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Arkansas SPJ scholarship honoree dies

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The Arkansas Pro Chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists is saddened to note the death of Jerol Herreid Garrison, 86, of Fayetteville.

He was a longtime journalist and public relations practitioner in Central Arkansas. He occasionally taught journalism at UA Little Rock.

He also was active for many years as a member of the Arkansas Pro Chapter of SPJ. His SPJ contributions were invaluable, serving the chapter in a variety of roles including his participation for many years in the fabled Farkleberry Follies spoof of Arkansas newspapers and journalists. One of the chapter’s scholarships is named in his honor.

Garrison earned a bachelor’s degree in journalism from the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville, and after a two-year military hitch, earned a master’s degree in journalism from Northwestern University in Evanston, Ill. He went on to work for the Neosho Daily News in Missouri and the Arkansas Gazette in Little Rock before taking a job with Arkansas Power and Light Co., where he became director of communication.

Survivors include his wife of 64 years, Sally, as well as two daughters, six grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

Funeral will be at 2 p.m. Friday, Sept. 14, at Central United Methodist Church in Fayetteville with burial in Fairview Memorial Gardens.

Contest, Diamond Awards

Finalists selected for Diamond Journalism Awards

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Judges have chosen the finalists for the 2018 Diamond Journalism Awards, a regional competition sponsored by the Arkansas Pro Chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists.

The awards recognize outstanding journalism by professionals and students from Arkansas and bordering media markets in Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Oklahoma, Tennessee and Texas.

The Diamond Journalist of the Year and Outstanding New Journalist, as well as the winners of the Community Service Award and Robert McCord Freedom of Information Award, will be announced at the awards banquet. Details about the event will be released at a later date.

Here is a list of finalists by category:

NEWS (daily newspapers)

Andy Davis, Lisa Hammersly and Doug Thompson, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette; Ryan Tarinelli and Ginny Monk, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette; Staff, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette

POLITICS (daily newspapers)

Hunter Field, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette; Andrew DeMillo, The Associated Press; Staff, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette

SPORTS (daily newspapers)

Bob Holt, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette; Brooks Kubena, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette; Tom Murphy, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette

INVESTIGATIVE REPORTING (daily newspapers)

Jonathan Bullington, Richard Webster, Brett Duke, Emma Scott and Haley Correll, NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune; Amanda Claire Curcio and Ginny Monk, The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette; Lisa Hammersly, Doug Thompson, Ginny Monk and Dave Hughes, The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette

FEATURE (daily newspapers)

Ted Jackson, NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune; Ginny Monk, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette; Emma Pettit, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette

COMMENTARY (daily newspapers)

John Brummett, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette; Andrew DeMillo, The Associated Press; Philip Martin, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette

EDITORIALS (daily newspapers)

David Barham, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette

NEWS (non-daily newspapers)

Benjamin Hardy, Arkansas Nonprofit News Network; Tammy Keith, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette River Valley and Ozark Edition; Jacob Rosenberg, Arkansas Times

INVESTIGATIVE REPORTING (non-daily newspapers)

Sarah Campbell-Miller, Arkansas Business

FEATURE (non-daily newspapers)

Linda Garner-Bunch, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette; Tammy Keith, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette River Valley and Ozark Edition; Sam Pierce, Tri-Lakes Edition, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette

COMMENTARY (non-daily newspapers)

Karen Craigo, The Marshfield Mail; Tammy Keith, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette River Valley and Ozark Edition; Rick Kron, Leader Publishing

EDITORIALS (non-daily newspapers)

Rick Kron, Leader Newspapers

FEATURE (magazine)

Dwain Hebda, AY Magazine; Dwain Hebda, SOIREE Magazine; Erica Sweeney, CityLab/The Atlantic

SPORTS (magazine)

Sarah DeClerk, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette; Dwain Hebda, Do South Magazine

PHOTOGRAPHY (all print)

Staton Breidenthal, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette; Tommy Metthe, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette

PHOTO PACKAGE/SPREAD (all print)

Mitchell Pe Masilun, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette

PHOTOGRAPHY PORTFOLIO (all print)

Staton Breidenthal, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette; Mitchell Pe Masilun, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette; Tommy Metthe, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette

LEISURE INTERESTS (all print)

Sean Clancy and John Sykes Jr., Arkansas Democrat-Gazette; Philip Martin, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette

NEWS (radio/podcast)

Bobby Ampezzan, Arkansas Public Media; Jacqueline Froelich, Arkansas Public Media; Karen Steward, KUAR Public Radio

DOCUMENTARY/INVESTIGATIVE REPORTING (radio/podcast)

Bobby Ampezzan, Arkansas Public Media; Heidi Sohl, Red Wolf Radio; Karen Steward, KUAR Public Radio

FEATURE (radio/podcast)

Michael Hibblen, KUAR Public Radio; Ann Kenda, Arkansas Public Media; Karen Steward, KUAR Public Radio

NEWS (television)

Kevin Kelly and Matt Thibault, FOX16 News — KLRT; Rodolfo Portillo, Univision Arkansas; Mariana Rivero, Univision Arkansas

DOCUMENTARY/INVESTIGATIVE REPORTING (television)

Caitlin Sinett, KY3

SPORTS (television)

Esdras Valdez, Univision Arkansas

FEATURE (television)

Alex Caprariello, KNWA/KFTA; Seth Cleveland, ASU-TV; Kevin Kelly and Matt Thibault, FOX16 News – KLRT

MULTIMEDIA (any platform)

Kimberely Blackburn, Tucker Crain, Miranda Reynolds, Katie Woodall and Christopher Lee, Delta Digital News Service; Emma Pettit, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette; Staff, The Associated Press

VIDEO (any platform)

Mitchell Pe Masilun, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette

SLIDESHOW (any platform)

Brandon Riddle, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette

SPECIALIZED SITE (any platform)

Gavin Lesnick, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette; Jeannie Roberts, Gavin Lesnick and Mitchell Pe Masilun, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette; Staff, MLK50: Justice Through Journalism

NEWS (student journalism)

Kimberely Blackburn, Delta Digital News Service; Ryan Bourgoin, The Forum – UA Little Rock; Christine Kemper, The Forum – UA Little Rock

SPORTS (student journalism)

Kolton Rutherford, The Forum – UA Little Rock

FEATURE (student journalism)

Kimberely Blackburn, Delta Digital News Service; Amber Quaid, Arkansas Tech University; Miranda Reynolds, Delta Digital News Service

OPINION (student journalism)

Amber Quaid, Arkansas Tech University

PHOTOGRAPHY PORTFOLIO (student journalism)

Amber Quaid, Arkansas Tech University

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Arkansas SPJ wins Circle of Excellence Award for professional development

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The Arkansas Pro Chapter has been named a Circle of Excellence Award winner for a small chapter with fewer than 75 members in the area of professional development, the Society of Professional Journalists announced Aug. 23.

Circle of Excellence Awards recognize chapters that perform outstanding work in the areas of campus relations, professional development, diversity and First Amendment/Freedom of Information Act. The winners in these categories are finalists for Chapter of the Year.

SPJ’s 12 regional directors selected Arkansas Pro for this award based on recommendations by the Directors-at-Large.

This is what they said about why Arkansas Pro was chosen: “The sessions in this year’s Life and Death regional conference on FOI, ethics, Google, diversity and covering executions sounded excellent. There also were programs during the year on ethical decision-making, spotting fake news, learning about Islam and building an audience.”

The award will be presented at the opening business session at the Excellence in Journalism 218 conference in Baltimore on Sept. 27.

To find the winners in other categories visit here.

Events, Uncategorized

Arkansas SPJ sells T-shirts to benefit Capital Gazette Families Fund

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4imprint-front copy

Arkansas SPJ is selling T-shirts with proceeds to be donated to the Capital Gazette Families Fund, which was set up by the newspaper’s owner to provide immediate relief and long-term recovery support to employees and their immediate family members affected by the tragedy.

Get yours for $20 at the Reporting in the Midst of Tragedy event at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 9 in Sturgis Hall at the Clinton School of Public Service.

Want to pay by PayPal before the event? Here’s the link.

https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=KM228RAMW8QLA

Email Jennifer Ellis with the size at jellis@arkansasonline.com (Small through 4X available).

Tragedy.indd

Events, Uncategorized

Reporting in the Midst of Tragedy

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Tragedy.indd

After the shooting deaths of five staff members at the Capital Gazette just over a month ago, reporter Chase Cook said “I can tell you this: We are putting out a damn paper.”
Join the Arkansas Pro Chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 9 for a panel discussion about covering the news during even the toughest of times with moderator Andrew DeMillo of The Associated Press.

Panelists:
Christina Muñoz, former anchor for KATV Channel 7
CORRECTION: Christina had just had her first baby in 2008 when her colleagues had to go on air with the news that their friend/co-worker Anne Pressly was murdered.
George Jared, author and investigative journalist
George has written two true-crime books and more news stories about WM3 than any other journalist.
Cathy Frye, former award-winning journalist
In 2013, Cathy became the subject of the kind of tragic stories she was known for writing after she and her husband, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette photographer Rick McFarland, spent days lost in the Chihuahuan Desert.

*This event is free and open to the public

Arkansas SPJ will be selling T-shirts with proceeds to benefit the Capital Gazette Families Fund, which was set up by the newspaper’s owner to provide immediate relief and long-term recovery support to employees and their immediate family members affected by the tragedy.

Send questions and comments for discussion to @ArkansasSPJ #ReportingTragedy

https://www.facebook.com/events/1043326425833469

 

Events, Uncategorized

TOUR • TASTE • TOAST

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TourTasteToast.indd

 

5 p.m.
Wednesday, July 25
Rock Town Distillery
1201 Main St. | Little Rock

For $20 join Arkansas SPJ on a private tour, which includes
a Solo-cup cocktail, the tasting of 10 items + 3 specialty items
(single barrel whiskeys, anniversary whiskeys and more).

Get there at 5 p.m. to get a drink before the tour and tasting begins at 5:15.
The tour and tasting takes about an hour.

Then we’ll meet in the bar for a mixer with Ashley Wimberley,
executive director of the Arkansas Press Association.

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Deadline extended for entries in Diamond Journalism Awards

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Extended Deadline.indd

2018 Diamond Journalism Awards

CALL FOR ENTRIES

Attention professional and student journalists within 250 miles of Little Rock, it’s time to enter the Diamond Journalism Awards!

Sponsored by the Arkansas Pro Chapter, Society of Professional Journalists, the Diamond Journalism Awards recognize outstanding journalism by professionals and students from Arkansas and bordering media markets in Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Oklahoma, Tennessee and Texas.

Eligible work must have been published or broadcast between July 1, 2017, and June 30, 2018.

Entries can be submitted starting April 9, 2018 and has been extended until 11 p.m. CDT, JULY 16, 2018.

Enter online via the Better BNC Media Awards platform, https://betternewspapercontest.com/

NOTE: BetterBNC is optimized for the Google Chrome browser and Firefox for PC and MacIntosh/Apple. For the best contest experience, use a recent version.

All entrants should log in as “open call contestant.” A contest administrator will confirm your eligibility.

ENTRY RULES

  • All professional and student journalists, including freelancers, working within a 250-mile radius of Little Rock can submit entries or have entries submitted on their behalf by news organizations that published or broadcast their work.
  • You don’t have to be a member of the Society of Professional Journalists to enter.
  • Entries may be submitted in more than one category, but a separate entry fee is required for each category.
  • Any significant challenges or corrections to an entry must be provided with the entry. If not noted, an entry will be disqualified.
  • A cover letter is generally not required, but if included, should be no more than one page.
  • Comments and supportive material are required only in conjunction with nominations for the Robert McCord FOI Award, Community Service Award, Outstanding New Journalist Award and Diamond Journalist of the Year Award.

ENTRY FORMAT

  • Submit PDFs, JPGs or video/audio, or provide an active URL that contest administrators and judges can access to view your entries.
  • Please ensure URLs remain valid through September 15, 2018, to accommodate judging.

FEES

  • SPJ members: $10 per entry. To claim the member fee, you must supply your personal SPJ member number. A team entry may claim the fee if at least one team member is an SPJ member; that person’s name and SPJ member number must be listed.
  • To join SPJ, go to spj.org and fill out a membership form. Pro membership is $75 a year; student membership is $37.50. Monthly payment plan available.
  • Nonmembers: $20 per entry.
  • Student SPJ members: $5 per entry. Provide your member number.
  • Student nonmembers: $10 per entry.
  • No fees will be refunded.

JUDGING

  • Entries will be judged by professional journalists outside the contest
  • If judges determine no entry meets standards in a given category, no award will be given.
  • Categories in which there are fewer than three entries may be merged with a similar category for judging. For example, if there are only two entries in the Politics-Non-daily category, those entries will be judged with entries in the Politics-Daily category.

CATEGORIES

PAYMENT FOR ENTRIES

CONTACT