America Amplified Election 2024 initiative is a community engagement journalism initiative funded by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting involving public media stations across the country, building on a similar project in 2022 to help public media stations provide critical information about voting during the midterm elections.

“This is the first community engagement initiative of its type that we’ve undertaken here at Little Rock Public Radio, and we couldn’t be more excited about it,” said Daniel Breen, news director for Little Rock Public Radio. “We hope that we can build on the success of this initiative to inform our coverage about other non-election related issues, so that we can be a better neighbor to our community and serve as a vital source of free, unbiased reporting for everyone in central Arkansas and beyond.”

America Amplified prioritizes meaningful in-person and online engagement to build trust, expand audiences, and deepen the impact of public media journalism. In 2024, Little Rock Public Radio will use community engagement journalism practices to combat the spread of misinformation and distrust in media while also sharing audience-focused resources on voting information.

“The project aims to put people, not preconceived ideas, at the center of the reporting process,” Breen said. “Public media is uniquely suited to serve as a community resource, and getting the buy-in and trust of our community is central to that goal. For this project, we aim to listen to what our community says they want to hear in our election reporting and use that input as a roadmap for our coverage going forward.”

Breen hopes that the America Amplified initiative will help Little Rock Public Radio move beyond the traditional “horse race” style of covering elections, ensuring that issues that most affect the communities are covered.

“We’ll pose questions asked by members of our central Arkansas community directly to candidates who are seeking their votes and present those answers in ways that our stakeholders can most benefit from,” he said. “It’s our hope that this leads to a higher level of civic engagement in our elections, since Arkansas traditionally has very low voter turnout.”

Little Rock Public Radio will be reaching out to voters through outreach events like listening sessions to ensure that community members, especially new voters, know their voices are being heard.

“Central to that is our Hearken embed, which is available right now on our homepage,” Breen stated. “Listeners can ask questions about the upcoming elections using the embed, which will then forward it to our Election Information Portal. This tool uses generative AI to gather verified information from state election offices to respond to questions posed by their audience and community. Responses will be drafted using, in part, the information gathered by the GAI tool. They will be edited, revised, and verified by America Amplified and LRPR newsroom staff.”

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Muriel Schrepfer, graphic designer in the Office of Communications and Marketing, has received the Ben Fry Service to ����Vlog��ý Little Rock Award. The award recipient is an individual who is distinctive in service through committees, special events, implementation of creative ideas or support, and encouragement of others.

“I’m honored to receive this award for my service and contributions to ����Vlog��ý Little Rock,” Schrepfer said. “I thoroughly enjoy serving on committees and volunteering at our campus events. The collaboration and partnerships across campus and this recognition fuel my enthusiasm to strive for excellence, continue making a positive impact, and support our campus community.”

Daniel Breen, news director for Little Rock Public Radio, has received the Community Service Award. This award recipient has been particularly successful in organizing community events or had major achievements in civic, service, or specialty organizations/events.

“I am beyond grateful to receive this year’s Staff Senate Community Service Award,” Breen said. “I’m so lucky to get to work every day with such a dedicated staff whose first goal is looking out for the public, and each other. I’m honored to be considered among so many other dedicated, talented people who work every day to make ����Vlog��ý Little Rock, and their community, a better place. I look forward to continuing our work to be a better neighbor and to reach people where they’re at to better inform them of the decisions and policies that most affect their day-to-day life.”

Additionally, Tamela Cane, resource family coordinator for MidSOUTH, has received the Personal Growth Award. The award winner is described as an individual whose scholarship, research, or creative talent has been particularly outstanding.

“This is such an honor!” Cane said. “I am humbled to be recognized amongst a campus full of so many professionals. This is definitely a manifestation of an answered prayer!”

The three winners will receive a $3,000 award distributed via payroll distributions. ����Vlog��ý Little Rock Alumni Association Board of Director members Becky Flynn and Grady McCorkle served as judges.

“Congratulations to all of our winners this year,” said Laterika Tooks, Staff Senate president-elect and director of annual giving. “Thank you for making a difference both on and off campus.”

More information about the Staff Achievement Award winners:

Ben Fry Service to ����Vlog��ý Little Rock Award

Schrepfer has been selected for the Ben Fry Service to ����Vlog��ý Little Rock Award for her exceptional contributions to the ����Vlog��ý Little Rock community through her outstanding work as a graphic designer.

“Muriel’s creative work is exceptional in helping to tell the university’s stories,” said Angie Faller, news director, who nominated Schrepfer. “You will see her work in everything from newspaper ads to event flyers to slides on the digital marquee to billboards. Everywhere you look at ����Vlog��ý Little Rock, you are likely to find an inspiring graphic that was created by Muriel. Her dedication to supporting and enhancing our university community through her graphic design expertise is truly commendable.”

In the past year, Schrepfer has taken on some transformative projects, including the implementation of Marq as a campus design solution and the redesign of the ����Vlog��ý Little Rock Brand Guide, an essential guide that contains important information about how ����Vlog��ý Little Rock should communicate with and present its story to the community.

She also serves on a number of committees and is actively involved in campus life. Schrepfer serves in the positions of staff liaison and co-chair of the Wesley Foundation Board. She is also a member of Safe Zone, SpectacuaLR, and the Eclipse celebration planning committees as well as collaborative committees with Admissions, Athletics, and the Graduate School.

“Muriel has made significant contributions to ����Vlog��ý Little Rock through her hard work and commitment to building collaboration with our campus partners,” said Dr. Carrie Phillips, chief communications and marketing officer. “Her service has positively impacted both staff and students, making her a deserving recipient of this award.”

Staff Achievement Award in Community Service

Breen, a 2018 mass communication graduate of ����Vlog��ý Little Rock, has received the Staff Achievement Award in Community Service for his hard work and dedication in keeping the public informed through his community reporting. He is a familiar voice on Little Rock Public Radio, serving as a reporter, anchor, former Morning Edition host, news director, and co-host and producer of The Arkansas NewsWrap.

Breen can often be found hard at work in the community, talking to the public about subjects that matter.

“My neighborhood was hit by the tornado (in 2023), and I remember driving down the street and seeing Daniel out talking to people and bringing their stories to the wider community,” said Merrill Wells of Little Rock Public Radio, who nominated Breen. “Daniel Breen has been a fixture in the community at town halls, voting polls, bringing ‘Issues that Matter’ program to the community and even helped orchestrate an ‘Arkansas NewsWrap’ program collaborating with other radio news directors across Arkansas.”

Jonathan Seaborn, general manager of Little Rock Public Radio, said that Breen has demonstrated an unwavering commitment to excellence and a profound dedication to the community through his outstanding work in journalism.

“Daniel’s passion for storytelling and his relentless pursuit of truth have been evident in the quality and depth of his reporting,” Seaborn said. “He has tackled a wide range of issues, from local politics to social justice, with sensitivity and insight, shedding light on important issues and giving voice to those who often go unheard.”

Additionally, Breen is actively involved in community outreach initiatives, participating in panel discussions, hosting public forums, and engaging with listeners to ensure that Little Rock Public Radio’s coverage reflects the diverse perspectives and concerns of the community.

“His impact on the community is massive as hundreds and thousands of Arkansans would wake up hearing his voice as the morning edition host and bringing the local news,” Wells said. “There are a devout group of fans who call themselves ‘Breenies’ that donate to support public radio and community engagement.”

Breen’s impressive community reporting skills have earned him awards from the Arkansas Pro Chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists, Arkansas Press Women, National Federation of Press Women, and the Arkansas-Oklahoma Associated Press Broadcasters.

Staff Achievement Award in Personal Growth

Cane has worked at MidSOUTH since 2012, starting out as a resource family trainer before becoming a technical writer, where she developed and maintained written and online training material. As the resource family coordinator for MidSOUTH’s Resource Family Program, she provides meaningful learning and training experiences for newly hired resource family trainers and prospective foster and adoptive families.

“Tami has consistently demonstrated good initiative in fulfilling the task of providing meaningful learning experiences for prospective resource family trainers, foster families, and adoptive families,” said Leisa Myles, director of MidSOUTH’s Resource Family Program, who nominated Cane. “She approaches her job in a manner that allows individuals to enhance their skill level and knowledge. Her dedication to child welfare, MidSOUTH’s mission statement, and the University of Arkansas at Little Rock are unparalleled.”

According to Myles, Cane’s most outstanding achievement took place last year when she created a new training curriculum for MidSOUTH. Cane was selected as a member of Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders’ Executive Order to Protect Children, Support Families, and Improve the Foster Care System in Arkansas sub-committees, where she worked on a plan to revise the Resource Family Training Program at MidSOUTH.

The Arkansas Division of Children and Family Services selected the National Training Development Curriculum for Traditional Resource Families to replace the current training curriculum for the Resource Family Training Program. Cane participated in a Training the Trainer session with the National Training and Development Curriculum to help prepare the transition to the new training curriculum, Connecting AR Families. Cane organized a facilitator’s guide specific to the state.

At ����Vlog��ý Little Rock, Cane has served on Staff Senate, the Arkansas Conference on Child Abuse and Neglect Registration and Planning Committee, MidSOUTH Annual Summer Conference Registration Committee, and the MidSOUTH Prevention Summit Registration Committee.

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Politics and Government Reporter Josie Lenora took home two first prize awards. Her report, “New superintendent talks about the future of the LRSD,” won first prize in the Education – Audio/Video category, with a judge commenting “Such a good and thorough interview. Covered all the bases. Very well done.”

Lenora also won first prize in the Politics – Audio/Video category for her report “Democratic Party of Arkansas delays choosing a new chair during emotional meeting.” A judge commented “Good job capturing the emotions of the meeting. Solid presentation.”

News Director Daniel Breen was a finalist in that same category for his report “Sarah Huckabee Sanders is expected to win Republican primary for Arkansas governor” which aired nationally on NPR’s “All Things Considered.” Breen also took home a first prize award in the Profiles – Radio/Audio category for his report, “In Arkansas, slain journalist leaves behind long legacy.”

In the podcast category, Arts & Letters host J. Bradley Minnick and producers Mary Ellen Kubit and Joseph Fuller were finalists for their episodes “A View From The Banks of the Arkansas River,” “Burbot Bash!” and “The Wickedest Woman In New York.”

The Arkansas SPJ honors local journalists each year in its Diamond Journalism Awards ceremony, held Tuesday in downtown Little Rock. Entries come from Arkansas as well as Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Oklahoma, Tennessee and Texas.

This year’s contest drew 363 entries in more than 80 categories. Members of the Washington, D.C., Chapter of SPJ served as judges. Proceeds from the competition fund scholarships for students enrolled in college journalism programs who plan a career in the field.

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Daniel Breen, a 2018 graduate of ����Vlog��ý Little Rock and award-winning reporter and news anchor for ����Vlog��ý Little Rock Public Radio, served as the keynote speaker.

“My journey from a student at ����Vlog��ý Little Rock to newsroom leader has taken me a long way, and I am grateful to be where I am today,” Breen said. “My mentors here at ����Vlog��ý Little Rock gave me the space to breathe and learn and ensured that I had the strongest foundation possible for growth.”

Dr. Tim Edwards, interim chair of the School of Mass Communication, and Professor Sonny Rhodes presented the Meritorious Service Award to Arkansas Press Association/Arkansas Newspaper Foundation and the Arkansas Broadcasters Association for their invaluable support to mass communication students at ����Vlog��ý Little Rock.

Six students were inducted into Kappa Tau Alpha, a college honor society that recognizes academic excellence and promotes scholarship in journalism and mass communication. These students include undergraduate students Jesse Cain, Allison Risius, Olivia Hicks, and Ahmed Elkhattabi as well as graduate students Abigail Carlson and Daniela Dehaghani. Cain also received the Top Scholar Award.

Students who received the Academic Achievement Award for being on the Chancellor’s List and/or Dean’s List include Shalonda Nelson, Allison Risius, Jaelyn Tucker, Kayla Woods, Adrian Rogers, Emily Wells, Ahmed Elkhattabi, Jesse Cain, Kate Benne, Kristin Divino, Olivia Hicks, Braden Rainey, and Miles Miller.

Mass communication students who received additional awards include:

• Outstanding/Top Graduating Senior Award – Jesse Cain and Allison Risius
• Outstanding/Top Graduating Graduate Student Award – Franca Afolabi and Diana Denning
• Clifton O. Lawhorne Memorial Award – Chloe McGehee – Awarded to journalism student/major who exemplifies outstanding leadership.
• Director’s Award – Emily Wells – Presented to a student who demonstrates initiative, leadership, collaboration, and engagement both in and out of the classroom, and whose efforts contribute to the life of the School of Mass Communication.

The School of Mass Communication awarded nearly $100,000 in scholarships to students for the 2023-24 academic year. Mass communication students who received scholarships include:

• The Dan and Johnnie Winn Memorial Scholarship – Matt Anderson, George Arthur, Andrew Bacon, Kevin Beckwith, Kiara Bradford, Arielle Fresh, John Reed, Adrian Rogers, and Kelle Watts
• K.A. Engel Memorial Scholarship – Kate Benne, Kristin Divino, Ahmed Elkhattabi, Daniela Montero, John Reed, Kennedi Stephens, and Daneisha Whitaker
• Golden Mike Award/Steve Stephens & Belinda Shults Endowed Scholarship – Matt Anderson
• Arkansas Broadcasters Association Endowed Scholarship – Adrian Rogers
• TreDay.com Scholarship – Daneisha Whitaker
• Television Broadcasters of Arkansas Scholarship – Ahmed Elkhattabi
• RD Doubleday Endowed Scholarship – Andrew Bacon
• Roy Mitchell Scholarship – Ahmed Elkhattabi
• Governor Orval E. Faubus Scholarship – Frankquetta Mallett
• Jane and John Thompson Endowed Journalism Scholarship – Ebony Gurley
• Herbert and Gertrude Latkin Scholarship Fund – Kate Benne
• Jerol Garrison Endowed Journalism Scholarship – Kristin Divino
• William K. Rutherford Freedom of Information Act Endowed Memorial Scholarship – Kate Benne
• Jason Irby Scholarship – Kevin Beckwith
• Harry Ashmore Award – Kristin Divino
• Edith Woods Sweezy Memorial Scholarship in Journalism – Daniela Montero

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