The Diamond Journalism Awards will begin accepting entries for the 2023 contest on February 7. Sponsored by the Arkansas Pro Chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists, the Diamond Awards recognize excellence among journalists in seven states – Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Oklahoma, Tennessee and Texas. Entry rules and categories will be posted on our website, arkansasspj.org, soon.
NORTH LITTLE ROCK – Reporters for Mississippi Free Press and KNWA-TV and the editor of the Pine Bluff Commercial took top honors at the 2022 Diamond Journalism Awards ceremony held June 30 at Diamond Bear Brewing Co.
Guest speakers Ellen Kreth, publisher, and Shannon Hahn, general manager, of the Madison County Record told the audience of journalists and guests about their newspaper’s reporting on the Huntsville school board’s attempts to cover up allegations of sexual assault by junior high school basketball players. The Record was awarded the 2021 Taylor Family Award for Fairness in Journalism by the Nieman Foundation for Journalism at Harvard University for its reporting on the scandal.
The Diamond Journalism Awards, sponsored by the Arkansas Pro Chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists, honor journalism excellence among professionals and students from Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Oklahoma, Tennessee and Texas.
This year’s competition, for work published or broadcast in 2021, drew 379 entries in more than 80 categories. Judges were members of the SPJ chapters in Colorado, New Mexico and Wyoming.
Byron Tate, editor of Arkansas’ Pine Bluff Commercial, received the Garrick Feldman Community Journalism Award for his reporting and editorials on and about Pine Bluff and Jefferson County.
Mississippi Free Press staff took three of the competition’s top honors:
Chad Mira of Fayetteville’s KNWA-TV was named Outstanding New Journalist, an award that recognizes journalists who have worked in their market five years or fewer. A complete list of winners, with judges’ comments, and finalists follows:
2022 DIAMOND JOURNALISM AWARDS WINNERS AND FINALISTS
Byron Tate, Pine Bluff Commercial/Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
Judge Comment: Byron stepped up to the challenge when called to run the Pine Bluff Commercial, and lucky for the community he did. He shows a clear nose for news, not just covering but digging into topics that matter to the people of Jefferson County. He displays a knack for switching gears, writing on the resurrection of a well-loved basketball tournament to the complexities of the interim police chief holding a liquor license to a drama-filled feature on Arkansas’ own Patient Zero. He clearly knows and loves the community well, as evidenced in his thoughtful and well-researched editorials. His work honors his community and Garrick Feldman’s legacy.
Entry Title: Black Women, Covid-19 and Education in Noxubee County
Entry Credit: Torsheta Jackson, Donna Ladd, Kristin Brenemen, Mississippi Free Press
Judge Comment: The strength of Torsheta and Donna’s BWC Project is in its approach. They returned to the roots of community journalism – listening to the people and honoring their experience. The stories dug into the community’s past, unapologetically unearthing and naming the systemic racism that still plagues Black women in Noxubee County today. But possibly the best contribution of this work – they know there’s more reporting to do, and they aim to continue to do it.
Entry Title: Focused coverage on City of Beebe, Arkansas
Entry Credit: Greg Geary, The Daily Citizen, Searcy
Judge Comment: As the only reporter for this outlet, Greg carries the heavy load of keeping his community informed with both vital and vibrant coverage. The range of his work reflects the range of news a community cares about – from the grind of municipal work to annual events like “Shop with a Cop” to a heartwarming story of a student overcoming a stutter to win a speaking contest – and a history I’m sure they appreciate having documented with such care. Competition Comment: This was a particularly difficult category to judge, as each entry highlighted a different reason why local journalism is so vital to our communities. The one- reporter newspaper, the paper resurrected to serve as the only local news source, the team digging and digging into the deep roots of inequities in a Mississippi county – all serve as a testament to the role dedicated journalists play in documenting, sharing and challenging our history.
Entry Title: What the Jackson Water Crisis Revealed
Entry Credit: Nick Judin, Mississippi Free Press, Jackson
Judge Comment: Nick Judin stands out for his relentless coverage, which not only included hard news and legislative reporting, but also beautifully researched and written human-centered stories. While many factors led to action for the citizens of the City of Jackson, I can’t help but believe Nick’s dogged commitment to the issue and to a community that has long felt forgotten contributed to that progress.
Entry Title: The Great Delta Divide
Entry Credit: Stephen Simpson, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, Little Rock
Judge Comment: Stephen Simpson is clearly a talented and dedicated journalist who produced strong coverage that highlighted an area of the country that has long experienced inequities.
The conditions under which this project was produced – as a new staff member, reporting during a pandemic – make the package of stories even more remarkable.
Entry Title: Drug Unit Travails Hidden from Public View
Entry Credit: Christian Middleton, Grace Marion, Mississippi Free Press, Jackson
Judge Comment: Excellent use of both public records and old-fashioned watchdog reporting to uncover a disturbing issue that might otherwise have gone unnoticed. This is a perfect example of why access to public records is important to a democracy, and a perfect example of why journalists need to report from public records. Fantastic work!
Entry Title: Chad Mira – Robert S. McCord FOI Award Entry Credit: Chad Mira, KNWA News, Fayetteville, AR Judge Comment: None
Entry Title: ADG Flaherty McCord nomination
Entry Credit: Joseph Flaherty, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, Little Rock
Judge Comment: None
Kayode Crown, Mississippi Free Press, Jackson
Judge Comment: Kayode produces meticulously researched and reported work with a narrative flow that keeps the reader hooked. He gravitates to meaty and meaningful stories – a broken jail and a broken justice system, lead poisoning, people detained for months without
representation. He appears dedicated to shining the light in places that may otherwise not receive any.
Monica Quintero, KPEJ, Odessa
Entry Title: Monica Quintero – Passionate about People
Judge Comment: Monica is clearly a motivated journalist who is well versed in her storytelling. From inspiration pieces in the Be the Change series to emotional and compelling stories, like one of a mother grieving her lost child, she seems to know how to get to the heart of a story – and how to keep people at the center of it.
Dwain Hebda, YA!MULE WORDSMITHS, Little Rock
Judge Comment: Dwain is a talented narrative journalist, blending relevant detail, research and data into beautiful stories that are compelling no matter the topic.
Chad Mira, KNWA News, Fayetteville
Judge Comment: Chad clearly brings a lot to his market. He’s skilled in navigating public records, appears undeterred by roadblocks and challenges, and seasoned in weaving in the human element into a complex investigation. What an asset to the community.
Tess Vrbin, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, Little Rock
Judge Comment: Tess displays experience beyond her years, from digging through public documents to breaking down data to disaster coverage to breaking news and spurring change. Bright future ahead for this young journalist.
joseph Flaherty, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, Little Rock
Judge Comment: Joseph demonstrates a strong dedication to open government, and seems to thrive while fighting for government transparency. Keep fighting the good fight!
Entry Title: Tornado coverage
Entry Credit: Tess Vrbin, Staci Vandagriff, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, Little Rock
Judge Comment: In a category filled with entries that all deserve recognition, I chose this piece because of the people it brought to life and the information it conveyed in the aftermath of a tragedy that affected so many. It takes a lot to balance our journalistic responsibilities with being empathetic and I think this piece delivered.
Entry Title: Interstate 40 Bridge Crack
Entry Credit: Andrew DeMillo, Adrian Sainz, Jill Bleed, The Associated Press, Little Rock
Judge Comment: The threads that were pulled to get to the heart of the bridge closure, and that the structural deficiency had been spotted before, shows the kind of tenacity and dogged reporting required in breaking news situations.
Entry Title: Covid Strikes Mississippi Children
Entry Credit: Ashton Pittman, Mississippi Free Press, Jackson
Judge Comment: I found these entries to be compelling and told with a point of view that tried to answer the question of why. And in an uncertain time, I found that act compelling.
Entry Title: The fight over Medicaid expansion in Missouri
Entry Credit: Jason Rosenbaum, St. Louis Public Radio
Judge Comment: Really solid reporting with solutions provided to problems and terrific cause and effect analysis. Also, a great understanding of dense legal documents was shown.
Entry Title: Teen Driver killing
Entry Credit: Teresa Moss, Ashton Eley, Thomas Metthe, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, Little Rock
Judge Comment: Very well written and thorough articles discussing every element of the case, with well-timed and poised FOIA requests.
Entry Title: One Jail’s Tale of Abuse and Decay
Entry Credit: Kayode Crown, Mississippi Free Press, Jackson
Judge Comment: Good reporting on an astonishingly bad situation. Good background from start to finish.
Entry Title: Missouri’s Medicaid expansion fight
Entry Credit: Jason Rosenbaum, St. Louis Public Radio
Judge Comment: Essential reporting on state Medicaid law that had to go to the high court to overcome political opposition.
Entry Title: Drunk VA Doctor’s Fatal Mistakes
Entry Credit: Chad Mira, KNWA News, Fayetteville
Entry Title: The Great Mask Debate
Entry Credit: Ashley Bohle, WVLT, Knoxville
Entry Title: Missouri Repealed its Harshest Drug Law. Hundreds Were Left Behind
Entry Credit: Danny Wicentowski, Riverfront Times, St. Louis
Judge Comment: All of these entries did a great job using exhaustive investigative reporting to uncover serious, often tragic issues. This entry stood out for its depth of information, but also its storytelling, following multiple people remaining in prison despite a new law contradicting their terms. Along with explaining the issues well and at length, the reporting injected a humanity that often goes forgotten in detail-heavy journalism.
Entry Title: Betting on the Good Old Boys
Entry Credit: Edward Brown, Fort Worth Weekly
Judge Comment: Journalism is meant to comfort the afflicted and afflict the comfortable, and this story did the latter very well. Local politicians wielding influence unethically is likely the result of their perception they are not being watched in small communities, and I’m glad this reporter was.
Entry Title: Children in Peril finale
Entry Credit: Ginny Monk, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
Judge Comment: The amount of research that went into this project was incredible. The result was a report as shocking as it was in-depth and was the kind of journalism known to result in policy reforms at the highest level.
Entry Title: Filthy and Abusive Conditions at Treatment Center for Kids
Entry Credit: Chad Mira, KNWA News
Judge Comment: Excellent pursuit of documents, data and interviews to expose negligence in a youth treatment center.
Entry Title: St. Louis homeless services falls perilously short
Entry Credit: Shahla Farzan, St. Louis Public Radio
Judge Comment: Excellent accountability coverage targeting St Louis policies and practices intended to help homeless people.
Entry Title: ‘Kids feel like they’re being erased’: Inside the clinic targeted by Arkansas’s new anti-trans law
Entry Credit: Rebekah Scott, Arkansas Nonprofit News Network, Little Rock
Judge Comment: Outstanding explanatory reporting that tells readers exactly how the new piece of controversial legislation will affect transgender people like Andrew. Well done!
Entry Title: Rising rents
Entry Credit: Jacob Steimer, MLK50: Justice Through Journalism, Memphis
Judge Comment: An important topic, well-presented to readers.
Entry Title: Child abuse investigation
Entry Credit: Ginny Monk, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
Judge Comment: Good job digging into the data. Storytelling could have been a bit stronger, but very solid analysis.
Entry Title: Ending the racial wealth gap through reparations: Local policies or federal payments?
Entry Credit: Chad Davis, St. Louis Public Radio
Judge Comment: The reason I picked the reparations piece is I think it qualifies the most in “explanatory reporting.” Reparations is something I enjoy reading about, but I often don’t think about what it would actually take to implement, and how it would impact national movements. This reporter broadened my understanding of race while letting its characters remain in the spotlight.
Entry Title: Sculptor Discusses Inspiration in Making Johnny Cash Statue for U.S. Capitol
Entry Credit: Michael Hibblen, KUAR-FM 89.1, Little Rock
Judge Comment: The interviewer in Arkansas is clearly well-researched, passionate about the subject, and ready to extract great soundbites (and live no less) from his subject.
Entry Title: Black St. Louisans Turn to Therapy, Nature and Family to Heal from Police Violence
Entry Credit: Marissanne Lewis-Thompson, Andrea Henderson, St. Louis Public Radio
Judge Comment: The reporter on the mental health feature gets great tape and dives into a significant and complex situation, and her voice and scripting shine through and very much deepen my understanding of an issue I often only read about in national publications.
Entry Title: Face to Face with a Killer
Entry Credit: Kevin Kelly, Stephen Goodale, Jessica Guy, KLRT-FOX 16 News, Little Rock
Judge Comment: I’ve never seen any situations like that on television, and it’s clear the reporter treated every single person in this situation with incredible respect. Each character is given their chance to speak, the three segments of the piece fit together as a story while standing alone by themselves, and, as a piece of explanatory journalism, there wasn’t much else from the case I felt I needed to know. I hope the reporter and station are proud of this achievement, and I can only hope to produce something half as good as this in my career. Looking on social media, it was clear that the victim’s family was incredibly grateful for the coverage in “Face to Face,” and that might be the most important part of this entire story. Thanks for reporting it.
Entry Title: Show Me Missouri: Celebrating 200 Years
Entry Credit: Brian Calfano, Sarah Scarlett, KOLR-TV, Springfield, MO
Judge Comment: “Show Me Missouri” as a full project gives me so many great nuggets of information about the Ozarks. I particularly enjoyed the historical interviews about the state during the Civil War and its complicated founding. It’s a great retrospective that I’m sure will be referenced for years to come in the Springfield area.
Entry Title: 100-year-old Unsolved Murder Mystery Haunts Maryville
Entry Credit: Ashley Bohle, WVLT, Knoxville
Judge Comment: It’s challenging to rank this with these longer documentaries, but it’s great explanatory journalism nonetheless on a topic that’s clearly well-known in the region. In some ways, small pieces like that can be more challenging, so I want to choose it as an alternate winner.
Entry Title: Tom Slaughter series
Entry Credit: Celia Storey, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
Judge Comment: This is an incredible work of journalism to gather and present so much information, original sources, and then to also have a nice, if long, main story.
Entry Title: Black Women Firefighters on Gulf Coast
Entry Credit: Stacey Cato, Mississippi Free Press
Judge Comment: This was a great look into pioneers in firefighting. The reporter asked great questions and was able to reveal a great deal.
Entry Title: Pearl Harbor
Entry Credit: Jack “Miles” Ventimiglia, The Richmond News, Richmond, MO
Judge Comment: Good story that presents history in a historical format.
Entry Title: Within Their Hearts, She Lives Forever
Entry Credit: Dustin Jayroe, AY’s Mental Health Guide, Little Rock
Judge Comment: One of the best, and most heartbreaking, features I have ever read. Amazing job telling this story.
Entry Title: TOMMY SMITH
Entry Credit: Kelley Bass, Arkansas Money & Politics, Little Rock
Judge Comment: I was fascinated by this story, and it made me want to know even more about this man. This story was very well done. Fantastic job.
Entry Title: All Dogs Go to Gary
Entry Credit: Dwain Hebda, AY Magazine, Little Rock
Judge Comment: The ending quote of this story was perfect. I was hooked throughout. Great job.
Entry Title: At 96, Charlie Payne brings the hurt on the golf course
Entry Credit: Joel Phelps, The Arkadelphian, Arkadelphia, AR
Judge Comment: Nice job of intertwining Charlie Payne’s golf game with his history.
Entry Title: Missouri Inmates Sew Custom Quilts for Foster Children: ‘It Kind Of Breaks Your Heart’
Entry Credit: Shahla Farzan, St. Louis Public Radio
Entry Title: The mess in Room 304: ‘Breaking Bad’ at Henderson State
Entry Credit: Debra Hale-Shelton, Benjamin Hardy, Arkansas Nonprofit News Network
Entry Title: Missouri’s Oldest One-Room African American Schoolhouse Gets a New Chance At Life
Entry Credit: Marissanne Lewis-Thompson, St. Louis Public Radio
Judge Comment: I love the research the journalist put into finding out more about the building, and, especially, her ability to find characters (especially Doris) I’m likely to remember for a while. She also brings the story forward by explaining efforts to preserve the building and capture its history, and overall, I find this to be a snapshot of something the St. Louis community clearly finds important. It’s the definition of a great radio feature.
Entry Title: Rolla Becomes a Hub For Vacuum Cleaner Enthusiasts
Entry Credit: Jonathan Ahl, St. Louis Public Radio
Judge Comment: NPR stations were built on stories like the postcard from Rolla. It’s a quirky event with amazing characters, excellent sound, and facts about something I had never thought about before. It is clearly a worthy winner with humor, creativity, and clarity.
Competition Comment: This was an extremely close call because both of these are spectacular stories that are made so much better by the medium of radio.
Entry Title: Remembering 9/11: Arkansas woman remembers flight attendant sister killed in terrorist attack
Entry Credit: Chelsea Helms, Brad Horn, KNWA News
Judge Comment: Great use of natural sound, archive video, visuals weaving in with interviews. Felt connected to the story.
Entry Title: Teen with terminal cancer digitally documents battle to leave behind a legacy
Entry Credit: Chelsea Helms, Brad Horn, KNWA News
Judge Comment: Emotional story told compassionately.
Entry Title: Remembering 9/11: Fort Smith woman captured some of the most notable photos of act of terror
Entry Credit: Chelsea Helms, Brad Horn, KNWA News
Judge Comment: Every interesting story. Great use of archive video/sound while weaving in present day interview as the photographer described what she saw.
Entry Title: Pit, read
Entry Credit: Rick Kron, The Leader Newspaper, Jacksonville, AR
Judge Comment: Nice editorials with a resounding message of problem and injustice.
Entry Title: Mark Carter Editor’s Letters
Entry Credit: Mark Carter, Arkansas Money & Politics
Judge Comment: Nice, heartfelt pieces with great meaning and lessons.
Entry Title: Conservative Cronyism
Entry Credit: Edward Brown, Fort Worth Weekly
Judge Comment: Nice submission with great detail provided and connecting of dots. The only thing I’d like to have seen is one more submission at a conclusion point.
Entry Title: Racism and Police Violence in Today’s Mississippi
Entry Credit: Leo Carney, Mississippi Free Press
Judge Comment: These columns are moral without being sentimental, packed with reporting and history to back up pointed commentary speaking truth to power and to fellow citizens.
Entry Title: School districts correct to mandate masks
Entry Credit: Jack “Miles” Ventimiglia, The Richmond News
Judge Comment: Despite the pushback it likely received in its time, this strong editorial speaks bravely on behalf of people and the common good and calls out harmful messaging on public health.
Entry Title: Karen Martin columns
Entry Credit: Karen Martin, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
Entry Title: Stickball World Series Back After COVID Halt
Entry Credit: Roger Amos, Mississippi Free Press
Judge Comment: Excellent piece on cultural heritage, exposing the rich pride and traditions carried out by Native Americans in Mississippi. Also enjoyed the use of multimedia video.
Entry Title: Worst to First
Entry Credit: Dwain Hebda, YA!MULE WORDSMITHS for Arkansas Catholic Newspaper Judge Comment: Really nice underdog tale with great details from the early days of the program.
Entry Title: SEC win
Entry Credit: Tom Murphy, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
Judge Comment: Very nice gamer story. Only thing I would’ve liked to see was maybe a little info on the significance of the achievement for the Razorbacks program.
Entry Title: No Greater Love Than This
Entry Credit: Dwain Hebda, YA!MULE WORDSMITHS for Arkansas Money & Politics
Judge Comment: This was an outstanding story that appeals to all kinds of different readers, which makes it even better. Football fans and those who know nothing about the sport could each find enjoyment in here. I was hooked from the very beginning. Outstanding!
Entry Title: COLLEGE SPORTS AND NIL: A WHOLE NEW BALL GAME
Entry Credit: Dwain Hebda, Arkansas Money & Politics
Judge Comment: This story dove deep on a topic that many people don’t know very much about. It was easy to understand and explained everything well. Very well done.
Entry Title: Higher Power
Entry Credit: Dwain Hebda, AY Magazine
Judge Comment: This was a highly emotional story that a lot of people would be able to relate to. It made me want to learn more about the entire family, which is a sign of a job well done. Great job!
Entry Title: In a New Year’s Day battle of soccer and sausage, St. Louis takes on the Metro East in Chorizo Bowl
Entry Credit: Brian Munoz, St. Louis Public Radio
Judge Comment: Using sports as an avenue to highlight a community’s culture, food, and history, was brilliant in the Saint Louis Public Radio story. Though there’s very little tape of an actual sport being played, the spirit of competition, playing to make family and friends proud, and true love for athletics, is present throughout.
Entry Title: Cowboys Legend talks Hall of Fame
Entry Credit: Monica Quintero, KPEJ, Odessa
Entry Title: Ride of a Lifetime
Entry Credit: Dwain Hebda, YA!MULE WORDSMITHS for 501 Life Magazine
Judge Comment: Dwain Hebda has a way with words. His writing paints pictures and takes readers on a journey.
Entry Title: Hidden No More
Entry Credit: Dustin Jayroe, AY Magazine
Entry Title: Martin arts coverage
Entry Credit: Philip Martin, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
Entry Title: St. Louis Arts Coverage
Entry Credit: Jeremy Goodwin, St. Louis Public Radio
Judge Comment: Excellent soundscape and diversity of voices in the Shakespeare piece.
Entry Title: Evensong Story
Entry Credit: Paul Ladd, World Christian Broadcasting
Entry Title: Eat It Up
Entry Credit: Amanda Jaeger , Skot Covert, Kelly Tibbit, Zach Keast, THV-11, Little Rock Judge Comment: Eat it up shines, and this is the reason I chose it as the winner, because it presents the perfect balance between host personality and newsiness. The Cajun food truck piece especially highlighted a really inspiring business owner who deserves to have his story told, and it certainly made me want to visit the region and try some gumbo.
Entry Title: Arts & Culture in the Basin
Entry Credit: Monica Quintero, KPEJ
Judge Comment: The Texas culture pieces are a bit more straightforward and newsy, with solid tracking shots, nice lines and an eye for great historical context.
Entry Title: Mornings On The Move
Entry Credit: Casey Wheeless, Harry Sullivan, WVLT
Judge Comment: The mornings on the move segment is all about the personalities of the anchors, and as a viewer in the area I imagine I’d love to be able to know a little bit more about the people that present the news to me every day.
Entry Title: ADG Business Coverage
Entry Credit: Nathan Owen, John Magsam, Noel Oman, Staci Vandagriff, Arkansas Democrat- Gazette
Judge Comment: The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette’s business desk had a great selection of stories to choose from. The quotes in “Businesses lament lack of staffers” by Nathan Owens made the story engaging. The “Lumber prices rocket on demand surge” article used great data points that pushed the story forward.
Entry Title: Business Boondoggles in Rural Mississippi
Entry Credit: Christian Middleton, Mississippi Free Press
Entry Title: Basin Businesses – People Behind them
Entry Credit: Monica Quintero, KPEJ
Judge Comment: None
Entry Title: ADG Education Coverage
Entry Credit: Jaime Adame, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
Judge Comment: Neutral, comprehensive, clear coverage that shows evidence of dogged reporting to sniff out the facts for the public.
Entry Title: BWC Project: Education Disparities and Solutions in Noxubee County
Entry Credit: Torsheta Jackson, Donna Ladd, Kristin Brenemen, Mississippi Free Press
Entry Title: Bucking the Odds
Entry Credit: Dwain Hebda, Arkansas Money & Politics
Entry Title: Education Compilation
Entry Credit: Ashley Bohle, WVLT
Judge Comment: I really enjoyed the versatility in the compilation. The butter piece is of course delightful, and it really works perfectly for the visual medium. I also enjoyed the day 2 coverage after the capitol riot from an interesting education perspective (wish it was longer!) and the bus drivers one gets a whole lot of information to the viewer in a short amount of time. Excellent reporting overall.
Entry Title: Molding a middle schooler’s mind with movement
Entry Credit: Chelsea Helms, Brad Horn, Jacob Cotner, KNWA News
Judge Comment: The middle school piece is also well-done with nice video shots and a nice array of voices highlighting the program.
Entry Title: Child abuse investigation
Entry Credit: Ginny Monk, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
Judge Comment: Outstanding reporting and writing, analyzing several years’ worth of public information from numerous agencies and a fight for records that were denied, to uncover surprising and informative patterns within a serious social and public health problem.
Entry Title: Solutions for Health Equity in Mississippi
Entry Credit: Nick Judin, Mississippi Free Press
Judge Comment: A solid solutions story about COVID-19 vaccine outreach efforts aiming for communities where trust, for many, has been lost.
Entry Title: Free at Last
Entry Credit: Dwain Hebda, YA!MULE WORDSMITHS for Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
Entry Title: Dark Skies, Strange Clouds
Entry Credit: Dustin Jayroe, AY Magazine
Judge Comment: A creative writing style made this entry stand out, along with the unique and important topic covered in detail. The first-hand journal entries included by the writer also brought the reader into the moment and truly provided a unique experience.
Entry Title: Using Tech to Reverse Inequities
Entry Credit: Aliyah Veal, Mississippi Free Press
Judge Comment: Each story told the story of a different social issue and how technology was being used to address it. Good job on a solid series of articles that displays the intersection between science and humanity.
Entry Title: Finding Normal: Vaccines Ready, Incoming
Entry Credit: Dustin Jayroe, AY Magazine
Judge Comment: This was a very detailed account of the state’s battle to provide adequate vaccinations for COVID-19 as it plagued the rest of the country. Good job providing your readers essential information and explaining it well.
Entry Title: Lead Contamination of Black Jackson Children
Entry Credit: Kayode Crown, Mississippi Free Press
Judge Comment: A lot going on in this story. The news hook of an outside attorney suing on behalf of hundreds of local kids leads the story, but then there is this killer quote buried down low: “And so, in Flint, even if everybody drank as much water as they could, they were only drinking bad water for 14 or 15 months,” the attorney added. “In Jackson, they’ve been drinking bad water, in some instances, for their whole lives.” Good reporting trying to put all the pieces of this tragedy together under one headline.
Entry Title: Delta Dangers to Mississippi, and U.S., Children
Entry Credit: Ashton Pittman, Mississippi Free Press
Judge Comment: Comprehensive look at the pandemic and children. Well researched and reported.
Entry Title: Arkansas pandemic coverage
Entry Credit: Andrew DeMillo, The Associate Press
Entry Title: Pandemic Coverage
Entry Credit: Dwain Hebda, YA!MULE WORDSMITHS for Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
Entry Title: St. Louis Public Radio pandemic coverage
Entry Credit: Sarah Fentem, St. Louis Public Radio
Judge Comment: Excellent in-depth series presented on radio and web covering pandemic from multiple angles over several months.
Entry Title: COVID-19 Infections Become the New Frontier of Work Comp Claims
Entry Credit: Brian Calfano, KOLR-TV
Entry Title: Mom Leaves Workforce to Homeschool Kids
Entry Credit: Ashley Bohle, WVLT
Entry Title: Digs of the Deal Series
Entry Credit: Katie Zakrzewski, Arkansas Money & Politics
Judge Comment: This was a great idea! The series stood out from other entries, which were largely traditional political news stories, and delved deeply into local landmarks, their place in history and was still able to convey the important political issues at play. Well done!
Entry Title: Lockwood politics beat
Entry Credit: Frank Lockwood, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
Judge Comment: This was a harrowing account of the Jan. 6 insurrection, which will become one of the most infamous days in history as time goes on. I enjoyed all the detail and the unique perspective of the reporter woven with coverage of the state’s congressional leaders’ reactions.
Entry Title: Political Coverage
Entry Credit: Andrew DeMillo, The Associated Press
Judge Comment: None
Entry Title: Ozarks Tonight: Gas Price Dynamics
Entry Credit: Brian Calfano, KOLR-TV
Judge Comment: Very intelligent use of data reporting to isolate the small role politics plays in pricing at the gas pump.
Entry Title: In Post-Trump GOP Split, Gov. Asa Hutchinson Often at Odds with His Party
Entry Credit: Daniel Breen, NPR/KUAR
Entry Title: Sarah Huckabee Sanders kicks off 15-stop tour in campaign for Arkansas governor
Entry Credit: Michael Hibblen, KUAR-FM 89.1
Entry Title: Black Women, Systemic Barriers and COVID-19 Project
Entry Credit: DeAnna Tisdale Johnson, Azia Wiggins, Torsheta Jackson, Aliyah Veal, Kimberly Griffin, Kristin Brenemen, Donna Ladd, Mississippi Free Press
Judge Comment: An outstanding project by a team of journalists using superior written and visual journalism to trace historic roots of a public health phenomenon, educate on the consequences of systemic inequities, and illuminate solutions, all in an engaging digital package. Exceptional work.
Entry Title: 2021 Arkansas Mental Health Guide
Entry Credit: Heather Baker, Dustin Jayroe, Jamison Mosley, Mike Bedgood, Lora Puls, Emily Beirne, AY Magazine
Judge Comment: Stories like those in this special section highlight healing and hope, involving different faces and ages, both lifting the stigma of talking about behavioral or mental health and presenting resources to help others take the next step.
Entry Title: HOBBIES IN THE 501
Entry Credit: Dwain Hebda, YA!MULE WORDSMITHS for 501 Life Magazine
Entry Title: Capitol & Scott
Entry Credit: Nick Popowitch, Lara Farrar, ArkansasOnline.com/Arkansas Democrat-Gazette Judge Comment: Both entries are good podcasts, but Capitol and Scott is slightly more professional and well-produced. The sound quality could be a bit better, but otherwise, this is a very interesting podcast. Nicely done!
Entry Title: Reveille’s Tiger Talk Podcast
Entry Credit: Nick Ombrellaro, Gabby Jimenez, Piper Hutchinson, Reed Darcey, Dylan Sanders
Judge Comment: Very solid campus-based podcast with good sound quality. Well done!
Entry Title: Stuttgart Flooding
Entry Credit: Thomas Metthe, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
Judge Comment: This photo places the viewer there with the victims of what is clearly a devastating moment. The hurt is visible in those in the foreground, the helplessness of those in the background is palpable, and the scope of the flooding can be felt in the entire frame. Still, in all of the sadness, there’s a sense of hope with the person in the boat being removed from the situation. This photo tells so much of the story.
Entry Title: Warehouse Fire
Entry Credit: Thomas Metthe, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
Judge Comment: The devastation of this fire is obvious, as is the hopelessness of being able to put it out.
Entry Title: Voting Bill Protest
Entry Credit: Stephen Swofford, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
Judge Comment: This captures what is clearly a unique moment, and it does so from a unique perspective.
Entry Title: Thousands of high schoolers put music in motion this weekend at the Dome in St. Louis
Entry Credit: Brian Munoz, St. Louis Public Radio
Judge Comment: Good angles and composition, and a couple of nice moments.
Entry Title: Oaklawn Opening Day
Entry Credit: Thomas Metthe, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
Competition Comment: A spread, or essay, should be more than many pictures of the same thing. The two noted here did that, and the winner even found a couple of light moments.
Entry Title: Vandagriff Portfolio
Entry Credit: Staci Vandagriff, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
Competition Comment: The top three could have gone another way on another day. All had a couple of good images with a couple of weak ones. While the other two may have had more pretty pictures, the winner wins because she was looking for fleeting moments and found them.
Entry Title: Mosley Portfolio
Entry Credit: Jamison Mosley, AY Media Group
Entry Title: Metthe Portfolio
Entry Credit: Thomas Metthe, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
Entry Title: Arkansas congressional district boundaries
Entry Credit: Jen Para, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
Judge Comment: Impressive use of Datawrapper capabilities to link between several kinds of maps. That there are so many proposals, the time invested in acquiring, vetting and presenting this data is not trivial.
Entry Title: Carrie Hill art and graphics
Entry Credit: Carrie Hill, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
Judge Comment: The Covid timeline for the one-year mark of the pandemic provides insightful context about the subject that – in retrospect – is dizzying. The Covid illustration meanwhile mixes a playfulness with the seriousness of the effects that the pandemic had on food service. The third illustration in this entry is just plain fun. Nice work.
Entry Title: Monica Quintero – Passionate about People
Entry Credit: Monica Quintero, KPEJ, Odessa
Judge Comment: Very nice video editing and production values. A pleasure to watch!
Entry Title: Stephen Goodale Video Portfolio
Entry Credit: Stephen Goodale, KARK/KLRT, Little Rock
Judge Comment: Good content, but the videos were a bit hectic at times. Editing could be a bit tighter.
Entry Title: Be Our Change – Positive, Inspirational Stories
Entry Credit: Monica Quintero, KPEJ
Judge Comment: Entertaining and fun profiles that have a point of view and a voice that resonates easily with the viewer.
Entry Title: AMP Layouts
Entry Credit: Jamison Mosley, Lora Puls, Arkansas Money & Politics
Judge Comment: I found these entries to be design appropriate for the stories and carried an understated – yet powerful – use of color, iconography and typography to allow the images and words to breathe and resonate with the reader.
Entry Title: AY Layouts
Entry Credit: Jamison Mosley, Lora Puls, AY Magazine
Entry Title: The Yellow Army
Entry Credit: Sarah Knight, Dwain Hebda, Jason Masters, Ashlee Nobel, Wheelhouse Publishing, Mountain Home, AR
Entry Title: Arkansas Democrat-Gazette / ArkansasOnline.com
Entry Credit: Maggie McNeary
Judge Comment: Article pages are clean with room for large images and inline embeds. Pages load fast and scale well across mobile devices and responsive breakpoints.
Entry Title: The day a white killed four Black men
Entry Credit: Rachel Mipro, Liz Ryan, Lara Nicholson, Louisiana State University, Manship News Service, Baton Rouge, published in The Shreveport Times, The Advertiser (Lafayette), The Town Talk (Alexandria), The Daily Comet (Thibodaux)
Judge Comment: I applaud these journalists and editors and all of the others who collaborated on this project to bring the past into greater context through the lens of a modern-day perspective.
Entry Title: COVID roundtable with Brimer sisters
Entry Credit: Alena Noakes, Wildcat Media, Louisiana Christian University (formerly Louisiana College), Pineville
Judge Comment: Incredibly informative and bringing three sisters together who have experienced the pandemic in different ways yet have so much in common is enlightening.
Entry Title: English professor removed from classes for fall 2021
Entry Credit: Addison Freeman, The Echo, University of Central Arkansas, Conway
Judge Comment: Great coverage of an issue that can be difficult to cover but is quite important to those on campus. Great depth of coverage, including from the professor at the center of the controversy. This story embodies so much of what journalism is about.
Entry Title: Students protest LSU’s handling of former French student accused of rape: ‘Safe not silenced’
Entry Credit: Maddie Scott, Domenic Purdy, Reveille, LSUReveille.com
Entry Title: Ida and LSU
Entry Credit: Ally Kadlubar, Aria Pons, Erin Rogers, Tiger TV, LSU
Entry Title: Segregated Cemeteries Still Haunt Louisiana
Entry Credit: Ally Kadlubar, Tiger TV, LSU
Judge Comment: Excellent use of digital storytelling to enhance the written story and increase credibility. Good variety of source support with solid video editing and shot selection. The story keeps a clear focus and moves along well. Newsworthy topic choice.
Entry Title: Lights, Camera, Drag
Entry Credit: Maria Pham, Tiger TV, LSU
Judge Comment: Newsworthy topic choice that fit the feature style well! Good variety of interviews with a clear focus. The story moves along well but could be edited tighter at times. Focus on maintaining good lighting as much as possible.
Entry Title: ‘It was a ride’: Clay Schexnayder went from racing cars to leading the Louisiana House
Entry Credit: Kathleen Peppo, Manship News Service, LSU, published in The Advertiser (Lafyette)
Judge Comment: Great quotes! The story moves along nicely with clear transitions and helpful section breaks. The focus of the piece is clear throughout. I suggest adding other viewpoints (interviews) to the story along with some digital storytelling to enhance the reader experience.
Entry Title: Side by Side, Lane by Lane
Entry Credit: Kendall Duncan, Tiger TV, LSU
Judge Comment: Excellent storytelling! Solid interviews and footage to capture the relationship between the brothers and the overall family dynamic. Newsworthy story with a clear focus.
Entry Title: LSU Diver Makes a Splash
Entry Credit: Haylee Kennedy, Tiger TV, LSU
Judge Comment: Newsworthy story with a clear focus! I suggest adding one more interview here from a teammate or family member to include that personal touch.
Entry Title: Collis Temple Jr. helped integrate LSU athletics 50 years ago
Entry Credit: Peter Rauterkus, Reveille/LSUReveille.com
Judge Comment: Newsworthy story that reads well. Good use of photos to help tell the story throughout. I suggest conducting additional interviews to help round out the piece.
Entry Title: Reveille Editorials
Entry Credit: Reveille Editorial Board, Reveille/LSUReveille.com
Judge Comment: The winning editorial not only presented a well thought out opinion but used extensive reporting to support the conclusions.
Entry Title: Being a student does not make less of a journalist or reporter Entry Credit: Madison Ogle, The Echo, University of Central Arkansas Judge Comment: This was a thoughtful, personal editorial.
Entry Title: UCA moving toward more inclusivity in women’s sports Entry Credit: Sarah Smythe, The Echo, University of Central Arkansas Judge Comment: Good reporting to support the argument made.
Entry Title: LSU’s responses to sexual assaults
Entry Credit: Claire Sullivan, Reveille/LSU Reveille.com
Judge Comment: Excellent use of facts to justify commentary. Strong voice! Newsworthy topic.
Entry Title: Social media doesn’t need your sonogram photos
Entry Credit: Olyvia Gonzalez, The Echo, University of Central Arkansas
Judge Comment: Strong column voice!
Entry Title: On renaming campus buildings
Entry Credit: Charlie Stephens, Reveille/LSUReveille.com
Entry Title: Transgender Bills Could Hurt Tourism
Entry Credit: Brooke Smith, Tiger TV, LSU
Judge Comment: The broadcast clip carries a professional tone and has a narrative structure that propels the viewer through a number of different scenarios and the potential effects on the state.
Entry Title: Flower Shortage
Entry Credit: Ally Kadlubar, Tiger TV, LSU
Judge Comment: Framing takes a national issue – the supply chain shortage – and brings a local lens to how it affects a particular local business segment. This is what we do in journalism, and I think it’s executed very well.
Entry Title: ‘Another blow’: 7,500 Louisiana oil and gas jobs lost in pandemic, furthering industry’s decline
Entry Credit: Brittney Forbes, Manship News Service, LSU, published in Houma Today
Entry Title: Faculty Senate enters unlawful executive session during meeting, kicks out non- Senate members
Entry Credit: Piper Hutchinson, Reveille/LSUReveille.com
Judge Comment: Great job by the reporter and others to investigate this matter, talk to people who were actually in the executive session, and hold the board’s feet to the fire on this.
Entry Title: ‘It’s very discouraging’: Louisiana teachers grapple with challenges of ongoing pandemic
Entry Credit: Margaret DeLaney, Olivia Varden, Chris Langley, Manship News Service, LSU, published in The News-Star (Monroe)
Judge Comment: Good reporting added to trend data make it a good story.
Entry Title: Pros and cons: How Louisiana college students were impacted by online learning Entry Credit: Masie O’Toole, Kirby Koch, Donald Fountain, Manship News Service, LSU, published in The Town Talk (Alexandria)
Judge Comment: It was nice to hear from a variety of students on their experiences.
Entry Title: Gas leak
Entry Credit: Mia Waddell, The Echo, University of Central Arkansas
Judge Comment: Nice framing of the key aspects, nice focus on the action, too, but with the mailbox in view for perspective. The trees provide a perfect backdrop as well that direct attention to the central aspects of the photo.
Entry Title: AUTO COLLISION
Entry Credit: Rangsiya Faihin, Delta Digital News Service, Arkansas State University, Jonesboro
Entry Title: Collage
Entry Credit: Ian Lyle, The Echo, University of Central Arkansas
Entry Title: SEARCHING FOR BLACKBERRIES
Entry Credit: Rangsiya Faihin, Delta Digital News Service, Arkansas State University, Jonesboro
Judge Comment: Nice framing, great color and well framed. Great capture of a nice moment.
Entry Title: Drag Show
Entry Credit: Madison Ogle, Addison Freeman, The Echo, University of Central Arkansas
Entry Title: Homecoming
Entry Credit: Madison Ogle, The Echo, University of Central Arkansas
Entry Title: LINEMEN AT WORK
Entry Credit: Rangsiya Faihin, Delta Digital News Service, Arkansas State University
Judge Comment: What the judges liked about this entry is the photographer took something that is somewhat mundane and turned it into art and a story at the same time. Great use of tight and wide shots to convey the work.
Entry Title: ARKANSAS ROOTS MUSIC FESTIVAL
Entry Credit: Rangsiya Faihin, Delta Digital News Service, Arkansas State University
Entry Title: ROAD SIGN WORK
Entry Credit: Rangsiya Faihin, Delta Digital News Service, Arkansas State University
Entry Title: LC v. ETBU, 23-17; LC v. LeTourneau, 90-65
Entry Credit: Alena Noakes, Wildcat Media, Louisiana Christian University
Judge Comment: Fantastic collection of photos with a variety of subjects, lighting and techniques.
Entry Title: Oct. 6, 2021 cartoon
Entry Credit: Madison Ogle, The Echo, University of Central Arkansas
Judge Comment: The five-panels build an engaging, newsy story and the illustrations provide contextual detail to deliver the hammer in the final frame. Great concept.
Entry Title: Look at those sheep; Scary costume ideas
Entry Credit: Sam Miller, Wildcat Media, Louisiana Christian University
Judge Comment: “Look at those sheep” provides the right balance between disbelief and side- eye snark at a newsy topic that all can relate to.
Entry Title: Sept. 15, 2021, cartoon
Entry Credit: Madison Ogle, The Echo, University of Central ArkansasJudge Comment: Straightforward and poignant and tone-appropriate for the anniversary.
The Arkansas Pro Chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists is pleased to announce the finalists for its 2022 Diamond Journalism Awards, a regional competition that recognizes journalism excellence among professionals and students from Arkansas and six bordering states.
Arkansas SPJ will present the winners at an awards ceremony on June 30 at Diamond Bear Brewing, 600 N Broadway, North Little Rock. A reception starts at 5:30 p.m. with the awards presentations starting at 6 p.m. Tickets are $20 for professionals and $10 for students, including heavy hors d’oeuvres and libations. Purchase tickets by PayPal or cash/check at the door.
This year’s competition for work published or broadcast in 2021 drew 379 entries in more than 80 categories, including Diamond Journalist of the Year and Outstanding New Journalist, the Robert S. McCord FOI Award, the Charlotte Tillar Schexnayder Public Service Award, and the Garrick Feldman Community Journalism Award.
Judges were members of the SPJ chapters in Colorado, New Mexico and Wyoming.
The list of finalists follows, along with the publications or broadcast outlets where their work appeared:
The Arkadelphian, Arkadelphia, Ark.
Joel Phelps
Arkansas Catholic, Little Rock
Dwain Hebda
Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, Little Rock
Lara Farrar, Stephen Simpson, Joseph Flaherty, Thomas Metthe, Stephen Swofford, Maggie McNeary, Carrie Hill, Ginny Monk, Philip Martin, Karen Martin, Byron Tate, Tess Vrbin, Staci Vandagriff, Teresa Moss, Ashton Eley, Celia Storey, Tom Murphy, Nathan Owen, John Magsam, Noel Oman, Jaime Adame, Frank Lockwood, Nick Popovich. Jen Para
Arkansas Money & Politics, Little Rock
Mark Carter, Kelley Bass, Katie Zakrzewski
Arkansas Nonprofit News Network, Little Rock
Rebekah Scott, Benjamin Hardy, Debra Hale-Shelton
The Associated Press, Little Rock
Andrew DeMillo, Adrian Sainz, Jill Bleed
AY Magazine, Little Rock
Dustin Jayroe, Jamison Mosley, Lora Puls, Ian Lyle, Dwain Hebda, Heather Baker, Mike Bedgood, Emily Beirne
Baxter Regional Pulse, Mountain Home, Ark.
Sarah Knight, Jason Masters, Ashlee Nobel, Dwain Hebda
The Daily Citizen, Searcy, Ark.
Greg Geary
Fort Worth Weekly, Texas
Edward Brown
FOX16 News, KLRT-TV, Little Rock
Kevin Kelly, Stephen Goodale, Jessica Guy
KOLR-TV, Springfield, Mo.
Brian Calfano, Sarah Scarlett
KNWA-TV, Fayetteville, Ark.
Chad Mira, Chelsea Helms, Brad Horn, Jacob Cotner
KPEJ-TV, Midland-Odessa, Texas
Monica Quintero
KTHV-11, Little Rock
Amanda Jaeger, Skot Covert, Kelly Tibbit, Zach Keast
KUAR-FM, Little Rock
Michael Hibblen, Daniel Breen, Sarah Kellogg, Alexandria Brown
The Leader Newspaper, Jacksonville, Ark.
Rick Kron
Mississippi Free Press, Jackson
Ashton Pittman, Christian Middleton, Donna Ladd, Aliyah Veal, Torsheta Jackson, Nick Judin, Kayode Crown, Grace Marion, Stacey Cato, Leo Carney, Roger Amos, DeAnna Tisdale Johnson, Azia Wiggins, Kimberly Griffin
MLK50: Justice Through Journalism, Memphis, Tenn.
Jacob Steimer
Richmond News, Missouri
Jack “Miles” Ventimiglia
Riverfront Times, St. Louis
Danny Wicentowski
St. Louis Public Radio
Jason Rosenbaum, Shahla Farzan, Chad Davis, Marissanne Lewis-Thompson, Andrea Henterson, Jonathan Ahl, Brian Munoz, Jeremy Goodwin, Sarah Fentem
World Christian Broadcasting, Franklin, Tenn.
Paul Ladd
WVLT-TV, Knoxville, Tenn.
Ashley Bohle, Casey Wheeless, Harry Sullivan
STUDENT MEDIA
Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge
Reveille/LSUReveille.com
Nick Ombrellaro, Gabby Jimenez, Piper Hutchinson, Maddie Scott, Domenic Purdy, Peter Rauterkus, Claire Sullivan, Charlie Stephens
Tiger TV
Ally Kadlubar, Aria Pons, Erin Rogers, Maria Pham, Kendall Duncan, Haylee Kennedy, Brooke Smith
Manship News Service
Rachel Mipro, Liz Ryan, Lara Nicholson, Kathleen Peppo, Brittney Forbes, Margaret Delaney, Olivia Varden, Chris Langley, Masie O’Toole, Kirby Koch, Donald Fountain
Arkansas State University, Jonesboro
Delta Digital News Service
Christine Miyawa, Tristan Bennett, Krishnan Collins, Chase Gage, Rangsiya Faihin
University of Central Arkansas, Conway
The Echo
Addison Freeman, Ian Lyle, Madison Ogle, Sarah Smythe, Olyvia Gonzalez, Mia Waddell
Louisiana Christian University, Pineville
Wildcat Media
Alena Noakes, Sam Miller
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
Judges have chosen the finalists for the 2020 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.
Winners of the Diamond Journalist of the Year, the Outstanding New Journalist , and the Robert McCord FOI Award will be announced at a virtual awards ceremony on June 30. More details coming soon.
Here is a list of finalists by category:
Multimedia (any platform)
Yutao Chen, Cynthia Howell
Specialized website (any platform)
Staff, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette; Gavin Lesnick and Amanda Claire Curcio
Editorials (daily newspapers)
David Barham, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
Editorials (non-daily newspapers)
Jack “Miles” Ventimiglia, Richmond (MO) News
Editorials (magazines)
Johnny Carrol Sain and Chris Zimmerman, ABOUT the River Valley Magazine, Russellville, AR
Columns (daily newspapers)
Kelly Brant, Rex Nelson, John Brummett, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
Columns (non-daily newspapers)
Anthony Mariani, Fort Worth (TX) Weekly, Rick Kron, The Leader, Jacksonville, AR; Donna Ladd, Jackson (MS) Free Press
Columns (magazines)
Johnny Carrol Sain and Chris Zimmerman, ABOUT the River Valley Magazine, Russellville, AR; Dustin Jayroe, Arkansas Money & Politics, Little Rock
News (daily newspapers)
Linda Satter, Clara Turnage, Hammersly, Eric Besson, Michael R. Wickline, Staff, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
News (non-daily newspapers)
Dwain Hebda, YA!MULE WORDSMITHS for Arkansas Catholic; Tammy Keith, River Valley & Ozark Edition, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette; Ashton Pittman, Jackson (MS) Free Press
News (magazine)
Dwain Hebda, YA!MULE WORDSMITHS for SAVVYKids Magazine, Little Rock; Kimsey Crocker, The Curbside Chronicle, Oklahoma City; Tyler Hale, Arkansas Money & Politics, Little Rock
Feature (daily newspapers)
Bill Bowden, Sarah DeClerk, Celia Storey, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
Feature (non-daily newspapers)
Dwain Hebda, YA!MULE WORDSMITHS for The Daily Record, Little Rock; Rick Kron, The Leader, Jacksonville, AR; Danny Wicentowski, Riverfront Times, St. Louis
Feature (magazine)
Bret Schulte, Wilson Quarterly, Washington, D.C.; Dwain Hebda, YA!MULE WORDSMITHS for AY Magazine, Little Rock
Investigative Reporting (daily newspapers)
Amanda Claire Curcio, Eric Besson, Lisa Hammersly, Ginny Monk, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
Investigative Reporting (non-daily newspapers)
Scott Loftis, Carroll County Newspapers, Berryville, AR; Danny Wicentowski, Riverfront Times, St. Louis; Ashton Pittman, Jackson (MS) Free Press
Sports (daily newspapers)
Trenton Daeschner, Bob Holt, Tom Murphy, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
Sports (non-daily newspapers)
Dwain Hebda, YA!MULE WORDSMITHS for Arkansas Catholic, Little Rock; Tammy Keith, River Valley & Ozark Edition, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
Sports (magazines)
Mark Carter, Arkansas Money & Politics, Little Rock; Dwain Hebda, YA!MULE WORDSMITHS for Do South Magazine, Fort Smith, AR; Dwain Hebda, YA!MULE WORDSMITHS for 501 Life Magazine, Conway, AR
Politics (daily newspapers)
Andrew DeMillo, The Associated Press; Frank Lockwood, Hunter Field, John Moritz, Michael R. Wickline, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
Politics (non-daily newspapers)
Ashton Pittman, Jackson (MS) Free Press
Politics (magazines)
Mark Carter, Arkansas Money & Politics; Staff, The Curbside Chronicle, Oklahoma City; Nathan Poppe, The Curbside Chronicle
Arts & Culture (daily lnewspapers)
Eric Harrison, Philip Martin, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
Arts & Culture (non-daily newspapers)
Aliyah Veal, Jackson (MS) Free Press; Tammy Keith, River Valley & Ozark Edition, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
Arts & Culture (magazines)
Nathan Poppe, The Curbside Chronicle, Oklahoma City; Johnny Carrol Sain, Chris Zimmerman, ABOUT the River Valley Magazine, Russellville, AR; Dwain Hebda, YA!MULE WORDSMITHS for Do South Magazine, Fort Smith, AR
Health (daily newspapers)
Sarah DeClerk, Cody Graves, Lisa Hammersly, Ginny Monk, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
Health (non-daily newspapers)
Jack “Miles” Ventimiglia, Richmond (MO) News; Dwain Hebda, YA!MULE WORDSMITHS for The Daily Record, Little Rock; Ashton Pittman, Jackson (MS) Free Press
Health (magazines)
Dustin Jayroe, Lisa Fischer, AY Magazine, Little Rock; Dwain Hebda, YA!MULE WORDSMITHS for SAVVYKids Magazine, Little Rock
STEM (non-daily newspapers)
Tammy Keith, River Valley & Ozark Edition, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
STEM (magazines)
Tyler Hale, Arkansas Money & Politics, Little Rock
Design (magazines)
Chris Zimmerman, ABOUT the River Valley Magazine, Russellville, AR; Rebecca Robertson, AY Magazine, Little Rock
Photography
Jenn Terrell, Babiekins Magazine Blog; Thomas Metthe, Staton Briedenthal, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
Photo Package/Spread
Thomas Metthe, Staff, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette; Nathan Poppe, The Curbside Chronicle, Oklahoma City
Photography Portfolio
Nathan Poppe, The Curbside Chronicle, Oklahoma City; Thomas Metthe, Staton Briedenthal, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
Graphics/Illustrations
Jayne Hadwiger, Joshua Boydstun, William Muschinske, The Curbside Chronicle, Oklahoma City
TV Documentary/Investigative Reporting
Monica Quintero, David Wagner, David Lowell, KPEJ/KMIKD/ KLST, Odessa, TX
News (radio/audio)
Daniel Breen, Sarah Kellogg, KUAR-FM, Little Rock
Feature (radio/audio)
Kelly Connelly, David Monteith, Michael Hibblen, KUAR-FM, Little Rock
Documentary/Investigative Reporting (radio/audio)
J. Bradley Minnick, Mary Ellen Kubit, KUAR-FM, Little Rock
Politics (radio/audio)
Michael Hibblen, Daniel Breen, KUAR-FM, Little Rock
Health (radio/audio)
Michael Hibblen, KUAR-FM, Little Rock
Community Service (all platforms)
Staff, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette; Staff, Jackson (MS) Free Press; Staff, The Curbside Chronicle, Oklahoma City
Special section (all print)
Downtown Little Rock Magazine, ADG Promotions Staff; Football Preview, Jennifer Ellis, Wendy Miller, Sarah DeClerk, Three Rivers Edition, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
STUDENT JOURNALISM
News
Tristan Bennett, Chase Gage, Chloe Short, Brooke Buckner, Colby Sigears, Jessica Ladd, Yu Bai, Delta Digital News Service, Arkansas State University, Jonesboro
Feature
Hannah Butler, ABOUT the River Valley Magazine, Russellville, AR; Matthew Emery, Chase Gage, Delta Digital News Service, Arkansas State Univerity, Jonesboro
Sports
Denton Postlewait, Delta Digital News Service, Arkansas State University, Jonesboro; Kenzie Sain, Chris Zimmerman, ABOUT the River Valley Magazine
Attention professional and student journalists, it’s time to enter the Diamond Journalism Awards!
Sponsored by the Arkansas Pro Chapter, Society of Professional Journalists, the Diamond Journalism Awards recognize outstanding journalism by professionals and students from Arkansas and bordering media markets in Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Oklahoma, Tennessee and Texas.
Eligible work must have been published or broadcast between July 1, 2016, and June 30, 2017.
Entries may be submitted starting May 31 and until 11 p.m. CDT, July 14.
Enter online via the Better BNC Media Awards platform, https://betternewspapercontest.com/
For entry rules, contest categories and fee options, go here.
Society of Professional Journalists | Arkansas Pro Chapter 
