For the fifth year in a row, Dwain Hebda, editor-in-chief at AY Media Group and president of Ya!Mule Wordsmiths, received the Sweepstakes Award at the Arkansas Press Women Professional Communications Contest. The award is calculated based on a point system that factors in entry ranking and the degree of competition in a category.
“We are incredibly proud of all the talented journalists, writers and communications professionals whose exceptional work during 2025 was recognized at this year’s contest, including Dwain Hebda for his remarkable fifth consecutive Sweepstakes Award,” said Angie Faller, APW president. “These winners represent the very best of storytelling and journalism excellence in Arkansas.”
Hebda took home a total of 34 awards: four first-place awards, eight second-place awards, four third-place awards and 18 honorable mentions in the contest, leading to the sweepstakes victory. His first-place entries included “Food is Love” for AY About You and “All Grit, No Quit,” “Bridge Over Troubled Waters” and special 50th anniversary coverage of TAGGART Architects for Arkansas Money & Politics.
First-place entries from the state competition advance to the national level. National winners will be recognized during the National Federation of Press Women conference in Maryland Sept. 24 and 25.
Known for long-form stories that cut deep to the core matter of the subjects they explore, Hebda has more than 40 years of experience in journalism and writing. A native Nebraskan, he grew up sleeping beneath a desk while his parents, Clancy and Mary Ann Hebda, put the finishing touches on their hometown weekly newspaper, the Nance County Journal, which they owned and operated.
He founded Ya!Mule in 2009 after a decade-long career at Alltel, realizing his dream of launching his own company to provide writing, editing and storytelling services. His articles have now been featured in publications across numerous states. He is joined in his work by his wife, Darlene, editorial coordinator at AY Media Group.
In addition to being a member of Arkansas Press Women, Hebda has served on the board of the Society of Professional Journalists Arkansas Pro Chapter. Throughout his career, he has been an advocate for the profession of journalism and a dedicated mentor to up-and-coming journalists.
AY Media Group received a total of 60 awards in the Professional Communications Contest, which had 338 entries overall. Other first-place winners included president and publisher Heather Baker for her personal essay “What Happened: Four Years Later;” Mark Carter, senior editor; Mike Bedgood, production manager; Lora Puls, graphic designer; and Alex Hardgrave, staff writer.
Hardgrave received two first-place awards for “Bridging the Gap” and “Saving the Sparta,” both published in Arkansas Money & Politics.
Other AY award recipients included Jerry Cordova, graphic designer; Doug Crise, staff writer; Sarah DeClerk, copy editor; Mary LeSieur, former staff writer; Mak Millard, associate editor; and Lee Smith, graphic designer.
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