Jonesboro Unlimited (JU) was recognized with four top honors at the 2026 American Advertising Awards (ADDY) Gala in Paragould on February 27 for their Always Jonesboro initiative’s talent attraction campaign video. The event was hosted by the Northeast Arkansas chapter of the American Advertising Federation (AAF) and celebrates excellence in advertising and creative marketing across the region.
Awards received by Jonesboro Unlimited included three Gold ADDYs and Best of Show, the highest recognition awarded during the competition. The awards recognized the campaign’s creative storytelling and digital content designed to highlight the quality of life, opportunities, and community assets that make Jonesboro an attractive place to live, work, and build a career.
“Winning three Gold ADDYs and Best of Show is an incredible honor, but more importantly it shows that the story of Jonesboro is resonating beyond our city,” said Bethania Baray-Harrison, Director of Talent Attraction at Jonesboro Unlimited. “Always Jonesboro was created to celebrate the people, energy, and opportunities that make this community special, and we’re proud to see that message recognized at this level.”
Conducted annually by the AAF, the local level of the American Advertising Awards is the first of a three-tier, national competition that receives over 25,000 submissions each year. Receiving gold awards now advances the Always Jonesboro video to the AAF district competition that includes works from the rest of Arkansas as well as Oklahoma, Louisiana, and Texas. Judges for the NEA ADDY Awards are chosen from outside of the local market to ensure fair and unbiased evaluations.
The Always Jonesboro campaign video was produced by Jonesboro Unlimited in partnership with local videographer Matthew Walton of M Walton Studio, whose visual work helped capture the spirit of the community. It can be viewed at https://youtu.be/HPY0eMuqRd0?si=t7NkIzQZFCZW7BO0
Awards received by Jonesboro Unlimited includes:
- GOLD – Integrated Branded Content Campaign
- GOLD – Internet Commercial
- GOLD – Online Branded Content & Entertainment
- BEST OF SHOW – Integrated Branded Content Campaign
