Local Journalism Shines at Report for America Awards: Phillip Powell Recognized Twice
Arkansas Times reporter Phillip Powell has garnered notable recognition at the fifth annual Local News Awards hosted by Report for America (RFA), a nonprofit dedicated to revitalizing local journalism. Powell, who is part of RFA’s 2025 cohort, was awarded a silver medal in the "News" category for his investigative piece on Arkansas legislation affecting wind energy, titled “Breaking wind: Proposal would split Arkansas in two for wind energy regulations.” Although the proposed bill did not pass, it highlighted the challenges faced by the wind energy sector in the state due to new stringent regulations implemented by lawmakers.
In addition to his silver award, Powell also secured a third-place honor in the "Enterprise/Investigative" category alongside fellow RFA reporter Lucas Dufalla from the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette. Their collaborative article, “Delta duck hunting offers conservation solutions, but the ducks are disappearing,” discusses declining duck habitats in the Arkansas Delta and the efforts of conservationists to address environmental challenges. This piece is part of a broader series focused on wetlands under the Mississippi Ag & Water Desk initiative.
The 2025 Local News Award winners were selected from over 200 submissions by 102 reporters nationwide, covering a wide array of critical issues such as climate change, racial equity, and local governance. RFA’s initiative seeks to bolster local newsrooms by placing reporters like Powell within their communities, partially funding their salaries. For those inspired by Powell’s reporting, RFA encourages community support to sustain this vital journalism.
Congratulations to Phillip Powell for his exceptional achievements and contributions to local journalism!
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