Quick thoughts

The newspaper merger is clearly bad. How bad? We'll discuss that Monday.

The deciding factor

The rallying cry among merchants is that downtown Rogers will be saved by service. If that is true, salvation is on its way.

Take the latest example. We'll compare Friday's Goblin Parade in downtown Rogers with Saturday's trick-or-treating at the Promenade.

The Goblin Parade was a triumph of cooperation and enthusiasm. The merchants were in prime form with candy bowls at just about every door, and those from outside the downtown filled in the gaps between shops. My daughter walked away with a tremendous amount of candy, including some of the "good stuff" like miniature candy bars that cost a lot for independent businessmen and women whose customer traffic hasn't been exactly steady.

At the Promenade, granted, we arrived about an hour into the event (which was scheduled to last four) and found businesses already out of candy. Others weren't participating. But the real kicker was what we found in my daughter's bag. One shop (no names to protect the clearly guilty) dropped in a coupon. Another put in perfume samples. You did just read that, and it wasn't a typo. This was, for the Promenade shops with their nameless owners, a marketing opportunity.

To the extent I am able, I will shop in downtown Rogers, where I know the shopkeepers are focused on community, not money.

Starting the Refugee Watch

Since news of the merger came out, reporters (at least the ones calm enough to broach the subject) are starting to talk about their futures with their respective publications and industry at large. Some are expecting to leave, but some are planning to leave. It seems the corporate bigwigs have pushed too hard and will lose some of their top talent. These are times of trial and tribulation for the local press. Please support them, because they believed they were supporting you.

So much for competition

Four newspapers are going to turn into four newspapers. Why is that bad? Because they'll all be part of one company. The Arkansas Democrat Gazette and Stephens Media's northwest Arkansas newspapers are merging. That means the Daily Record, the Northwest Arkansas Times and both editions of the Morning News will be part of one big happy family. Here's what you can expect:

Quick thoughts

Shortly after the Daily Record started charging for its Web site, there was an option at the bottom of stories to leave feedback, similar to the Morning News' site. Thing is, I never actually saw comments left by the readers.

Well, now that option is gone, unheralded and unused. There was no reason given for its disappearance, but, then again, there was no announcement that it was there in the first place.

But still, there is no word the Morning News is changing its policy yet. There is also no indication how it would impact both newspapers if both sites don't end up charging.

A Question of Giving

There is more than meets the eye going on at the Rogers Public Library Foundation, or at least a lot of details to discuss by the looks of these two articles from the Morning News and the Daily Record (if you have a subscription). Maybe it's too early to say who's right and who's wrong. Certainly the mayor is not immune to rash judgments, but that does not make his every judgment without merit.

I offer this solution for the time being, at least until these issues are resolved. Those wishing to donate can give to the ever-popular Friends of the Library, which pays rent for its bookstore but has employed not one solitary employee.

There is also another, seemingly obvious alternative. The Rogers Public Library will take donations directly, which bypasses any organizations trying to inflate its donation proportions by dipping needlessly into its endowment.

Quick thoughts

Rogers is losing an asset in Morning News reporter John Henley. The ace reporter is leaving the publication to pursue a masters degree, which is an admirable goal, but certainly leaves the paper on less steady footing, as he was clearly the Morning News' greatest talent. Hopefully his replacement can fill the void.