Less than the sum of their parts

So now you know. We all know. The northwest Arkansas newspapers are all under the same "umbrella," which sounds for an inappropriate euphemism, since it is the rest of us who need shelter from the storm.

So on the front page of Monday's Morning News, you have stories by MN staffers. On the front page of the Daily Record, you have two stories by DR staff (amazingly neither was about Chrystal Bridges) and one by an MNer.

I found this curious bit of philosophy in Sunday's editorial pages of the Daily Record and Morning News:

Sometimes the members of this choir will each sing his own tune. That will make things interesting. The differences among us are as much a part of this region’s strength as the cooperation. When everybody thinks the same way, nobody’s thinking, the wise heads say. Well, that has never been a problem around here.

(for those of you bothering to subscribe: http://bcdr.nwanews.com/news/2009/nov/01/our-view-new-era-begins-readers-20091101/)

Funny to think how there will be harmony or, more importantly, disharmony among the four "newspapers" when there is only one editorial page editor and one editor overall. Those of you who enjoyed only the Morning News, congratulations. You got it. For anyone who liked both or only the Daily Record, who knows. Maybe someone will rise from the ashes to provide another voice for Benton County. Maybe not. I guess it depends if anyone cares enough to support the dissident.

So who are the survivors in this merger? By my count, only six people from the Daily Record were kept. Mike Jones is still city editor for the Daily Record, and he keeps Jeff Mores, Tracy Neal and Tabatha Hunter, who you might know if you've ever spotted Jones at lunch, as they're always with him. David Dempsy was also rehired, as was one of the sports writers. Meanwhile, I know of only two layoffs from the Morning News, so clearly the Morning News stocked the pond.

Unfortunately, the Morning News has long relied on Associated Press content, leaving its staff free to take their time in writing stories and falling fall short of churning out content. But the Democrat Gazette would never pay for the same stories twice, so the Morning News is on its own. And all the people used to fast turnover of content are now trying to find someone else who might appreciate those skills.

At this point, I can only add to the drum beats, to the war cries screaming about their lost voice. The time for action has ended. A rebirth of quality journalism may still, and it is sorely needed, but it will take men and women of means entrusting their wealth to men and women of the pen. Until such people come forward, I wish us all good luck.