DEALINE EXTENDED! ENTRIES DUE BY 5 P.M. FRIDAY, MARCH 7
2025 Diamond Journalism Awards Contest now accepting entries
New A-Mark Prize offers $15K in cash for Arkansas investigative reporting
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — Arkansas SPJ is proud to announce the opening of the 2025 Diamond Journalism Awards. The annual contest is open to professional and student journalists, freelancers and communications professionals.
The contest is open to Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Oklahoma, Tennessee and Texas residents, and entries can be made through March 3.
New this year is the A-Mark Prize for Investigative Reporting, which Arkansas SPJ has partnered with the A-Mark Foundation to present. It distributes $15,000 in cash to reporters and their newsrooms.
A-Mark winners will receive:
First place: $5,000 for the writer(s), plus $2,500 for the newsroom
Second place: $3,000 for the writer(s), $1,500 for the newsroom
Third place: $2,000 for the writer(s), $1,000 for the newsroom
The A-Mark Prize is the only Diamond Journalism Awards category limited to entries with an Arkansas connection, which means one or more of the following: (1) The winning reporter is based in Arkansas; (2) The newspaper or media outlet is based in Arkansas; or (3) The work covers Arkansas.
“We are incredibly proud to offer the A-Mark Prize for Investigative Reporting in Arkansas through the A-Mark Foundation,” said Wendy Jordan, Arkansas SPJ president. “This is a wonderful opportunity for journalists covering Arkansas issues to be recognized and monetarily rewarded for their efforts to uncover the truth.”
All Diamond Journalism Awards entries must be published or broadcast in 2024. There are nearly 100 categories in 10 divisions ranging from traditional print and broadcast content to podcasts, communications campaigns and more. Find all of the contest categories here.
Although entrants do not have to be members of SPJ, joining the organization offers more benefits than contest entry fee discounts. If you’re interested in joining, click here.
A-Mark Prize for Investigative Reporting (Division 10)
SPJ Members and Nonmembers: $40
The Diamond Journalism Awards uses the Better BNC contest management platform for entries and judging and fees are submitted through PayPal. All finalists will be recognized at the Diamond Awards event in July in central Arkansas. A listing of finalists will be announced prior to the event.
Searching for the truth is expensive. It takes time, resources and money, things a lot of newsrooms don’t have much of. But where there’s passion, there’s perseverance.
That’s why Arkansas SPJ and the A-Mark Foundation want to recognize investigative reporting and help to fund the continued effort. The A-Mark Prize will provide $15,000 each year for reporters and their newsrooms.
First place: $5,000 for the writer(s), plus $2,500 for the newsroom
Second place: $3,000 for the writer(s), $1,500 for the newsroom
Third place: $2,000 for the writer(s), $1,000 for the newsroom
Arkansas SPJ is one of only a few chapters hosting these investigative awards this year, and we are proud to partner with the A-Mark Foundation to continue the investigative efforts of hard-working reporters.
“The A-Mark Foundation hopes that our grants will lead to increased recognition and support for investigative journalists across the United States,” said A-Mark senior VP Tracey DeFrancesco. “We noticed that most state-level journalism awards did not have a cash prize, and we hope that providing a monetary award to both reporters and their publishing outlets will enable more important articles to be written.”
What you need to know
The A-Mark Prize for Investigative Journalism in Arkansas is described as an award for remarkable investigative reporting in any medium. *This prize is only open to entries with an Arkansas connection. The entry must include investigative reporting by an individual or team in a single report or a series – up to five items including coverage and other supporting elements. Stories should expose a wrong or promote understanding of a problem, issue or subject in the public interest.
The entry must have an Arkansas connection meaning one or more of the following applies: (1) The winning reporter is based in Arkansas; (2) The newspaper or media outlet is based in Arkansas; or (3) The work covers Arkansas. The entry must include investigative reporting by an individual or team in a single report or a series – up to five items including coverage and other supporting elements. Stories should expose a wrong or promote understanding of a problem, issue or subject in the public interest. A supporting statement (400 words max) is required.
The winners will be recognized, and the prizes will be distributed at the Arkansas Diamond Awards ceremony during Summer 2025. All entrants should plan to attend the ceremony in Little Rock in July if they are named a finalist.
If you have questions, email us anytime. The 2025 Diamond Journalism Awards contest is now open. To learn more, click here.
All professional and student journalists, freelancers and communications professionals residing in Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Oklahoma, Tennessee and Texas can submit entries or have entries submitted on their behalf by organizations that published or broadcast their work. Authors who reside in the contest states may submit work published or broadcast outside those states.
ALL ENTRIES MUST HAVE BEEN PUBLISHED OR BROADCAST IN CALENDAR YEAR 2023.
ENTRY DEADLINE: 11:59 P.M. CENTRAL, MARCH 11, 2024
Entries may be submitted in more than one category, but a separate entry fee is required for each category.
Any significant challenges or corrections to an entry must be noted with the entry. Failure to do so will result in disqualification of the entry.
All categories are open to Spanish language journalists. An English translation is not required, but it would be helpful.
Cover letters and supporting material are required only in conjunction with nominations for the following awards: Student Special Project, Student Journalist of the Year, Public Service, Community Journalism, FOI, Outstanding New Journalist and Diamond Journalist of the Year. Entrants in other categories may submit cover letters or supporting material at their discretion but should keep them brief.
Please ensure entry URLs remain valid through June 30, 2024, to accommodate judging and awards presentation.
Contest administrators reserve the right to combine entries in the same category from different platforms or circulation groups if an insufficient number of entries make the category non-competitive.
You DON’T have to be a member of the Society of Professional Journalists to enter, but members get a discount on entry fees. SPJ members must provide their membership number in order to qualify for the discount. You can join SPJ by submitting an application here. We suggest submitting entries after your SPJ membership has been confirmed.
ENTRY FEES
SPJ members: $10 per entry.
To claim the member fee, you must supply your SPJ member number (in the entry platform’s comments box). A team entry may claim the fee if at least one team member is an SPJ member. That person’s name and SPJ member number must be listed in the comments box.
Nonmembers: $20 per entry.
Student SPJ members: $5 per entry. Provide your member number.
Student nonmembers: $10 per entry.
No fees will be refunded.
HOW TO ENTER
The Diamond Journalism Awards uses the Better BNC contest management platform for entries and judging.
Welcome to the revamped 2024 Diamond Journalism Awards. We’ve added several new categories this year and reorganized categories by overall divisions for easier navigation. For entry rules go here.
The divisions:
DIVISION 1 – PRINT/ONLINE recognizes reporting and storytelling via the written word.
DIVISION 2 – TELEVISION recognizes visual reporting and storytelling via televised media.
DIVISION 3 – RADIO/AUDIO recognizes spoken-word reporting and storytelling via radio or podcast.
DIVISION 4 – SPECIAL TOPICS recognizes reporting and storytelling on certain topics from entrants regardless of medium.
DIVISION 5 – VISUAL JOURNALISM recognizes photography, graphics and design regardless of medium.
DIVISION 6 – COMMUNICATIONS recognizes reporting and storytelling by a public relations, communications or marketing professional or group regardless of medium or business affiliation.
DIVISION 7 – STUDENT JOURNALISM recognizes reporting and storytelling by student journalists regardless of medium.
DIVISION 8 – CRAFT ACHIEVEMENT recognizes excellence in the craft of news presentation.
DIVISION 9 – DIAMOND AWARDS recognizes outstanding work regardless of the medium for community journalism, public service reporting, freedom of information reporting, best new journalist, best student journalist and journalist of the year.
DIVISION 1: PRINT/ONLINE
(Entries accepted from print and online-only publications)
BREAKING NEWS – For clear, accurate and engaging coverage of a single, unexpected news event by an individual or team. Judges will consider deadline pressure and the complexity of the subject. Submit up to three articles from same-day coverage, including sidebars or related multimedia content.
GENERAL NEWS – For non-breaking news coverage. It may include planned coverage of a single event or in-depth reporting. Submit up to three articles and any related multimedia content.
CONTINUING COVERAGE – For ongoing coverage of a topic or significant event over time, demonstrating solid reporting and presentation with complexity and perspective. Submit up to five stories along with any related multimedia content. Entries may include a mix of story types.
ENTERPRISE/IN-DEPTH REPORTING – For coverage that reflects initiative, ingenuity, use of sources and/or special research to dig deeper or capture more complexity than a typical news story. Submit a single story or a series of up to three stories and any related multimedia content. Entry can be by an individual or team.
INVESTIGATIVE REPORTING – For reporting that demonstrates initiative, persistence and resourcefulness in pursuing information that is restricted, hidden by officials or not readily available and is of public interest and significance. COVER LETTER REQUIRED, explaining reporting process and impact or results. Submit one story or a series of no more than six stories and any related multimedia content.
EXPLANATORY REPORTING – For reporting and writing that makes clear significant stories and complex situations that deepen understanding of a subject or focus on subjects covered minimally or not at all by most media. Submit one story or a series of no more than six stories and any related multimedia content.
EDITORIALS – For opinion writing representing a news organization’s position on a topic or issue. Judges will consider the value to the community, writing style, reasoning, originality and reader interest. Submit three editorials as one entry.
COMMENTARY – For commentary or analysis by an individual. News-oriented blogs are also eligible. Judges will consider the quality of expression, clarity and originality. Submit three columns as one entry.
FEATURES – For individual storytelling excellence. Judges will consider the use of narrative, humor or drama, style, creativity, clarity and suitability of the writing to the subject. Submit one story.
PROFILES – For reporting that depicts the character and personality of a story subject. Submit one story.
SPORTS – For coverage of any sport or athletic endeavor. Judges will consider clarity and style. Submit a single story or no more than three stories representing continuing coverage of a single topic.
SPORTS FEATURE – For outstanding storytelling about athletic participants or a sport itself. Submit a single story.
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT COVERAGE – For coverage of the arts, entertainment or other cultural news. Entry may include news, profiles and features. Judges will consider the quality of the writing and presentation and, where appropriate, analysis. Submit up to three stories on a single topic or various topics.
CRITICISM/REVIEWS – For writing demonstrating a journalist’s competence in evaluating performance, restaurants, books, recorded music or other cultural events or entities. Submit three pieces by one author as one entry.
EDUCATION – For coverage of schools, teaching or education-related topics by an individual, team or staff. Submit up to five samples and any related multimedia content as one entry.
POLITICS – For coverage of public issues, elections, political campaigns, candidates, campaign finance or government by an individual, team or staff. Submit up to five stories and related multimedia content as one entry.
SPECIAL SECTION/NICHE PUBLICATION – For a niche publication or special section devoted to a single topic. Judges will consider the depth of coverage, presentation, and quality of writing. Submit one section or niche publication.
DIVISION 2: TELEVISION
(Entries accepted from broadcast and cable TV outlets or other video outlets)
GENERAL NEWS GATHERING ENTRY REQUIREMENTS:
The original video and submission length may be at most 10 minutes for single news entries. Eligible multipart news series entries may include two (2) but at most five (5) separate reports from the series. The total submission time limit for news series entries may be at most 15 minutes.
BREAKING NEWS – For coverage of a single unexpected news event that highlights urgency. Submit a video from same-day coverage. Submission length must not exceed 10 minutes.
CONTINUING COVERAGE – For ongoing coverage of a topic or significant event over time. Entry should not be longer than 15 minutes.
EXPLANATORY REPORTING – For coverage of a complex issue that clearly explains a topic or event from start to finish. Entry should not be longer than 15 minutes.
INVESTIGATIVE – For a single report or series that focuses on one subject matter and includes extensive research. Entry should not be longer than 15 minutes.
NEWS FEATURE – For a single story that includes a personal, emotional or creative slant beyond just gathering facts. Entry should not be longer than 15 minutes.
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT – For general entertainment and/or performing arts coverage. Entry should not be longer than 15 minutes.
CRIME/JUSTICE – For coverage of crime, victims or justice-related topics. Entry should not be longer than 15 minutes.
PROFILES – For coverage of an individual who has overcome obstacles or made significant contributions to their community. Entry should not be longer than 15 minutes.
EDUCATION – For coverage of schools, teaching or education-related topics. Entry should not be longer than 15 minutes.
POLITICS – For coverage of political, civil or government-related topics. Entry should not be longer than 15 minutes.
WEATHER – For coverage of a weather-related event. Entry should not be longer than 15 minutes.
SPORTS STORY– For coverage of a single sporting event, athletes, coaches and other related topics. Entry should not be longer than 15 minutes.
SPORTS PROGRAM – For a daily or weekly sports program, which can be live or pre-recorded. Maximum run time: 30 minutes.
NEWSCAST – For excellence in a regularly scheduled newscast. Judges will consider overall content, presentation, enterprise, writing, format, teases, etc. NOTE: This award is for producers only. Please remove all commercial breaks with 2 seconds of black between each break. For newscasts exceeding 30 minutes, entrants may submit up to 3 excerpts.
DIVISION 3: RADIO/AUDIO
(Entries accepted from broadcast radio, podcasts and other outlets producing audio)
BREAKING NEWS – For clear, accurate and engaging coverage of a single unexpected news event by an individual or team. Judges will consider deadline pressure and the complexity of the subject. Submit audio from same-day coverage. Submission length must not exceed 15 minutes.
GENERAL NEWS – For non-breaking news coverage. It may include planned coverage of a single event or in-depth reporting. Submit audio from a single story. Submission length must not exceed 15 minutes.
CONTINUING COVERAGE – For ongoing coverage of a topic or significant event over time, including several reports over some time. Entry should not be longer than 15 minutes.
ENTERPRISE/EXPLANATORY REPORTING – For coverage that reflects initiative, ingenuity, use of sources and/or special research to dig deeper or capture more complexity than a typical news story. Submit audio from a single report or a series of reports not longer than 30 minutes in total. Entry can be by an individual or team.
INVESTIGATIVE REPORTING – For reporting that demonstrates initiative, persistence and resourcefulness in pursuing information that is restricted, hidden or not readily available and is of public interest and significance. COVER LETTER REQUIRED, explaining reporting process and impact or results. Submit a single piece or a series on the same topic with a maximum combined run time of 60 minutes.
FEATURES – For individual storytelling excellence. Judges will consider the use of narrative, humor or drama, style and creativity beyond just gathering facts. Submit one story of not more than 15 minutes.
PROFILES – For reporting that depicts the character and personality of a story subject. Submit one story of no more than 15 minutes.
SPORTS – For coverage of any sport or athletic endeavor, including features about athletes or a specific sport. Judges will consider clarity and style. Submit audio of no more than three reports covering a single topic with a run time of 15 minutes or less.
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT – For coverage of the arts, entertainment or other cultural news. Entry may include news, profiles and features. Judges will consider the quality of the writing and presentation and, where appropriate, analysis. Submit up to three stories on a single topic or various issues with a total run time of not longer than 15 minutes.
EDUCATION – For coverage of schools, teaching or education-related topics by an individual or team. Submit up to five audio pieces with a run time of not more than 15 minutes.
POLITICS – For coverage of public issues, elections, political campaigns, candidates, campaign finance or government by an individual or team. Submit up to five audio pieces with a total run time of not more than 15 minutes.
DIVISION 4: SPECIAL TOPICS – ALL MEDIA
(Entries accepted from any medium)
HEALTH – For reporting clearly on health, including medicine, community health and health policy, and the health effects of COVID-19 by an individual or team. Print/online: Submit three to five stories and related multimedia content as one entry. TV/Radio/Audio: An entry should not exceed 15 minutes.
ENVIRONMENT/SCIENCE – For reporting by an individual or team on environmental issues, including climate change; or science, including technology, and the impacts on individuals and society. Print/online: Submit three to five stories and related multimedia content as one entry. TV/Radio/Audio: An entry should not exceed 15 minutes.
RELIGION – For reporting by an individual or team on religion, issues of faith or spirituality. Print/online: Submit three to five stories and related multimedia content as one entry. TV/Radio/Audio: An entry should not exceed 15 minutes.
BUSINESS – For coverage of business, finance or consumer issues by an individual, team or staff. Print/online: Submit three to five stories and any related multimedia content. TV/Radio/Audio: Submit up to five audio pieces with a maximum run time of 15 minutes.
DIVISION 5: VISUAL JOURNALISM & DESIGN
(Entries accepted from any medium)
BREAKING NEWS PHOTOGRAPHY – For photojournalism produced on deadline. Judges will consider deadline pressure, the complexity of the subject and visual presentation. Submit photos with cutlines from up to three stories as one entry, but no more than six images. Be sure to include the accompanying story or link to the story.
GENERAL NEWS PHOTOGRAPHY – For photojournalism by an individual for any non-deadline news event. Submit a single photo with a cutline/caption. Link to or include accompanying story – if any.
FEATURE PHOTOGRAPHY – For feature photography by an individual. Submit a single photo with a cutline/caption. Link to or include the accompanying story, if any, or contextual information.
PHOTO SPREAD/ESSAY – For a group of photographs on a single theme published as part of a single story or as a stand-alone layout. Submit no more than six images with cutlines. Link to or include the accompanying story or contextual information.
GRAPHICS/ILLUSTRATIONS – For infographics, illustrations or data visualizations. Submit up to three examples by an individual or team as one entry, including the associated stories or links to them online.
FRONT PAGE DESIGN-NEWSPAPERS – For layout that enhances and improves audience experience and engagement. Submit PDFs or links of up to three pages as one entry.
COVER DESIGN-MAGAZINES – For layout that enhances and improves audience experience and engagement. Submit PDFs or links of up to three pages as one entry.
WEB DESIGN – For presentation that enhances and improves audience experience and engagement. Submit PDFs or links of up to three pages as one entry.
DIVISION 6: COMMUNICATIONS
(Entries accepted from marketing and PR firms and corporate communications teams)
PRESS RELEASE WRITING – For excellence in press release writing by an individual published or distributed by a business or organization. Submit a PDF or link to a single press release.
FEATURE WRITING – For excellence in feature writing by an individual published or distributed by a business or organization. Submit a PDF or link to a single feature story.
PHOTOGRAPHY – For excellence in photography by an individual published or distributed by a business or organization. Submit a jpeg, png, PDF or link to a single photo.
CAMPAIGN – For excellence in the creation and execution of any advertising, marketing or promotional campaign by an individual or group that was published or distributed to promote a business or organization’s specific objectives. This includes social media, digital, print, multimedia, advertising, internal promotion, direct mailing, printed booklets, etc. or any combination of these items. Submit PDFs or links to at least three pieces of the campaign and a description of the campaign’s goals, execution details and any available results.
NEWSLETTER – For excellence in newsletters for corporations, nonprofits or other organizations. Submit up to three newsletters via links or PDFs with confirmation of send.
PROMOTIONAL PUBLICATIONS – For excellence in publications intended for an audience other than an internal audience. Submit one complete publication via PDF or link.
DIVISION 7: STUDENT JOURNALISM – ALL MEDIA
STUDENT-SPECIAL PROJECTS – For special projects that show exemplary reporting, writing, photography or videography. These should be student-generated and not part of an ongoing university-sponsored project. COVER LETTER REQUIRED.
STUDENT-BREAKING NEWS – For clear, accurate and engaging coverage of a single, unexpected news event by individuals or teams. Judges will consider deadline pressure and the complexity of the subject. Submit up to three articles, audio or video from same-day coverage, including sidebars or related multimedia content.Audio and video clips should not exceed 15 minutes.
STUDENT-GENERAL NEWS – For non-breaking news coverage. It may include planned coverage of a single event or in-depth reporting. Submit up to three articles, audio or video, including sidebars or related multimedia content. Audio and video clips should not exceed 15 minutes.
STUDENT-FEATURES – For individual storytelling excellence. Judges will consider the use of narrative, humor or drama, style, creativity, clarity and suitability of the content to the subject. Submit one story. Audio and video entries should not exceed 15 minutes.
STUDENT-SPORTS – For coverage of any sport or athletic endeavor regardless of platform. Judges will consider clarity and style. Submit a single story or no more than three stories representing continuing coverage of a single topic. Audio and video clips should not exceed 15 minutes.
STUDENT-EDITORIALS – For opinion writing representing a news outlet’s position on a topic or issue. Judges will consider the value to the community, style, reasoning, originality, and audience interest. Submit three editorials as one entry. Audio and video entries should not exceed 15 minutes.
STUDENT-COMMENTARY – For commentary or analysis by an individual. Blogs are eligible. Judges will consider the quality of expression, clarity, and originality. Submit three pieces as one entry. Maximum run time for video or audio: 15 minutes.
STUDENT-ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT REPORTING – For coverage of arts, entertainment, restaurants and other cultural news. Entry may include columns, profiles or features. Judges will consider the quality of the content and presentation and, where appropriate, analysis. Submit three samples as one entry. Maximum run time for video or audio: 15 minutes.
STUDENT-CRITICISM/REVIEWS – For analysis demonstrating a journalist’s competence in evaluating performances, restaurants, books, recorded music, motion pictures or other cultural events or entities. Submit three samples as one entry. Maximum run time for video or audio: 15 minutes.
STUDENT-BUSINESS – For coverage of consumer issues, business or finance, including the college athletics industry and the finances of institutions of higher learning. Judges will consider clarity and readability. Submit a single story or no more than three stories representing continuing coverage of a single topic. Maximum run time for video or audio: 15 minutes.
STUDENT-EDUCATION – For coverage of education and academic policy, including institutions of higher education, teacher training and educational research. Judges will consider clarity and thoroughness. Submit three stories as one entry. Maximum run time for video or audio: 15 minutes.
STUDENT-NEWS PHOTO – For photojournalism by an individual of breaking or general news. Judges will consider visual presentation and photographic techniques. Submit one photo with an accompanying cutline/caption or video clip of not more than five minutes. Please include the accompanying story or link the story.
STUDENT-FEATURE PHOTO – For feature photography by an individual. Judges will consider the complexity of the subject and visual presentation. Submit one photo with an accompanying cutline/caption. Please include the accompanying story or link the story, if any.
STUDENT-PHOTO SPREAD/ESSAY – For a group of photographs on a single theme published as part of a single story or as a stand-alone layout. Submit the page or up to six images with cutlines/captions and an explanation of the context or the accompanying story or text. Links are acceptable.
STUDENT-PHOTO PORTFOLIO – For photography that shows the work of a single photographer. Submit three to five photos with cutlines/captions.
STUDENT-GRAPHICS/ILLUSTRATIONS — For infographics, illustrations or data visualizations. Submit three to five examples by an individual or team as one entry, including the associated stories or links to them online.
STUDENT-PAGE DESIGN – For presentation that improves audience experience and engagement in print or online. Submit three examples as one entry.
DIVISION 8 – CRAFT ACHIEVEMENT
(Recognizes excellence by an individual engaged in the craft of news presentation)
OUTSTANDING NEWS ANCHOR – Based on coverage of several topics, credibility, delivery, and overall talent. Entry can include segments from regular newscasts, news specials, breaking news, etc. Entry should be no longer than 15 minutes, with two seconds of black between each segment.
OUTSTANDING METEOROLOGIST – For regular weather segments or coverage of weather events. Entry should be no longer than 15 minutes, with two seconds of black between each segment.
OUTSTANDING SPORTS ANCHOR – For regular sports segments or coverage of special sports events. Entry should be no longer than 15 minutes, with two seconds of black between each segment.
OUTSTANDING TV NEWS WRITER – For excellence in news writing by an individual. Submit three to five excerpts as one entry. Maximum run time is 15 minutes, including two seconds of black between segments. Please include scripts.
OUTSTANDING TV EDITOR – For excellence in video editing by an individual. Submit three to five excerpts as one entry. Maximum run time is 15 minutes, including two seconds of black between segments.
OUTSTANDING PRINT/ONLINE EDITOR – For excellence in editing by line or copy editors. Submit three to five examples of how editing improved a reporter’s work. If possible, include original work or proof of edits for comparison.
OUTSTANDING TV PHOTOGRAPHER – For excellence in TV photography by an individual. Submit up to five excerpts as one entry. Maximum run time is 15 minutes, including two seconds of black between segments.
OUTSTANDING STILL PHOTOGRAPHER – For photography that shows the work of a single photographer. Submit or link three to five photos with cutlines/captions as one entry.
OUTSTANDING RADIO/PODCAST HOST – For excellence in program or podcast hosting. Submit no more than five excerpts showing the host’s work with two-second breaks between excerpts.
DIVISION 9 – DIAMOND HONORS – ALL MEDIA
(Entries accepted from all media)
CHARLOTTE TILLAR SCHEXNAYDER PUBLIC SERVICE AWARD – For journalism that seeks to benefit society through extensive coverage of an issue facing a community, state or region. Awarded in honor of the late Charlotte Schexnayder, journalist, small-town newspaper publisher and Arkansas legislator. Entry MUST INCLUDE A COVER LETTER providing background context and results, if any. Judges will consider the issue’s significance, journalistic initiative, presentation, and results, if any. Submit five to seven articles — stories and opinion pieces. Maximum total run time for audio and video entries: 30 minutes.
ROBERT S. MCCORD FOI AWARD – For coverage that focuses on the public’s right to know and carries on the legacy of the late Robert McCord, a former national SPJ president who is considered the father of the Arkansas Freedom of Information Act. COVER LETTER REQUIRED. Submit stories, opinion pieces, letters or other material (including audio or video) demonstrating how the nominee contributed to protecting or enhancing the public’s right to know. Limit of 10 articles or audio/video pieces. Audio or video limited to 30 minutes total.
STUDENT JOURNALIST OF THE YEAR – For journalistic excellence demonstrated by an individual enrolled in an institution of higher learning. COVER LETTER REQUIRED.Submit a portfolio of five to seven pieces representative of work over the calendar year. Audio or video limited to 30 minutes total.
EMERGING JOURNALIST OF THE YEAR – For journalistic excellence demonstrated by an individual who has worked fewer than five years in journalism. COVER LETTER REQUIRED.Submit a portfolio of five to seven pieces representative of work over the year. Audio or video limited to 30 minutes total.
DIAMOND JOURNALIST OF THE YEAR – For reporting excellence by a journalist in any medium over the preceding year. COVER LETTER REQUIRED. Submit a portfolio of five to seven pieces representative of work over the year. Audio or video limited to 30 minutes total.
LITTLE ROCK — Andrew DeMillo of The Associated Press was named the Diamond Journalist of the Year on Tuesday at the annual awards ceremony of the 2023 Diamond Journalism Awards.
A judge called DeMillo’s work “comprehensive without being wordy” and said his “writing has a natural flow to it that carries the reader forward.”
Journalists from any medium can enter the Diamond Journalist of the Year competition by submitting a portfolio of five to seven pieces published or broadcast in the previous calendar year.
The awards were announced during a dinner ceremony in Little Rock. Alan Leveritt, publisher of the Arkansas Times, was guest speaker.
The Diamond Journalism Awards are sponsored by the Arkansas Pro Chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists. Entries come from Arkansas and six states that share borders with the Natural State: Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Oklahoma, Tennessee and Texas.
This year’s contest drew 363 entries in more than 80 categories. Members of the Washington, D.C., Chapter of SPJ served as judges.
Proceeds from the competition fund scholarships for students enrolled in college journalism programs who plan a career in the field.
The list of winners and finalists follows.
PROFESSIONAL AWARDS
BREAKING NEWS – PRINT/ONLINE
FINALISTS Frank Lockwood, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, Little Rock: “Elizabeth II mourned in England amid decline of church”
Tess Vrbin, Arkansas Advocate, Little Rock: “Arkansas Senate suspends Clark for ‘frivolous’ complaint”
WINNER Michael R. Wickline, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette: “Abortion ban begins”
JUDGE’S COMMENT: Michael R. Wickline quickly provided a thorough and detailed report on a topic with widespread ramifications. He covered numerous angles and answered a significant number of questions that readers may have, all in a fast turnaround. Wickline also gathered a wide and diverse range of voices, providing balanced and objective reporting on a highly divisive topic.
Jacob Steimer, MLK50: Justice Through Journalism: “A homeless man died outside City Hall. How should the city respond?”
WINNER Teresa Moss, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette: Trial coverage of ex-sheriff’s deputy accused of killing teen
JUDGE’S COMMENT: A well-written story that captures the scope of the issue within the first few grafs.
OVERALL COMPETITION COMMENT: All the winners relied upon the intangible skills of journalism, while giving citizens the information they need to make decisions. They demonstrated curiosity, empathy, understanding of implicit biases and tenacity. It is a pleasure to see journalism that touches the conscience of the community.
GENERAL NEWS – AUDIO/VIDEO
FINALISTS Hannah Campbell, East Arkansas Broadcasters, Jonesboro, AR: Arkansas Now News, evening newscasts
Brett Rains, KHBS/KHOG TV (40/29), Fayetteville, AR: “Teen Loses Friends to Drug Overdose”
WINNER Ashlei King, Julian Jones, KLRT-FOX16, Little Rock: “Names Not Numbers,”
JUDGE COMMENT: This entry stands out for its respectful, in-depth coverage demonstrating the personal impact of an important local issue. Kudos.
ONGOING COVERAGE – PRINT/ONLINE
FINALIST Jacob Steimer, MLK50: Justice Through Journalism, Memphis: “Emergency Rental Assistance”
WINNER Joseph Flaherty, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette: Coverage of a Little Rock city property deal intended for a homeless shelter
JUDGE’S COMMENT: A classic example of excellent accountability work making a difference, with ample use of FOIA and source documentation to shed light on potential corruption. The writing for this series is crisp, delivering critical information to the community and laying facts at their feet without excess verbiage. The series also demonstrates the power of journalism, with a clear effect from this reporting.
WINNER Chelsea Helms, KNWA News, Fayetteville: Coverage of sexual assault allegations against and subsequent arrest of a Northwest Arkansas doctor
JUDGE’S COMMENT: The level of detail and extensive investigation that went into this story can be seen throughout. This is what following up on a story should be.
ENTERPRISE/IN-DEPTH REPORTING – PRINT/ONLINE
FINALISTS Jacob Steimer, MLK50: Justice Through Journalism: “Feeling neglected, Parkway Village residents try to rebuild after ‘white flight’”
Ashton Pittman, Mississippi Free Press, Jackson, MS: “Christian Dominionist War on Abortion”
WINNER Daniel Connolly, reporter; Duane Gang, editor; Ariel Cobbert, Joe Rondone, photographers. The Commercial Appeal, Memphis, and The Tennessean, Nashville: “Big Hurt, Tiny Fines – Tennessee Workers Compensation Investigation”
JUDGE’S COMMENT: Big Hurt, Tiny Fines shows some very robust reporting. It takes a hard look at the worker’s compensation program from multiple perspectives. He followed the money and the trail of medical records to a doctor hundreds of miles away. His reporting showed how innocuous reprimand can inadvertently do more harm. Finally, Mr. Connolly’s reporting displays ingenuity by showing how time and money can be used and misused to frivolously trap workers into a system that isn’t built to help them win.
ENTERPRISE/IN-DEPTH REPORTING – AUDIO/VIDEO
WINNER Avery Lea Rogers, Danny Wicentowski, St. Louis Public Radio, St. Louis, MO: “St. Louis has a new basketball court. Its funders were raided by the FBI”
JUDGE’S COMMENT: Avery Lea Rogers and Danny Wicentowski provided exhaustive detail into the FBI raid and covered every angle. Their story immediately grabs listeners’ attention by starting with the raid. The pair also made clear attempts to balance the coverage despite one party’s refusal to participate by closely scrutinizing FBI documents. They also included exhaustive interviews that address the claims and detail the African People’s Socialist Party community service, bringing the raid into full perspective. The final interview with a member of the community who would benefit from the new basketball court particularly drives the story home. Rogers and Wicentowski’s story analyzes the situation from an objective lens, showcases the African People’s Socialist Party’s work and giving them room for defense without shying away from serious allegations in an FBI indictment.
INVESTIGATIVE REPORTING – PRINT/ONLINE
FINALISTS Daniel Connolly, The Commercial Appeal/The Tennessean, “Big Hurt, Tiny Fines” – Tennessee Workers Compensation Investigation
Nick Judin, Mississippi Free Press, Unsafe Conditions In Mississippi Delta Housing
WINNER Joseph Flaherty, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, LitFest
JUDGE’S COMMENT: The investigation into Little Rock’s Lit Fest was very thorough and meticulous. Mr. Flaherty used public records obtained via FOIA and the “Blue Hog Report” to follow the money and unravel a complicated web of contracts and cronyism. He clearly laid out how Think Rubix’s connection to the mayor’s campaign, while not illegal, can bring forth some complexity that can eat away at public trust. Mr. Flaherty’s relentless reporting ultimately led to more oversight being done on contracts.
EXPLANATORY REPORTING – PRINT/ONLINE
FINALISTS Bill Bowden, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, Disfarmer case
Hunter Field, Arkansas Advocate, Arkansas income tax changes explained
WINNER Nancy Henderson, Missouri-Kansas Super Lawyers Magazine, “State of the Unions”
JUDGE’S COMMENT: Ms. Henderson’s piece really lays out the plight of the unions and where they could be headed. She explained how working during the COVID pandemic exacerbated some issues with worker safety. She also clearly explains how to start unions with informed advice from trusted sources. Henderson provides some insight on how employers can attempt to take down union workers and about retaliation – a third rail topic not typically talked about. Her piece is backed by data and historical facts that show the complexity of starting and maintaining a union. Excellent reporting!
EXPLANATORY REPORTING – AUDIO/VIDEO
WINNER Kevin Kelly, Stephen Goodale, KLRT-TV/FOX 16, “Road Rage on the Rise”
JUDGE’S COMMENT: Kevin Kelly found a compelling and unique angle on a topic that’s swept the nation since the pandemic’s onset. His stories went above and beyond simply reporting on the increase in dangerous and reckless driving, an angle we’ve seen repeatedly over the past few years. Not only did Kelly reveal eye-opening data that showed just how much these life-threatening road rage incidents have risen, he also found captivating stories that encapsulates the terror victims experience during these sorts of shootings. His reports had me glued to the screen, my eyes wide open and mouth agape.
EDITORIALS – PRINT/ONLINE
FINALISTS Lindsey Castrellon, Arkansas Money & Politics (AY Media Group), Little Rock
David Barham, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
WINNER Edward Brown , Anthony Mariani, Fort Worth Weekly, Fort Worth, TX, “Taking Care of Business”
JUDGE’S COMMENT: Strong community focus. Immoderate language, but contextualized facts and process back up arguments. Calls for action, not just critiquing what’s past.
COMMENTARY – PRINT/ONLINE
FINALISTS Wendi C. Thomas, MLK50: Justice Through Journalism, “To the Harvard professor who said MLK50 wasn’t ‘viable’: Look at us now”
Carrington Tatum, MLK50: Justice Through Journalism, “Loans got me into journalism. Student debt pushed me out.”
JUDGE’S COMMENT: Sonny Albarado tackles some of the weightiest issues of our time and their local impact, and he does so clearly, directly and with powerful detail.
COMPETITION COMMENT: These entries illustrate the range of voices, topics and challenges that Arkansas commentators are taking on with style and personality.
FEATURES – NEWSPAPERS
FINALISTS Dwain Hebda, YA!MULE WORDSMITHS for Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, “Twist of Fate”
Dwain Hebda, YA!MULE WORDSMITHS for Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, “Mother Goose”
WINNER Bill Bowden, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, “President Japperson”
JUDGE’S COMMENT: Making what some would assume to be a dry subject – the Census – fun with some humor and a lot of information.
COMPETITION COMMENT: A very wide range of entries. A few weren’t really feature articles and so – regretfully in at least one case – I could not award a high score to pieces that obviously required a lot of effort and were well-crafted. They just didn’t qualify as feature stories. I liked the vivid direct quotes in many of the articles. On the other hand, it’s permissible to clean the quotes up a bit – which in some cases should have been more rigorously done. I enjoy features that show why people “”tick.”” Many of these articles accomplished that. Also, as appropriate, flashes of humor or wit – especially as expressed by people in the article – help a lot.”
FEATURES – MAGAZINES
FINALISTS Dwain Hebda, YA!MULE WORDSMITHS for DO SOUTH Magazine, Fort Smith, AR, “The Greatest American Hero”
Dwain Hebda, YA!MULE WORDSMITHS for DO SOUTH Magazine, “Soul Food”
WINNER Sarah Komar, New Lines Magazine, Washington, D.C., “U.S. Army Confronts Mental Health Problems”
JUDGE’S COMMENT: Good article on PTSD. Nicely combines the author’s personal experiences with her father – and his views – and a broader picture (historical and current) of PTSD in the military. Writing is overall good, but there’s some awkwardness at points.
COMPETITION COMMENT: Good topics but too often disappointing execution. I wanted to know more, but the articles were already (in many cases) too long, sometimes with minutiae or unneeded detail. Several were written more like term papers than feature articles. Several went too far in trying to capture the “country” feel. And most suffered from a lack of quote clean-up.
FEATURES – ONLINE ONLY
FINALIST Kelly Connelly, Kristen Siler, Stuttgart Daily Leader, Stuttgart, AR, “2022 North Arkansas County Farm Family of the Year: Jackie and Duffie Banks Family”
WINNER Grace Marion, Mississippi Free Press, “Batesville Park At Center Of Race Division”
JUDGE’S COMMENT: This writer makes the reader care about the issues surrounding Patton Lane Park by digging into the subject from multiple angles. The story succeeds by including historical context, diverse sources, local government meetings and beautiful images that support the story. The writing and narrative could be more focused at times, but overall a feature with real purpose.
FEATURES – TV/VIDEO
FINALIST Kevin Kelly, Lauren Swaim, KLRT-FOX 16, “Sharktender”
WINNER Caitrin Assaf, Lauren Swaim, KARK 4 News, Little Rock, “Man in Black springs a leak”
JUDGE’S COMMENT: Really good work on deadline. Solid writing…great play on (musical) terms & titles; nice angles with video and wonderful local characters!
PROFILES – NEWSPAPERS
FINALISTS Dwain Hebda, YA!MULE WORDSMITHS for Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, “Badges of Honor”
Dwain Hebda, YA!MULE WORDSMITHS for Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, “Once a Cowgirl …”
WINNER Sean Clancy, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, “Harvey Lee Williams and his family own and operate Delta Dirt Distillery”
JUDGE’S COMMENT: The story flows really well. Good description. Loved “looks like a steampunk fantasy.”
PROFILES – MAGAZINES
FINALISTS Olivia Deffes, 225 Magazine, Baton Rouge, “Sending love down to Baton Rouge”
Dwain Hebda, YA!MULE WORDSMITHS for DO SOUTH magazine, “The Boy in the Box”
WINNER Dwain Hebda, YA!MULE WORDSMITHS for DO SOUTH magazine, “Lost & Found”
JUDGE’S COMMENT: Well-framed story that utilizes vivid imagery to make its points.
JUDGE’S COMMENT: A sensitive and in-depth profile of a mother who organized assistance for others across the nation whose loved ones were victims of senseless shootings.
Brett Rains, KHBS/KHOG TV (40/29), Springdale tornado survivors
WINNER Kevin Kelly, Lauren Swaim, KLRT-FOX16, “A League of Her Own”
JUDGE’S COMMENT: This is what a profile should be. A story that shows who your character is, how they get there and why.
COMPETITION COMMENT: Profiles should tell the story of a or a number of characters, but done in detail. I needed to see that in two of the stories submitted, but it wasn’t accomplished.
PROFILES – RADIO/AUDIO
WINNER Daniel Breen, KUAR Public Radio, “In Arkansas, slain journalist leaves behind long legacy” NO JUDGE’S COMMENT
SPORTS – NEWSPAPERS
FINALISTS Greg Geary, The Daily Citizen, Searcy, AR, “Angler casts aside handicap to become pro”
Dwain Hebda, YA!MULE WORDSMITHS for Arkansas Catholic Newspaper, “Near Perfect”
JUDGE’S COMMENT: This was a compelling human interest story. This feature would have been at home at any paper, and certainly reflected the mission of the Catholic paper.
COMPETITION COMMENT: Every entry in this competition was a winner! From top to bottom this was the strongest overall category I’ve ever judged. So those who didn’t win easily could have. Kudos to every entrant.
SPORTS – MAGAZINES
FINALISTS Mark Clements, 225 Magazine, “The Traveling Tiger”
Dwain Hebda, YA!MULE WORDSMITHS for DO SOUTH magazine, “The Long Run”
WINNER Dwain Hebda, YA!MULE WORDSMITHS for AMP Magazine, “Show Me the Money”
JUDGE’S COMMENT: A thorough, fact-filled explainer of how monied interests are paying college athletes.
SPORTS – ONLINE ONLY
WINNER Torsheta Jackson, Mississippi Free Press, “Legacy of the Black Cowboy in Tunica”
JUDGE’S COMMENT: Excellent writing in a story that takes the reader into a movement that would otherwise be hard to know about while also uncovering history otherwise hidden. Covers history and current events succinctly in a way that frames the story historically, which can be hard to do with a word limit.
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT COVERAGE – NEWSPAPERS
FINALIST Greg Geary, The Daily Citizen, Steel Drivers, Super Bowl Actress, Byrnes
WINNER Dwain Hebda, YA!MULE WORDSMITHS for Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, “Dogtown to Tinseltown”
JUDGE’S COMMENT: Well written. There’s a single story thread throughout the article.
A&E COVERAGE – MAGAZINES
FINALISTS Dwain Hebda, YA!MULE WORDSMITHS for AY Magazine, Little Rock, “Raising Hell”
Tammy Keith, 501 Life Magazine, Conway, “Space toys and artist”
FINALISTS Paul Ladd, World Christian Broadcasting, Song Searcher Story
Caitrin Assaf, Lauren Swaim, KARK 4 News, Action in AR
WINNER Skot Covert, Kelly Tibbit, Zach Keast, KTHV-THV11, “Eat It Up”
JUDGE’S COMMENT: “Eat It Up” is thoroughly entertaining AND informative. A tasty selection of foodie issues wrapped around some wonderful story-telling as well. Great pacing, terrific editing!
A&E COVERAGE – ONLINE ONLY
FINALIST Alexandria Brown, Remington Miller, Nick Popowitch, Thomas Metthe, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, State Fair coverage online
WINNER Aliyan Veal, Mississippi Free Press, Art Interprets “Great Migration”
JUDGE’S COMMENT: Veal’s article covers both the beauty of the art and the cultural importance with great, clear writing, and by picking just enough direct quotes to let the people she covers say the important things that move the story forward.
A&E CRITICISM & REVIEWS – NEWSPAPERS
WINNER Andrew DeMillo, The Associated Press, Book Reviews
JUDGE’S COMMENT: Deftly handles a range of material fairly and evenly.
A&E CRITICIISM & REVIEWS – ONLINE ONLY WINNER Austin Castrellon, AY Magazine, “’Elvis’ Fails to Bring the King Back to Life”
JUDGE’S COMMENT: An EXCELLENT review and critique, that covers all the basis with its analysis, and extremely well written. This piece earns its first place win handily.
BUSINESS – ALL MEDIA
FINALISTS Dwain Hebda, YA!MULE WORDSMITHS for The Trucker Magazine, “Data Pirates”
Dwain Hebda, YA!MULE WORDSMITHS for Black Vitality Magazine, “The Good Stuff”
WINNER Kayode Crown, Mississippi Free Press, Business, Equity and Ethics in Mississippi
JUDGE’S COMMENT: Writer Kayode Crown provides a regular supply of well-written, well-sourced, well-documented and well-illustrated work to put a spotlight on issues important to Mississippi and surrounding states.
EDUCATION – PRINT/ONLINE
FINALISTS Joel Phelps, arkadelphian.com, Arkadelphia, AR, “School district plans to balance teacher diversity”
Dwain Hebda, YA!MULE WORDSMITHS for AMP Magazine, Charter schools in Arkansas
JUDGE’S COMMENT: Compelling and well-executed. The article is to the point and clearly showcases the issues present within the news piece.
EDUCATION – AUDIO/VIDEO
WINNER Josie Lenora, KUAR Public Radio, “New superintendent talks about the future of the LRSD”
JUDGE’S COMMENT: Such a good and thorough interview. Covered all the bases. Very well done.
HEALTH – ALL MEDIA
FINALISTS Dwain Hebda, YA!MULE WORDSMITHS for Do South Magazine, “A League of Their Own”
Nick Judin, Mississippi Free Press, Health and Equity in Mississippi
WINNER Dwain Hebda, YA!MULE WORDSMITHS for The Trucker Magazine, “Mother Trucker Yoga”
JUDGE’S COMMENT: Interesting. Well-written. Not over-the-top or hokey. Straightforward with flashes of humor. COMPETITION COMMENT: Interesting articles showing a wide range of healthcare applications – from traditional to yoga and CrossFit. Also shows the diverse populations that can be served by healthcare efforts. The articles come alive with patients and clients are interviewed.
ENVIRONMENT – ALL MEDIA
FINALIST Ashli Blow, MLK50: Justice Through Journalism, “Fake testing left South Memphis’ water vulnerable to toxins”
WINNER Kayode Crown, Mississippi Free Press, Jackson Water Crisis
JUDGE’S COMMENT: The series provides a comprehensive look at Jackson’s devastating water crisis.
POLITICS – PRINT/ONLINE
FINALISTS Andrew DeMillo, The Associated Press, 2022 Election Coverage
Lisa Hammersly, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, Campaign Finance Reporting
WINNER Jacob Steimer, Carrington Tatum, Brittany Brown, MLK50: Justice Through Journalism, Municipal race 2022
JUDGE’S COMMENT: In this package MLK50 showed great respect for journalistic guidelines per SPJ; they make it clear what they’re doing, and why, when it comes to not naming sources. Further, the quality of the reportage (and the time invested in it) floored me. The amount of work hours that go into these stories is clearly pretty high. Their reporters have a superpower of latching onto information other reporters might pass over, and then combine them all to create nuanced and informative journalism.
POLITICS – AUDIO/VIDEO
FINALIST Daniel Breen, NPR, “Sarah Huckabee Sanders is expected to win Republican primary for Arkansas governor”
WINNER Josie Lenora, KUAR Public Radio, “Democratic Party of Arkansas delays choosing a new chair during emotional meeting”
JUDGE’S COMMENT: Good job capturing the emotions of the meeting. Solid presentation.
JUDGE’S COMMENT: This is a remarkably strong entry full of both tragedy and inspiration. Every article is strong. Particularly impressive were Aliyah Veal’s three articles on the unfathomable homicide rate in Jackson, with dramatic, depressing articles of dilapidated housing; on the inspirational former inmate who set up a foundation to provide housing and other support for women transitioning from prison; and her rich profile of Not Another Child founder Oresa Napper-Williams. Finally, powerful, moving work by Deanna Tisdale Johnson depicting the tragic death of Oren D’Lonte Anderson and his life that ended in violence, a life filled with love and trouble. Overall, this is such impressive journalism about people, events, and communities that are too often ignored by the mainstream media. Congratulations to all reporters, editors, researchers, and photographers who produced such important work!
COMPETITION COMMENT: Strong entries produced tough competition that led to difficult judging choices. The deep look at poverty, crime, and housing problems in Hinds County stood head and shoulders above the other entries in the depth and breadth of its reporting along with its powerful visual presentation. It was all the more impressive in having been reported and written by young journalists. As a nature and travel enthusiast, I can say that the Arkansas Wild magazine was better than most similar ones I’ve seen from other states, with more helpful and interesting information. For my third-place pick, it was a tough choice between the Arkansas Voter Guide and Blueprint. In the end, I selected the voter guide because of how important such guides are at this critical, fragile point in our democracy. If possible, I’d like to recommend an Honorable Mention award to “Blueprint” for its fine job covering the variety of technical jobs available with information that was both interesting and practical. Overall, this was an impressive group of contest entries.
PODCASTS – ALL MEDIA
FINALIST J. Bradley Minnick, Mary Ellen Kubit, Joseph Fuller, KUAR Public Radio, Arts & Letters
WINNER Rex Nelson, Nick Popowitch, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, Southern Fried Podcast
JUDGE’S COMMENT: The selected podcasts displayed deep knowledge of state politics, business, and film/arts, very interesting even to a non-Arkansan. Sound quality was fine. Felt very authentic.
BREAKING NEWS PHOTOGRAPHY – ALL MEDIA
FINALIST Thomas Metthe, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, Davis Trial
WINNER Staci Vandagrif, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, Fatal Shooting At Hospital
JUDGE’S COMMENT: Great work!
GENERAL NEWS PHOTOGRAPHY – ALL MEDIA
FINALIST Greg Geary, The Daily Citizen, Apartment fire in Searcy
WINNER Thomas Metthe, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, Memorial Day
JUDGE’S COMMENT: Excellent shots!
FEATURE PHOTOGRAPHY – ALL MEDIA
FINALISTS Greg Geary, The Daily Citizen, Showing Their Colors
Jenn Terrell, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, “Lakeisha Edwards: Art Ventures director believes art is for everyone”
WINNER Thomas Metthe, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, Splash Pad
JUDGE’S COMMENT: Fabulous photograph. The composition is great, with a group of boys but the focus is on the one who is embracing the moment.
COMPETITION COMMENT: There were at least seven entries that should have won awards in this category. These three winners stood out though. Two for the effect that water had on the photo and one as an outstanding example of portrait photography.
JUDGE’S COMMENT: Staci captured pure, raw emotion in every picture. Each image told a story effortlessly.
COMPETITION COMMENT: This year, it was a tight competition, and everyone put together outstanding portfolio submissions. It was not an easy category to judge based on the talent on display, and everyone who entered should be proud of what they accomplished.
FRONT PAGE/COVER DESIGN – MAGAZINES
FINALIST Staff, 225 Magazine, Baton Rouge WINNER Kelli Bozeman, Hoa Vu, InRegister Magazine, Bold Faced, A Day in the Life of the Arts, Shore Things
JUDGE’S COMMENT: Fabulous, excellent covers. Each cover conveyed something very different and they were all three compelling. I want a subscription!
COMPETITION COMMENT: This category only had two entries and both would have been deserving of awards had there been 10. The inRegister covers were among the best magazine covers I’ve seen. Great job.
PAGE DESIGN – MAGAZINES
FINALISTS Mike Bedgood, AY Magazine, “True Colors”
Mike Bedgood, AY Magazine, “Painting the Town”
WINNER Lora Puls, AMP Magazine, “Elbow Room”
JUDGE’S COMMENT: This is a beautiful layout, allowing the wonder of the wildnerness set the scene. It set a peaceful, pleasant scene. Smart move to preserve the full image behind – and through – the text. Skillfully done.
STUDENT AWARDS
SPECIAL PROJECTS
WINNER Sarah Smythe, The Echo (University of Central Arkansas, Conway), “UCA giving out expired KN95 masks”
JUDGE’S COMMENT: Great example of accountability journalism and excellent deployment of staff to tackle the investigatory process.
BREAKING NEWS
WINNER Madison Ogle, The Echo, “Three dead, one injured in series of Conway shootings”
JUDGE’S COMMENT: Madison Ogle’s coverage for UCAnews.live of a shooting in a campus neighborhood quickly wrapped up a fast-developing situation that was of potential danger to the campus community.
GENERAL NEWS
FINALISTS Emily Kennard, The Echo, “Students arrested for trans rights protest at school board meeting” Sarah Komar, The Traveler (University of Arkansas, Fayetteville) “Where are the Workers” Labor Shortage Special Coverage
WINNER Josh Archote, Reveille and lsureveille.com (Louisiana State University) “An LSU Greek Life mystery: fake names and potential entrapment?”
JUDGE’S COMMENT: The reporter demonstrates impressive investigative journalism skills. The abuse of power angle is newsworthy and has implications beyond LSU’s campus. Overall great sourcing, writing, story pace and supporting documents. Well done.
FEATURES
FINALISTS Aria Pons, Tiger TV (LSU), “More Than Meets The Eye”
Will Nickel, Reveille and lsureveille.com, “How much do LSU football players eat? I ate an offensive lineman’s diet to find out”
WINNER Ava Borskey, Tiger TV, “Azaleas and Buddy Lee”
JUDGE’S COMMENT: A nicely done piece. Buddy has a good personality, and that comes through. The subject is one that interests a lot of people (plants, planting, landscaping), but the behind-the-scenes work to create new plants isn’t familiar to many people. The editing and matching of narration with the visuals are good. Although the narrator at times sounds a bit scripted, her bright cheerful voice is a good fit for the subject matter.
COMPETITION COMMENT: Many well-chosen, interesting topics. These three stand out for good execution and for understanding that a feature requires a mix of news/facts and human interest/a “lighter” touch than hard news. The top-ranked features also had a clear conclusion and answered the question “why?” Plus, they were enjoyable to read or watch.
JUDGE’S COMMENT: Direct questioning by podcast hosts led to a compelling story about LSU swimmer Spencer Adrian’s experience as a member of a Denver college swim team.
COMPETITION COMMENT: This category included audio, video and print entries that illustrate the variety of ways sports stories can be told effectively.
EDITORIALS
FINALIST Courtney Shepherd, The Echo, “Media restrictions for college athletes strain relationship”
WINNER Reveille Editorial Board, Reveille and lsureveille.com
JUDGE’S COMMENT: The Reveille Editorial Board took bold stands in their editorials. Their well-written and well-researched editorials showed they are not afraid to call out university officials when necessary. They are a shining example of student journalists unafraid to speak on issues of concern to their communities.
COMPETITION COMMENT: The entries in the student journalist editorial category show that student publications are not afraid to challenge college officials when it comes to important issues on their campuses. They directly stated their views and did not hesitate to criticize college staff and administrators if student journalists felt they were wrong on the issues.
COMMENTARY FINALISTS Henry Huber, Reveille and lsureveille.com, Sports Columns
Brandon Poulter, Reveille and lsureveille.com, Columns
WINNER Claire Sullivan, The Echo, Columns
JUDGE’S COMMENT: Claire Sullivan pulled me into each essay with her commanding use of descriptive language, personal/intimate tone, strategic use of facts – all critical to storytelling and column writing. I especially liked the way she placed herself inside each piece of writing, helping the reader to appreciate the importance of the topic to her but quietly inviting them to locate in their minds or in their lives their own intimacy with the topic. And while each was personal, she connected with the universal, making the work relevant to everyone who cares. She has a real talent.
A&E COVERAGE
WINNER Katy-Ann McDonald, Reveille and lsureveille.com, “Valuable African American Poetry collection finds new home in Hill Memorial Library Special Collections”
JUDGE’S COMMENT: This article could have been as flat as a press release, but McDonald reached out for the meaning of books, and this collection, from both the donor and the recipient. She made us see the value. Nicely done with strong writing and good depth.
A&E CRITICISM/REVIEWS
WINNER Courtney Shepherd, Delaney Van Wilpe, Anna Yanosick, The Echo, Entertainment Reviews
JUDGE’S COMMENT: The three writers offer both unique and informed perspectives on their respective topics. The first entry offered a telling look at Gen Z’s view of school shootings, the second shed light on what Drake’s lyrics say about his real life actions, and the Wendy’s review was unexpected but fun. I hope all three continue to review and share their perspectives on what they are passionate about.
BUSINESS
FINALIST Ally Kadlubar, Tiger TV, “Lip Smackin’”
WINNER Bennett Tinnermon, Emilee Hagewood, The Echo, “UCA professor offers bonus points for fake reviews”
JUDGE’S COMMENT: This story took a lot of information-gathering from different sources, and leveraged it to highlight a possible ethical issue on campus. That’s what student journalism is meant to do! Additionally, the reporters took great care to report only what they could observe and not to imply or state anything further.
EDUCATION
FINALIST Piper Hutchinson, Reveille and lsureveille.com, “The Reveille digs into maintenance problems on the LSU campus”
WINNER Mia Waddell, The Echo, “African/African American studies given two-year extension”
JUDGE’S COMMENT: Excellent accountability reporting. Well-sourced overview of a significant issue on campus. Dense and informative without being complicated. Writer did an excellent job juggling all facets of the story.
WINNER Madison Ogle, The Echo, “A couple sit together on a ride at UCA’s Fall Fest”
JUDGE’S COMMENT: Great moment!
PHOTO SPREAD/ESSAY
WINNER Maci England, The Echo, Homecoming game proposal
JUDGE’S COMMENT: Well done! Great capture.
PHOTO PORTFOLIO
FINALISTS Madison Ogle, The Echo, Fan Yelling
Madison Ogle, The Echo, Shooting Aftermath
WINNER Madison Ogle, The Echo, Glow Rage
JUDGE’S COMMENT: This picture perfectly captures the fun and excitement of an on campus student paint night.
COMPETITION COMMENT: The Echo photographer did a great job documenting campus and community life. The photographer showed a strong command of lighting, and an ability to capture the heart of the story in pictures.
GRAPHICS/ILLUSTRATIONS
FINALISTS Madison Ogle, The Echo, “Russia sends valentine to Ukraine”
Madison Ogle, The Echo, “Sarah Huckabee Sanders takes office”
WINNER Madison Ogle, The Echo, “Rams win the Superbowl”
JUDGE’S COMMENT: Memorable illustration style with strong personality and atmosphere. Wonderful work!
DESIGN
FINALISTS Courtney Shepherd, Mia Waddell, The Echo, Senior Columns
Madison Ogle, The Echo, Football Conference Champions
WINNER Mia Waddell, Bennett Tinnermon, The Echo, Homecoming edition
JUDGE’S COMMENT: Impressive design work with high contrast and appealing color palette.
SPECIAL AWARDS
GARRICK FELDMAN COMMUNITY JOURNALISM AWARD
FINALISTS Rick Kron, Leader newspapers, Jacksonville, AR Greg Geary, The Daily Citizen, Searcy, AR
WINNER Unsafe conditions in Mississippi Delta housing, Nick Judin, Mississippi Free Press, Jackson, MS
JUDGE’S COMMENT: Judin’s work is the kind of incisive and insightful reporting one hopes for from local reporting. I was deeply impressed by Nick’s empathetic writing and aggressiveness in chasing the story.
OVERALL COMPETITION COMMENT: This was difficult. All three journalists here are talented and deserve recognition. But Judin’s work, and the impact it appears to have had, swung me. There’s a good chance that his writing has made positive changes in the lives of the renters he covered, and making such a positive impact is a rare but vital role for local journalism to play.
CHARLOTTE TILLAR SCHEXNAYDER PUBLIC SERVICE AWARD
FINALISTS Arkansas public defenders, Will Langhorne, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, Little Rock
Mississippi Trusted Elections Project, Ashton Pittman, William Pittman, Donna Ladd, Mississippi Free Press
WINNER Evictions in Memphis, Jacob Steimer, Mikhaila Markham, Andrea Morales, Brittany Brown, Wendi C. Thomas, MLK50: Justice Through Journalism, Memphis
JUDGE’S COMMENT: Logical flow and organization of the article. Very important topic, and the reporter and paper put a lot of work into actually watching the judges to identify the variability in how they handled evictions and tenants. The printing of the photos of the judges made the point that the range of treatment by the judges wasn’t based (solely) on racism – an important element of the story. An attempt even was made to identify why ERA2 funds weren’t applied for. There are a few holes in the story: Why would landlords choose to turn down payment of up to 12 months of back rent? Overall, this article represents an excellent handling and coverage of the issue of evictions, steps that can address the problem, the functioning of the court system, and the grinding wheels of bureaucracy.
OVERALL COMPETITION COMMENT: Excellent entries, each addressing issues critical to the citizens served by the publications . . . and to the functioning of democracy. Each was interesting and well-written. The element that was comparatively weak in several of the entries was answering the question “Why?” The entries all demonstrated a great amount of research in establishing the problem and identifying an immediate cause of the problem. But they could have been stronger had they delved a bit more deeply into why the problems existed. It was great to see the solid work being done by journalists today. The citizens served by those publications will benefit in multiple ways.
ROBERT S. MCCORD FOI AWARD
WINNER Fighting For Public Access to Mississippi Legislature, Nick Judin and Donna Ladd, Mississippi Free Press
JUDGE’S COMMENT: The Mississippi Free Press’ coverage of and challenge to this artful and dangerous removal of the public business from the public eye is nothing less than inspiring. This is something that state government reporters and other journalists nationwide should be watching. It’s particularly important in this time when one party dominates so many state legislatures, and we know knowledge on how to retain power is being traded around the nation. The Mississippi Free Press could have just gone on getting some stories as best it could. But instead it fought a battle that needed to be fought.
COMPETITION COMMENT: I wish that there had been more entries. But the Mississippi entry was such an important piece that I still felt it should obviously be awarded.
OUTSTANDING NEW JOURNALIST (This award is given to a journalist who has worked 5 years or fewer for their outlet)
FINALIST Aliyah Veal, Mississippi Free Press
WINNER Chelsea Helms, KNWA-TV, Fayetteville, AR
JUDGE’S COMMENT: Concise, crisp, engagingly written and edited. Storytelling that draws the viewer in. Quality one would expect to find in a much larger media market. Intelligent, professional and meaningful journalism that seeks to educate, enlighten and improve the community.
OVERALL COMPETITION COMMENT: The top two contenders are both outstanding journalists. I was ordered to pick one, so I did. My feeling is that both these young ladies will go far.
DIAMOND JOURNALIST OF THE YEAR
FINALIST Nick Judin, Mississippi Free Press
WINNER Andrew DeMillo, The Associated Press, Little Rock
JUDGE’S COMMENT: Excellent writing. Comprehensive without getting wordy. This reporter’s writing has a natural flow to it that carries the reader forward. Thoroughly professional and deserving of a first place award.
The Arkansas Pro Chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists is pleased to announce the finalists for its 2023 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 27 at Brewski’s Pub & Grub, 315 Main St., Little Rock. Tickets are $20 and can be purchased here. The reception starts at 5:30 p.m. with Alan Leveritt, publisher of the Arkansas Times, speaking at 6 p.m., followed by the awards presentation.
This year’s competition for work published or broadcast in 2022 drew 363 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 Washington D.C. SPJ chapter.
Finalists for the 2023 Diamond Journalism Awards listed by the outlet in which their work appeared:
Arkansas Democrat-Gazette Michael R. Wickline, Teresa Moss, Joseph Flaherty, Sean Clancy, Rex Nelson, Nick Popowitch, Staci Vandagriff, Thomas Metthe, David Barham, Alexandria Brown, Remington Miller, Lisa Hammersly, Jenn Terrell, Will Langhorne, Frank Lockwood, Bill Bowden, Dwain Hebda, Democrat-Gazette Staff, Colin Murphey
The Arkansas Traveler (University of Arkansas) Sarah Komar,
The Associated Press Andrew DeMillo
Black Vitality Dwain Hebda
The Commercial Appeal/The Tennessean Daniel Connolly, Duane Gang, Arriel Cobert, Joe Rondone, Mel Fronczek, Ana Hurler
The Daily Citizen Greg Geary
Do South Magazine Dwain Hebda
The Echo (University of Central Arkansas) Sarah Smythe, Madison Ogle, Courtney Shepherd, Delaney Van Wilpe, Anna Yanosick, Bennett Tinnermon, Emilee Hagewood, Mia Waddell, Maci England, Emily Kennard
Fort Worth Weekly Edward Brown, Anthony Mariani
InRegister Magazine Kelli Bozeman, Hoa Vu, Jordan Hefler, Collin Richie, Sean Gasser
KLRT-FOX 16 Kevin Kelly, Stephen Goodale, Lauren Swaim, Ashlei King, Julian Jones
KLSU-FM Patricia Caputo, Liam Haley
KNWA-TV Chelsea Helms
KTHV (THV11) Skot Covert, Kelly Tibbit, Zach Keast
KUAR Public Radio Daniel Breen, Josie Lenora, J. Bradley Minnick, Mary Ellen Kubit, Joseph Fuller
Leader Newspapers Rick Kron
Mississippi Free Press Nick Judin, Donna Ladd, Grace Marion, Torsheta Jackson, Aliyah Veal, Ashton Pittman, DeAnna Tisdale Johnson, Acacia Clark, Kristin Brenemen, Kayode Crown, William Pittman, Lukas Flippo
Missouri-Kansas Super Lawyers Magazine Nancy Henderson
MLK50: Justice Through Journalism Jacob Steimer, Mikhaila Markham, Andrea Morales, Brittany Brown, Wendi C. Thomas, Carrington Tatum, Andrea Morales, Ashli Blow
New Lines Magazine Sarah Komar
Reveille (Louisiana State University) Josh Archote, Reveille Editorial Board, Claire Sullivan, Katy-Ann McDonald, Will Nickel, Patricia Caputo, Brandon Poulter, Ally Kadlubar, Piper Hutchinson, Connor Barney, Henry Huber
St. Louis Public Radio Avery Lea Rogers, Danny Wicentowski
Stuttgart Daily Leader Kelly Connelly, Kristen Siler
Tiger TV (Louisiana State University) Ava Borskey, Aria Pons
A NOTE ON CONTEST DIVISIONS: Please pay attention to entry requirements. For most categories, entries can be submitted in two divisions — print/online and audio/video (includes podcasts, radio and TV). However, some categories allow entries to be submitted in the following subdivisions: newspapers, magazines, online publications, TV/video, and audio/radio.
DIAMOND HONORS – ALL MEDIA
GARRICK FELDMAN COMMUNITY JOURNALISM AWARD — For focused coverage of a community or neighborhood, awarded in honor of the late Garrick Feldman, publisher of The Leader newspapers, Jacksonville, Ark., and proponent of strong local journalism. COVER LETTER REQUIRED.Submit no more than six stories and related multimedia content. Audio and video entries should not be longer than 60 minutes total.
01. ALL MEDIA
CHARLOTTE TILLAR SCHEXNAYDER PUBLIC SERVICE AWARD — For journalism that seeks to benefit society through extensive coverage of an issue facing a community, state or region. Named in honor of the late Charlotte Schexnayder, journalist, small-town newspaper publisher and Arkansas legislator. Entry MUST INCLUDE A NOMINATING LETTER providing background and context and results, if any. Judges will consider significance of the issue, journalistic initiative, presentation, and results. Submit no more than 10 items – stories and opinion pieces. Audio and video entries should not be longer than 60 minutes total.
02. ALL MEDIA
THE ROBERT S. MCCORD FOI AWARD — For coverage that focuses on the public’s right to know and that carries on the legacy of the late Robert McCord, a former national SPJ president who is considered the father of the Arkansas Freedom of Information Act. COVER LETTER REQUIRED in support of the nomination. Submit stories, opinion pieces, letters or other material (including audio or video) that demonstrate how the nominee contributed to the protection or enhancement of the public’s right to know.
03. ALL MEDIA
OUTSTANDING NEW JOURNALIST AWARD — For journalistic excellence demonstrated by an individual who has worked five years or fewer in their market. The winner will be chosen based on a NOMINATING LETTER and supporting documents. Submit a portfolio by the nominee of five pieces representative of their work over the year.
04. ALL MEDIA
OUTSTANDING STUDENT JOURNALIST AWARD — For journalistic excellence demonstrated by an individual student journalist. The winner will be chosen based on a NOMINATING LETTER and supporting documents. Submit a portfolio by the nominee of five pieces representative of their work over the year.
05. ALL MEDIA
DIAMOND JOURNALIST OF THE YEAR — For journalistic excellence by a journalist in any medium over the preceding 12 months. Submit a portfolio by the nominee of five to seven pieces and a NOMINATING LETTER from a ranking editor or producer.
06. ALL MEDIA
PROFESSIONAL MEDIA
BREAKING NEWS —For clear, accurate and engaging coverage of a single, unexpected news event by individuals, teams or news. Judges will consider deadline pressure and complexity of the subject.
07. PRINT/ONLINE – Submit up to three articles, any sidebars and related multimedia content.
08. AUDIO/VIDEO – Submit audio or video from up to three stories not longer than 30 minutes total and any related multimedia content.
GENERAL NEWS — For coverage of a news-related topic. May include planned coverage of a single event or in-depth or enterprise reporting.
09. PRINT/ONLINE – Submit up to three articles and any related multimedia content.
10. AUDIO/VIDEO –Submit audio or video from up to three stories not longer than 30 minutes total and any related multimedia content.
ONGOING COVERAGE —Forcontinuing coverage over time of a topic or major event demonstrating solid reporting and presentation with complexity and perspective.
11. PRINT/ONLINE – Submit up to five stories along with any related multimedia content. Entries may include a mix of story types, e.g. breaking news, features and explanatory.
12. AUDIO/VIDEO – Submit audio or video from up to five stories not longer than 60 minutes total along with any related multimedia content. Entries may include a mix of story types, e.g. breaking news, features and explanatory.
ENTERPRISE/IN-DEPTH REPORTING — For coverage that reflects a reporter’s or team’s initiative, ingenuity, use of sources and/or special research to dig deeper or capture more complexity than a typical news story.
13. PRINT/ONLINE – Submit a single story or a series of up to three stories and any related multimedia content.
14. AUDIO/VIDEO – Submit audio or video from a single report or a series of reports not longer than 30 minutes total and any related multimedia content.
INVESTIGATIVE REPORTING — For reporting that demonstrates initiative, persistence and resourcefulness in pursuing information that is restricted or not easily available and is of public interest and significance. COVER LETTER REQUIRED, explaining reporting process and impact or results.
15. PRINT/ONLINE – Submit one story or a series of no more than six stories and any related multimedia content.
16. AUDIO/VIDEO – Submit a single piece or a series on the same topic with a maximum combined run time of 60 minutes and any related multimedia content.
EXPLANATORY REPORTING — For reporting and writing that elucidate significant stories and complex situations, that deepen understanding of a subject or that focus on subjects covered minimally or not at all by most media.
17. PRINT/ONLINE – Submit one story or a series and any related multimedia content. If entering a series, please submit no more than six stories.
18. AUDIO/VIDEO – Submit one audio clip of up to 30 minutes.
EDITORIALS — For opinion writing that represents a news organization’s position on a topic or issue. Judges will consider importance to the community, writing style, reasoning, originality and reader interest.
19. PRINT/ONLINE – Submit three editorials as one entry.
20. AUDIO/VIDEO – Submit three editorials as one entry.
COMMENTARY — For commentary or analysis by an individual. News-related blogs also are eligible. Judges will consider quality of expression, clarity and originality.
21. PRINT/ONLINE – Submit three samples as one entry.
22. AUDIO/VIDEO – Submit three samples as one entry.
FEATURES — For individual storytelling excellence. Judges will consider the use of narrative, use of humor or drama, style, creativity, clarity and suitability of the writing to the subject.
23. NEWSPAPERS – Submit one story.
24. MAGAZINES – Submit one story.
25. ONLINE ONLY (For stories, audio or video published or broadcast online only.) – Submit one story or audio/video of not more than 15 minutes.
26. TV/VIDEO – Submit one story of not more than 15 minutes.
27. RADIO/AUDIO – Submit one story of not more than 15 minutes.
PROFILES — For reporting that depicts the character and personality of a story subject.
28. NEWSPAPERS – Submit one story.
29. MAGAZINES – Submit one story.
30. ONLINE ONLY (For written, audio or video stories published or broadcast online only.) – Submit one written story or audio/video story of not more than 15 minutes.
31. TV/VIDEO – Submit one story of no more than 15 minutes.
32. RADIO/AUDIO – Submit one story of no more than 15 minutes.
SPORTS — For coverage of any sport or athletic endeavor. Judges will consider clarity and style.
33. NEWSPAPERS – Submit a single story or no more than three stories representing continuing coverage of a single topic.
34. MAGAZINES – Submit a single story or no more than three stories representing continuing coverage of a single topic.
35. ONLINE ONLY (For written, audio or video stories published or broadcast online only.) – Submit a single story or no more than three stories covering a single topic. Audio/video entries should not be longer than 15 minutes total.
36. AUDIO/VIDEO – Submit audio or video of no more than three reports covering a single topic with a run time not longer than 15 minutes.
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT COVERAGE — For reporting on the arts, entertainment, restaurant and other cultural news. Entry may include columns, profiles and features. Judges will consider the quality of the writing and presentation and, where appropriate, analysis.
37. NEWSPAPERS – Submit up to three stories or a series of up to three stories.
38. MAGAZINES – Submit up to three stories or a series of up to three stories.
39. AUDIO/VIDEO – Submit audio or video of no longer than 15 minutes.
40. ONLINE ONLY (For written stories, audio or video stories published or broadcast online only.) – Submit one written story or audio/video story of not more than 15 minutes.
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT CRITICISM/REVIEWS — For writing that demonstrates a journalist’s competence in evaluating performance, restaurants, books, recorded music or other cultural events or entities.
41. NEWSPAPERS – Submit three samples of the author’s work.
42. MAGAZINES – Submit three samples of the author’s work.
43. AUDIO/VIDEO – Submit audio or video of no longer than 5 minutes.
44. ONLINE ONLY (For written stories, audio or video stories published or broadcast online only.) – Submit one written story or audio/video story of not more than 15 minutes.
BUSINESS — For coverage of business or finance by an individual or team. Submit up to five samples and any related multimedia content. Run times for audio and video should not exceed 5 minutes.
45. ALL MEDIA – Submit up to five stories and related multimedia content or audio/video with a run time of not more than 15 minutes.
EDUCATION — For coverage of education (news, features, analysis and investigative).
46. PRINT/ONLINE – Submit up to five samples and any related multimedia content as one entry.
47. AUDIO/VIDEO – Submit audio or video with a run time of not more than 15 minutes.
HEALTH — For reporting clearly on health, including medicine, community health and health policy, and the health effects of COVID-19.
48. ALL MEDIA – Submit up to five stories and related multimedia content or audio/video with a run time of not more than 15 minutes.
SCIENCE — For reporting clearly on science, including technology, and its impact on individuals and society.
49. ALL MEDIA – Submit up to five stories and related multimedia content or audio/video with a run time of not more than 15 minutes.
ENVIRONMENT — For coverage of environmental issues, including climate change.
50. ALL MEDIA – Submit up to five stories and related multimedia content or audio/video with a run time of not more than 15 minutes.
POLITICS — For coverage of public issues, political campaigns, candidates or campaign finance.
51. PRINT/ONLINE – Submit up to five stories and related multimedia content as one entry.
52. AUDIO/VIDEO – Run times for audio or video should not exceed 15 minutes total.
SPECIAL SECTION/NICHE PUBLICATION — For a niche publication or special section devoted to a single topic. Judges will consider depth of coverage, presentation, and quality of writing.
53. PRINT/ONLINE – Submit one section or niche publication.
PODCASTS — For public interest podcasting that stands alone or is part of a series.
54. ALL MEDIA – Submit up to three episodes as one entry. Podcast entries may have also aired as radio or TV broadcasts.
VISUAL JOURNALISM & DESIGN
BREAKING NEWS PHOTOGRAPHY — For photojournalism produced on deadline. Judges will consider deadline pressure, complexity of subject and visual presentation.
55. ALL MEDIA – Submit photos with cutlines from up to three stories as one entry, but no more than six images in all. Be sure to include the accompanying story or link to the story.
GENERAL NEWS PHOTOGRAPHY — For photojournalism by an individual for any non-deadline news event.
56. ALL MEDIA – Submit a single photo with cutline/caption. Link to or include accompanying story – if any.
FEATURE PHOTOGRAPHY — For feature photography by an individual..
57. ALL MEDIA – Submit a single photo with cutline/caption. Link to or include the accompanying story, if any, or contextual information.
PHOTO SPREAD/ESSAY — For a group of photographs on a single theme published as part of a single story or as a stand-alone layout.
58. ALL MEDIA – Submit no more than 10 images with cutlines. Link to or include the accompanying story or contextual information.
PHOTO PORTFOLIO — For photography that shows the work of a single photographer.
59. ALL MEDIA – Submit or link to no more than five photos with cutlines.
DATA VISUALIZATION — For presentation of complex information using graphics, maps and other interactive tools to report on data.
60. ALL MEDIA – Submit up to three samples, including the associated stories or links to them online.
GRAPHICS/ILLUSTRATIONS — For infographics or illustrations.
61. ALL MEDIA – Submit three samples as one entry. Include or link to any accompanying story or text.
VIDEOGRAPHY PORTFOLIO — For video journalism by an individual.
62. ALL MEDIA – Submit up to three samples with a maximum combined length of 15 minutes.
VIDEO PROGRAM — For regular news-oriented programming over the air or online that focuses on a theme or subject, including but not limited to topics such as crime, politics or health.
63. ALL MEDIA – Submit up to three samples with a combined length 15 minutes maximum.
FRONT PAGE/COVER DESIGN — For presentation that significantly enhances access to journalistic work and improves audience experience and engagement. Submit up to three samples as one entry.
64. NEWSPAPERS – Submit up to three samples as one entry.
65. MAGAZINES – Submit up to three samples as one entry.
PAGE DESIGN — For presentation on a page or pages other than a magazine cover or front page that significantly enhances access to journalistic work and improves audience experience and engagement.
66. NEWSPAPERS – Submit up to three samples as one entry.
67. MAGAZINES – Submit up to three samples as one entry.
ONLINE DESIGN — For presentation that significantly enhances access to journalistic work and improves audience experience and engagement.
68. WEB/MOBILE – Submit up to three samples as one entry.
STUDENT MEDIA
STUDENT – SPECIAL PROJECTS — For special projects that show exemplary reporting, writing, photography or videography. These should be student-generated and not part of an ongoing university-sponsored project. COVER LETTER REQUIRED.
69. ALL MEDIA –Submit an entire issue of a publication, series of stories or single piece, or a broadcast of up to 60 minutes in length.
STUDENT – BREAKING NEWS — For clear and accurate reporting and engaging writing on deadline by individuals or teams regardless of platform. Judges will consider deadline pressure, style and complexity of the subject.
70. ALL MEDIA – Submit up to three articles and any related multimedia content. Audio and video clips should not exceed 15 minutes.
STUDENT – GENERAL NEWS — For clear and accurate reporting and engaging writing by individuals or teams regardless of platform. Judges will consider style and complexity of the subject.
71. ALL MEDIA – Submit up to three articles and any related multimedia content. Audio and video clips should not exceed 15 minutes.
STUDENT – FEATURES — For individual storytelling excellence regardless of platform. Judges will consider use of narrative, humor or drama, style, creativity, clarity and suitability of the writing or video/audio presentation to the subject.
72. ALL MEDIA – Submit one story and any related multimedia content. Audio and video clips should not exceed 15 minutes.
STUDENT – SPORTS — For coverage of any sport or athletic endeavor regardless of platform. Judges will consider clarity and style.
73. ALL MEDIA – Submit a single story or no more than three stories representing continuing coverage of a single topic. Audio and video clips should not exceed 15 minutes.
STUDENT – EDITORIALS — For opinion writing that represents a student news outlet’s position on a topic or issue. Judges will consider importance to the community, writing style, reasoning, originality, and reader interest.
74. ALL MEDIA – Submit three editorials as one entry.
STUDENT – COMMENTARY — For commentary, reviews or analysis by an individual on any platform. Blogs also are eligible. Judges will consider quality of expression, clarity, and originality.
75. ALL MEDIA – Submit three samples as one entry. Maximum run time for video or audio: 15 minutes.
STUDENT – ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT REPORTING — For coverage of arts, entertainment, restaurant and other cultural news. Entry may include columns, profiles and features. Judges will consider the quality of the writing and presentation and, where appropriate, analysis.
76. ALL MEDIA – Submit three samples as one entry. Maximum run time for video or audio: 15 minutes.
STUDENT – ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT CRITICISM/REVIEWS — For writing that demonstrates a journalist’s competence in evaluating performance, restaurants, books, recorded music or other cultural events or entities.
77. ALL MEDIA – Submit three samples as one entry. Maximum run time for video or audio: 15 minutes.
STUDENT – BUSINESS — For coverage of business or finance, including the business of college athletics and of institutions of higher learning. Judges will consider clarity.
78. ALL MEDIA – Submit a single story or no more than three stories representing continuing coverage of a single topic. Maximum run time for video or audio: 15 minutes.
STUDENT – EDUCATION — For coverage on any platform of education, including institutions of higher education, teacher training and educational research. Judges will consider clarity and thoroughness.
ALL MEDIA – Submit three samples as one entry. Maximum run time for video or audio: 15 minutes.
STUDENT – NEWS PHOTO —For photojournalism by an individual for breaking or general news. Judges will consider deadline pressure, complexity of subject and visual presentation.
80. ALL MEDIA – Submit one photo with cutline. Please include the accompanying story or link the story.
STUDENT – FEATURE PHOTO —For feature photography by an individual. Judges will consider the complexity of the subject and visual presentation.
81. ALL MEDIA – Submit one photo with cutline. Please include the accompanying story or link the story, if any.
STUDENT – PHOTO SPREAD/ESSAY — For a group of photographs on a single theme published as part of a single story or as a stand-alone layout.
82. ALL MEDIA – Submit up to 10 images with cutlines and an explanation of the context or the accompanying story or text. Links are acceptable.
STUDENT – PHOTO PORTFOLIO — For photography that shows the work of a single photographer.
83. ALL MEDIA – Submit no more than five photos with cutlines.
STUDENT – DATA VISUALIZATION — For presenting complex information using graphics, maps or other interactive tools to report on data..
84. ALL MEDIA – Submit up to three samples, including the associated stories or links to them online.
STUDENT – GRAPHICS/ILLUSTRATIONS — For infographics or illustrations on any platform.
85. ALL MEDIA – Submit up to three samples. Include any accompanying story or text.
STUDENT – DESIGN — For presentation that significantly enhances access to journalistic work and improves audience experience and engagement. Design encompasses visual and sound elements as well as print and online display.
86. ALL MEDIA – Submit up to three samples as one entry.
STUDENT – PODCASTS — For reporting and journalistic storytelling that stands alone or is part of a series.
87. ALL MEDIA – Submit up to three episodes as one entry with maximum run time of 60 minutes. Podcast entries may have also aired as radio or TV broadcasts.
All professional and student journalists, and freelancers, residing in Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Oklahoma, Tennessee and Texas can submit entries or have entries submitted on their behalf by news organizations that published or broadcast their work. Authors who reside in the contest states may submit work published or broadcast outside those states.
ALL ENTRIES MUST HAVE BEEN PUBLISHED OR BROADCAST IN CALENDAR YEAR 2022.
You DON’T have to be a member of the Society of Professional Journalists to enter, but members get a discount on entry fees. SPJ members must provide their membership number in order to qualify for the discount. You can join SPJ by submitting an application here. We suggest submitting entries after your SPJ membership has been confirmed.
Entries may be submitted in more than one category, but a separate entry fee is required for each category.
Any significant challenges or corrections to an entry must be noted with the entry. Failure to do so will result in disqualification of the entry.
Non-English entries should also provide an English translation if possible.
Cover letters and supporting material are required only in conjunction with nominations for the following awards: Student Special Project, Student Journalist of the Year, Public Service, Community Journalism, FOI, Outstanding New Journalist and Diamond Journalist of the Year. Entrants in other categories may submit cover letters or supporting material at their discretion but should keep them brief.
Please ensure entry URLs remain valid through June 30, 2023, to accommodate judging and awards presentation.
Contest administrators reserve the right to combine entries in the same category from different platforms or circulation groups if an insufficient number of entries make the category non-competitive.
ENTRY FEES
SPJ members: $10 per entry.
To claim the member fee, you must supply your SPJ member number (in the entry platform’s comments box). A team entry may claim the fee if at least one team member is an SPJ member. That person’s name and SPJ member number must be listed in the comments box.
Nonmembers: $20 per entry.
Student SPJ members: $5 per entry. Provide your member number.
Student nonmembers: $10 per entry.
No fees will be refunded.
HOW TO ENTER
The Diamond Journalism Awards uses the Better BNC contest management platform for entries and judging.
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.
Pine Bluff Commercial Editor Byron Tate with his 2022 Garrick Feldman Community Journalism Award – Photo by Jennifer Ellis
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:
Kayode Crown was named Diamond Journalist of the Year for his work for the Jackson- based online news outlet.
Nick Judin won the Charlotte Tillar Schexnayder Public Service Award for “What the Jackson Water Crisis Revealed.”
Christian Middleton and Grace Marion won the Robert S. McCord FOI Award for “Drug Unit Travails Hidden from Public View.”
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
Garrick Feldman Community Journalism Award
WINNER
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.
FINALISTS
Entry Title: Black Women, Covid-19 and Education in Noxubee County
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.
Charlotte Tillar Schexnayder Public Service Award
WINNER
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.
FINALIST
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.
Robert S. McCord FOI Award
WINNER
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!
FINALIST
Entry Title: Chad Mira – Robert S. McCord FOI Award Entry Credit: Chad Mira, KNWA News, Fayetteville, AR Judge Comment: None
FINALIST
Entry Title: ADG Flaherty McCord nomination
Entry Credit: Joseph Flaherty, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, Little Rock
Judge Comment: None
Diamond Journalist of the Year
WINNER
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.
FINALIST
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.
FINALIST
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.
Outstanding New Journalist
WINNER
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.
FINALIST
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.
FINALIST
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!
BREAKING NEWS – PRINT/ONLINE & TV/VIDEO
WINNER
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.
FINALIST
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.
FINALIST
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.
ONGOING COVERAGE – PRINT/ONLINE
WINNER
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.
FINALIST
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.
FINALIST
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.
ONGOING COVERAGE – RADIO/AUDIO & TV/VIDEO
WINNER
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
FINALIST
Entry Title: The Great Mask Debate
Entry Credit: Ashley Bohle, WVLT, Knoxville
INVESTIGATIVE REPORTING – PRINT/ONLINE
WINNER
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.
FINALIST
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.
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.
INVESTIGATIVE REPORTING – RADIO/AUDIO & TV/VIDEO
WINNER
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.
FINALIST
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.
EXPLANATORY REPORTING – PRINT/ONLINE
WINNER
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!
FINALIST
Entry Title: Rising rents
Entry Credit: Jacob Steimer, MLK50: Justice Through Journalism, Memphis
Judge Comment: An important topic, well-presented to readers.
Judge Comment: Good job digging into the data. Storytelling could have been a bit stronger, but very solid analysis.
EXPLANATORY REPORTING – RADIO/AUDIO
WINNER
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.
FINALIST
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.
FINALIST
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.
EXPLANATORY REPORTING – TV/VIDEO
WINNER
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.
FINALIST
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.
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.
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.
FINALIST
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.
FINALIST
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.
FEATURES – MAGAZINES
WINNER
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.
FINALIST
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.
FINALIST
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.
FEATURES – ONLINE ONLY
WINNER
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.
FINALISTS
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
FEATURES – RADIO/AUDIO
WINNER
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.
FINALIST
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.
Judge Comment: Great use of natural sound, archive video, visuals weaving in with interviews. Felt connected to the story.
FINALIST
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.
FINALIST
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.
EDITORIALS – PRINT/ONLINE
WINNER
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.
FINALIST
Entry Title: Mark Carter Editor’s Letters
Entry Credit: Mark Carter, Arkansas Money & Politics
Judge Comment: Nice, heartfelt pieces with great meaning and lessons.
FINALIST
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.
COMMENTARY – PRINT/ONLINE
WINNER
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.
FINALIST
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: 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.
FINALIST
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.
FINALIST
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.
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!
FINALIST
Entry Title: COLLEGE SPORTS AND NIL: A WHOLE NEW BALL GAME
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.
FINALIST
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!
SPORTS – RADIO/AUDIO & TV/VIDEO
WINNER
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.
FINALIST
Entry Title: Cowboys Legend talks Hall of Fame
Entry Credit: Monica Quintero, KPEJ, Odessa
ARTS & CULTURE – PRINT/ONLINE
WINNER
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.
FINALIST
Entry Title: Hidden No More
Entry Credit: Dustin Jayroe, AY Magazine
FINALIST
Entry Title: Martin arts coverage
Entry Credit: Philip Martin, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
ARTS & CULTURE – RADIO/AUDIO
WINNER
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.
FINALIST
Entry Title: Evensong Story
Entry Credit: Paul Ladd, World Christian Broadcasting
ARTS & CULTURE – TV/VIDEO
WINNER
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.
FINALIST
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.
FINALIST
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.
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.
FINALIST
Entry Title: Business Boondoggles in Rural Mississippi
Entry Credit: Christian Middleton, Mississippi Free Press
FINALIST
Entry Title: Basin Businesses – People Behind them
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.
FINALIST
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.
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.
FINALIST
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.
FINALIST
Entry Title: Free at Last
Entry Credit: Dwain Hebda, YA!MULE WORDSMITHS for Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
SCIENCE – PRINT/ONLINE
WINNER
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.
FINALIST
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.
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.
ENVIRONMENT – PRINT/ONLINE & TV/VIDEO
WINNER
Entry Title: Lead Contamination of Black Jackson Children
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.
PANDEMIC – PRINT/ONLINE
WINNER
Entry Title: Delta Dangers to Mississippi, and U.S., Children
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!
FINALIST
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.
FINALIST
Entry Title: Political Coverage
Entry Credit: Andrew DeMillo, The Associated Press
Judge Comment: None
POLITICS – RADIO/AUDIO &TV/VIDEO
WINNER
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.
FINALIST
Entry Title: In Post-Trump GOP Split, Gov. Asa Hutchinson Often at Odds with His Party
Entry Credit: Daniel Breen, NPR/KUAR
FINALIST
Entry Title: Sarah Huckabee Sanders kicks off 15-stop tour in campaign for Arkansas governor
Entry Credit: Michael Hibblen, KUAR-FM 89.1
SPECIAL SECTION – PRINT/ONLINE
WINNER
Entry Title: Black Women, Systemic Barriers and COVID-19 Project
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.
FINALIST
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.
FINALIST
Entry Title: HOBBIES IN THE 501
Entry Credit: Dwain Hebda, YA!MULE WORDSMITHS for 501 Life Magazine
PODCASTS – PRINT/ONLINE & STUDENT MEDIA
WINNER
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!
Judge Comment: Very solid campus-based podcast with good sound quality. Well done!
PHOTOGRAPHY – BREAKING NEWS
WINNER
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.
FINALIST
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.
FINALIST
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.
PHOTO SPREAD/ESSAY
WINNER
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.
FINALIST
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.
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.
FINALIST
Entry Title: Mosley Portfolio
Entry Credit: Jamison Mosley, AY Media Group
FINALIST
Entry Title: Metthe Portfolio
Entry Credit: Thomas Metthe, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
DATA VISUALIZATION
WINNER
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.
GRAPHICS/ILLUSTRATIONS
WINNER
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.
VIDEO JOURNALISM – PORTFOLIO
WINNER
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!
FINALIST
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.
VIDEO JOURNALISM – THEMED PROGRAMMING
WINNER
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.
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.
FINALIST
Entry Title: AY Layouts
Entry Credit: Jamison Mosley, Lora Puls, AY Magazine
FINALIST
Entry Title: The Yellow Army
Entry Credit: Sarah Knight, Dwain Hebda, Jason Masters, Ashlee Nobel, Wheelhouse Publishing, Mountain Home, AR
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.
STUDENT – SPECIAL PROJECTS
WINNER
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.
FINALIST
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.
STUDENT – BREAKING NEWS
WINNER
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.
FINALIST
Entry Title: Students protest LSU’s handling of former French student accused of rape: ‘Safe not silenced’
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.
FINALIST
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.
FINALIST
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.
STUDENT – SPORTS
WINNER
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.
FINALIST
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.
FINALIST
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.
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.
FINALIST
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.
Judge Comment: Excellent use of facts to justify commentary. Strong voice! Newsworthy topic.
FINALIST
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!
FINALIST
Entry Title: On renaming campus buildings
Entry Credit: Charlie Stephens, Reveille/LSUReveille.com
STUDENT – BUSINESS
WINNER
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.
FINALIST
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
STUDENT – EDUCATION
WINNER
Entry Title: Faculty Senate enters unlawful executive session during meeting, kicks out non- Senate members
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.
FINALIST
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.
FINALIST
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.
STUDENT – NEWS PHOTO
WINNER
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.
FINALIST
Entry Title: AUTO COLLISION
Entry Credit: Rangsiya Faihin, Delta Digital News Service, Arkansas State University, Jonesboro
FINALIST
Entry Title: Collage
Entry Credit: Ian Lyle, The Echo, University of Central Arkansas
STUDENT – FEATURE PHOTO
WINNER
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.
FINALIST
Entry Title: Drag Show
Entry Credit: Madison Ogle, Addison Freeman, The Echo, University of Central Arkansas
FINALIST
Entry Title: Homecoming
Entry Credit: Madison Ogle, The Echo, University of Central Arkansas
STUDENT – PHOTO SPREAD/ESSAY
WINNER
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.
FINALIST
Entry Title: ARKANSAS ROOTS MUSIC FESTIVAL
Entry Credit: Rangsiya Faihin, Delta Digital News Service, Arkansas State University
FINALIST
Entry Title: ROAD SIGN WORK
Entry Credit: Rangsiya Faihin, Delta Digital News Service, Arkansas State University
STUDENT – PHOTO PORTFOLIO
WINNER
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.
STUDENT – GRAPHICS/ILLUSTRATIONS
WINNER
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.
FINALIST
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.
FINALIST
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.
Attention professional and student journalists in Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Oklahoma, Tennessee and Texas:
The 2020 Diamond Journalism Awards entry period is underway.
Sponsored by the Arkansas Pro Chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists, the Diamond Journalism Awards is open to any professional or student journalist, including freelancers, working in Arkansas and bordering states (Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Oklahoma, Texas and Tennessee).
Eligible work must have been published or broadcast between Jan. 1, 2019, and Dec. 31, 2019.
Entries are now being accepted online at https://betternewspapercontest.com/. Submitted entries can be either pdfs or URL links or both. No Word documents accepted.
The entry deadline is March 20, 2020
For details on entry rules and requirements please visit here.
Society of Professional Journalists | Arkansas Pro Chapter 