An election year when national media outlets are being questioned for objectivity reinforces the importance of locally owned media that bring community news to readers most affected in their cities and counties.
Awards were presented last week during the Georgia Press Association (GPA) convention at Jekyll Island to highlight those local news efforts compared to other community newspapers across the state. This year, 509 awards were presented to 78 newspapers after nearly 2,300 entries were received.
With the final votes tallied, three Smith Communications Inc. newspapers earned General Excellence finishes, with Lake Oconee News (LON) placing third in its division, The Baldwin Bulletin earning second-place honors for general excellence, and The Jones County News (JCN) earning a third-place finish for general excellence, calculated and based on both editorial and advertising contests.
“I am proud of our staff winning 47 top awards in the Georgia Press Association Better Newspaper Contest against some of the best newspapers in the state and the country,” Smith Communications President and CEO A. Mark Smith Sr. said. “It is a tribute to our employees, our company, and the communities we serve.”
The Lake Oconee News earned a GPA first-place award for
Layout and Design, with The Eatonton Messenger placing second, both of which were attributed to Managing Editor Josh Lurie. He also placed third for the Layout and Design of The Jones County News.
JCN’s Brad Harrison placed second in the sports section or pages. The News also placed first in Lifestyle Coverage, with credit going to editor Debbie Lurie-Smith.
Lurie earned a third-place award for headline writing, while Lurie-Smith finished second statewide for the division in Local News Coverage. Brandy Round placed first in a photo essay for The Lake Oconee News.
Lance McCurley earned a third-place award for the sports section or pages for The Baldwin Bulletin, while Trey Norris of The Eatonton Messenger placed third for Sports Coverage.
The staff of The Eatonton Messenger placed second for Lifestyle Coverage, with the Lake Oconee News placing third.
Bulletin editor Bailey McCully earned a first-place award for Lifestyle Coverage. The Lake Oconee News finished second in Local News Coverage under Lurie’s leadership. McCully also placed third for Local News Coverage for The Bulletin.
The Eatonton Messenger editor Ian Tocher received a GPA first-place award for Photo Essay, while McCully placed first and second in the same category for The Bulletin.
Lake Oconee News reporter Maureen Stratton placed second in Enterprise Story, while Greenberry Moore swept first, second, and third places for The Baldwin Bulletin.
Lurie received another first-place award for Page One Design for Lake Oconee News, placed second for The Messenger, and third for The Jones County News.
Lakelife Magazine contributor Hank Segars placed first for Magazine Story, with Lurie earning a second-place award for Magazine Cover Design, also for Lakelife.
Leigh Lofgren placed first in magazine photography for Lakelife, and contributor Michael S. Grace picked up a GPA third-place award for Jones Living magazine.
Lakelife editor Lynn Hobbs placed third in Magazine Business Feature writing and earned GPA first-place honors for Breaking News Writing for The Messenger. She also received a second-place award in the same category for The Bulletin.
Tocher picked up a second-place finish for Business Writing in The Messenger, while Stratton placed third for the Lake Oconee News.
Advertising awards
• First place, healthcare, The Messenger, Putnam General Hospital
• First place, healthcare, The Jones County News, Gray Family Health
• Second place, home furnishings and appliance, The Bulletin, Macon Bedroom & Mattress
• Second place, non-traditional, The Jones County News for the 2023 Jones County Community Guide
• First place, special section, Lake Oconee News, Masters Preview
• Second place, special section, The Jones County News, JCHS football preview 2023
• First place, classifieds, The Jones County News
• Second place, signature page, The Eatonton Messenger, Gators season congratulations