Arkansas Advocate wins national award for series on prison overcrowding

The Arkansas Advocate won first-place honors in the National Federation of Press Women’s National Communications Contest for its series on prison overcrowding.

Deputy Editor Antonette Grajeda and reporters Ainsley Platt and Tess Vrbin won first place in the in-depth reporting category. Winners were announced Saturday at the group’s annual conference in Ellicott City, Maryland.

NFPW is a nationwide organization of women and men pursuing careers throughout the communications industry, including print and electronic journalism, freelancing, new media, books, public relations, marketing, graphic design, photography, advertising, radio and television.

Arkansas Advocate staff win multiple state journalism awards

“Overcrowded,” a four-part series that explored the consequences of the state’s growing prison population, has also been recognized by the Arkansas Press Women and the Arkansas Pro chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists.

Platt also won second place in government or politics coverage in the Press Women’s contest for her story looking at the delays in fixing a Department of Corrections wastewater plant. 

Vrbin won third place in the news story category for online publications for her story examining concerns about a state law promoting “restorative reproductive medicine.”

The Advocate, which launched in 2022, is a nonpartisan, independent newsroom covering Arkansas government and politics. It’s an affiliate of States Newsroom, the nation’s largest state-focused nonprofit news organization. Advocate stories are available for free online and available at no cost for other news outlets to republish. The Advocate’s work is supported by grants and donations.