LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — Arkansas SPJ is proud to announce the opening of the 2025 Diamond Journalism Awards. The annual contest is open to professional and student journalists, freelancers and communications professionals.

The contest is open to Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Oklahoma, Tennessee and Texas residents, and entries can be made through March 3. 

New this year is the A-Mark Prize for Investigative Reporting, which Arkansas SPJ has partnered with the A-Mark Foundation to present. It distributes $15,000 in cash to reporters and their newsrooms.

A-Mark winners will receive:

• First place: $5,000 for the writer(s), plus $2,500 for the newsroom
• Second place: $3,000 for the writer(s), $1,500 for the newsroom
• Third place: $2,000 for the writer(s), $1,000 for the newsroom

The A-Mark Prize is the only Diamond Journalism Awards category limited to entries with an Arkansas connection, which means one or more of the following: (1) The winning reporter is based in Arkansas; (2) The newspaper or media outlet is based in Arkansas; or (3) The work covers Arkansas.

“We are incredibly proud to offer the A-Mark Prize for Investigative Reporting in Arkansas through the A-Mark Foundation,” said Wendy Jordan, Arkansas SPJ president. “This is a wonderful opportunity for journalists covering Arkansas issues to be recognized and monetarily rewarded for their efforts to uncover the truth.”

All Diamond Journalism Awards entries must be published or broadcast in 2024. There are nearly 100 categories in 10 divisions ranging from traditional print and broadcast content to podcasts, communications campaigns and more. Find all of the contest categories here. 

Although entrants do not have to be members of SPJ, joining the organization offers more benefits than contest entry fee discounts. If you’re interested in joining, click here. 

Entry fees for Diamond Award entries are:

General Competition (Divisions 1-7)

• SPJ members: $15 per entry.
• Nonmembers: $25 per entry.
• Student SPJ members: $10 per entry. 
• Student nonmembers: $15 per entry.

Craft Achievement & Diamond Awards (Divisions 8 & 9)

• SPJ members: $25 per entry.
• Nonmembers: $35 per entry.

A-Mark Prize for Investigative Reporting (Division 10)

• SPJ Members and Nonmembers: $40

The Diamond Journalism Awards uses the Better BNC contest management platform for entries and judging and fees are submitted through PayPal. All finalists will be recognized at the Diamond Awards event in July in central Arkansas. A listing of finalists will be announced prior to the event.

Click here to get started. Good luck!