Arkansas PBS is honored to be recognized by our peers at the National Educational Telecommunications Association (NETA) for exemplary work that supports our mission of informing, entertaining and educating Arkansans. Winners were announced Monday, Sept. 15, during the PMA Gala at the 2025 NETA Conference and CPB Public Media Thought Leader Forum. Thank you for your support!
You can watch compilation videos of the winning and nominated projects at myarpbs.org/awardwinning and myarpbs.org/awardnominated.
Arkansas PBS won the following Public Media Awards:
Overall Excellence in Marketing and Communications
Arkansas PBS strengthened statewide support through innovative campaigns blending nostalgia, storytelling and digital engagement. The “Keep Good Going” campaign increased donor engagement among Gen X and younger Baby Boomers, while the “This Month at Arkansas PBS” video series highlighted premieres and community initiatives featuring employees from across the station. Highlights included the 40th anniversary of “Quiz Bowl,” original programming such as “Unveiled: Daisy Bates and Johnny Cash” and “Arkansas Treasures,” and student-driven social content during the state basketball championships. Together, these initiatives reflect Arkansas PBS’s commitment to multiplatform communication that informs, inspires and connects Arkansans.
“Passage” – Content – Cultural Feature
This Arkansas PBS original production follows Arkansan Adam Riley of Fayetteville and Canadian Matty Clarke as they embark on a journey through uncharted waters, setting out to conquer the final grail of adventure: rowing over the top of Canada in handmade rowboats, a feat that would make them the first ever to cross the Northwest Passage, self-propelled, in a single season.
Student-Led Sports Social Video Marketing – Education – Youth Media
During the 2025 Arkansas High School State Basketball Championships, students from Lakeside High School’s broadcast program, Lakeside TV, worked side-by-side with Arkansas PBS’s Marketing and Engagement team to create real-time social content for the Arkansas PBS Instagram account. The students did more than simply assist – they led by interviewing players, producing Instagram Reels and Stories, and crafting behind-the-scenes content that reflected their perspective and voice.
Arkansas PBS was also a finalist in the following PMA categories:
Overall Excellence in Community Engagement
Arkansas PBS serves three million viewers and 26,000 members statewide, enriching civic life, amplifying local voices and celebrating culture, education and connection. Over the past year, we expanded Arkansas Live with high-profile livestreams, partnered with organizations like the Hot Springs Documentary Film Festival and Mosaic Templars Cultural Center, and premiered original films highlighting Arkansas stories. Families engaged through Read to Succeed, Family Day, Leonardo da Vinci Day and the Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood Sweater Drive, while “Arkansas Treasures” and “Election 2024” debates fostered learning and civic participation. With AR-CAN offering government access and hundreds of community events, Arkansas PBS continues to be a trusted neighbor and vital statewide resource.
Leonardo da Vinci Day – Education – National Project
To localize the PBS documentary “Leonardo da Vinci,” Arkansas PBS transformed a national broadcast geared toward adult audiences into a dynamic, family-centered day of learning. Branded as Leonardo da Vinci Day, the station created a two-part event that brought together families, educators and community partners at the Museum of Discovery (MOD) and Ron Robinson Theater in downtown Little Rock.
The event celebrated Leonardo’s expansive legacy – spanning invention, engineering, medicine, natural observation and the arts – through interactive activities and cross-disciplinary programming.
WATCH NOW:
See all of the outstanding Arkansas PBS content nominated for Public Media Awards in our YouTube playlist.
LEARN MORE:
57th Annual Public Media Award Winners Gallery