The regional award celebrates outstanding journalism in Arkansas and six neighboring states.

By Bobby Ross Jr.

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — I was honored Saturday night as a finalist for the 2026 Diamond Journalist of the Year award from the Arkansas professional chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists.

I previously won this award in 2025 and was a finalist in 2024.

The regional Diamond Journalism Awards celebrate outstanding journalism in Arkansas and six neighboring states, including my home state of Oklahoma. Winners were announced at an awards banquet in Little Rock.

For content published last year, I was recognized for a portfolio of seven stories for The Christian Chronicle and Religion Unplugged:

1. “In secular France, Christians work to bring old life to new monastery” from Marseille, France.

2. “A pitch to follow Jesus: Baseball fans embrace players’ faith testimonies” from Detroit.

3. “‘Most severely injured’ OKC bombing survivor overcomes evil with good” from Oklahoma City.

4. “COVID miracle: At the pandemic’s 5-year anniversary, it’s time to tell the story” from Atoka, Okla.

5. “Grief and guilt: Parents who’ve lost children feel the grief of Texas flooding deaths.”

6. “Holy imagination: Churches seek to reverse decline” from Mission Viejo, Calif.

7. “Faith, hope and LA: The positive side of reporting on too many disasters” from Altadena, Calif.

Besides the top prize, I was a finalist in the sports feature category for “A pitch to follow Jesus: Baseball fans embrace players’ faith testimonies” from Detroit.

2025 file photo via Arkansas SPJ