Winners of the 2020 Diamond Journalism Awards were announced June 30 in a virtual presentation. Watch the video here.
This year’s competition was judged by members of the Detroit Chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists.
Here are links to the entries of the first-place winners.
Multimedia
2018-2019 Arkansas School Grades
Yutao Chen, Cynthia Howell
Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, Little Rock
Second Place: Yutao Chen, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
Specialized Website
Amanda Claire Curcio, Gavin Lesnick
Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, Little Rock
Second Place: Staff, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
Editorials – Daily Newspapers
Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, Little Rock
Editorials – Non-Daily Newspapers
Jack “Miles” Ventimiglia
Richmond News, Richmond, MO
Second Place: Jack “Miles” Ventimiglia, Richmond News
Editorials – Magazines
Johnny Carrol Sain, Chris Zimmerman
ABOUT the River Valley Magazine, Russellville, AR
Second Place: Johnny Carrol Sain, Chris Zimmerman, ABOUT the River Valley Magazine
Third Place: Johnny Carrol Sain, Chris Zimmerman, ABOUT the River Valley Magazine
Columns – Daily Newspapers
Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, Little Rock
Second Place: John Brummett, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
Third Place: Kelly Brant, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
Columns – Non-Daily Newspapers
Editor’s Note: Women and Politics in Mississippi
Donna Ladd
Jackson Free Press, Jackson, MS
Second Place: Anthony Mariani, Fort Worth Weekly, Fort Worth, TX
Third Place: Rick Kron, Leader Newspaper, Jacksonville, AR
Columns – Magazines
Johnny Carrol Sain, Chris Zimmerman
ABOUT the River Valley Magazine, Russellville, AR
Second Place: Dustin Jayroe, Arkansas Money & Politics Magazine, Little Rock
Third Place: Johnny Carrol Sain, Chris Zimmerman, ABOUT the River Valley Magazine
News – Daily Newspapers
Democrat-Gazette Staff
Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, Little Rock
Second Place: Clara Turnage, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
Third Place: Lisa Hammersly, Eric Besson, Michael Wickline, Linda Satter
News – Non-Daily Newspapers
Immigration Raids, Mississippi Economy
Ashton Pittman
Jackson Free Press, Jackson, MS
Second Place: Tammy Keith, ADG River Valley & Ozark Edition
Third Place: Dwain Hebda, YA!MULE WORDSMITHS for Arkansas Catholic
News – Magazines
Dwain Hebda
YA!MULE WORDSMITHS for SAVVYKids Magazine
Second Place: Kinsey Crocker, The Curbside Chronicle, Oklahoma City
Third Place: Tyler Hale, Arkansas Money & Politics, Little Rock
Feature – Daily Newspapers
Celia Storey
Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, Little Rock
Second Place: Bill Bowden, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
Third Place: Sarah DeClerk, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
Feature – Non-Daily Newspapers
Escape From the Slaughterhouse
Danny Wicentowski
Riverfront Times, St. Louis, MO
Second Place: Rick Kron, Leader Newspaper, Jacksonville, AR
Third Place: Dwain Hebda, YA!MULE WORDSMITHS for The Daily Record
Feature – Magazines
Bret Schulte
Wilson Quarterly, Washington, D.C.
Second Place: Dwain Hebda, YA!MULE WORDSMITHS for AY Magazine
Third Place: Dwain Hebda, YA!MULE WORDSMITHS for AY Magazine
Investigative Reporting – Daily Newspapers
Lisa Hammersly, Ginny Monk
Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, Little Rock
Second Place: Eric Besson, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
Third Place: Amanda Claire Curcio, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
Investigative Reporting – Non-Daily Newspapers
Scott Loftis
Carroll County Newspapers, Eureka Springs, AR
Second Place: Ashton Pittman, Jackson Free Press, Jackson, MS
Third Place: Danny Wicentowski, Riverfront Times, St. Louis, MO
Sports – Daily Newspapers
Tom Murphy
Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, Little Rock
Second Place: Bob Holt, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
Third Place: Trenton Daeschner, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
Sports – Non-Daily Newspapers
Tammy Keith
ADG River Valley & Ozark Edition
Second Place: Dwain Hebda, YA!MULE WORDSMITHS for Arkansas Catholic
Third Place: Dwain Hebda, YA!MULE WORDSMITHS for Arkansas Catholic
Sports – Magazines
Mark Carter
Arkansas Money & Politics, Little Rock
Second Place: Dwain Hebda, YA!MULE WORDSMITHS for Do South Magazine
Third Place: Dwain Hebda, YA!MULE WORDSMITHS for 501 Life Magazine
Politics – Daily Newspapers
Frank Lockwood, Hunter Field, John Moritz
Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, Little Rock
Second Place: Andrew DeMillo, The Associated Press, Little Rock
Third Place: John Moritz, Hunter Field, Michael Wickline, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
Politics – Non-Daily Newspapers
Race and Gender in Mississippi Elections
Ashton Pittman
Jackson Free Press, Jackson, MS
Politics – Magazines
Nathan Poppe
The Curbside Chronicle, Oklahoma City
Second Place: Staff, The Curbside Chronicle
Third Place: Mark Carter, Arkansas Money & Politics, Little Rock
Arts & Culture – Daily Newspapers
Philip Martin
Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, Little Rock
Second Place: Eric Harrison, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
Arts & Culture – Non-Daily Newspapers
Aliyah Veal
Jackson Free Press, Jackson, MS
Second Place: Tammy Keith, ADG River Valley & Ozark Edition
Arts & Culture – Magazines
Dwain Hebda
YA!MULE WORDSMITHS for Do South Magazine
Second Place: Johnny Carrol Sain, Chris Zimmerman, ABOUT the River Valley Magazine, Russellville, AR
Third Place: Nathan Poppe, The Curbside Chronicle, Oklahoma City
Health – Daily Newspapers
Lisa Hammersly, Ginny Monk
Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, Little Rock
Second Place: Cody Graves, ADG Healthbeat
Third Place: Sarah DeClerk, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
Health – Non-Daily Newspapers
Abortion Fight Obscuring Maternal Mortality
Ashton Pittman
Jackson Free Press, Jackson, MS
Second Place: Dwain Hebda, YA!MULE WORDSMITHS for The Daily Record
Third Place: Jack “Miles” Ventimiglia, Richmond News, Richmond, MO
Health – Magazines
Dustin Jayroe
AY (About You) Magazine, Little Rock
Second Place: Lisa Fischer, AY Magazine
Third Place: Dwain Hebda, YA!MULE WORDSMITHS for SAVVYKids Magazine
STEM – Non-Daily Newspapers
Retired Conway Educators Reward Girls in Math
Tammy Keith
ADG River Valley & Ozark Edition
STEM – Magazines
Tyler Hale
Arkansas Money & Politics, Little Rock
Design – Magazines
The Hero We Need, The Hero We Deserve, The Hero We Hunger For
Chris Zimmerman
ABOUT the River Valley Magazine, Russellville, AR
Second Place: Chris Zimmerman, ABOUT the River Valley Magazine
Third Place: Rebecca Robertson, AY Magazine, Little Rock
Photography
Jenn Terrell
Babiekins Magazine
Second Place: Staton Breidenthal, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
Third Place: Tommy Metthe, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
Photo Package/Spread
Tommy Metthe
Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, Little Rock
Second Place: Nathan Poppe, The Curbside Chronicle, Oklahoma City
Third Place: Tommy Metthe, Staton Breidenthal, Bill Bowden, Dale Ellis, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
Photo Portfolio
Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, Little Rock
Second Place: Staton Breidenthal, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
Third Place: Nathan Poppe, The Curbside Chronicle, Oklahoma City
Graphics/Illustrations
William Muschinske
The Curbside Chronicle, Oklahoma City
Second Place: Joshua Boydstun, The Curbside Chronicle
Third Place: Jayna Hadwiger, The Curbside Chronicle
Documentary/Investigative Reporting – Television
Beyond Borders – A Trip Abroad
Monica Quintero, David Wagner, David Lowell
KPEJ/KMID/KLST, Odessa/Midland/San Angelo, TX
News – Radio
Protesters Flock to Arkansas Tech
Daniel Breen
KUAR-FM 89.1, Little Rock
Second Place: Daniel Breen, KUAR-FM 89.1
Third Place: Sarah Kellogg, KUAR-FM 891.
Feature – Radio
Livestock Showing Is Most Important
Kelly Connelly
KUAR-FM 89.1, Little Rock
Second Place: David Monteith, Michael Hibblen, KUAR-FM 89.1
Documentary/Investigative Reporting – Radio
J. Bradley Minnick, Mary Ellen Kubit
KUAR-FM 89.1, Little Rock
Politics – Radio
Statues of Johnny Cash, Daisy Bates
Michael Hibblen
KUAR-FM 89.1, Little Rock
Second Place: Daniel Breen, KUAR-FM 89.1
Third Place: Michael Hibblen, KUAR-FM 89.1
Health – Radio
Doctor’s Advice on Medical Marijuana
Michael Hibblen
KUAR-FM 89.1, Little Rock
Special Section (All Print)
Jennifer Ellis
ADG Three Rivers Edition
Second Place: Wendy Miller, Sarah DeClerk, Staff, Downtown Little Rock
STUDENT JOURNALISM
News (Print/Online) – Student
Medical Marijuana Forces Law Enforcement Changes
Chase Gage
Delta News Service, Arkansas State University, Jonesboro
Second Place: Tristan Bennett, Delta Digital News Service
Third Place: Chloe Short, Brooke Buckner, Colby Sigears, Jessica Ladd, Yu Bai, Delta Digital News Service
Feature (Print/Online) – Student
Hannah Butler, Liz Chrisman, Chris Zimmerman
ABOUT the River Valley Magazine, Russellville, AR
Second Place: Matthew Emery, Delta Digital News Service, Arkansas State University, Jonesboro
Third Place: Chase Gage, Delta Digital News Service
Sports (Print/Online) – Student
Denton Postlewait
Delta News Service, Arkansas State University, Jonesboro
Second Place: Kenzie Sain, Chris Zimmerman, ABOUT the River Valley Magazine, Russellville, AR
Third Place: Denton Postlewait, Delta Digital News Service
SPECIAL AWARDS
Community Service
Ashton Pittman, Aliyah Veal, Donna Ladd
Jackson Free Press, Jackson, MS
Second Place: Staff, The Curbside Chronicle, Oklahoma City
Third Place: Staff, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, Little Rock
Robert S. McCord FOI Award
Eric Besson
Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, Little Rock
Runner-up: Seyma Bayram, Donna Ladd, Nick Judin, Jackson Free Press, Jackson, MS
Outstanding New Journalist of the Year
Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, Little Rock
Runner-up: Rachel Herzog, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
Diamond Journalist of the Year
Cynthia Howell
Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, Little Rock
Runner-up: Monica Quintero, KPEJ/KMID, Odessa-Midland, TX
