stacey Roberts left her job as managing editor of the Northwest Arkansas Times in Fayetteville and began serving as a reporter for the Benton County Daily Record on Aug. 27, said Greg Harton, editor of the Times. Both newspapers are owned by Community Publishers Inc. of Bentonville.

Harton said he already had Roberts’ replacement in mind.

“I won’ t be advertising the position,” he said, “and I plan to announce something soon.”

When asked if Roberts initiated the change, Harton said, “That’s personnel issues.”

Roberts had been managing editor of the Times since July 2002. Previously, she served for two years as managing editor of the Batesville Daily Guard in Independence County. Before working for the Daily Guard, she was a reporter at the Benton County Daily Record.

Roberts replaced Lucas Roebuck, who served as managing editor for a year before resigning in January 2002 to run for state representative from District 97. Roebuck lost the election and is now managing editor of the Siloam Springs Herald-Leader.

Don Michael, editorial-page editor at the Times, plans to step down from that position on Sept. 5 to resume studies at the University of Arkansas. He will continue to write a weekly column for the Times, Harton said.