We at the Arkansas Times office are quite delighted to announce that the Arkansas chapter of the Society for Professional Journalists has won some 2025 Diamond Awards.
Three Arkansas journalists who received the first-ever A-Mark Prize for Investigative Reporting took home the grand prize at the awards gala on Saturday night. Among them was our own Matt Campbell, who placed second for his coverage of the political dynamics surrounding plans to construct a massive prison in Franklin County.
Congratulations to Chris Fulton of the Mountain Home Observer for third place for his reporting on a corrupt contractor, and to Jessica Ranck of KARK and FOX16 for winning first place for her investigation into corruption in Van Buren County.
Additionally, Arkansas Times journalists were recognized as finalists in seven categories and won four first-place awards.
Campbell took first place for sports coverage for his passionate and in-depth coverage of the 2024 Travelers baseball season.
Benjamin Hardy, Austin Gelder, Jeannie Roberts, and David Ramsey took first prize for their coverage of education.
Daniel Grear is now on vacation off the grid and isn’t even aware that he won first place in the criticism/reviews contest! We can’t wait to tell him.
For their article, Phillip Powell was a member of a multi-state team that took home the top award for environment/science reporting. Could the Mississippi River Delta become the next California as climate change threatens agriculture?
For our coverage of ballot proposal attempts in 2024, Campbell, Griffin Coop, Gelder, Hardy, and Ramsey were finalists in the politics area.
In the sports feature category for the Rock Town Roller Derby’s game-time personas and the actual athletes that play them, Stephanie Smittle, the newsroom sweetie, was a finalist.
For her data-heavy investigation into how Arkansas residential psychiatric facilities profit off out-of-state children, journalist Lara Farrar advanced to the finals of the enterprise/in-depth reporting category.
For the TIF tiff: Downtown Little Rock Master Plan calls for a contentious funding instrument, Milo Strain was a nominee for explanatory reporting.
For breaking news coverage, Campbell, Ramsey, Gelder, Hardy, Mary Hennigan, and Powell were the finalists.
For magazine cover design, Mandy Keener, photographer Sara Reeves, and designer Kasten Searles were finalists; for graphics and illustrations, Keener, Searles, and Annika Shunn were finalists.
We had a great time supporting our fellow journalists in Arkansas and the neighboring states at the awards event on Saturday. How exciting!
It’s dragon-slaying time!
The Arkansas Times, which relentlessly defends the fundamental rights and liberties in our community, stands as a light of truth in an era when critical voices are being silenced more and more. Our commitment to provide uncompromising journalism has never been more important, especially with Arkansas in the center of a broad culture war that is impacting our libraries, schools, and public conversation. We can’t accomplish our goals of defeating dragons and holding those in positions of authority responsible alone. You can guarantee that independent journalism in Arkansas not only endures but flourishes by making a contribution today. We can join the fight and make a difference together.
