Rex Nelson, Heather Baker to be featured as special guests; $15,000 to be awarded for A-Mark Prize for Investigative Journalism
LITTLE ROCK—The Arkansas Pro Chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists will present the Diamond Journalism Awards banquet on Saturday, July 26, at Next Level Events in downtown Little Rock. Rex Nelson, senior editor of the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, and Heather Baker, president and publisher of AY Media Group, will provide the keynote conversation.
The event will recognize winners and finalists in more than 80 categories, showcasing work from Arkansas and bordering states. The placement of the inaugural winners of the A-Mark Prize for Investigative Journalism, which carries $15,000 in prize money, will be announced. This year’s finalists include Chris Fulton of the Mountain Home Observer, Jessica Ranck of KARK and FOX16 and Matt Campbell of the Arkansas Times.
“This year’s contest was our most competitive to date and we can’t wait to recognize the amazing work in Arkansas and surrounding states,” said Wendy Jordan, Arkansas SPJ president. “Rex is one of the best storytellers in the industry and having him join media powerhouse Heather Baker for the event’s keynote will be a perfect fit for an evening of celebrating journalism.”
Nelson is known for his columns, books, and the popular blog known as Rex Nelson’s Southern Fried and the Southern Fried podcast, as well as regular radio and TV appearances. A former communications director for Gov. Mike Huckabee and appointee under President George W. Bush, he has been honored as Rural Advocate of the Year and inducted into the Arkansas Sportscasters and Sportswriters Hall of Fame.
Nelson will be joined by Baker who has worked in the publishing industry for more than 25 years. Under her guidance and leadership, AY Media Group has grown to elite status in media circles both in the local market and nationally. She is also a well-known media personality and influencer whose work spans multiple mediums and countless philanthropic endeavors.
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.
FOX 16 Good Day Morning Anchor, Ashlei King will be this year’s emcee. King, who is a San Antonio native with Arkansas roots, has earned both a National and Regional Edward R. Murrow Award and a Regional Emmy for her reporting.
The Diamond Awards ceremony will be held 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. Tickets to the event are $35 per person through July 7 and will be $40 starting July 8 and can be purchased here. Table purchases and sponsorship opportunities are available.
The finalists are listed below, grouped by outlet or organization. A list sorted by individuals’ names and divisions can be found here.
* Craft Achievement Finalist
** Special Award Finalist
***A-Mark Prize for Investigative Reporting Finalist
225 Magazine
Benjamin Leger
Collin Richie
Melinda Gonzalez Galjour
Olivia Deffes
40/29 News + KHBS/KHOG
40/29 News Staff
Darby Bybee
Arkansas Advocate
Antoinette Grajeda
Mary Hennigan
Tess Vrbin
Arkansas Children’s Health System
Aprille Spivey
Arkansas Community Foundation
Jessica Ford, APR
Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
Adam Vogler
Alex Thomas
Colin Murphey*
Cristina LaRue
David Barham
Dwain Hebda
Frank Lockwood
Grant Lancaster**
Heather Kersten
Josh Snyder
Liz Atkinson
Lucas Dufalla**
Michael Hoge
Mike Wickline
Neal Earley
Nick Popowitch*
Philip Martin
Remington Miller
Richard Davenport
Sarah Campbell-Miller*
Staci Vandagriff
Thomas Metthe*
Tommy Foltz
Wendy Jordan
Arkansas Democrat-Gazette Community Journalism Project
Staci Miller
Arkansas State University
The Herald
Ibuki Hinohara
Arkansas School for Mathematics, Sciences and the Arts Public Information Office
Corey Alderdice
Donnie Sewell
Mike Kemp
Arkansas Times
Annika Shunn
Austin Gelder
Benjamin Hardy
Cassie Stephenson
Daniel Grear
David Ramsey
Griffin Coop
Illan Ireland
Jeannie Roberts
Kasten Searles
Mandy Keener
Mary Hennigan
Matt Campbell***
Milo Strain
Phillip Powell
Sara Reeves
Stephanie Smittle
At Home in Arkansas + PLATED: The Arkansas Dining Guide
Stephanie Maxwell Newton*
Axios Northwest Arkansas
Alex Golden
Worth Sparkman
AY Magazine + Arkansas Money & Politics
Dwain Hebda
Mark Carter
Sarah DeClerk
The Associated Press
Andrew DeMillo
Cherokee Phoenix
Chad Hunter
Mark Dreadfulwater
Micah Fletcher
Stacie Boston
The Christian Chronicle
Audrey Jackson**
Bobby Ross Jr.**
Calvin Cockrell
Cheryl Mann Bacon
Erik Tryggestad
Ted Parks
Crafton Tull
Brittany Goff
Lindsay Young
Maggie Butler
Trevor Hensley
Cyclone Broadcasting
Russellville High School
Ava Brock
Drew Brent
Izzy Ohnmacht
Madison Estep
Mary Stratton
Noah Carter
Fort Worth Weekly
Anthony Mariani
Edward Brown
Jason Brimmer
Fox 16 + KARK News
Alexis Burch
Ashlei King
Bob Clausen
Caitrin Assaf*
Caroline Derby
Donna Terrell
Jessica Ranck***
John Matthews
Julian Jones
Kevin Kelly*
Kimberely Blackburn
Kwasi Harshaw
Laura Monteverdi
Mattison Gafner
Ronni Romero
Samantha Boyd
Stephen Goodale*
Tylisa Hampton
Whitney Thomas
inRegister Magazine
Hoa Vu
Jackie Haxthausen
Jeffrey Roedel
Melinda Gonzales
Riley Bienvenu Bourgeois
Stephania Campos
Institute for Public Service Reporting
University of Memphis
Christopher Blank
Laura Kebede-Twumasi
Marc Perrusquia
KFDM 6 (Beaumont, Texas)
Kimberly Rusley
Steven Bui
KFSM 5News Fort Smith
Kayla Davis
Michael Aaron
Mike Nielsen
Skot Covert (Previously KTHV)*
KNWA/FOX24 Fayetteville
Anna Darling
Brad Horn
Chad Mira
Lauren Motley*
Leader Newspaper
Jonathan Feldman
Little Rock Public Radio + National Public Radio
Daniel Breen
Josie Lenora
Maggie Ryan
Nathan Treece
Little Rock Regional Chamber of Commerce
Leadership Greater Little Rock
Wendy Jordan + Class XL Community Project Team 2
Louisiana State University
LSU Tiger TV, LSU Reveille, KLSU 91.1 FM
Amelia Bridges
Cade Savoy
Cate Emma Warren
Gabriella Guillory
Jayden Slaughter
John Buzbee
Kaitlyn Hoang
Marty Sullivan
Mohammad Tantawi
Morgan Carter
Nicole Marino
Patricia Caputo
Payton Prichard
Taylor Hamilton
Torie Bovie
Madison County Record
Ellen Kreth**
Shannon Hahn**
McNeese State University
The Poke Press
Kyla Clark
Mississippi Free Press
Ashton Pittman
Cassie Stephenson
Donna Ladd
Heather Harrison
Illan Ireland
Nick Judin
Phillip Powell
Shaunicy Muhammad**
Stacey Spiehler
Torsheta Jackson
William Pittman
MLK50: Justice Through Journalism
Andrea Morales**
Ashli Blow
Jacob Steimer**
Jacob Steimer
Katherine Burgess
Katti Gray
Mikhaila Markham**
Rebecca Cadenhead
Zandria F. Robinson
Mountain Home Observer
Alison Fulton
Chris Fulton*** **
St. Louis Public Radio
Danny Wicentowski
Tennessee Lookout
Adam Friedman
Anita Wadhwani
Cassie Stephenson
Holly McCall
Illan Ireland
Phillip Powell
Sam Stockard
University of Arkansas
The Arkansas Traveler & UATV
Addie Jones
Emma Rasmussen
Ethan Doan
Katie Parker*
Maddi Phipps
MJ Ferguson
University of Arkansas at Little Rock Communications & Marketing Office
Angelita Faller
Benjamin Krain
Carrie Phillips
Meaghan Milliorn
Muriel Schrepfer
University of Mississippi
NewsWatch Ole Miss, Daily Mississippian
Ashlynn Payne
Chequoia Adderley
Erin Foley
Gabe Evans
Hannah Baker
Seth Parenteau
University of Tennessee
The Daily Beacon, WUOT and University of Tennessee for USA TODAY
Caleb Jarreau**
Pierce Gentry
Ryan Beatty
World Christian Broadcasting’s New Life station & worldchristian.org
Paul Ladd
WVLT News Knoxville
Aimee Fowler*
Brittany Tarwater
Casey Wheeless*
WVLT Staff**
Ya!Mule Wordsmiths
Dwain Hebda**
Society of Professional Journalists | Arkansas Pro Chapter 