Following in the footsteps of the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, WEHCO Media's El Dorado (Arkansas) News-Times has announced plans to move to digital publication six days a week beginning in August, and is offering a free iPad to readers who continue to subscribe.
The News-Times will continue to print its regular Sunday edition each week, complete with circulars and special sections. A print edition for Thanksgiving, on Nov. 26, is also planned. The last print edition outside of that is scheduled to publish Monday, Aug. 10.
Between now and then, all home delivery subscribers who wish to continue their subscription will be able to have an iPad delivered to them; a WEHCO staff member will also be in touch to set up a time to connect with the subscriber to provide a walk-through of the News-Times app and all its features.
To enable the staff to demonstrate the many added features of the digital edition in a space where social distancing guidelines can be adhered to, the paper has rented out the El Dorado Conference Center, one of the largest public meeting spaces in the community, June 16-19 and again June 23-26.
Additionally, the iPad training staff will meet with subscribers who choose not to attend the public walkthrough at their homes, going door-to-door to offer app walkthroughs to readers.
“We’re converting in Northwest Arkansas (at the Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette) right now, and up there we do it door-to-door,” said WEHCO Media Publisher Walter E. Hussman, Jr. “Some people don’t want to do it inside, and so we’ll do it outside, six feet apart. Some of our staff have even sat out in their cars and walked customers through on the phone from six feet away.”
