Farrow named regional ad executive; 2 others promoted
by voice staff
Friday, August 22, 2008 11:41 AM CDT
LITTLE ROCK — Craig Farrow, who has been publisher of the Hot Springs Village Voice and the Saline County Voice, has been promoted to regional advertising director for Stephens Media’s Central Arkansas Newspapers.
Farrow, 35, begins his duties immediately, said Dennis A. Byrd, publisher. Farrow’s promotion was among three announced this week.
“Craig is a high-energy, highly successful individual who knows the newspaper business inside and out,” Byrd said. “He brings enthusiasm and a lot of success as a publisher to his new role with the company. Farrow also brings big ideas to the job and possesses the motivational skills to put them into practice.”
Farrow will remain general manager of the Hot Springs Village and Saline County newspapers.
The nine newspapers under the Central Arkansas Newspapers umbrella are:
The North Little Times.
Cabot Star-Herald.
Maumelle Monitor.
Sherwood Voice.
Jacksonville Patriot.
Lonoke Democrat.
Carlisle Independent.
Hot Springs Village Voice.
Saline County Voice.
“Despite what some people are saying, newspapers continue to play an important role in small towns and cities, and I’m thrilled to have the opportunity to have an impact on so many outstanding community newspapers,” Farrow said.
Kenneth Jones, former ad manager for seven of the newspapers in the group, will move to a new role as general manager of the Cabot Star-Herald, the Jacksonville Patriot, the Lonoke Democrat and the Carlisle Independent.
“Ken will be an asset in each of these cities,” Byrd said. “He is a hard worker and is about as knowledgeable as anyone I’ve ever worked with when it comes to weekly newspapering.”
Jones has been a publisher and advertising manager at newspapers in Arkansas, Mississippi, Oklahoma, Texas and Nebraska.
Colleen Baird, who has been the advertising team leader for Cabot, Lonoke, Carlisle and Jacksonville, has been promoted to the team leader position at the company’s regional office in Little Rock. Baird will work directly with the sales representatives for the Sherwood Voice, The Times of North Little Rock the Maumelle Monitor and “She basically will be my right-hand person,” Farrow said. “I look forward to her leadership in the field with the ad reps and in taking on some of the advertising management functions of our newspapers.”
Baird received a journalism degree from the University of Arkansas, majoring in advertising and public relations. She has worked for the Tulsa Business Journal as the advertising sales manager and with the Log Cabin Democrat in Conway and was the advertising sales consultant for the Arkansas Press Association before beginning her career with Stephens Media two years ago.
Stephens Media owns three daily newspapers and more than 20 weekly publications in Arkansas.
