NEWS RELEASE
Contact: Wendy Miller Jordan, President
arkspjcontest@gmail.com | 469.338.7062
2025 Diamond Journalism Awards Finalists Announced
A-Mark Award for Investigative Journalism prizes to be presented at banquet
LITTLE ROCK—The Arkansas Pro Chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists is proud to announce the finalists for the 2025 Diamond Journalism Awards and the A-Mark Prize for Investigative Reporting.
The Diamond Awards are a regional competition that attracts entries from Arkansas and six bordering states. The A-Mark Prize, sponsored by the A-Mark Foundation, was added this year to recognize exceptional investigative reporting in Arkansas. The A-Mark Foundation will present $15,000 divided among first, second, and third place, recognizing both the reporters and their newsrooms who have been named as finalists.
This year’s contest drew 704 entries in more than 80 categories, including divisions that recognize professional journalism, student journalism, and communications. SPJ members from Connecticut judged the competitions.
The winners will be announced on Saturday, July 26, at an awards ceremony at Next Level Events, 1400 W. Markham St. in Little Rock. Dinner will be served at 5 p.m., and the program will begin immediately following. This year’s emcee will be FOX 16 Good Day Morning Anchor, Ashlei King. Tickets to the event are $35 per person, and sponsorship opportunities are available. To purchase tickets, go here.
Here are the finalists listed in alphabetical order by first name in each division. If multiple entries are finalists but are credited in the same manner, the entry credit is only listed once per division.
A-MARK PRIZE FOR INVESTIGATIVE REPORTING IN ARKANSAS
Chris Fulton, Mountain Home Observer
Jessica Ranck, KARK and FOX16
Matt Campbell, Arkansas Times
PRINT/ONLINE
Adam Friedman, Tennessee Lookout
Alex Golden, Axios Northwest Arkansas
Andrew DeMillo, The Associated Press
Anita Wadhwani, Adam Friedman, Tennessee Lookout
Anthony Mariani, Fort Worth Weekly
Antoinette Grajeda, Arkansas Advocate
Antoinette Grajeda, Tess Vrbin, Mary Hennigan, Arkansas Advocate
Arkansas Times Staff
Benjamin Hardy, Matt Campbell, David Ramsey, Austin Gelder, Griffin Coop, Arkansas Times
Benjamin Leger, 225 Magazine
Bobby Ross Jr., Cheryl Mann Bacon, Calvin Cockrell, The Christian Chronicle
Chad Hunter, Cherokee Phoenix
Daniel Grear, Arkansas Times
David Barham, The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
David Ramsey, Jeannie Roberts, Austin Gelder, Benjamin Hardy, Arkansas Times
Donna Ladd, Mississippi Free Press
Dwain Hebda, Ya!Mule Wordsmiths for AY Magazine
Dwain Hebda, Ya!Mule Wordsmiths for Wheelhouse Publications
Ellen Kreth, Shannon Hahn, Madison County Record
Erik Tryggestad, The Christian Chronicle
Frank Lockwood, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
Holly McCall, Tennessee Lookout
Jacob Steimer, MLK50: Justice Through Journalism
Jason Brimmer, Fort Worth Weekly
Jeffrey Roedel, Hoa Vu, Riley Bienvenu Bourgeois, inRegister Magazine
Jonathan Feldman, Leader newspaper
Katherine Burgess, MLK50: Justice Through Journalism
Mark Carter, Arkansas Money & Politics
Matt Campbell, Arkansas Times
Matt Campbell, David Ramsey, Austin Gelder, Benjamin Hardy, Mary Hennigan, Phillip Powell, Arkansas Times
Mike Wickline, Josh Snyder, Neal Earley, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
Milo Strain, Arkansas Times
Nick Judin, Mississippi Free Press
Nick Judin, Stacey Spiehler, Ashton Pittman, Mississippi Free Press
Olivia Deffes, 225 Magazine
Philip Martin, The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
Rebecca Cadenhead, MLK50: Justice Through Journalism
Richard Davenport, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
Sam Stockard, Tennessee Lookout
Stephanie Maxwell Newton, PLATED: The Arkansas Dining Guide
Stephanie Smittle, Arkansas Times
Tommy Foltz, The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
Worth Sparkman, Axios Northwest Arkansas
Zandria F. Robinson, MLK50: Justice Through Journalism
TELEVISION
40/29 News Staff
Anna Darling, Brad Horn, KNWA/FOX24
Brittany Tarwater, WVLT News
Caitrin Assaf, KARK 4 News
Caroline Derby, Kwasi Harshaw, FOX 16 News
Chad Mira, Lauren Motley, KNWA/FOX24
Darby Bybee, 40/29 News Staff
Donna Terrell, Fox16 News
Gabe Evans, NewsWatch Ole Miss
Hannah Baker, NewsWatch Ole Miss
Kayla Davis, KFSM 5News
Kevin Kelly, Julian Jones, FOX 16 News
Kevin Kelly, FOX 16 News
Kimberely Blackburn, Bob Clausen, Donna Terrell, Laura Monteverdi, Ashlei King, Ronni Romero, Fox16 & KARK 4 News
Kimberely Blackburn, Fox 16 News
Kimberly Rusley, Steven Bui, KFDM 6
Laura Monteverdi, Alexis Burch, KARK 4 News
Laura Monteverdi, John Matthews, KARK 4 News
Lauren Motley, KNWA/FOX24 Fayetteville
Maddi Phipps, UATV
Mattison Gafner, Stephen Goodale, KARK 4 News
Micah Fletcher, Cherokee Phoenix
Michael Aaron, Mike Nielsen, KFSM
Samantha Boyd, Stephen Goodale, KARK 4 News
Seth Parenteau, NewsWatch Ole Miss
Skot Covert, KFSM
Stacie Boston, Cherokee Phoenix
KARK 4 News – Staff
Tylisa Hampton, John Matthews, KARK 4 News
Tylisa Hampton, Stephen Goodale, KARK 4 News
UATV Staff
Whitney Thomas, Stephen Goodale, KARK 4 News
WVLT Staff , WVLT News
RADIO/AUDIO
Alex Thomas, Nick Popowitch, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
Daniel Breen, Josie Lenora, Little Rock Public Radio
Daniel Breen, Little Rock Public Radio
Daniel Breen, National Public Radio
Danny Wicentowski, St. Louis Public Radio
Emma Rasmussen, UATV
Josie Lenora, Little Rock Public Radio
Josie Lenora, National Public Radio
Laura Kebede-Twumasi, Christopher Blank, Marc Perrusquia, Institute for Public Service Reporting
Maggie Ryan, Little Rock Public Radio
Maggie Ryan, National Public Radio
Nathan Treece, Little Rock Public Radio
Paul Ladd, World Christian Broadcasting’s New Life station & worldchristian.org
SPECIAL TOPICS
Antoinette Grajeda, Mary Hennigan, Tess Vrbin, Arkansas Advocate
Arkansas Democrat-Gazette Staff
Ashli Blow, MLK50: Justice Through Journalism
Audrey Jackson, The Christian Chronicle
Cristina LaRue, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
Dwain Hebda, Ya!Mule Wordsmiths for Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
Dwain Hebda, Ya!Mule Wordsmiths for AY Magazine
Dwain Hebda, Ya!Mule Wordsmiths for Mental Health Guide (AY Magazine)
Erik Tryggestad, Ted Parks, Bobby Ross Jr., The Christian Chronicle
Heather Harrison, Illan Ireland, Torsheta Jackson, Ashton Pittman, William Pittman, Nick Judin, Mississippi Free Press
Illan Ireland, Mississippi Free Press
Katti Gray, MLK50: Justice Through Journalism, Health in Memphis
Phillip Powell, Illan Ireland, Cassie Stephenson, Arkansas Times, Tennessee Lookout, Mississippi Free Press
Remington Miller, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
Sarah DeClerk, Arkansas Money & Politics
COMMUNICATIONS
Angelita Faller, Carrie Phillips, Muriel Schrepfer, Meaghan Milliorn, Angela Parker, Benjamin Krain, University of Arkansas at Little Rock
Angelita Faller, University of Arkansas at Little Rock
Aprille Spivey, Arkansas Children’s Health System
Benjamin Krain, University of Arkansas at Little Rock
Brittany Goff, Crafton Tull
Donnie Sewell, Arkansas School for Mathematics, Sciences and the Arts Public Information Office
Jessica Ford, APR, Arkansas Community Foundation
Maggie Butler, Crafton Tull
Staci Miller, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette Community Journalism Project
Trevor Hensley, Crafton Tull
Trevor Hensley, Lindsay Young, Crafton Tull
Wendy Jordan, Leadership Greater Little Rock Class XL Team 2
VISUAL JOURNALISM
Adam Vogler, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
Alison Fulton, Chris Fulton, Mountain Home Observer
Audrey Jackson, The Christian Chronicle
Chad Hunter, Cherokee Phoenix
Colin Murphey, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
Colin Murphey, Staci Vandagriff, Staton Breidenthal, Thomas Metthe, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
Collin Richie, 225 Magazine
Donnie Sewell, Mike Kemp, Corey Alderdice, Arkansas School for Mathematics, Sciences and the Arts Public Information Office
Heather Kersten , Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
Mandy Keener, Kasten Searles, Annika Shunn, Arkansas Times
Mandy Keener, Sara Reeves, Kasten Searles, Arkansas Times
Mark Dreadfulwater, Cherokee Phoenix
Melinda Gonzalez Galjour, 225 Magazine
Michael Hoge, Liz Atkinson, Heather Kersten, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
Riley Bienvenu Bourgeois, Hoa Vu, Melinda Gonzales, Jackie Haxthausen, Stephania Campos, inRegister Magazine
Sarah Campbell-Miller, Nick Popowitch, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette Web Team
Staci Vandagriff, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
Thomas Metthe, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
Wendy Jordan, Diamond Roundup, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
Wendy Jordan, Where We Live, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
STUDENT JOURNALISM
Ablaze Magazine Staff
Addie Jones, The Arkansas Traveler
Amelia Bridges, KLSU 91.1 FM
Ashlynn Payne, Erin Foley, Daily Mississippian
Cade Savoy, LSU Reveille
Caleb Jarreau, The Daily Beacon
Chequoia Adderley, Daily Mississippian
Drew Brent, Mary Stratton, Madison Estep, Ava Brock, Izzy Ohnmacht, Noah Carter, Cyclone Broadcasting
Editorial Board, LSU Reveille
Ethan Doan, The Arkansas Traveler
Gabriella Guillory, Jayden Slaughter, LSU Reveille
Gabriella Guillory, Payton Prichard, Kaitlyn Hoang, LSU Reveille
Ibuki Hinohara, The Herald
John Buzbee, LSU Reveille
Kyla Clark, The Poke Press
Marty Sullivan, LSU Reveille
MJ Ferguson, The Arkansas Traveler
Mohammad Tantawi, LSU Reveille
Morgan Carter, LSU Reveille
Nicole Marino, LSU Tiger TV
Patricia Caputo, LSU Tiger TV
Pierce Gentry, WUOT
Pierce Gentry, WUOT
Ryan Beatty, University of Tennessee for USA TODAY
Taylor Hamilton, LSU Reveille
Torie Bovie, Cate Emma Warren, LSU Reveille
TVC Staff , The Daily Beacon Staff , WUOT Staff , WUTK Staff, The Volunteer Channel, The Daily Beacon, WUOT, WUTK
CRAFT ACHIEVEMENT
Aimee Fowler, WVLT News
Caitrin Assaf, KARK 4 News
Casey Wheeless, WVLT
Colin Murphey, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
Katie Parker, UATV
Kevin Kelly, KLRT
Lauren Motley, KNWA/FOX24 Fayetteville
Nick Popowitch, Sarah Campbell-Miller, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
Skot Covert, KTHV & KFSM
Stephanie Maxwell Newton, At Home in Arkansas
Stephen Goodale, KARK/KLRT
Thomas Metthe, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
SPECIAL AWARDS
Audrey Jackson, The Christian Chronicle
Bobby Ross Jr., The Christian Chronicle
Caleb Jarreau, The Daily Beacon
Chris Fulton, Mountain Home Observer
Dwain Hebda, Ya!Mule Wordsmiths
Ellen Kreth, Shannon Hahn, The Madison County Record
Grant Lancaster, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
Jacob Steimer, Mikhaila Markham, Andrea Morales, MLK50: Justice Through Journalism
Lucas Dufalla, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
Shaunicy Muhammad, Mississippi Free Press
WVLT Staff
Society of Professional Journalists | Arkansas Pro Chapter 