Larry Foley, professor of journalism and documentary film in the School of Journalism and Strategic Media in the Fulbright College of Arts and Sciences, has been named Journalism Educator of the Year by the Arkansas Press Association.

The award recognizes Foley's significant contributions to journalism education and his impact on the field both within and beyond the state of Arkansas.

Foley, a faculty member at the U of A since 1993, has played a pivotal role in shaping the School of Journalism and Strategic Media. His career spans over four decades, including 17 years as a TV reporter, producer and public television executive before joining academia.

"Please join me in congratulating Larry Foley on this incredible milestone," said Bret Schulte, chair of the school. "It has been a privilege to work with Larry since I joined the school 16 years ago. I've seen firsthand the extraordinary work he's done to promote journalism, journalism education and the story of his home state of Arkansas."

As chair of the journalism school for nearly a decade, Foley secured a multi-million-dollar upgrade to the program's facilities and spearheaded the transformation of the former Journalism Department into the School of Journalism and Strategic Media. Under his guidance, the school also successfully navigated two national reaccreditation processes.

Additionally, Foley founded the UATV program, providing students with invaluable hands-on broadcasting experience. UATV began in 1995 as the television station by and for U of A students, serving to both teach students to become exceptional journalists and to produce news and entertainment content that can't be found anywhere else.

In the UATV studio in Kimpel Hall, students produce programming that is equal in quality to local affiliates, thanks to a state-of-the-art video switcher, graphics generator and other professional equipment.

"I'm deeply honored by this recognition from Arkansas Press Association," Foley said. "I received a $250 scholarship from APA in college, and it paid for all of my tuition for the fall semester of my senior year. It was also encouragement that I might actually have a shot at a career in journalism. All these many years later, it's as if my professional life has come full circle."

"I've always believed teaching is a calling," Foley added. "Every class matters; every student matters. You strive to make a difference in their lives, and at the heart of what I have always taught as a journalism professor is this mandate: The Truth Matters."

Beyond the classroom, Foley has established himself as a prolific filmmaker, producing and directing over 20 documentaries. His most recent work, Cries from the Cotton Field, is available on popular streaming platforms including Tubi, Amazon Prime, Local Now, Plex, Docubay and StreamGo.

Foley's films have featured an impressive roster of talent, including President Bill Clinton, Academy Award winners Billy Bob Thornton, Mary Steenburgen, and Ray McKinnon, as well as country music star Joe Nichols and NFL Hall of Fame broadcaster Charlie Jones.

The Arkansas Press Association will present the award to Foley at the 2024 APA Press Freedom Gala on Oct. 24 at the Clinton Presidential Center in Little Rock. The event will also honor the Arkansas Food Bank with the Headliner of the Year Award and Skip Rutherford with the APA Distinguished Service Award.

This most recent honor adds to Foley's impressive collection of accolades, which already include eight Mid-America Emmy Awards and 24 Emmy nominations for his documentary films.

Foley has also received four Best of Festival of Media Arts awards and has been inducted into the Lemke Journalism Hall of Honor, the Fayetteville Schools Hall of Honor and the Mid-America Emmy Silver Circle in recognition of his distinguished career in teaching, reporting, writing, producing and directing.

A proud alumnus of the U of A, Foley began his broadcasting career at KUAF before joining KATV in 1977 as the Pine Bluff Bureau chief and host of Good Morning Arkansas.