The Arkansas Leader

Leader wins APA’s top awardsFree Access

The Leader sweeps prizes for investigative reporting, news stories, sports, photography, columns, more.


 The Leader took home 37 awards in the Arkansas Press Association’s annual Better Newspaper Editorial Contest and the General Excellence award for large weeklies for the 13th time in 14 years. 

For the second year in a row, the newspaper took home the top investigative journalism prize, the coveted I.F. Stone Award. 

The awards were announced Friday during the APA’s banquet, which was held online due to the pandemic. 

The contest was judged by the Michigan Press Association. 

Sports editor Ray Benton took first place in all three sports categories for the third year in a row, and photographer David Scolli swept the sports feature category winning first, second and third prizes. 

Reporter Rick Kron won the I.F. Stone Award for his investigative series on an overtime pay scheme at the Jacksonville Police Department that misappropriated $4 million while former Police Chief Gary Sipes was in charge. 

The judges said, “Through FOIA requests, tough questions and unflinching reporting, the local press exposed both the misuse of millions of tax dollars and the mind-boggling arrogance of several city leaders.” 

The judges said, “(Kron’s) reporting lets public officials know they need to act in a professional and accountable manner even if the meeting is virtual.” 

The Leader won first-place awards in almost half the categories, including beat reporting, column writing, sports and more. 

Kron also took first place in beat coverage of Jacksonville. The judges said, “A superb job of reporting. The reader is informed about important information about key public servants.” 

Jeffrey Smith garnered a first-place ribbon in series reporting for his articles on a Beebe candidate. 

Benton took first and third in the sports news category. His first-place entry was “Bears win wild one over Pats.” The judges said Benton’s weaving (Scotty) Thurman’s background playing for Arkansas in the lead was really well done.” 

Benton took first and second in sports features. The judges said Benton did a good job telling the player’s story in “Cabot senior believes it’s a blessing to receive.” 

Judges were especially taken with Benton sports column, “Gwatney coach has priorities right,” which took first place. The judges said, “This one cuts to the bone – a poignant look at a coach whose unwavering honesty cost his team a chance at a championship one year. That made it all the more special when the same team came back and won it all the following year.” 

Benton also took second place in sports column writing. 

Kron grabbed another first in the general interest column category with his “Controversial chief has cancer” column. The judges said, “Brave columnist telling like it is.” He also took third in the category. 

In humorous column writing Kron took another first with his “Dictionary dumps a few words.” Judges said that the writing “hit all the humor column high notes: It’s informative, entertaining and funny all rolled into one. A superb job.” 

In the freelance writing category, Ernie Dumas brought home a first-place ribbon for the Leader with his poignant look at author Charles Portis. “It was a delight to read,” the judges said. 

Deborah Horn took first place in the feature photo category with her shot of Combat boots displayed to honor fallen Arkansans. “The photo speaks volumes!” 

Scolli’s first place award in the sports feature photo categories was for “Cabot pair wins state title.” Judges said, “Nice job capturing the emotion of the event.” 

The Leader took first for Best Front Page. Judges said it was a great design and “makes us want to read each story.” 

The team of Jonathan Feldman, Jeffrey Smith and Kron also took first in politics and election coverage. 

Second place honors included Publisher Garrick Feldman in news and political column category; Jonathan Feldman in the editorial category; Benton in sports features, sports news and sports column writing. 

Christy Hendricks took second place for her graphic design portfolio and the newspaper’s website. Kron took second in series reporting, Scolli took second in the sports action photo category and Jonathan Feldman took second and third in headline writing. The newspaper placed second in education coverage. 

Third place awards included best picture page photo essay, health and medical coverage and coverage of agriculture and business and in the news story category. 

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