The annual NWA Gridiron Show is scheduled for Oct. 29 and 30 at The Jones Center, 922 E. Emma Avenue in Springdale. The event brings local journalists and journalism students together to perform satirical skits based on the year’s news and events, blending humor with a fundraiser supporting scholarships and training for future regional journalists.
Clint Schaff, general manager of KUAF, will serve as the master of ceremonies for this year’s show. Schaff has long been involved with local public radio and regional media, lending credibility and a familiar face to the event, which is organized by the Northwest Arkansas Society of Professional Journalists (NWASSPJ).
This year’s theme, “Totally Revolting,” aims to capture the political and cultural upheavals defining 2026 in Northwest Arkansas and beyond. The performances will lampoon local, state, and national headlines, drawing on the collective insights of reporters and editors from various newspapers, radio, and broadcast outlets in the region.
The show has developed into a cornerstone fundraiser for NWASSPJ. Proceeds from ticket sales support journalism scholarships awarded to students enrolled at Northwest Arkansas colleges, including the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville. The scholarships help foster local talent and provide financial assistance for aspiring journalists to complete their education and gain practical training.
In addition to scholarships, funds raised contribute to training programs aimed at enhancing the skills of regional journalists. Training sessions focus on ethics, investigative reporting, multimedia storytelling, and adapting to the evolving media landscape—critical areas as local newsrooms navigate economic pressures and changing audience behaviors.
NWASSPJ President Jessica Elliott highlighted the importance of the event not only as a fundraiser but as a community-building exercise among journalists. “The Gridiron Show allows us to step outside our usual roles, to laugh at ourselves and the news we cover, and to connect with each other and audiences in ways journalism doesn’t usually permit,” Elliott said.
Past Gridiron Shows have featured spoof sketches on notable local issues such as municipal politics in Fayetteville, development debates in Benton County, and recurring regional economic topics like Walmart’s impact and infrastructure projects. The show’s humor often walks a fine line between critique and celebration of Northwest Arkansas’s distinct media landscape.
The Jones Center offers a sizable venue to accommodate performance needs and audience attendance. Located near downtown Springdale, it provides an accessible location for audiences from across Northwest Arkansas, including Fayetteville, Rogers, and Benton County. Local media outlets also use the show to raise awareness of journalism’s role in community accountability and transparency.
This year’s performers include journalists from multiple outlets across Northwest Arkansas, as well as journalism students gaining stage experience and community exposure. The event serves both as entertainment and as a showcase of the talents residing in the region’s newsrooms and classrooms.
Tickets are available in advance and at the door, with all proceeds directed toward NWASSPJ’s scholarship and development programs. The opportunity to engage with the media in a more informal and comedic setting underlines the increasingly vital role of local journalism in Northwest Arkansas’s civic life.
Source: Fayetteville Flyer