Georgia Press Association awards

The Associated Press

PANAMA CITY, Fla. --The Georgia Press Association honored winners in its 2008 Better Newspaper Contest at the group's annual convention Friday night.

In most categories, daily and weekly papers were judged in eight classes based on size. In some categories all weekly newspapers were judged together in one class and all daily newspapers were judged in a second class.

The winners in each category for each class were:

In House Publication: 3rd Place AGL Resources, Connections Magazine; 2nd Place The Tifton Gazette, Spirit Magazine; 1st Place The Columbus Ledger-Enquirer, Northland Neighbors.

Newspaper Website Weekly: 3rd Place The Walton Tribune, Monroe; 2nd Place The Champion, Decatur; 1st Place The News Observer, Blue Ridge.

Newspaper Website Daily: 3rd Place The Columbus Ledger-Enquirer; 2nd Place The Telegraph, Macon; 1st Place The Times, Gainesville.

Editorial Cartoonist Weekly: 3rd Place The Sylvania Telephone, Robert Lee Davis; 2nd Place Tribune & Georgian, St. Marys, Michael Alford; 1st Place Tribune & Georgian, St. Marys, Michael Alford.

Editorial Cartoonist Daily: 3rd Place Rome News-Tribune, Mike Lester; 2nd Place The Augusta Chronicle, Rick McKee; 1st Place The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Mike Luckovich.

Information Graphics Weekly: 3rd Place Tribune & Georgian, St. Marys, Kristi Glinski; 2nd Place The Champion, Decatur, Travis Hudgons; 1st Place Calhoun Times, Rick Winters.

Information Graphics Daily: 3rd Place The Times, Gainesville, Kristen Morales; 2nd Place The Augusta Chronicle, Staff; 1st Place Savannah Morning News, Terrence Horan.

Newspaper Illustration, Albert & Dorothy Jenkins Award: 3rd Place Monroe County Reporter, Forsyth, Carole Dixon; 2nd Place The Columbus Ledger-Enquirer, Don Coker; 1st Place The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Elizabeth Landt.

Sports Writing H: 3rd Place Meriwether Vindicator, Greenville, Bryan Geter; 2nd Place The Clinch County News, Homerville, Len Robbins; 1st Place The Champion, Decatur, Brian Egeston.

Sports Writing G: 3rd Place The Sylvania Telephone, Eric Robinson; 2nd Place Morgan County Citizen, Madison, Greg Sullivan; 1st Place The Catoosa County News, Ringgold, staff.

Sports Writing F: 3rd Place The Hartwell Sun, Mark Hynds; 2nd Place The Elberton Star, Mark Berryman; 1st Place The Jackson Herald, Jefferson, Allen Luton.

Sports Writing E: 3rd Place The News Observer, Blue Ridge, Chris Brown; 2nd Place The Coastal Courier, Hinesville, Mike Riddle; 1st Place Thomaston Times, Andy Johnson.

Sports Writing D: 3rd Place Cherokee Tribune, Canton, Carter Cordell; 2nd Place Cherokee Tribune, Canton, Eric Brown; 1st Place Americus Times-Recorder, Chris Whitaker.

Sports Writing C: 3rd Place LaGrange Daily News, Kevin Eckleberry; 2nd Place The Daily Citizen-News, Dalton, Larry Fleming; 1st Place The Daily Citizen-News, Dalton, Marty Kirkland.

Sports Writing B: 3rd Place Rome News-Tribune, Jeremy Stewart; 2nd Place Valdosta Daily Times, Bryan Fazio; 1st Place Marietta Daily Journal, Greg Oshust.

Sports Writing A: 3rd Place The Augusta Chronicle, John Boyette; 2nd Place The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Steve Hummer; 1st Place Savannah Morning News, Noell Barnidge.

Sports Feature Photograph G: 3rd Place Jefferson Reporter/News & Farmer, Louisville, Parish Howard; 2nd Place Banks County News, Homer, Chris Bridges; 1st Place The Blackshear Times, Gordon Raulerson.

Sports Feature Photograph F: 3rd Place The Jackson Herald, Jefferson, Allen Luton; 2nd Place The True Citizen, Waynesboro, Anne Marie Kyzer, 1st Place The True Citizen, Waynesboro, Allen Smith.

Sports Feature Photograph E: 3rd Place The Walton Tribune, Monroe, David Berry; 2nd Place Calhoun Times, Rick Winters; 1st Place The Covington News, Mandi Singer.

Sports Feature Photograph D: 3rd Place The Union-Recorder, Milledgeville, Ross Couch; 2nd Place Cherokee Tribune, Canton, Mike Jacoby, 1st Place Cherokee Tribune, Canton, Nathan Self.

Sports Feature Photograph C: 3rd Place The Times-Herald, Newnan, Bob Fraley; 2nd Place The Courier Herald, Dublin, Joey Wilson; 1st Place Forsyth County News, Cumming, Jim Dean.

Sports Feature Photograph B: 3rd Place Athens Banner-Herald, John Curry; 2nd Place Marietta Daily Journal, Leigh Auerbach, 1st Place Rome News-Tribune, William T. Martin.

Sports Feature Photograph A: 3rd Place The Macon Telegraph, Jason Vorhees; 2nd Place Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Brant Sanderlin; 1st Place The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Pouya Dianat.

Investigative Reporting H: 3rd Place The Champion, Decatur, Andy Phelan, 2nd Place Albany Journal, Staff; 1st Place The Clinch County News, Homerville, Len Robbins.

Investigative Reporting G: 3rd Place The Blackshear Times, DeAnn Komanecky; 2nd Place Monroe County Reporter, Forsyth, Gina Herring and Will Davis; 1st Place The McDuffie Mirror, Thomson, Jason B. Smith.

Investigative Reporting F: 3rd Place The Summerville News, Jason Espy; 2nd Place The True Citizen, Waynesboro, Elizabeth Billips; 1st Place The Clayton Tribune, Blake Spurney.

Investigative Reporting E: 3rd Place Calhoun Times, Susan Kirkland; 2nd Place The Covington News, Rachel Oswald; 1st Place Walker County Messenger, Lafayette, Tim Carlfeldt.

Investigative Reporting D: 3rd Place The Union-Recorder, Milledgeville, Hannah Marney; 2nd Place Fayette Daily News, Fayetteville, Cindy Morley; 1st Place The Union-Recorder, Milledgeville, Scott Teague.

Investigative Reporting C: 3rd Place LaGrange Daily News, Sherri Brown; 2nd Place LaGrange Daily News, Matthew Strother; 1st Place Times-Georgian, Carrollton, Spencer Crawford.

Investigative Reporting B: 3rd Place The Brunswick News, Staff; 2nd Place Athens Banner-Herald, Joe Johnson; 1st Place Athens Banner-Herald, Todd DeFeo.

Investigative Reporting A: 3rd Place The Augusta Chronicle, Mike Wynn and Johnny Edwards; 2nd Place Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Alan Judd and Andy Miller, 1st Place The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Bill Rankin and Heather Vogell.

Spot News Photo H: 3rd Place The Metter Advertiser, Jerri Goodman; 2nd Place The Metter Advertiser, Jerri Goodman; 1st Place The Champion, Decatur, Travis Hudgons.

Spot News Photo G: 3rd Place The Sylvania Telephone, Eric Robinson; 2nd Place Jefferson Reporter/News & Farmer, Louisville, David Irwin; 1st Place Morgan County Citizen, Madison, Greg Sullivan.

Spot News Photo F: 3rd Place The Eatonton Messenger, Marla Pretty; 2nd Place The Jackson Herald, Jefferson, April Reese Sorrow; 1st Place The Eatonton Messenger, John Carson.

Spot News Photo E: 3rd Place The News Observer, Blue Ridge, Joe DiPietro; 2nd Place The Covington News, Mandi Singer; 1st Place The Northeast Georgian, Cornelia, Kristen Mangum.

Spot News Photo D: 3rd Place Griffin Daily News, Sheila A. Marshall; 2nd Place Griffin Daily News, Sheila A. Marshall; 1st Place The Union-Recorder, Milledgeville, Scott Teague.

Spot News Photo C: 3rd Place LaGrange Daily News, Matt Jones; 2nd Place The Courier Herald, Dublin, Joey Wilson; 1st Place Forsyth County News, Cumming, Jim Dean.

Spot News Photo B: 3rd Place Marietta Daily Journal, Thinh D. Nguyen; 2nd Place Athens Banner-Herald, Tricia Spaulding; 1st Place Rome News-Tribune, William T. Martin.

Spot News Photo A: 3rd Place The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, John Spink; 2nd Place The Telegraph, Macon, Grant Blankenship; 1st Place Savannah Morning News, Richard Burkhart.

Hard News Writing H: 3rd Place The Champion, Decatur, Andy Phelan; 2nd Place The Metter Advertiser, Jerri Goodman; 1st Place The Champion, Decatur, Andy Phelan.

Hard News Writing G: 3rd Place Jefferson Reporter/News & Farmer, Louisville, Faye Ellison; 2nd Place The Oconee Enterprise, Watkinsville, Staff; 1st Place Morgan County Citizen, Madison, Staff.

Hard News Writing F: 3rd Place The True Citizen, Waynesboro, Elizabeth Billips; 2nd Place The Clayton Tribune, Blake Spurney; 1st Place The Jackson Herald, Jefferson, Staff.

Hard News Writing E: 3rd Place The News Observer, Blue Ridge, Cynthia Maude; 2nd Place The Covington News, Tyler Smith; 1st Place The Cedartown Standard, Aimee L. Harmison.

Hard News Writing D: 3rd Place Fayette Daily News, Fayetteville, Cindy Morley; 2nd Place The Observer, Moultrie, Lori Glen; 1st Place Fulton County Daily Report, Atlanta, Andy Peters.

Hard News Writing C: 3rd Place Statesboro Herald, Phil Boyum; 2nd Place The Times-Herald, Newnan, W. Winston Skinner; 1st Place Forsyth County News, Cumming, Ben Holcombe.

Hard News Writing B: 3rd Place Rome News-Tribune, Mike Gellatty; 2nd Place The Times, Gainesville, Debbie Gilbert; 1st Place Athens Banner-Herald, Joe Johnson.

Hard News Writing A: 3rd Place Savannah Morning News, Mary Landers; 2nd Place Savannah Morning News, Jan Skutch; 1st Place The Augusta Chronicle, Staff.

Feature Photograph H: 3rd Place The Metter Advertiser, Mandi Carroll; 2nd Place The Commerce News, Mark Beardsley; 1st Place The Millen News Deborah Bennett.

Feature Photograph G: 3rd Place Morgan County Citizen, Madison, Angelina Bellebuono; 2nd Place Morgan County Citizen, Madison, Angelina Bellebuono; 1st Place The Blackshear Times, Wayne Hardy.

Feature Photograph F: 3rd Place The True Citizen, Waynesboro, Anne Marie Kyzer; 2nd Place The True Citizen, Waynesboro, Elizabeth Billips; 1st Place The True Citizen, Waynesboro Elizabeth Billips.

Feature Photograph E: 3rd Place Thomaston Times, Sarah Morgan; 2nd Place Calhoun Times, Jackie Seger; 1st Place The News Observer, Blue Ridge, Joe DiPietro.

Feature Photograph D: 3rd Place The Tifton Gazette, Angie Thompson; 2nd Place The Tifton Gazette, Ivy Weeks; 1st Place Cherokee Tribune, Canton, Nathan Self.

Feature Photograph C; 3rd Place The Courier Herald, Dublin, Joey Wilson; 2nd Place The Times-Herald, Newnan, Bob Fraley; 1st Place LaGrange Daily News, Matt Jones.

Feature Photograph B: 3rd Place Rome News-Tribune, Ken Caruthers; 2nd Place Rome News-Tribune, Ken Caruthers; 1st Place Rome News-Tribune, Ken Caruthers.

Feature Photograph A: 3rd Place Savannah Morning News, Hunter McRae; 2nd Place Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Andy Sharp; 1st Place Savannah Morning News, Hunter McRae.

Feature Writing H: 3rd Place Charlton County Herald, Folkston, Laura Crozier; 2nd Place The Champion, Decatur, Gale Horton Gay; 1st Place The West Georgia Beacon, Hogansville, Staff.

Feature Writing G: 3rd Place The McDuffie Mirror, Thomson, Lynn Davidson; 2nd Place Morgan County Citizen, Madison, Staff; 1st Place Morgan County Citizen, Madison, Meg Ferrante.

Feature Writing F: 3rd Place The Summerville News, Jessica Fleming; 2nd Place The True Citizen, Waynesboro, Anne Marie Kyzer; 1st Place The Toccoa Record, Jessica Waters.

Feature Writing E: 3rd Place Walker County Messenger, Lafayette, Tim Carlfeldt; 2nd Place The Post-Searchlight, Bainbridge, Carolyn Iamon; 1st Place The Covington News, Tyler Smith.

Feature Writing D: 3rd Place The Tifton Gazette, Angie Thompson; 2nd Place The Observer, Moultrie, Lori Glenn; 1st Place Cherokee Tribune, Canton, Nicole Theberge.

Feature Writing C: 3rd Place LaGrange Daily News, Jennifer Shrader; 2nd Place The Times-Herald, Newnan, Megan Almon; 1st Place LaGrange Daily News, Sherri Brown.

Feature Writing B: 3rd Place Rome News-Tribune, Severo Avila; 2nd Place Rome News-Tribune, Charlotte Atkins; 1st Place The Times, Gainesville, Rick Lavender.

Feature Writing A: 3rd Place The Telegraph, Macon, Amy Leigh Womack; 2nd Place The Augusta Chronicle, Johnny Edwards; 1st Place The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Moni Basu.

 

Nice to see Rick Lavender continue to reap rewards. In another lifetime, he was the best outdoors editor in the state.

 

Given the amount of pissing and whining newspapers do about the horrible economy, maybe it would have made sense for the state's newspapers to boost their own economy by having their convention in their own damn state.

 

Why are the GPA Awards held in Panama City?

 

Outsourcing. It's the new way.

 

What happens in Panama City, stays in Panama City!

 

The motto for the association should be: "Georgia's OK, but we'd rather be in Panama City"

 

I dread the day when I have to fly to Bangalore to pick up my award.

But that day is coming.

 

Are there really so many publications in the state of Georgia that warrant eight categories for each award type? Looks like everyone who entered got a ribbon.

 

Shoot, south of Maconga, Panama City is the second-biggest town in the republic of South Georgia.

 

Everybody gets ice cream!!!!!!