Little Rock paper hires new biz editor

Former Arkansas Democrat-Gazette reporter and High Profiles Editor Rachel O’Neal Chaney will return to the newspaper April 1 to be its new business editor.

Evie Blad of the paper writes, “Chaney left the newspaper in November after three years of editing High Profiles to become communications director for the Arkansas Children’s Hospital Foundation.

“‘This is a great place to be,’ Chaney said of the foundation. ‘My heart’s just with the newspaper, and I’ve realized that’s where I want to be.’

“Chaney, 49, replaces Roger Hedges, who retired in January after 12 years as assistant managing editor for business and a total of 26 years at the paper.

“She worked from 1989-2000 as a reporter for the Arkansas Democrat and the Democrat-Gazette, covering North Little Rock, Little Rock and the Capitol. Chaney eventually served as Capitol bureau chief before leaving for an 8½ -year stint in corporate communications at Acxiom Corp.

“As business editor, Chaney will oversee reporters in Little Rock and Northwest Arkansas who cover the state’s companies, energy industry and agriculture.

“‘Rachel is immensely qualified for almost anything a newspaper does,’ Bailey said. ‘She’s a good editor; she’s a good manager and she’s a team builder.'”

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