Diamond Journalism Awards
ARKANSAS DEMOCRAT-GAZETTE Journalists for the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette won first-place awards for community service, freedom of information reporting and journalist of the year and in five other categories in the annual Diamond Journalism Awards, sponsors announced Tuesday.
Lisa Hammersly and Frank Fellone won the community service award for their series about infant sleep-related deaths, “Dead Asleep,” in the regional contest sponsored by the Arkansas Pro Chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists.
Hunter Field and Amanda Claire Curcio won the Robert S. McCord FOI Award for their series “Deadly Force” about officer-involved shootings in Arkansas, and Eric Besson won Diamond Journalist of the Year for a portfolio of his work from July 2016 through June 2017.
The Little Rock-based SPJ chapter sponsors the yearly journalism competition and receives entries from around Arkansas and media markets in neighboring states.
Other first-place winners entered by the Democrat-Gazette were in online video, Stephen B. Thornton; editorials, David Barham, Paul Greenberg and Walter Hussman Jr.; commentary, John Brummett; feature writing, Hunter Field; and politics, Michael R. Wickline.
Staff from Arkansas Online, Arkansas Life magazine and Democrat-Gazette regional publications also placed first in online photo slideshow, Jillian Kremer; magazine hard news and features, Jordan Hickey; non-daily hard news, Sarah DeClerk; magazine sports, Johnny Carrol Sain; and photo package, photo portfolio and magazine photography, Arshia Khan.
Democrat-Gazette staff also took home 10 second-place awards and 10 third-place awards.
This year’s competition was judged by journalists from the Florida Pro Chapter of SPJ. The awards honor work published or broadcast between July 1, 2016, and June 30, 2017. The full list of winners follows: ONLINE DIVISION VIDEO 1st Place: Stephen Thornton, the
Arkansas Democrat-Gazette for “Flooding along the Black River.” 2nd Place: Kirstin Pieri May, Delta Digital News Service, Arkansas State University for “Paragould man keeps blacksmithing tradition alive.”
3rd Place: Stephen Thornton, the
Arkansas Democrat-Gazette for “Broadway Bridge aerial tour.” PHOTO SLIDESHOW
1st Place: Jillian Kremer, Arkansas Online for “Little Rock homicide map.”
2nd Place: Jacob Kauffman, KUAR Public Radio for “Women’s March in Little Rock.”
3rd Place: Brandon Riddle, Arkansas Online for “Restaurants to come in Little Rock/North Little Rock.” MULTIMEDIA PROJECT
1st Place: Jackson Carter, University of Arkansas at Little Rock School of Mass Communication for “Forgotten — An In-Depth Investigation into the Arkansas Foster Care System.”
2nd Place: Staff, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette for “Deadly Force.” 3rd Place: Emma Pettit, Arkansas
Online, for “Loss of funding for DNA testing raises costs, concerns for Arkansas police agencies. BLOGS
1st Place: Syd Hayman, Only in Arkansas for “Former Stax owner Al Bell a pioneer in soul music.” PRINT DIVISON EDITORIALS (All print) 1st Place: David Barham, Paul Greenberg, Walter Hussman Jr.,
Arkansas Democrat-Gazette for editorials about Arkansas’ first executions in decades.
2nd Place: Jonathan Feldman, The
Leader, Jacksonville, for “Reforming probation,” “No cash cow in Sherwood” and “Russian roulette.” 3rd Place: Rick Kron, Jonathan Feldman, Garrick Feldman, The
Leader, Jacksonville, for the editorials “Bad Writing,” “Pearl Harbor” and “Little Things.” COMMENTARY (Daily newspapers) 1st Place: John Brummett, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette for a portfolio of his regular columns.
2nd Place: Philip Martin, Arkansas
Democrat-Gazette for a portfolio of his opinion pieces. COMMENTARY (Non-daily newspapers) 1st Place: Rick Kron, The Leader, Jacksonville, for “Christmas,” “Pokemon” and “Mom.”
2nd Place: Garrick Feldman, The
Leader, Jacksonville, for “FBI bares spying by Russians,” “Assault on free speech” and “Retracing history to Budapest.”
3rd Place: Tammy Keith, River Valley & Ozark Edition/Arkansas
Democrat-Gazette for her “That’s Life” columns, specifically, “Remembering people of 9/11 15 years later,” “Getting ready for new role as grandmother” and “Keeping granddogs is a test.” HARD NEWS (Daily newspapers) 1st Place: Andrew DeMillo, Kelly P. Kissel, Sean Murphy, Jill Bleed, Tafi Mukunyadzi, The Associated
Press for coverage of Arkansas’ executions.
2nd Place: Thomas Gounley, Springfield (Mo.) News-Leader for “The man who reinvented meth.” 3rd Place, TIE:
* Staff, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette for coverage of the state’s first executions since 2005.
* Noel Oman, Chris Bahn, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette for “Bridge falls … after a bit.” HARD NEWS (Non-daily newspapers) 1st Place: Tammy Keith, Three Rivers Edition/Arkansas Democrat-Gazette for “Augusta paying 2 superintendent salaries.”
2nd Place: Tammy Keith, River Valley & Ozark Edition/Arkansas
Democrat-Gazette for “Emergency need: Faulkner County 911 upgrade due; funds sought.” HARD NEWS (Magazines)
1st Place: Jordan Hickey, Arkansas Life for “What Lies Beneath.” 2nd Place: Wyndham Wyeth, Arkansas Life for “Moment to Moment.” FEATURE (Daily newspapers)
1st Place: Hunter Field, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette for “Flood victims still in it knee-deep.”
2nd Place: Ellis Widner, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette for “Into the void.”
3rd Place: Shea Stewart, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette for “Hope’s ‘Hidden Figure.’” FEATURE (Non-daily newspapers) 1st Place: Sarah DeClerk, Health Beat/Arkansas Democrat-Gazette for “Distinctly dashing.”
2nd Place: Tammy Keith, River Valley & Ozark Edition/Arkansas
Democrat-Gazette for “‘They’re heroes’: Firefighters save woman from floodwaters.”
3rd Place: Sarah DeClerk, Three Rivers Edition/Arkansas Democrat-Gazette for “Sharing the gift.” FEATURE (Magazines)
1st Place: Jordan Hickey, Arkansas Life for “Maiden Voyage.” 2nd Place: Mariam Makatsaria, Arkansas Life for “The First Step.” 3rd Place: Sarah DeClerk, Health Beat/Arkansas Democrat-Gazette for “Taking notes.” INVESTIGATIVE REPORTING (All print) 1st Place: Kara Harnett, Stone Selso, Olivia Moyers, Katelyn Mary Skaggs, Breanne Bleichroth, The
Southeast Arrow for “Accounting for Assault.”
2nd Place: Lisa Hammersly, Brian Fanney, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette for “Cash & The Court.” 3rd Place: Staff, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette for “Deadly Force.” SPORTS (All print)
1st Place: Johnny Carrol Sain, Arkansas Life for “Forbidden.” 2nd Place: Jeremy Muck, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette for “Blocking out pain.” 3rd Place: Bob Holt, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette for “Groundbreaking Hog.” POLITICS (All print) 1st Place: Michael Wickline, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette for “Legislators’ paid trips.”
2nd Place: John Moritz, Arkansas
Democrat-Gazette for “Lee-King holiday split clears vote.”
3rd Place: Andrew DeMillo, The
Associated Press for a portfolio of political coverage. PHOTOGRAPHY (Daily newspapers) 1st Place: Jill Bleed, The Associated Press for “Ten Commandments destroyed.”
2nd Place: Mitchell Pe Masulin, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette for “Oops.”
3rd Place: Benjamin Krain, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette for “Stuck truck.” PHOTOGRAPHY (Non-daily newspapers) 1st Place: David Scolli, The Leader, Jacksonville, for “Fantastic fireworks for the Fourth.” PHOTOGRAPHY (Magazines)
1st Place: Arshia Khan, Arkansas Life Magazine for “Chocolate.” PHOTO PACKAGE/SPREAD (All media) 1st Place, Arshia Khan, Arkansas Life for “The Family Meal.”
2nd Place: Mitchell Pe Masulin, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette for “Motorhead Madness.”
3rd Place: Mitchell Pe Masulin,
Arkansas Democrat-Gazette for “Miss Arkansas.” PHOTOGRAPHY PORTFOLIO (All media) 1st Place: Arshia Khan, Arkansas Life. 2nd Place: Mitchell Pe Masulin, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette. 3rd Place: Staton Breidenthal, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette. LEISURE INTERESTS (Magazines) 1st Place: Morgan Acuff, Little Rock Family for “North Little Rock Police Officer Tommy Norman has a big family: Basically everyone.” 2nd Place: Bonnie Bauman, Arkansas Life for “Mack of All Trades.” 3rd Place: Wyndham Wyeth, Arkansas Life for “Pathfinder.” TELEVISION DIVISION HARD NEWS 1st Place: Andrea Guzman, Univision Arkansas for “Tormentas Azotan al Noroeste de Arkansas Dejando Cientos de Damnificados.”
2nd Place: Mariana Rivero, Univision Arkansas for “Impacto local impulse voto latino en Arkansas.” 3rd Place: Jose Gomez, Rolando Ochoa, Univision Arkansas for “Historia de Pablo.” FEATURE REPORTING
1st Place: Rodolfo Portillo, Univision Arkansas for “Conozca las diferentes opinions de los famosos fidget spinners.”
2nd Place: Karen Perez, Univision
Arkansas for “Abril, mes de prevencion contra abuso infantile y la aggression sexual.”
3rd Place: Staff, Univision Arkansas for Noticiero Arkansas SPORTS REPORTING
1st Place: Aaron Nolan, KARK-TV for “A Golden Son.” RADIO/PODCASTS DIVISION HARD NEWS 1st Place: Bobby Ampezzan, Arkansas Public Media for “Bundle of bills highlight how tricky, fragile are Freedom of Information laws.” 2nd Place: Jacqueline Froelich,
Arkansas Public Media for “Arkansas, Oklahoma scientists grapple with industrial earthquakes.” 3rd Place: Ann Kenda, Johnathan Reaves, Arkansas Public Media for “White nationalists rally in Batesville amid fuller complement of police, counter-protesters.” FEATURE REPORTING
1st place: Chris Hickey, KUAR Public Radio for “Research explores political attitudes of Little Rock’s religious.”
2nd Place: Chris Hickey, KUAR Public Radio for “Dealing with influx, Little Rock Mexican consulate expands legal services.”
3rd Place: Jacqueline Froelich, Arkansas Public Media for “University of Arkansas hosts open nuke.” DOCUMENTARY/ INVESTIGATIVE REPORTING 1st Place: Jacob Kauffman, KUAR Public Radio for “Execution Series.”
2nd Place: Sarah Whites-Koditschek, Arkansas Public Media for “Republican Arkansas looks to cut its once-expanded Medicaid rolls.”
3rd Place: Karen Steward, KUAR
Public Radio for “In-depth interview: Execution drugs and double executions.” SPORTS REPORTING
1st Place: Jacob Kauffman, Chris Hickey, KUAR Public Radio for “College football gets Arkansas to change its new gun law.” STUDENT JOURNALISM DIVISION NEWS 1st Place: Kimberely Blackburn,
Delta Digital News Service, Arkansas State University for “Controversy surrounds death penalty drug.” 2nd Place: Kimberely Blackburn, Caitlin Jancyz, Delta Digital News
Service, Arkansas State University for “Immigration ban sparks concern.”
3rd Place: Emma Williams, The
Herald, Arkansas State University for “A-State students’ film project triggers campus lockdown.” FEATURE
1st Place: Marie Mitchell, Delta Digital News Service, Arkansas State University for “Juke joint piano finds new home.”
2nd Place: Darcy Hagood, KUAR
Public Radio, University of Arkansas at Little Rock for “Photography exhibit explores Arkansas family’s grief.”
3rd Place: Jiayue Liao, Delta Digital News Service, Arkansas State University for “Delta You: Bradley Ledgerwood’s fight.” SPECIAL AWARDS ROBERT S. MCCORD FOI AWARD 1st Place: Hunter Field, Amanda Claire Curcio, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette for “Deadly Force.” 2nd Place: Kelly P. Kissel, The
Associated Press for stories that explored public-access issues related to restrictions on journalists covering the state’s first executions since 2005 and to legislation aimed at restricting access to police information.
3rd Place: Lisa Hammersly, Brian Fanney, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette for “Cash & The Court.” OUTSTANDING NEW JOURNALIST 1st Place: Emma Pettit, Arkansas Online. 2nd Place: Jacob Kauffman, KUAR Public Radio. 3rd Place: Brandon Riddle, Arkansas Online. DIAMOND JOURNALIST OF THE YEAR 1st Place: Eric Besson, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette. 2nd Place: Andrew DeMillo, The Associated Press. 3rd Place: Tammy Keith, River Valley & Ozark Edition/Arkansas Democrat-Gazette. COMMUNITY SERVICE 1st Place: Frank Fellone, Lisa Hammersly, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette for “Dead Asleep.” 2nd Place: Lisa Hammersly, Brian Fanney, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette for “Cash & The Court.” 3rd Place: Staff, KUAR Public Radio and Arkansas Public Media for coverage of Arkansas’ executions.