The Arkansas Press Association will hold its third annual Press Freedom Gala on Thursday, Oct. 24 in the Great Hall of the Clinton Presidential Center. The evening will begin with an hors d’oeuvres reception at 6 p.m., followed by a 7 p.m. dinner and an hour-long program. 

Those to be honored include:

APA Headliner of the Year Award — Arkansas Foodbank

 Now in its 40th year, the Arkansas Foodbank stands as the largest hunger relief organization in the state, serving 33 counties across the state’s central, eastern and southern regions. Its cornerstone initiatives, including Food For Kids, Food For Families, and Food For Seniors, enable the distribution of essential resources through a network of more than 400 food pantries, schools, colleges, shelters, senior centers, and other agencies across Arkansas. In 2020, Arkansas Foodbank distributed 40.4 million pounds of food across central and southern Arkansas, a 37% increase from 2019 attributed to the economic impact the coronavirus pandemic had on communities across central and southern Arkansas, as more people than ever before needed assistance putting food on tables due to business closures and layoffs. The Foodbank continues to distribute over 40 million pounds annually today, providing consistent access to nutritious food to families in need of assistance. A proud member of Feeding America and the Arkansas Hunger Relief Alliance, the Arkansas Foodbank finds pathways to connect people, resources and food to reach those in need, providing dignity, hope and a brighter future for all Arkansans.

APA Distinguished Service Award — James L. “Skip” Rutherford III

Dean Emeritus of the University of Arkansas Clinton School of Public Service in Little Rock James L. “Skip” Rutherford III joined the Arkansas Newspaper Foundation board in 2022, and has been quick to help when called upon by APA, most recently by serving as treasurer of Arkansans for a Free Press, APA’s ballot question committee in support of the Arkansas Government Disclosure Amendment & Act. He worked for the Batesville Guard during high school and majored in journalism and edited the Arkansas Traveler at the University of Arkansas. He’s now a five-decade-plus mail subscriber of the Batesville Guard and reads several newspapers every day. He has previously been named APA’s Headliner of the Year for his work in planning and opening the Clinton Presidential Center; Arkansan of the Year by the Arkansas Broadcasters Association; Arkansan of the Year by the Arkansas Times; and was recognized as Tourism Person of the Year at the Arkansas Governor's Conference on Tourism.

APA Journalism Educator of the Year Award — Larry Foley

Professor Larry Foley joined the faculty of the Fulbright College of Arts and Sciences School of Journalism and Strategic Media (SJSM) at the University of Arkansas in 1993 following 17 years as a TV reporter, producer and public TV executive. He served as chair of SJSM from 2014-2023 during a time of record student growth, and a multi-million-dollar infusion in new state-of-the-art facilities. Under his leadership, the journalism department became the School of Journalism and Strategic Media, twice earning national re-accreditation. He has been inducted into the Lemke Journalism Hall of Honor, the Fayetteville Schools Hall of Honor and the Mid-America Emmy Silver Circle for a distinguished career invested in teaching, reporting, writing, producing and directing stories, mostly about his beloved home state of Arkansas. His documentary films have earned eight Mid-America Emmys and 24 Emmy nominations in writing, journalistic enterprise, history, cultural history, special programs and community service.

“The Press Freedom Gala is a celebration of both a free press and of those who brought positive headlines to Arkansas,” said APA Executive Director Ashley Kemp Wimberley. “We are honored to recognize this year’s honorees and draw attention to their service to our state and to the Arkansas newspaper industry.”