Arkansas papers get half-century media veteran as new publisher

The following excerpt was sent out from Editor & Publisher:

Phillips Media Group has named Beth Chism as the regional publisher of the company’s Arkansas papers including the Harrison Daily Times, the Newton County Times and the Baxter Bulletin.

“After enjoying a rewarding career as a newspaper management professional and successfully developing and managing my own newspaper consulting business, my career objective is to offer all my knowledge, experience and talent to a respected media company with leaders who believe quality journalism, superior results for our advertisers and fair profits are still reality in our industry. I believe Phillips Media is that company. Navigating a company through the challenges of the ever-changing world of newspapering is not just an objective for me. It is my passion,” Chism stated.

Chism began her publishing career 47 years ago as a typesetter and graphic designer for the West Plains Daily Quill, her hometown newspaper in West Plains, Missouri. A move to nearby Mountain Home, Arkansas, where she worked as a typesetter cemented her devotion to the newspaper business.

Later, she and her husband moved to Lebanon, Missouri, where she worked for Lebanon Publishing Company, most of those years as general manager of all operations, including the newspaper printing operation.

Chism will directly report to Jim Holland, president of Phillips Media, and former publisher of the Harrison Daily Times, who will continue to reside and remain active in Harrison community projects.