Society of Professional Journalists awards top honors to Chronicle staff

LITTLE ROCK, ARK. — The 2025 Diamond Journalism Awards were presented Saturday night by the Society of Professional Journalists, recognizing outstanding work in Arkansas and bordering states.

The Christian Chronicle Editor-in-Chief Bobby Ross Jr. was honored as Diamond Journalist of the Year and former Managing Editor Audrey Jackson as Emerging Journalist of the Year. In addition, Chronicle staff members earned first place in five other categories.

See all the winners here.

Read Ross’ portfolio of stories that earned Diamond Journalist of the Year:

•  “Culture warrior, MAGA champion, Church of Christ member: Who is Ryan Walters?”

• “Christians cheer the Chiefs, fight the violence” 

• “ACU rebuffs the left and the right in reaffirming its sexual stewardship policy”

Joel Erkkila and his son-in-law, Josh Pitman, walk along the reef that borders Redlands College’s campus in Vanuatu.

• “In presidential election, many Christian voters split along racial lines”

• “No phones allowed, but machetes OK: Global program aims to build teens’ faith”

• “These Christians not afraid to address sexual trauma”

• “‘Momma, I can see Jesus’”

And Jackson’s portfolio for Emerging Journalist of the Year:

• “Amid rubble, Turkish churches build foundations” 

• “‘God doesn’t see the borders’”

• “‘If you educate a woman, you educate a whole nation’”

A child receives medical care in a schoolroom repurposed into an exam room for a single-day clinic by Hope Springs International in Dongol, Nigeria.

• “‘Every tribe and every nation’ gather in unity despite worldly conflicts”

• “‘The home gave me my faith’” 

• “‘God doesn’t live here anymore’”

• “A medical mission to ‘the hub of Boko Haram’”

Find additional coverage that earned first place awards:

• Religion reporting: Coverage of the Ukraine war and refugees (Erik Tryggestad, Ted Parks and Ross)

• Continuing coverage: “Special project: Reading, ’riting … religion” (Ross, Cheryl Mann Bacon and Calvin Cockrell)

Lucas Ross and Kermit the Frog sit on a bench dedicated to the late Jim Henson on the campus of the University of Maryland.

• Profile: “Living a green dream” (Tryggestad)

• Sports feature: “Team finds the good in a tough, tough season” (Tryggestad)

• Feature photography: “A medical mission to ‘the hub of Boko Haram’” (Jackson)

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