Newspapers in Arkansas Start Layoffs a Joint Venture Begins

By: Several newspapers in Northwest Arkansas are laying off employees as a joint venture gets under way between the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, Inc. and Stephens Media LLC.

The joint venture begins on Sunday. Officials say final numbers on job losses will not be known until early next week.

Stephens Media publishes The Morning News of Northwest Arkansas and other publications. The Democrat-Gazette, based in Little Rock, publishes a Northwest Arkansas edition that circulates in 12 counties as well as other papers in the area.

The joint venture does not include Democrat-Gazette operations outside of Northwest Arkansas.

Stephens Media will oversee the news content of all publications except for the Northwest Arkansas edition of the Democrat-Gazette. The Democrat-Gazette will handle advertising, business, production and circulation for all publications.

___

Information from: Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, http://www.arkansasonline.com