1 minute read
Press Freedom Gala
Nelson is a college sports broadcaster, columnist, reporter, author, political appointee, and chronicler of Arkansas history. A native of Arkadelphia, he graduated summa cum laude from Ouachita Baptist University in 1982 receiving a B.A. in Mass Communications. Nelson was inducted into the Arkansas Sportscasters and Sportswriters Hall of Fame and was named Rural Advocate of the Year for the state of Arkansas in 2016 by Governor Asa Hutchinson and the Arkansas Rural Development Commission.
Distinguished Service Award recipient Turner worked as a sportswriter, news reporter and editor at various publications in Northwest Arkansas for many decades. A 1983 graduate of the Walter J. Lemke Department of Journalism at the University of Arkansas, he worked at the The Arkansas Traveler student newspaper then later at the Springdale Morning News and the Northwest Arkansas DemocratGazette until his retirement in May of this year. Turner also served two years as
Advertisement
Continued from page 8
President of the APA Board of Directors and has been instrumental in lobbying efforts to protect the state’s Freedom of Information Act laws.
Harrison native Masterson will be honored for his service to the newspaper industry for more than 50 years. His award-winning investigative journalism career has often involved critical, and even dangerous, work, providing a voice for the underdog and the unrepresented or uncovering information that resulted in the freeing of persons imprisoned by crimes they didn’t commit. For the past 23 years, he has written three personal-opinion columns a week for the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette. Former Arkansas Razorback linebacker and radio personality David Bazzel will serve as the master of ceremonies. Amorel native Marybeth Byrd, a 2019 The Voice semifinalist and 2023 American Idol top-10 contestant, will provide entertainment. Tickets are $200 each or $1,500 for a reserved table for eight. Visit arkansaspress.org/shop/ to purchase. For sponsorship information, email pressfreedom@arkansaspress.org.
All proceeds from the event will benefit the Arkansas Newspaper Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.
