The APA Lifetime Achievement Award is designed to honor and recognize outstanding service and accomplishments spanning a career in journalism in Alabama.

The inaugural Lifetime Achievement Awards took place at the 2003 Winter Convention to honor outstanding newspaper executives who are still living and have worked in Alabama newspapers for 25 years or more.

Click here to view the 2025 nomination form and eligibility criteria.

REQUIREMENTS:

This award may be given to any person who, at the time of selection, is a living, present or former newspaper executive or employee of a newspaper in Alabama. Nominees must have spent a significant percentage of their newspaper career in Alabama. Please provide any information you think will be helpful in deciding the inductees for next year, plus any additional letters of recommendation to assist the committee. For a nominee to be considered, you must attach biographical information. Include a photo of the nominee if available.

Additional criteria to consider:

Length of service in industry/state: minimum 25 years
Cannot be nominated by a family member
No restriction on “area” of service, i.e. production, editorial, advertising, circulation
The award will be presented at the Winter Convention during the Friday night banquet. A plaque will be presented and time allotted for a response from each recipient.

The 2017 inductees were Jimmy Ruff of The Clanton Advertiser and Kendal Weaver (retired) of the Associated Press.

The 2018 inductee was Jim Cox of The Clarke County Democrat.

The 2019 inductee was John Stevenson of The Randolph Leader.

The 2020 inductee was Steve Stewart of Troy University.

The 2021 inductees were Art Parker of The Montgomery Independent and Les Walters of the Journal Record.

The 2022 inductee was Ray Stansell of The Clay Times-Journal in Lineville.

For more information you may contact  Felicia Mason at 1-205-871-7737.