The Arkansas Press Association (APA) announced today that Arkansas has been selected as one of 14 states to receive funding for a new $5,000 journalism award recognizing the state’s best example of impartial, objective, and fair news reporting.
The award is funded through the Center for Integrity in News Reporting (CFINR) as part of a three-year, $210,000 grant from the Southern Newspaper Publishers Association (SNPA) Foundation. The program aims to promote trustworthy journalism in Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, and West Virginia.
According to APA Executive Director Ashley Kemp Wimberley, the forthcoming SNPA/CFINR award will represent the largest contest prize in APA history. The inaugural Arkansas award will be presented during the 2026 APA Convention, taking place June 25–27 in Eureka Springs.
“We are extremely excited to learn about this new opportunity for Arkansas journalists,” Wimberley said. “The APA strongly supports the goals of the CFINR and will help promote and encourage participation throughout the state. Great work is being done across Arkansas, and this award will spotlight journalists who demonstrate true objectivity and fairness.”
Strengthening Trust in Local Journalism
The Center for Integrity in News Reporting was established in January 2024 by Walter E. Hussman, Jr., chairman of WEHCO Media, Inc., in response to declining public trust in the news media. According to Gallup polling, national trust in news has dropped from 70% in the 1970s to just 28% today.
CFINR Executive Director Rufus Friday emphasized the importance of the new state-by-state awards program.
“This new grant program is especially meaningful for journalists in Arkansas and throughout the South,” Friday said. “It’s designed to help local newsrooms strengthen fair and accurate news reporting – the kind of journalism that builds real trust in communities.”
Friday encouraged Arkansas journalists to participate, saying the awards are both recognition and a reminder of the vital role trustworthy journalism plays in democracy.
Hussman echoed that sentiment, noting the significance of the multi-year investment.
“This $210,000 grant confirmed that Americans want more impartial, objective, and fair news reporting,” Hussman said. “It will be one of the largest monetary journalism awards in most states—and will help restore public trust by elevating the best examples of objective reporting.”
About the Organizations
Founded in 1873, the Arkansas Press Association is the state’s oldest trade association, representing and supporting Arkansas newspapers for more than 150 years.
The Southern Newspaper Publishers Association Foundation, established in 1968, provides training and educational programs to strengthen newspapers across the region. Both the SNPA Foundation and CFINR operate as 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations, governed by boards of trustees.
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