Reporters from KUAR, University of Arkansas at Little Rock’s public radio station, won nine Diamond Journalism Awards, a regional competition sponsored by the Arkansas Pro Chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists. 

Additionally, one UA Little Rock student, Jackson Carter, a graduate student in the School of Mass Communication, received first place in the multimedia project category for his work, “Forgotten-An In-Depth Investigation into the Arkansas Foster Care System.”

The awards, which were announced Nov. 14, recognize outstanding journalism by professionals and students from Arkansas and bordering media markets in Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Oklahoma, Tennessee, and Texas. This year’s competition was judged by journalists from the Florida Pro Chapter of SPJ. The awards honor work published or broadcast between July 1, 2016, and June 30, 2017.

Jacob Kauffman, KUAR reporter and anchor, earned second place in the Outstanding New Journalist competition. He also earned second place in the photo slideshow competition for his work, “Women’s March in Little Rock,” and first place in the documentary/investigative reporting category for his coverage of executions in Arkansas.

Chris Hickey, KUAR reporter and anchor, along with Kauffman received first place in sports reporting for “College football gets Arkansas to change its new gun law.”

Hickey also earned first and second place in feature reporting for his stories, “Research explores political attitudes in Little Rock’s religious,” and “Dealing with influx, Little Rock Mexican consulate expands legal services.”

A full list of KUAR winners include:

•   Jacob Kauffman and Chris Hickey, first place, sports reporting, “College football gets Arkansas to change its new gun law”
•   Jacob Kauffman, first place, documentary/investigative reporting, “Execution Series”
•   Chris Hickey, first place, feature reporting, “Research explores political attitudes of Little Rock’s religious”
•   Darcy Hagood, second place, feature, “Photography exhibit explores Arkansas family’s grief”
•   Chris Hickey, second place, feature reporting, “Dealing with influx, Little Rock Mexican consulate expands legal services”
•   Jacob Kauffman, second place, photo slideshow, “Women’s March in Little Rock”
•   Jacob Kauffman, second place, Outstanding New Journalist
•   Karen Steward, third place, documentary/investigative reporting, “In-depth interview: Execution drugs and double executions”
•   KUAR Public Radio and Arkansas Public Media staff, third place, community service, coverage of Arkansas’ executions