Earlier this month, Arkansas native Steve Watts began a new career as editor of Searcy’s newspaper, the Daily Citizen.
Born and raised in Monticello, Watts earned a bachelor’s degree in English from the University of Monticello and went on to receive a master’s of science in mass communication with an emphasis in print journalism from Arkansas State University in Jonesboro.
Watts served as a features/news writer for the weekly Wynne Progress and was a sports editor for both the Jacksonville Patriot and the Leader Newspaper, after which he held a copy editor position with the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette for 14 years.
It was after this that Watts found the Daily Citizen.
“I was looking (for a new job), and when I found out the Daily Citizen was hiring for this position, I wanted it,” Watts said. “I liked the fact that it was local, just down the street from where I live and worship at the Church of Christ at Airport Loop. I feel like God was leading me to this job.”
Watts said Searcy has always held a special place in his and his family’s hearts. The Watts family currently resides in Beebe.
“We love the Searcy community,” Watts said. “This is part of our home, and I like the idea of getting to know the community even better this way.”
Mike Murphy, publisher of the Citizen, said he thinks the leadership transition is going smoothly.
“Watts is experienced; he has worked at so many newspapers already in his life,” Murphy said. “And his connection to the Searcy area is a big thing to us as well.”
Watts said his intentions as editor are simple, yet strong.
“They’ve got some good stuff going here,” Watts said. “All I want to do primarily is increase the local content. This is the most important objective. We want to get more news and photos and interior art, because I believe that what’s in the paper is more important than how it looks. Looks draw people in, but without good content, the paper is empty. I want to make this the strongest community newspaper I possibly can.”
According to Watts, Harding can expect more attention from the Citizen in the future.
“Harding is a big part of this community, and as such, we need to focus coverage that way,” Watts said. “We want someone associated with the school who can keep us informed of the happenings at Harding because it is such an important part of Searcy.”
