By: Ellisyn Sanders
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. (UATV) – A University of Arkansas student journalist is earning national recognition for her reporting on Arkansas’ maternal health crisis.
UATV reporter and staff member Harper Buck placed second in the Television Hard News Reporting category at the Broadcast Education Association Festival of Media Arts.
Buck, a senior broadcast journalism major, was recognized for her television package examining Arkansas’ maternal mortality rates, an issue that has drawn statewide and national attention as the state ranks among the highest in the country for pregnancy-related deaths.
Her story centered on an Arkansas mother who suffered a stillbirth and used that experience to highlight concerns about access to prenatal care and maternal health resources across the state.
Buck said she was shocked when she learned she had placed in the national competition and that the recognition helped restore her confidence.
“I’ve gone through a weird period where I didn’t know if I was good enough for this career or if this is what I wanted to do. So this was a good reminder that I’m capable.”
Buck said covering maternal health in Arkansas is critical as families continue to face barriers to care.
“I think it’s important that we find the resources to help these women and these children that are being born in the state of Arkansas.”
The Festival of Media Arts is BEA’s international faculty and student digital media and broadcast competition. This year’s event included 2,250 entries from more than 300 participating schools.
In addition to Buck’s individual recognition, the University of Arkansas ranked 27 out of 38 in BEA’s Top Winning News Programs.
Buck credited her professors and the journalism program for helping her reach this milestone.
“I’m just so thankful that I have a program, like, the one I do here that pours into me and supports me every step of the way and gives me the resources I need in order to achieve things like this.”
Buck’s recognition highlights the impact of student journalism on issues affecting Arkansans and reinforces UATV’s presence on the national stage.