Russellville editor publishes second novel
2025 Better Newspaper Editorial Contest Rules and Categories
Arkansas Press Association PUBLISHER
Sandra Brand celebrates 40 years covering Mississippi County
Sandra Brand has always known what she wanted to do –immerse herself in the world of community journalism.
She has spent her entire career dedicated to her personal and professional goals, celebrating in March her 40th year of covering the news in Mississippi County.
It all started when Brand was elected reporter of her first grade class at Clover Bend Elementary School in Lawrence County, admitting she has had “ink in her blood” ever since.
Raised on a cotton farm, the youngest of 10 children, at age nine she published her first “newspaper,” sharing with her parents the scoop on her older siblings. Brand enrolled in Walnut Ridge High School because it had a journalism department and joined the staff of the Cat’s Dispatch. She eventually wrote her first feature story for the weekly Walnut Ridge Times Dispatch
Brand attended Arkansas State University on a William Randolph Hearst Scholarship and majored in communications while working on the staff of both the Times Dispatch and the student newspaper, The Herald
After graduating from ASU in 1984, she went straight to work at the Blytheville Courier News, with a transfer to the Osceola Times after a few months.
In 1986, Brand went to work for Publisher David Tennyson and founded the South Mississippi County Citizen-Journal. She ran that
One week left to enter APA Better Newspaper Editorial Contest
Less than one week remains to enter your newspaper’s best journalism of the 2024 calendar year in APA’s annual Better Newspaper Editorial Contest.
The contest showcases the best work of APA member newspaper and media members, both in print and online, in categories such as News Story, Feature Story, Investigative Series Reporting, Beat Reporting, Sports News Story, Sports Feature Story, Sports Column, Editorial, News/Political Column, General Interest Column, Humorous Column, Freelancer Recognition, Headline Writing and more.
There are also categories for the best layout and design,
photography and digital news coverage, including social media and podcasts.
In addition, the winners of the Meredith Oakley FOIA Award and the Ernie Deane-Brenda Blagg Columnist of the Year Award will each receive a $1,000 cash prize.
Enter at http://www.newspapercontest.com/arkansas by April 30 at 11:59 p.m. Please call APA at 501-374-1500 if you need assistance.
The 2025 Better Newspaper Editorial Awards winners presentation will be made during the 2025 Tri-State Press Convention on June 28 at the Hilton Memphis.
Sandra Brand, center, at the Osceola Times office with husband Steve Knox, Jen Weaver and Brand’s dog, Milo.
Continued from page 1
paper for eight years before Tennyson joined forces with Rust Communications which purchased the Times
Brand currently serves as general manager and editor of the weekly Osceola Times and editor of the twice-a-week NEA Town Courier. She also is editor of the Poinsett County Democrat Tribune and Delta Life magazine. Additionally, a joint section each week, called the Sports Connection, covers 13 schools.
“It’s all I’ve ever wanted to do,” Brand said of her career in community journalism. “I’ve always wanted to write stories about the unsung heroes living in small town America.
“I never wanted to work for the New York Times like most aspiring reporters. I didn’t want to cover Washington politics. I wanted to cover the local mayor’s race. I didn’t want to cover a Hollywood premiere. I wanted to cover the first grade dance recital.”
During her 47-year newspaper career, Brand has reported on a remarkable array of subjects, but the ones that stick out in her mind are those told from the front porches during her 40 years of covering Mississippi County.
“My favorite stories include the World War II veteran who had tears running down his cheeks as he recalled the ground fighting in the island-hopping campaign in the South Pacific, and the young mother who was sent home from the hospital following a miscarriage with her child in her arms to be placed in a refrigerator until funeral home employees could come. These are the stories I have spent my career telling – stories that touch the heart.”
With her years of experience in community journalism, Brand is well-positioned to understand the challenges facing the industry, as well as the traditional level of confidence and support many still enjoy from their readers.
“At one time we were the public’s number one source for news,” she said. “Today, a weekly newspaper is one of the last places people are looking for breaking news. However, we remain their number one trusted source. For example, the shooting over the
weekend may have been posted all over social media and even the television news, but Wednesday morning people are lined up to buy the newspaper so they can ‘read what really happened.’”
Brand also is proud of the continued role of the community newspaper in keeping citizens informed about important governmental actions, often serving as the only reliable local news source.
“We remain the watch dog of the community,” she said. “There is no one else covering the local city councils, quorum court, school boards, etcetera. Our presence helps to ‘keep politicians honest’ and yes, I am a politician (she serves on the Osceola City Council). I cannot honestly envision a world without community newspapers. It truly frightens me.
“There is so much corruption and temptation in today’s world –without the local press everything will be hidden. The public’s ‘right to know’ will disappear. They will simply know what the politicians want them to know. Everything will be wrapped in colorful paper and a pretty bow. And, the fact of the matter is, no community can solve their problems by sticking their head in the mud. You must acknowledge their existence and deal with them head on. Then you have a chance of making this a better world.”
Over the years, Brand has taken an active leadership role in her adopted hometown of Osceola. “I’m just a country girl who believes we all have a responsibility to grow where God has planted us,” she said. “I was not born and raised in Osceola, but I’ve lived here longer than I have anywhere else. This has been my home for 40 years and the people are dear to my heart. I love this city.”
Brand has volunteered for numerous community organizations, including Main Street Osceola, South Mississippi Relay for Life, the American Heart Association, the United Way, Osceola Heritage Musicfest, Osceola Shalom Board and the Mississippi County Historical & Genealogical Society.
Brand with State Senator Dave Wallace and his wife, Karen.
Brand checks drainage during a heavy rain on April 5 in her capacity as a city council member.
In November 2024, Brand was awarded the Osceola-South Mississippi County Chamber of Commerce Lasting Legacy Award. She also was recipient of the Osceola “Volunteer of the Year” award in 2001 and 2002.
She is serving her fourth term (13 years) on the Osceola City Council.
Brand was one of three who organized the Osceola Heritage Musicfest, an event that will celebrate its 25th anniversary in May. “I’m super excited,” Brand said. “The festival has been a venue for hometown heroes like Buddy Jewell and rising stars like Ashley McBride. Each year, I design the poster and t-shirt artwork. It focuses on an important part of our musical heritage.”
Her favorite music comes “straight from the soul,” and includes such Blues greats as the late Willie Bloom, Son Seals and Albert King, all legends from Osceola.
The tremendous growth of the steel industry has been extremely beneficial for Osceola and Mississippi County. Brand said both Big River Steel and Hybar have been great supporters of the community and the newspaper. “They never turn us down and that is a huge blessing in our sales numbers,” she said.
“We are doing well in Mississippi County,” Brand added. “It is harder and harder to sell ‘regular’ ads because there are very few ‘mom and pop operations’ anymore. Therefore, we sell and publish numerous special sections from Spring Planting to Graduation to Women’s History to African-American History to an annual Progress Edition, etcetera. I rarely use canned copy in these specials. It’s an opportunity to highlight more local heroes.
“Osceola is celebrating its 150th year, and I am sort of known as the local historian,” Brand said. “I am having a blast right now writing clues for city-wide treasure hunts.”
Brand spends most of her time away from work with her family, including husband Steve Knox, who also works for the Times. She has two stepsons, Nathan and Harrison, 20 nieces and nephews, 35 great-nieces and nephews and seven great-great nieces and nephews.
She loves to read and write historical novels. During the summer months, she can be found at her favorite spot in the world – in the “bubbles” at the Spring River. During the winter, she can be found snow sledding on the levee with all the neighborhood kids.
Brand is a fierce advocate for community newspapers and believes that retention of public notices is critical for community newspapers across the state and nation.
“As you know, if we lose our legals we will all be in financial trouble and so will the people,” she said. “Legals are seriously the most important thing in the newspaper each week because they force people to adhere to the law. If there is a restaurant applying for a liquor license, if the council passes an ordinance affecting your garbage or sewer, they legally have to inform the public. And the newspaper, in small towns, is still the best way to do that. Many of our seniors still do not have internet access and do not have cell phones connected to the web. But they have a subscription to the newspaper.”
Brand with a snowman at her home in Osceola.
Brand with Big River Steel CEO Dan Brown.
Arkansas State wins 60 awards at ACMA, 52 for The Herald
Students in Arkansas State University’s School of Media and Journalism took home 60 awards from the annual Arkansas College Media Association spring conference and awards banquet earlier this month.
ASU’s student newspaper, The Herald, won 52 awards, including Website of the Year and honorable mention as Newspaper of the Year in the General Excellence categories. ASU-TV and Red Wolf Radio both won four awards.
“The students worked hard and it showed,” said Sandra Combs, who is retiring after 17 years at the college and a decade as Herald adviser. “They had big smiles and great hope that they would come away with a big win.”
Students (from left) Ibuki Hinohara, Herald photo editor; Shailey Wooldridge, Herald news editor; Elijah Templeton, Herald life editor; Benjamin McDowell, Herald staff writer; Jerry Don Burton, Herald editor-in-chief; Laila Casiano, Herald opinion editor; Will Livingston, Herald sports editor; and Tristan Harlen, ASU-TV station manager, display their ACMA awards.
CFINR’s Rufus Friday shares hope for rebuilding trust in media
According to Rufus Friday, executive director of Little Rock-based The Center for Integrity in News Reporting, confidence in journalism can be rebuilt. Friday spoke at America’s Newspapers 2025 MegaConference in Orlando earlier this month, saying three main factors have created a crisis of trust — the nature of bias, 24/7 cable news and social media and a shift in journalism education and hiring practices.
He cited a recent Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism study that surveyed 92,000 people from 46 countries and found that the US ranked last in media trust with 29% expressing “any kind of trust.” He also pointed to a Gallup Poll that showed 72% of Americans trusted the media in 1976, but that number has dramatically declined in recent years.
“I know, as most of you know in the room, trust in the media is at its lowest point in 50 years,” Friday said.
Part of CFINR’s mission to rebuild trust, Friday shared several steps that can be taken by the industry, including: rewarding the best examples of impartial, objective and fair news reporting through annual contests, set up meetings between distinguished journalists and journalism students, adopting statements of core journalistic values for journalism schools and media outlets and displaying these statements for readers, viewers and audiences to see. Speaking engagements are also a tool used by CFINR, Friday and others (especially in mid-sized markets) have used to encourage “citizens to ask their local media organizations to establish a clear set of core values,” according to reporting by America’s Newspapers. Media
organizations that do so will be recognized on CFINR’s website, Friday said.
“When journalists get it right, when we lead with humility, present all sides and don’t assume that we have every answer, we do earn trust,” he said. “And, trust me: we can rebuild it.”
Other moves for newspapers to make include educating the audience and readers by hosting guest journalists to speak about the importance of impartial news reporting, partnering with the Center on trust-building programs, supporting CFINR’s polling and research efforts, becoming a model for transparency, speaking with friends and colleagues about the importance of objective journalism
and submitting impartial reporting for next year’s awards.
“Trust isn’t built one speech or one survey at a time,” said Friday. “It’s rebuilt one decision, one headline, one newsroom policy at a time. It’s rebuilt when a local editor publishes a correction prominently and quickly — because the truth matters more than just saving face. It’s rebuilt when a journalist covers a story that they personally disagree with. But, because of objectivity, it still has a place in their profession; they’ll report it anyway. It’s rebuilt when news organizations post their values on the home page — not because they have to, but because they believe the public deserves to know.”
SAVE THE DATES
Russellville editor publishes second novel
Travis Simpson, editor at The Courier in Russellville, published his second young adult novel, “Cope Field,” this month.
Set in the Ozarks, the story follows Crawford “Craw” Cope when he is sentenced to community service for hitting his father in the head with a baseball bat, who happens to be a famous baseball player, according to reporting by The Courier
Cope’s task is to restore a rundown field named for his dad. There he meets Hannah Flores, a punk rock fan who opens up to Cope about her family life as he struggles to deal with his.
“I will continue to write [Young Adult] novels for as long as I can continue to get them published and continue to feel passionate about the stories I want to tell, but I don’t want to fence myself in and say I will continue to produce similar stories,” Simpson told The Courier
“Cope Field” comes after the success of his first novel “Strong Like You,” which also features a sports theme. The former sports editor and reporter plans to release a third novel in the fall of 2026 called “Accelerant.” His third book will tell the story of two brothers reunited after a family separation, set in wildfire-prone rural Missouri. The two brothers find themselves on “opposite sides of an ideological conflict.”
A white supremacist crime organization is radicalizing one brother while the other uses vigilante justice to fight the same organization after his friends were terrorized.
“It was astonishing to see how far my debut ‘Strong Like You’ went after release,” Simpson told the APA. “So my personal expectations for ‘Cope Field’ are even higher.”
Simpson said that the two books are the result of combining a sports story with a crime story with his latest involving a romance storyline as well.
“I’d like to branch out from sports,” Simpson said to The Courier. “It was a great way to get boy readers in the door, but the human male experience is much bigger than sports.”
His debut novel won several honors, including being named a 2025 YALSA Best Fiction for Young Adults selection, a 2025 Indiana Read Aloud selection, a 2025 TAYSHAS Top 10 Reading List selection and Children’s Book Council Favorites.
“Cope Field” was released on April 22.
Google loses another Antitrust lawsuit
An April 17 ruling finds Google to have acted illegally to maintain a monopoly in advertising technology. Presided over by Judge Leonie Brinkema of the US District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia, the ruling has been hailed by media advocacy groups such as the News/Media Alliance, who have long decried the power held by the Silicon Valley giant.
“This monopoly has allowed the company to force news and content publishers to use its services, and offer them lower payouts for ad space than they would otherwise receive in a competitive market,” NMA said in a press release.
Google “harmed Google’s publishing customers, the competitive process and, ultimately, consumers of information on the open web,” according to the Court.
“This is a landmark victory in the ongoing fight to stop Google from monopolizing the digital public square,” Attorney General Pamela Bondi said. “This Department of Justice will continue taking bold legal action to protect the American people from encroachments on free speech and free markets by tech companies.”
“The news media industry hails the court’s decision to again hold Google accountable for decades of abuse of its market power,” said News/Media Alliance President and CEO Danielle Coffey in a statement.
This ruling comes after a separate case found Google to have unfair dominance among search engines in September 2024 and after a 2020 House Subcommittee on Antitrust report showed abuse in the ad tech ecosystem. The proposed Journalism Competition and Preservation Act, also known as S. 1094, is being put forth as a solution, which would “address the marketplace imbalance that has had a devastating impact on news media’s ability to reinvest in quality journalism,” said the statement. The act is sponsored by Senators Amy Kolbuchar (D-MN) and John Kennedy (R-LA).
Amid the uncertainty for Google, ChatGPT parent company OpenAI, has indicated its interest in purchasing Google’s Chrome browser which must be sold under the ruling.
Travis Simpson
Cover art for Travis Simpson’s “Cope Field.”
Guest Column: Producing relevant content requires knowing your community
By Jim Pumarlo
Editors are regularly challenged: What mix of stories and photos will collectively make this edition a “must see” for readers and advertisers? There is no universal formula.
The first step in any market, however, is to know your community. Fundamental to providing pertinent coverage is living in the neighborhoods where your readers work and play.
That’s common sense for newspapers to truly have a pulse of their markets. Yet, as simplistic as it sounds, it’s distressing to see newsrooms relying more and more on remote reporting, and to see staff living miles away from the communities they are charged with chronicling everyday happenings.
I was fortunate to guide a staff when community newspapers were flourishing. As a bonus, the hometown owners recognized the value of and dedicated extra resources to the news product. The landscape admittedly is far different today. Newspapers are no longer the primary avenue to deliver news and spread advertising messages.
Shortcuts in gathering news have become standard, almost essential. Reporters record meetings from online viewing, only occasionally attending in person. Press releases are accepted with minimal follow-up, often printed verbatim with PR language suited for internal newsletters.
I don’t minimize the challenges of the changing landscape. Maintaining community connections is hard work these days –especially with diminished resources, but building relationships still is critical to generating relevant content.
Making first impressions is important, especially if a newspaper changes ownership. Consider these messages:
A flagship newspaper that served a community for more than 150 years pulls up its roots – doesn’t even a storefront office – and moves its chain headquarters 25 miles away. A business out of sight is soon out of mind.
A new reporter writes an introductory column expressing her desire to learn about and become a part of the local community. In the same space, she tells readers she lives 40 miles away in the big city where she has a part-time job and on weekends enjoys exploring the metropolitan area with family and friends.
An editor comes on board, writes that he looks forward to living
in the community and meeting people. A year later, he has yet to introduce himself – in written communication or in person – to local governing bodies and likely to other key newsmakers.
Connecting with community is paramount to producing substantive stories. Even more important, everyday contact is at the core of building confidence with readers. The point is underscored by Trusting News, a research and training project that empowers journalists to demonstrate credibility and earn trust.
Trusting News offers a Trust Kit with a goal to help newspapers:
• Ask for community input in productive ways.
• Identify and refine knowledge around local community members’ perceptions of local news.
• Communicate more regularly with people who have low trust in news and address their frustrations.
• Act on feedback to improve your overall coverage.
The kit forwards several ideas for engaging with community and then acting on feedback. The common thread? It’s far easier, and more meaningful, to execute the strategies if you are a part of community.
It’s easy to become overwhelmed when launching a major initiative, so I advise taking baby steps. Here’s one suggestion from the Trust Kit: Have each journalist in your newsroom commit to interviewing one person a month who has low trust in news. One question to ask: What do journalists often get wrong about you or about things in your life?
In similar vein, map a plan for reporters to connect monthly with one person not in their regular network. Meet face-to-face. You’ll expand your knowledge of the community and gain one more source to forward story ideas to enrich your content while deepening community connections.
Jim Pumarlo is former editor of the Red Wing (Minn.) Republican Eagle. He writes, speaks and provides training on community newsroom success strategies. He is author of “Journalism Primer: A Guide to Community News Coverage,” “Votes and Quotes: A Guide to Outstanding Election Coverage” and “Bad News and Good Judgment: A Guide to Reporting on Sensitive Issues in Small-Town Newspapers.” He can be reached at and welcomes comments and questions at jim@pumarlo.com
2025 Arkansas Press Association BETTER NEWSPAPER EDITORIAL CONTEST RULES & CATEGORIES
1. ELIGIBILITY: Contest open to employees of Arkansas Press Association member newspapers and media members in good standing. Entries must be submitted by the member newspaper, not by individuals. The current owner of any former APA member newspaper(s) that have ceased publication may submit qualifying entries for work complete during the contest eligibility time frame. Syndicated work of an employee may only be submitted from the newspaper of origin.
2. CONTEST PERIOD: All entries must have been published January 1 through December 31, 2024.
3. DEADLINE: Entries must be submitted by midnight on April 30, 2025.
4. ALL ENTRIES must be full-page pdf documents (including photo entries) and show date of publication. Please send story continuations. For entries that require more than one story, save as one pdf document in a low resolution format before uploading. To help judges locate the correct story or photo, the name of the entry (e.g. Fire Destroys Business) and the pdf file name should be the same. Entries must be submitted exactly as they were published.
5. LIMIT OF ENTRIES: There is a LIMIT of entries per newspaper in each category, but it varies, so read the rule for each category. Most news categories have a limit of four, and photo categories have a limit of five.
6. Cost to Enter: The contest fee per newspaper is $25 plus $5 per individual entry. Once all entries are submitted and finalized, click “Billing.” This will take you to a page where the entry fees are automatically generated. You will have an option to pay your total cost by credit card or to be invoiced.
7. DIVISION PLACEMENT: Your newspaper has been pre-assigned a division based on your paid circulation.
Div. 1 Circulation under 1,200
Div. 2 Circulation 1,201 - 2,000
Div. 3 Circulation 2,001 - 7,000
(A) To be FAIR to smaller staffed, smaller circulation newspapers, multiple-ownership newspapers must submit entries in the division of their largest circulation newspaper. An exception will only be made if the entries are sent with a written statement from the publisher saying that no help from personnel at the larger circulation newspaper(s) was used in publishing the smaller circulation newspaper.
Div. 4 Circulation over 7,000
Div. 5 Media members
(B) If work is published in more than one newspaper in a group, the person may enter from only one newspaper and must compete in the larger circulation division.
8. JUDGING:
(A) For a category to be judged there must be at least three entries from three different newspapers. Otherwise those entries will be added to and judged with the next highest division.
(B) Judges will be asked to make comments on winning entries. Comments will be given to the newspaper after the awards ceremony.
(C) Awards will be made in first, second, and third place. Honorable mentions may be awarded at the judges’ discretion. Decisions of judges will be final.
9. GENERAL EXCELLENCE AWARD: Winners of the General Excellence Award will be determined by compiling points received for first, second, third place and honorable mention awards won in all categories. First place awards are worth ten points; second place, six points; third place, three points; and honorable mention, one point.
10. Announcement of winners will be made on June 28 during the 2025 Tri-State Convention at the Hilton Memphis.
LOGIN, UPLOAD & SUBMISSION INSTRUCTIONS
Step 1 – Acquire your login information from APA. Contact Terri Cobb at Terri@arkansaspress.org.
Step 2 – Login at www.newspapercontest.com/arkansas. You will see a page showing any entries you have already submitted. Complete rules for the contest are available on the website. Some browsers, such as Safari, will open the rules in a new window; others will require you to download the PDF file to your computer.
Step 3 – Click on the “Add New Entry” link.
Step 4 – On this page, select your newspaper name. A lot of information will autofill. If that information is incorrect, please contact APA. Your division will be selected for you based on your circulation. Fill in the preparer’s name. (The preparer is the person uploading the entry into the online contest platform, not the staffer that will be credited for any award.)
Step 5 – Select the Newspaper Group from the drop-down menu for the contest you are entering. You must select Open, All Daily, All Weekly or Contests By Division.
Step 6 – Select the contest category from the drop-down menu. When you select the category, special instructions will appear below it. If you don’t see the category you’re looking to enter, make sure you’ve selected the correct Newspaper Group (See Step 5). This field will clear each time you save an entry, so you must select a category for each new entry.
Step 7 – Enter the title/cutline for your entry. When uploading full-page PDF files, make sure the entry name matches the headline on the page so the judges can find it easily.
Step 8 – Include the name of the person or people who should be credited for any award. This is generally the writer, photographer, graphic artist, cartoonist, etc.
Step 9 – Add your file or files. You can drag and drop files or use the “Add files” button to navigate your files.
Step 10 – IMPORTANT: When you have completed your submission, click the “Save” button. If you click the “Back to list” button, you will lose the entry you just completed. After clicking “Save,” you will be directed back to the list of your entries.
Step 11 – To submit another entry, click “Add New Entry.” As long as you have not logged out of the system, your newspaper name will still be in place and you can simply start at Step 5 again. You may log out and log back in later to continue adding entries. You will need to select your newspaper name each time you log in.
Step 12 – If you are done submitting entries, please review the list. You may not change an entry, but you may delete an entry and resubmit it. When done uploading all your entries, click the “Billing” button on the list page. This will take you to a page where the entry fees are generated. You may click the PayPal Link to pay by credit card or mail your payment to: APA Contest, 411 S. Victory St. Little Rock AR 72201. Once payment is made, we will mark your newspaper paid and complete.
CATEGORIES
CATEGORY 1 — News Story
For each entry, submit full-page document showing a single staff-written news story. Spot news and sidebar stories may be submitted. Judging will be based on community wide importance of event, timeliness, thoroughness of reporting, writing style and effectiveness of lead. Limit 4 entries.
CATEGORY 2 — Feature Story
For each entry, submit full-page document showing a single staff-written feature story. Judges will consider writing style, originality and general interest. Portrait pieces may be included. Limit 4 entries.
CATEGORY 3 — Arkansas Freedom of Information Reporting
For each entry, submit full-page document showing all stories written with information gathered utilizing the Arkansas Freedom of Information Act. Each entry should include a cover letter explaining the need to use the FOIA, the focus, scope and method of the investigation, and the subsequent results and impact following publication of the stories. Save all documents into one pdf file. All winning entries will be forwarded to compete for the Meredith Oakley FOIA Award. The award includes a $1,000 prize and plaque. Limit 4 entries.
CATEGORY 4 — Beat Reporter
For each entry, submit a minimum of three (3) articles from a single reporter covering a specific beat (courts, sports, outdoors, city council, etc.) Limit one entry each from 3 reporters.
CATEGORY 5 — Sports News Story
For each entry, submit full-page document. Judges will consider originality, style, writing and reader interest. (Enter sports features in Category 6.) Limit 4 entries.
CATEGORY 6 — Sports Feature Story
For each entry, submit full-page document. Judges will consider originality, style, writing and reader interest. (Enter sports news/game time stories in Category 5.) Limit 4 entries.
CATEGORY 7 — Business Story
Single story or series to include all aspects of agriculture, tourism and business, with special emphasis on coverage of local farming, tourism, business and industries in your community. Limit 4 entries.
CATEGORY 8 — Education Story
Single story or series to include all aspects of education, school boards and other school activities in your community. Limit 4 entries.
CATEGORY 9 — Health/Medical Story
Single story or series to include original local and state health and medical features and news. Limit 4 entries.
CATEGORY 10 — Freelancer Recognition
The intent of this category is to recognize Arkansas freelance writers and non-syndicated writers. If a story is published in more than one paper, it should be entered in the largest circulation paper. For each entry, submit full-page document. Judges will consider writing style, originality and general reader interest. Limit 4 entries.
CATEGORY 11 — Sports Column
For each entry, submit full-page document. Columns on sports should be entered. Judging will include writing style, originality and reader impact. Columns must have bylines or standing headings and must be regularly published in your newspaper. Limit 4 entries.
CATEGORY 12 — Editorial
For each entry, submit full-page document. Must be original. Syndicated material is not eligible. Judging will be on local impact, reasoning, writing excellence and leadership shown by the editorial. An editorial represents the opinion of the newspaper. A column is NOT an editorial! Limit 4 entries.
CATEGORY 13 — News/Political Column
For each entry, submit full-page document. Only columns on news issues or politics should be entered. Judging will include writing style, originality and reader impact. Columns must have bylines or standing headings and must be regularly published in your newspaper. Limit 4 entries.
CATEGORY 14 — General Interest Column
For each entry, submit full-page document. Columns on general interest, people or “slice of life” should be entered. Judging will include writing style, originality and reader impact. Columns must have bylines or standing headings and must be regularly published in your newspaper. Limit 4 entries.
CATEGORY 15 — Humorous Column
For each entry, submit full-page document. Column should be humorous in nature. Judging will include writing style, originality and reader impact. Columns must have bylines or standing headings and must be regularly published in your newspaper. Limit 4 entries.
CATEGORY 16 — Ernie Deane-Brenda Blagg Columnist of the Year
For each entry, submit five (5) different columns written by one individual. Judges are looking at a body of work by one individual staff member. Save all columns marked on the pages into one pdf file titled with the columnist’s name. One entry per columnist, but newspapers may submit up to three (3) different columnists. Overall winner from all divisions will be awarded Columnist of the Year and receive a special plaque and $1,000 from the Ernie Dean Endowment Fund.
PHOTOGRAPHY
For each entry, submit a full-page PDF. Computer created and composite photos may not be entered. Photos may be black and white or color.
CATEGORY 17 — Single News Photograph
Name of photographer must be given. Judging will include timeliness, impact and technical quality. Clearly name the photo to be judged. Limit 5 entries.
CATEGORY 18 — Single Feature Photograph
No sports photos. See category 20. Name of photographer must be given. Portrait photo may be included in this category. Judges will consider photographic excellence, reader appeal and technical quality. Clearly name the photo to be judged. Limit 5 entries.
CATEGORY 19 — Single Sports Action Photograph
Name of photographer must be given on entry form. Clearly name the single ACTION photo to be judged. Judges will consider action, newsworthiness and quality. (Sports feature photos should be entered in Category 20.) Limit 5 entries.
CATEGORY 20 — Single Sports Feature Photograph
Name of photographer must be given on entry form. Clearly name the NON-ACTION sports photo to be judged. Judges will consider photographic excellence, reader appeal and technical quality. Limit 5 entries.
CATEGORY 21 — Picture Page/Photo Essay
Each entry consists of one full-page document. This is a contest for one best picture page OR photo essay. It may be produced by one person or a team. Judges will consider photo quality, layout, art work, reproduction, originality and text material. Limit 4 entries.
PHOTO OF THE YEAR
All first-place photos from the photography categories 17-20 will be judged together to determine the Photo of the Year for Arkansas Press Association. Photo of the Year will receive a special plaque presented during the awards luncheon.
LAYOUT & DESIGN
Categories 22-23 are package entries. The judges are looking at a body of work. Save all the pages as one pdf document before uploading.
CATEGORY 22 — Best Front Page
Submit three (3) FRONT pages from three different issues. Judges are looking at a body of work. Save all pages as one pdf document. Judges will consider general news content with special emphasis on local coverage, design, news play and typography with regard to appropriateness, quality, impact, legibility, organization and creativity. Limit one (1) entry per newspaper.
CATEGORY 23 — Graphic Design Portfolio
Submit three (3) full-page pdfs from a staff member showing effective use of design, graphics, artwork, charts, maps or other devices that provide, explain or clarify information from a news story or feature. Judges are looking at a body of work. Save all pages as one pdf document. Judging will be based on originality, craftsmanship and presentation of information only, not the accompanying story. Limit 3 entries (3 staff members per newspaper).
CATEGORY 24 — Headline Writing
For entry, submit full-page pdf document. Headlines over photos can be submitted. Judges will consider originality, creativity (graphic presentation), appropriateness (how well it relates to the story or photo), clever use of words, impact, attention-getting quality and humor. To help judges locate the entry, the headline and pdf document title should have the same name. Limit 5 entries.
CATEGORY 25 — Best Digital Presence & Audience Engagement
For entry, submit the link to your website along with any username and password needed to view content. Include as well links and usernames to your social media you would like judged (ie Facebook, Twitter, Instagram). Include podcast or YouTube channel links you want to include. The judges will randomly visit all your sites between May 12-18, 2025. Judging will be based on content (quality of news, timeliness and organization); visual/ design (layout, photos, color) and activity from readership. Limit 1 entry per newspaper.