Arkansas Today Named Jordan Hickey Editor-in-Chief
Deep South Today tapped the longtime local journalist to lead its nonprofit outlet launching this fall.
Updated on Oct. 9, 2026 in People
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Deep South Today has appointed Jordan Hickey as editor-in-chief of Arkansas Today, a forthcoming nonprofit news outlet. The hiring is part of a broader push to revitalize the media landscape across Southern states.
Why it matters
Operators in Arkansas should monitor the entrance of new nonprofit media models, which may shift how local business and policy news is reported and distributed across the state. This leadership appointment signals the operational start for the organization as it gears up for a fall debut.
The incoming editor, Jordan Hickey, brings 13 years of reporting experience in Arkansas to the nonprofit organization. The venture is part of a wider effort by Deep South Today to establish news outlets across the region.
The players
Jordan Hickey
An Arkansas-based journalist with 13 years of local experience and an alumnus of the University of Missouri School of Journalism.
Deep South Today
A nonprofit media network focused on expanding journalism and local news infrastructure throughout the Southern United States.
The details
Jordan Hickey, a University of Missouri School of Journalism graduate, was selected based on his decade-plus of reporting experience within the state. As the nonprofit outlet gears up for an official launch, its operational model will rely on the structure established by its parent network. The organization aims to increase coverage depth across the state to address regional news gaps.
Timeline
Jordan Hickey began reporting in Arkansas in 2013.
Deep South Today announced the creation of Arkansas Today in May 2026.
Jordan Hickey was appointed editor-in-chief on October 8, 2026.
Arkansas Today is scheduled to launch officially in the fall of 2026.
Market Landscape
The launch of Arkansas Today follows a national trend of nonprofit entities establishing newsrooms to fill gaps left by shrinking commercial media presence. This model marks a departure from traditional advertising-dependent business structures historically prevalent in local news.
Business owners should assess how this new media platform might alter the coverage of local industry developments and public policy. Monitor the outlet's editorial output this fall to determine if it provides new channels for engagement or reporting on the local business environment.
The takeaway
The appointment of a seasoned local reporter suggests a focus on regional institutional knowledge for the new organization. Stakeholders should track the official launch announcement later this fall to understand the outlet's reporting priorities and potential impact on the state's discourse.
Further reading
For more on industry leadership changes and regional organizational growth, see People.
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