30 Jul 2024 501 LIFE contributors win state, national awards

Two contributors to 501 LIFE Magazine have been recognized at the National Federation of Press Women’s (NFPW) annual contest after winning at the state level. 

Dwain Hebda placed third in the NFPW Sweepstakes contest. Hebda, of Little Rock, is president of Ya!Mule Wordsmiths Inc., editor-in-chief of AY Media Group, a contributor to 501 LIFE Magazine and lead writer for Wheelhouse Publishing.

Tammy Keith, a freelance journalist, won first place in news writing for her article “Storm at Station 9,” which was assigned by 501 LIFE Magazine and appeared in its July 2023 issue. The article was about Fire Station 9 in Little Rock, which was struck by the March 2023 tornado with firefighters in the building.

“The NFPW Professional Communications Contest celebrates outstanding work across the spectrum of communications. Effective communication is vital in our complex, changing world, so it is appropriate that NFPW recognizes and encourages those who produce clear, engaging and accurate information that engages the reader, viewer or listener and serves the public interest,” said Helen Plotkin, Contest Director for the NFPW.

All entries in the NFPW contest are first-place entries from statewide contests. Hebda and Keith are members of Arkansas Press Women (APW), and their winning work advanced to the NFPW competition.

For the third year in a row, Hebda won the first-place Sweepstakes in the Arkansas Press Women’s annual contest. The Sweepstakes Award is based on a point system that factors in the entry ranking and the degree of competition in a category.

Keith won first place in news writing in the APW contest for the “Storm at Station 9” article. APW announced its winners at a luncheon in Little Rock earlier this year. National winners were announced at the NFPW’s annual June conference in St. Louis, Mo.

“We congratulate Dwain and Tammy for these state and national awards that attest to their talent and skill as journalists,” said Stefanie Brazile, editor of 501 LIFE Magazine. 

APW is an association of professional communicators in journalism, public information, business, education and government. NFPW is a nationwide organization of women and men pursuing careers across the communications spectrum, including print and electronic journalism, freelancing, marketing, graphic design, photography, advertising, radio and television.