For the past 20 years, Ashley Wimberley has seen a newspaper industry thrive, decline, transform yet struggle into the digital age, fight new legislative battles, and renew hopes for the future of print.
Today, the Arkansas Press Association executive director feels pretty buoyant about the industry’s ability to adapt. She believes the power of local news will be the bedrock for the future of the newspaper business just as it was for the past.
“The digital age is obviously what’s changed our industry more than anything,” said Wimberley, whose organization represents newspapers and other media partners. “Even with a changing media landscape, people are craving local news. They want to find information that they know can be trusted. I feel like the newspapers who are doing a good job of making sure they maintain local content are doing just fine.”…