Great Plains awards honor journalists
Democrat-Gazette, arkansasonline.com, Arkansas Life win in 7 categories
Staff members from the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, arkansasonline. and Arkansas Life magazine took home top honors in seven categories at the Great Plains Journalism Awards luncheon this week.
Other staff members from the three outlets were named as finalists in eight categories. The winners and finalists were announced Monday.
The regional journalism competition draws entries from eight states — Arkansas, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oklahoma and South Dakota — and is sponsored by the Tulsa Press Club.
Democrat-Gazette Food Editor Kelly Brant and features writer Celia Storey won the food writing category for articles about pecans, savory jellies and aquafaba.
“Lovely, evocative writing, especially the article on pecans,” judges commented. “Interesting subject matter (bean liquid to make meringue — who knew?)”
Features writer and critic Philip Martin won the review category for a collection of his literary criticism, prompting this comment from the judges: “Wide knowledge of literature past and present contribute to insightful critiques enhanced by lively writing.”
Martin also was a finalist in the entertainment/specialty blog category for a selection of his writing at blooddirtandangels.com.
In the specialty feature category, writer Cheree Franco, photographer John Sykes Jr., and artist Nikki Dawes won for a two-story package on hoarders and how to help them.
“A sensitive subject nicely handled,” the judges said.
Features writer Ron Wolfe and Kirk Montgomery, assistant managing editor for design and graphics, were named finalists in the specialty feature category for their collaboration on a whimsical coupon page to “SAVE Christmas.”
Heather Steadham of Arkansas Life won the magazine column writing category for her “evocative writing” with “a sense of humor and a meandering style [that] lead these delightful columns to unexpected places,” judges said.
Emily Van Zandt, a former staff member of the magazine and the newspaper, was named a finalist in the same category.
Arshia Khan, a photographer for Arkansas Life, won in two magazine categories: for a multiphoto layout and for feature photography. The winning photographs in both categories were of ballerinas preparing for a performance.
The staff of WholeHog- Sports.com won for best website page design.
Judges called it “by far, the cleanest, most inviting page entry of them all.”
Two Arkansas Life writers, Nicholas Hunt and Katie Bridges, were named finalists in the Great Plains Magazine Writer of the Year category, which was won by St. Louis Magazine’s Jeannette Cooperman.
Jordan Hickey and Darcy Courteau of Arkansas Life were named finalists in the magazine profile writing category.
Democrat-Gazette photographer Stephen Thornton was a finalist in the general news photography category and the multiple news photography category, along with Benjamin Krain and Melissa Gerrits.
Gavin Lesnick, online news editor, received two finalist nods from judges in the spot news video category.
The staff of arkansasonline. com was named a finalist in the best overall website design category.