Democrat-Gazette President Brent Powers Departs
Advertisers and local businesses working with the Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette should expect interim leadership under Mark Lane until a permanent executive is named.
Updated on Nov. 3, 2026 in People
Brent Powers, president of the Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, is leaving the newspaper, with his final day set for Nov. 13. WEHCO Media announced the departure Tuesday, and Mark Lane will serve as the publication's top executive in an interim capacity. For Arkansas readers, the change affects leadership of one of the state's major regional newspapers.
Why it matters
Powers has accepted a position with another company, and WEHCO Media, which has been family owned since its founding in 1909, is filling the role on an interim basis with an executive from within its own newspaper division. Leadership continuity at a regional news operation shapes editorial direction, advertising relationships and local business coverage across Northwest Arkansas.
Brent Powers, 53, served roughly a decade at the Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette before his Nov. 13 departure. Mark Lane has led WEHCO Media's newspaper division since 2017 and has worked in the industry for more than 40 years, a tenure that supplies the interim leadership's experience base.
The players
WEHCO Media
A family-owned Arkansas media company founded in 1909 that publishes newspapers, including the Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette.
Brent Powers
A 53-year-old newspaper executive who served roughly a decade as president of the Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette and now president of the Hawgs Sports Network.
Mark Lane
A veteran newspaper executive with more than 40 years in the industry who has led WEHCO Media's newspaper division since 2017 and will serve as interim top executive.
The details
WEHCO Media announced the change in a statement Tuesday, indicating Powers has accepted a position with another company and will finish at the Democrat-Gazette on Nov. 13. Lane steps in as the top executive in an interim capacity while the company's newspaper division, which he has overseen since 2017, maintains continuity. Powers also serves as president of the Hawgs Sports Network, a role the announcement did not indicate would change.
Timeline
Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2026: WEHCO Media announces Powers' departure
Nov. 13, 2026: Powers' final day with the Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
Market Landscape
WEHCO Media has been family owned since its 1909 founding, a long-running structure that has kept newspaper leadership inside the company. Turning to a division head with more than four decades in the industry for the interim role reflects that internal-promotion pattern rather than an outside search.
Advertisers and business customers working with the Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette should expect a period of interim leadership until a permanent executive is named. Operators who rely on the newspaper for local marketing should confirm any account contacts with the publication's team during the transition.
The takeaway
Leadership transitions at regional newspapers can alter advertising relationships and editorial priorities, so businesses with active placements should confirm their account contacts. Track whether WEHCO names a permanent successor, since that decision will signal the company's longer-term direction for the Democrat-Gazette.
Further reading
For more on executive moves across the business world, see the People section.
