Veteran Arkansas journalist Hunter Field, currently the deputy editor of the Arkansas Advocate, has been hired as the next editor of Arkansas Business, the weekly statewide business journal.
Field, 31, is scheduled to assume the role March 28, Arkansas Business Publishing Group owner and President Mitch Bettis announced.
Field succeeds Lance Turner, who spent 24 years with ABPG and was the top editor at Arkansas Business for two years. Former editor Gwen Moritz has filled the role on interim basis since Turner’s departure.
“For the last two decades at Arkansas Business we have had editors who were smart, thoughtful and passionate about providing content that helps the state’s executives and top leaders make good decisions,” Bettis said. “We’re confident Hunter will continue that tradition, and I know he’s committed to that mission.”
Field started his career in journalism as a sports reporter at The Commercial Appeal in Memphis, his hometown. He switched to general news in 2014, moving to Arkansas to work for the Jonesboro Sun.
Field joined the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette in 2016 as a general assignment reporter, then covered state government and politics at the newspaper’s State Capitol bureau. He went on to become assistant city editor and projects editor, where he oversaw the newspaper’s investigative team.
Field has been the deputy editor of the Arkansas Advocate, an online news nonprofit, since 2022.
During his career, he has been recognized for reporting mismanagement at veterans hospitals and nursing homes; police shootings; wrongdoing by medical marijuana businesses; mistreatment of patients in psychiatric facilities; and politics.
“I’m extremely excited to join Arkansas Business and all of its talented journalists,” Field said. “They’ve been setting the standard for coverage of our state’s business community for a long time, and I’m honored that I get to be a part of and help lead that work.
“I’ve got so much respect for Gwen and Lance and the foundation they’ve laid. Just about every state has a business journal, but every state does not have an Arkansas Business. That’s a credit to them, to Mitch and to the whole team they’ve assembled. They understand their audience and exactly what it’s looking for.”
Field, a graduate of the University of Memphis, lives outside of Beebe with his wife Baylee and their Golden Retriever, Brady. He enjoys cooking barbecue and kayaking in his spare time.
Moritz, who spent more than two decades as editor of Arkansas Business, will return to a role as contributing editor. She will continue to lead the publication’s research efforts for its weekly lists.
“I’m excited to welcome Hunter as our new team captain, professionally and personally,” Moritz said. “I’m interested to see what a younger talent who isn’t steeped in the way we’ve always done things will be able to draw out of this experienced reporting staff. I’m also looking forward to resuming my less-than-full-time schedule as I look forward to actually retiring in a couple of years. I’m happy to have filled in for a few months, but boating season will be here before we know it.”
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