Student journalists from the U of A earned top honors and professional recognition at the 2025 Society of Professional Journalists Diamond Awards. Students representing UATV and The Arkansas Traveler were honored in both student and professional divisions across multiple categories.

Katie Parker of UATV was named Outstanding Sports Anchor in the Craft Achievement category, standing out among professional journalists for her coverage of Razorback athletics.

Maddi Phipps received first place in the television reporting Arts & Entertainment category (professional division) for her story "Ukulele Society," which showcased the culture of a local group of ukulele enthusiasts.

"These awards affirm the extraordinary talent, leadership and storytelling power of our student journalists," said Tiffany King, director of student media. "To compete and win against professional outlets across the region speaks volumes about the caliber of work being done in our newsroom."

UATV was also a finalist in the professional News Special category for its election coverage, competing against outlets in seven states.

UATV station manager Emma Rasmussen was recognized as a finalist in the professional podcasting category for her episode "Grape to Glass Ep. 2: Behind the Bottle," which explored the Arkansas wine industry through in-depth interviews and storytelling.

In the student competition, several Arkansas Traveler journalists also shined:

• Ethan Doan was a finalist in Photography for his image "Football Kneeling."
• Addie Jones was a finalist in Arts & Entertainment Reporting for her feature "Behind the Scenes of Pop Princess Nite."
• MJ Ferguson was a finalist in Editorials for his opinion column.

A banquet was held in Little Rock on July 26 to celebrate the winners and finalists. Gina Shelton, director of the SJSM Center for Media Ethics and Literacy; professor Bret Schulte, director of the School of Journalism and Strategic Media; and King, director of student media, attended the event in support of the students.

"In addition to our student winners, several alumni of the School of Journalism and Strategic Media were honored for their work this year," Schulte said. "It's exciting to see our students and graduates making a real impact in journalism across the region."

The SPJ Diamond Awards honor excellence in journalism across the region, recognizing both professional and student work in print, broadcast and online.

For more about UATV, The Arkansas Traveler and student media at the U of A, visit studentmedia.uark.edu.