Judges have chosen the finalists for the 2019 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 states.
The Diamond Journalist of the Year will be announced at the awards ceremony and annual membership meeting, which will take place 6 p.m. June 25 at the Flying Saucer Draught Emporium in Little Rock. Tickets are $15 per person, including heavy hors d’oeuvres and libations. More details about the event will soon be released.
Here is a list of finalists by category:
Specialized website (any platform)
Jeanne Roberts, Gavin Lesnick and Mitchell Pe Masilun, The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette; Rachel Herzog, Brandon Riddle and Polly Irungu, The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette; Gavin Lesnick, Nikki Dawes, Ginny Monk, John Moritz and Ryan Tarinelli, The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
Slideshow (any platform)
Staff, The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
Multimedia (any platform)
Nikki Dawes, The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette; Gavin Lesnick and Jillian Kremer, The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette; Staff, The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
Video portfolio (any platform)
Mitchell Pe Masilun, The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
Arts and culture (daily newspapers)
Philip Martin, The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette; Kelly Brant, The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
Health (daily newspapers)
Kat Stromquist, The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette; Emma Pettit, The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette; Sarah DeClerk, The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
Politics (daily newspapers)
Rachel Herzog, The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette; Hunter Field, The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette; Andrew DeMillo, The Associated Press
Sports (daily newspapers)
Jeremy Muck, The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette; Bob Holt, The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
Investigative reporting (daily newspapers)
Ginny Monk, John Moritz and Ryan Tarinelli, The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette; Hannah Grabenstein, The Associated Press; Stephen Steed, The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
Feature (daily newspapers)
Ginny Monk, The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette; Clara Turnage, The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette; Hannah Grabenstein, The Associated Press
News (daily newspapers)
Bill Bowden, The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette; Jill Bleed and Adrian Sainz, The Associated Press; Andrew DeMillo, The Associated Press
Opinion (daily newspapers)
John Brummett, The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette; Elizabeth West, Ville Platte Gazette; Philip Martin, The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
News (magazine)
Johnny Carrol Sain, Arkansas Life magazine
Sports (magazine)
Johnny Carrol Sain, Arkansas Life magazine; Jon Beilue, Hooten’s Arkansas Football; Dwain Hebda, Ya!Mule Wordsmiths for 501 Life magazine
Feature (magazine)
Heather Breed Steadham, Arkansas Life magazine; Dwain Hebda, Ya!Mule Wordsmiths for AY magazine
Politics (magazine)
Jordan P. Hickey, Arkansas Life magazine; Jacque Walsh, Nathan Poppe and Whitley O’Conner, The Curbside Chronicle
Health (magazine)
Dwain Hebda, Ya!Mule Wordsmiths for AY magazine; Dwain Hebda, Ya!Mule Wordsmiths for Mental Health Guide
Arts and culture (magazine)
Seth Eli Barlow, Arkansas Life magazine; Dwain Hebda, Ya!Mule Wordsmiths for Soiree magazine; Dwain Hebda, Ya!Mule Wordsmiths for Do South magazine
News (non-daily newspapers)
Arielle Dreher, Jackson Free Press; Shawn Arraj, Rebecca Hennes, R. Hans Miller and Amelia Brust, Community Impact Newspaper; Hannah Zedaker, Community Impact Newspaper
Health (non-daily newspapers)
Linda Garner-Bunch, Three Rivers Edition of the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette; Dwain Hebda, Ya!Mule Wordsmiths for Arkansas Catholic; Tammy Keith, River Valley & Ozark Edition of the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
Feature (non-daily newspapers)
Danny Wicentowski, Riverfront Times; Rick Kron, Leader Newspaper; Jack “Miles” Ventimiglia, Richmond Daily News
Arts and culture (non-daily newspapers)
Amber Helsel, Jackson Free Press; Karen Craigo, The Marshfield Mail
Opinion (non-daily newspapers)
Anthony Mariani, Fort Worth Weekly; Donna Ladd, Jackson Free Press; Rick Kron, Leader Newspaper
Politics (non-daily newspapers)
Ashton Pittman, Donna Ladd and Amber Helsel, Jackson Free Press; Jack “Miles” Ventimiglia, Richmond Daily News; Jack Flagler, Emma Freer and Christopher Neely, Community Impact Newspaper
Sports (non-daily newspapers)
Dwain Hebda, Ya!Mule Wordsmiths for Arkansas Catholic; Wendy Miller, Three Rivers Edition of the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette; Tammy Keith, River Valley & Ozark Edition of the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
Investigative reporting (non-daily newspapers)
Danny Wicentowski, Riverfront Times; Matt Dulin, Community Impact Newspaper; Beth Marshall, Community Impact Newspaper
Design portfolio (print/online)
Stan Denman, The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette; Emma Devine, Arkansas Life magazine; Leanne Hunter, The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
Special section (print/online)
Sarah DeClerk, Emily Partridge and promotions team, The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette; Sarah DeClerk, Wendy Miller and special sections team, The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette; Sarah DeClerk and special sections team, The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
Photography portfolio (print/online)
Mitchell Pe Masilun, The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette; Stanton Breidenthal, The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette; Tommy Metthe, The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
Photo package/spread (print/online)
Mitchell Pe Masilun, The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
Photography (print/online)
Mitchell Pe Masilun, The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette: Yvette Jagneaux, Ville Platte Gazette; Staton Breidenthal, The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
News (radio/audio)
Johnathan Reaves, KASU Public Radio; Ann Kenda, Arkansas Public Media
Sports (radio/audio)
Brandon Tabor, KASU Public Radio; Ann Kenda, Arkansas Public Media; Chuck Livingston, David Wallace, Barry Groomes, Chad Hooten and Chris Hooten, Hooten’s Arkansas Football
Documentary/investigative reporting (radio/audio)
Ibby Caputo, Scene on Radio podcast of Duke’s Center for Documentary Studies
Arts and culture (radio/audio)
Jerome Weeks, KERA
Documentary/investigative reporting (television/video)
Caitlin Sinett, KY3 and KSPR
News (student – print/online)
Kimberely Blackburn, Delta Digital News Service; Keith Turner, Delta Digital News Service; Kayce Wilson, Delta Digital News Service
Feature (student – print/online)
Christine Miyawa, Delta Digital News Service; Miranda Reynolds, Delta Digital News Service; Destini Lattimore, Delta Digital News Service
Sports (student – print/online)
Marvin Davis, Delta Digital News Service
Photo package/spread (student)
Tristan Arquitt, Delta Digital News Service; Madison Gomez, Delta Digital News Service
Community service (special award)
Donna Ladd and Arielle Dreher, Jackson Free Press; Lisa Hammersly, The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
Robert McCord Freedom of Information Award (special award)
Donna Ladd, Ko Bragg, Taylor Langele and Marie Weidmayer, Jackson Free Press; Ron Wood and Greg Harton, The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
Outstanding New Journalist (special award)
Ashton Pittman, Jackson Free Press; Hannah Grabenstein, The Associated Press; Clara Turnage, The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
