Paper’s employees honored in journalism awards contest

The team of the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette took 1st area in 14 groups of the 2021 Diamond Journalism Awards.

The regional competitiveness is sponsored yearly by the Arkansas Professional chapter of the Modern society of Experienced Journalists and recognizes journalism excellence in Arkansas and 6 neighboring states.

The Democrat-Gazette staff took initial by means of 3rd locations in the every day newspaper categories of breaking news articles, investigative reporting, breaking information pictures, picture portfolio and newspaper style.

They also took first position for ongoing coverage of the covid-19 pandemic, editorials, business enterprise producing, education and learning reporting, distinctive part, information visualization, graphics and illustrations, video clip journalism and web/cellular style.

The contest has 5 special awards.

Ashton Pittman, Donna Ladd and Christian Middleton gained the Robert S. McCord Liberty of Information and facts Award for a 3-element investigative sequence and subsequent reporting for the Mississippi Totally free Press that uncovered racist and sexist e-mail exchanges involving potent, rich donors and top rated administrators and school at the University of Mississippi.

Pittman and the Mississippi Cost-free Push, a nonprofit on line media outlet centered in Jackson, also had been identified with the Community Assistance Award for “an incredible sequence of stories documenting endeavours by Mississippi officers to adjust polling spots of 1000’s of voters with extremely minor interaction,” judges wrote.

Judges also named Pittman the Diamond Journalist of the Calendar year.

Dustin Jayroe of Little Rock-dependent AY Magazine was named the Superb New Journalist, a distinction that acknowledges excellence by a journalist who has been working skillfully for five several years or much less.

This year’s contest showcased a classification especially recognizing reporting on the covid-19 pandemic.

Andrew DeMillo of The Associated Press took first location in the pandemic protection category.

University student journalists with the Delta Electronic News Services, dependent at Arkansas Point out College in Jonesboro, took the best prize in one more new class, Student Special Projects, for their protection of the coronavirus pandemic.

The 2021 Diamond Journalism Awards honored get the job done revealed or broadcast in 2020 and drew a record 393 entries in 75 groups. Users of the Cincinnati Pro Chapter of SPJ served as judges.

The winners from the Democrat-Gazette staff members were being:

Breaking News, Each day

1st spot: “Twister rips via Jonesboro,” Stephen Simpson, William Sanders, Jeanie Roberts, Joseph Flaherty and Thomas Metthe

2nd place: Protest protection, workers

3rd place: Danny Lee execution, Tony Holt

Ongoing Protection, Daily

1st: Covid coverage, Employees, which include protection in the Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette

Investigative Reporting, Daily

1st: “Lives Remembered,” an investigation into Arkansas covid-19 fatalities, Personnel

2nd: “Children in Peril,” Ginny Monk

3rd: Arkansas Human Growth Centers sequence, Kat Stromquist

Capabilities, Each day

3rd: “Point out record guides carried Rebel slant,” Bill Bowden

Editorials, Daily

1st: “Tom Cotton’s byline,” David Barham and Walter E. Hussman Jr.

Commentary, Print/On the web

3rd: “Henderson State professor writes information to caving in the South,” Morgan Acuff

Arts & Culture Producing, Print/On line

3rd: Arts & Tradition portfolio, Philip Martin, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette

Business Creating, Print/On the web

1st: Business enterprise portfolio, Staff members

Instruction Reporting, Print/On-line

1st: Education stories, Personnel

Politics, Print/On the internet

2nd: Political protection, Frank Lockwood, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette

Special Area, Print/On line

1st: All Arkansas Preps, Employees

Neighborhood Journalism, Print/On-line

2nd: Alpena, Invoice Bowden, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette

Visible DIVISION

Photography-Breaking Information

1st: In LR, rally close to Capitol turns violent, Stephen Swofford

2nd: NLR law enforcement capturing injures man, Staton Breidenthal

3rd: Tornado damage surveyed in Jonesboro, Tommy Metthe

Photo Distribute/Essay

3rd: May well 30 George Floyd Protests, Stephen Swofford

Photograph Portfolio

1st: Stephen Swofford

2nd: Tommy Metthe

3rd: Staton Breidenthal

Details Visualization

1st: Monitoring Coronavirus, Brian Smith and Staff

2nd: Murder Map, William Sanders, Yutao Chen and Maggie McNeary

Graphics/Illustrations

1st: Halloween’s Taking place, Carrie Hill, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette

Movie Journalism, Features

1st: Operating the Rock: 2020 Small Rock Marathon, Yutao Chen, Staton Breidenthal, Tommy Metthe, Stephen Swofford, Justin Cunningham

Newspaper Style

1st: Model portion, Stan Denman

2nd: Sports activities part, Joe Luciano

3rd: Webpage One particular, Terry Austin

Web/Cell Design

1st: Arkansas On-line personnel

Public Assistance

2nd: “Little ones in Peril,” Ginny Monk

Robert S. McCord Freedom of Facts Award

2nd: Fighting for basic data, Eric Besson