If you don’t like our spoon, good luck.
Why truly independent news is needed is very simple. When people have questions, they want answers.
Do you really know what is happening in your area of Arkansas?
We don’t wake up and put on superhero suits, we don’t even wear capes. Although it may seem that way, we are two taxpayers who happen to have a knack for getting to the bottom of situations that are often overlooked.
We have a theory that journalism is not dying, but the corporate takeover of news has removed a key component of transparency for the people. If you’ve been following us, you know that money is the greatest influence at the local level.
Imagine a time in history when Americans watched the news and got just the facts. What changed? We believe that news is too dependent upon advertisers and shareholders to stay in business.
Our theory
Let’s face a reality here. One story written that doesn’t appeal to advertisers could be a death sentence to a newsroom. Being dependent and desperate for advertisers has stripped away the truth.
In a world full of spin the media is selling out. South Arkansas Reckoning's lantern shines a light on the truth. Our publication is solely reliant on subscriptions from readers. It would be better for our bank account if we took advertising dollars. But we will not sell out.
It is up to the reader to decide what they want.
If you prefer press releases, paywalls and news generated by advertising dollars controlled ultimately by the powers-that-be and corporations with shareholders who decide what is reported, you have many choices. It’s not us.
If you prefer to have a resource available when a need arises to look at a situation that seems just a little bit off, that’s the void we fill.
All investigations start from a source and often end because newsrooms have been programmed to avoid controversy, especially if it interferes with their revenue stream.
What determines whether or not South Arkansas Reckoning continues to report?
Our mission depends on you. We get it, times are hard. We are no different. We feel the impact of the rising cost of utilities, groceries, dog and cat food even insurance. For that reason we decided to lower our annual subscription rate to $60 a year or $8 a month. Unlike other news outlets, we prefer not to put our content behind a paywall. But we need your help.
It’s our goal to be affordable to every Arkansan who understands the need for the truth — good or bad. But just like you, we have to cover our costs and pay our bills.
The costs we incur while spending hours traveling, obtaining and reading documents, listening to audio recordings, attending community events, standing up to those in local government who do not appreciate scrutiny is not a pleasant work environment. But we do it. Day and night, almost 24/7. That's the nature of the job, and it's a hard one.
Getting answers is a top priority for South Arkansas Reckoning. You do not need us to tell you how to vote. We will not use our platform as a tool to promote a political party. But we will tell you what your politicians are doing. No matter what party they align with.
We understand that the truth is sometimes hard to swallow. It can be uncomfortable. It's not always easy to take the heat. And we take heat. It's not uncommon to hear from attorneys when we're digging for information.
No stranger to the heat
Suzi Parker, co-founder of South Arkansas Reckoning, is a seasoned national reporter.
From her early days in journalism working with well-known reporters and TV personalities Tucker Carlson and Jake Tapper. Suzi is no stranger to the heat.
Here are just a few of the publications she has written for The Washington Post, Daily Caller, The Economist, US News, New York Times Magazine, Politico, Daily Beast and others. Covering everything from the early days of President Bill Clinton’s Whitewater scandal to grilling former U.S. Senator and presidential candidate John McCain, Suzi has been in the trenches.
Suzi even authored a few books, the well-known cult classic “Sex in the South” and “Echo Ellis: Adventures of a Girl Reporter.” Suzi has made many appearances on TV, including The Dr. Phil Show, throughout her career.
And Richard? He's a muckraker.
What keeps us going?
Here are just a few of the messages left for us from subscribers since the birth of South Arkansas Reckoning.
We truly appreciate all of our paid subscribers. The feedback we are receiving validates the need for our platform.
We want to point out that not everything we investigate constitutes a crime. Some tips do not pan out. But Arkansans have a right to ask and know what’s happening. When we start digging, we get to the truth. No matter what the truth actually is, we report it.
What do we do when an investigation is too hot? We turn it over to the proper authorities. It's not personal but that's how we operate.
We have been asked numerous times if we only cover South Arkansas because of our name. We live in South Arkansas, but we investigate throughout the state. South Arkansas Reckoning is focused on being a voice in rural Arkansas.
In the coming weeks, it's our intention to create “The Dumpster” on our site for important public records we have received during our investigations, exclusively for all paid subscribers. Note: Many documents not previously published.
We hope you’ll invest in our mission through a monthly or annual subscription today and become a member of the Reckoning family.
Your paid subscriptions ultimately decide how far we can reach seeking the truth.
