Journalism Performance Oct. 24 & 25 Promotes “Department of Gridiron Efficiency”
Fayetteville Mayor Molly Rawn will emcee the Northwest Arkansas Gridiron Show on Oct. 24 and 25, as local journalists seek humor in political and news headlines. The show will be performed at The Medium, located in downtown Springdale, at 214 S. Main St.
The event is a spoof of the year’s news events, written and performed by local journalists and journalism students. The Northwest Arkansas Society of Professional Journalists fundraiser helps pay for journalism scholarships and training.
The theme this year, “Department of Gridiron Efficiency,” refers to some news items highlighted in the show — the political and media upheavals of 2025.
“Gridiron has a way of proving that if you don’t laugh at yourself, someone else will happily do it for you,” Rawn said. “I’m thrilled to emcee this year’s show and be part of a tradition that reminds us not to take ourselves too seriously. Furthermore, it has never been more important to invest in the journalists who keep our community sharp, curious and well-informed.”
Since taking office earlier this year, Rawn has prioritized aligning city operations with community needs, empowering staff expertise and increasing resident engagement with local government. Before her election, Rawn held leadership roles in tourism, nonprofit and cultural organizations, including CEO of Experience Fayetteville.
Already, 2025 has been filled with plenty of grist for the Gridiron humor mill. Big changes across the federal government, including budget cutbacks and extensive layoffs, the intensifying nature of partisan politics, the first American-born pope leading the Catholic church, new standards for proposed state ballot initiatives, and the ever-evolving media landscape gave the Gridiron writers ample material for the show.
The writers also imagine the future of airline travel, explore novel approaches to regulating immigration, ponder the addition of a school of medicine in the region, and revisit a classic civics lesson on how a bill becomes law.
“The NWA Gridiron show dates back to 1978, and it’s a unique event,” said Gina Shelton, president of the local professional SPJ chapter and adviser of the University of Arkansas SPJ student chapter. “We hope people support local journalism — and come ready to laugh.”
The program is presented in two 45-minute acts with a 20-minute intermission.
Tickets are $33 and $38 each and are on sale now at the NWA Gridiron Show website. All seating is reserved for the Oct. 24 and 25 shows. Doors open at 6 p.m. for refreshments and seating. The show begins at 7 p.m.
For more information about the Gridiron, or to purchase tickets, go to nwagridiron.com.
