2025 Diamond Journalism Awards Finalists Announced

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