This story was written by I.C. Murrell, editor of sister publication The Pine Bluff Commercial. Photo caption: The Glenwood Herald Publisher Roby Brock; University of Arkansas men’s basketball coach John Calipari; and The Helena World Publisher Andrew Bagley pose for a photo following the Arkansas Press Association Distinguished Service Award on Sept. 22. Photo: I.C. Murrell/Pine Bluff Commercial

Roby Brock vowed to keep working in journalism and advocate for it until he’s no longer able.

“The job is going to be done when I can no longer operate a computer keyboard or sit at a news desk and interview people or crowd a radio microphone or when I can no longer pick up a reporter’s notepad,” he said. 

Brock, who owns and publishes The Glenwood Herald through his Newsroom Ventures LLC, received one of two Distinguished Service Awards at the Arkansas Press Association’s fifth annual Press Freedom Gala on Tuesday (Sept. 22) at the Clinton Presidential Library.

“I’ll accept this award tonight from an industry that’s recognizing me and my teammates for a job well done,” Brock said. “I also recognize the job is not finished.” 

He purchased The Glenwood Herald in March, six months after the previous owner announced the newspaper was ceasing publication. The Glenwood Herald is now part of a portfolio of newspapers that includes The Pine Bluff Commercial, The England Democrat, Fordyce News-Advocate, The Grand Prairie Herald, and The Waldron News. The Glenwood Herald and is available at participating retailers and restaurants around Glenwood and via mail with a paid subscription.

“There aren’t very many people we’ve seen invest in six community newspapers in the state in such a short period of time,” Arkansas Press Association Executive Director Ashley Wimberley said. “We’re so thankful Roby has made that investment in community journalism and is really serving the communities in which he’s taken ownership of those newspapers.

“His investment in the newspaper industry is why we honored him tonight.”

Brock said the question of “Will the newspaper industry survive?” is often asked.

“The answer is a pretty easy one — yes. It will survive and it’s going to thrive,” he said. “Politics, with term limits and the influence of money, the way parties have changed and social media has changed in terms of politics, have undergone a fundamental sea change.”

Successful industries have undergone transformations, Brock added.

Brock also co-owns Natural State Media, which publishes Talk Business & Politics magazine and the Northwest Arkansas Business Journal. Brock hosts the “Talk Business & Politics” and “Capitol View” TV shows on Nexstar-owned TV stations across Arkansas.

Rob Gutterridge, executive vice president of Natural State Media and publisher of the Northwest Arkansas Business Journal, has partnered with Brock since 2016 and credited the honoree with a smart business sense.

“He is an entrepreneur, but he is also a truthfinder,” Gutterridge said. “He’s a guy who looks for facts. He wants to go out and tell the story of what’s happening, but he wants to be honest about it. He always searches for the truth, and I think that’s the most important thing, to search out what’s really going on.” 

Andrew Bagley, publisher of The Helena World in Helena-West Helena, was the other Distinguished Service Award winner. University of Arkansas men’s basketball coach John Calipari received the Headliner of the Year accolade after leading the Razorbacks to the Southeastern Conference championship last season, his second in Fayetteville.

The Press Freedom Gala benefits the Arkansas Newspaper Foundation.