The Courier Herald claims five Georgia Press Association awards

The Courier Herald’s work from 2024 has been honored with five awards in this year’s Georgia Press Association Better Newspaper Contest. 

Members of the Dublin news team took first place in two categories, and second prize in three others, as its results were announced during the organization’s annual convention last weekend on Jekyll Island. 

“These awards are a reflection of the great work conducted every day in community journalism by the talented folks at The Courier Herald,” said DuBose Porter, executive director of the Georgia Trust for Local News. “From layout, to photography, to personal columns about life, to reporting, it is an honor to be recognized in this way by the Georgia Press Association’s Better Newspaper Contest.” 

The competition, held each year to recognize “outstanding achievements in newspaper journalism,” received over 2,200 total entries, and presented 482 awards in 42 categories to 74 different publications. The Courier Herald competes in Division C, which includes the largest of the state’s semi-weekly papers. 

“It is heartwarming every year to receive the number and the quality of the awards from the Georgia Press Association,” said GTLN general manager Pam Burney. “It is also a good feeling to be recognized by our peers as one of the best in the newspaper business. The Courier Herald has a wonderful team who work so well together in gathering the news and presenting it to the readers in both the print and digital space.” 

Kyle Dominy’s acclaimed column “The New Southern Dad,” earned a first-place award for a second-straight year, this time in the lifestyle/feature column category, with a trio of submissions that included reflections on the “Growing pains and wallet strains” of getting braces for son Trevor, the gratification of having lent a helping hand to a wayward turtle and – in an unexpectedly controversial installment – movies he no longer appreciates in adulthood. 

His three-part entry was described as an “easy and fun read into everyday life experiences” by a judge that also noted the category was “full of great columns.” 

The staff, led by front-page design point man Rodney Manley, was credited with another blue ribbon for “Page One,” which evaluates the appearance, appeal and impact of a newspaper’s presentation, in particular the six columns and 11.5 inches “above-the-fold” that make the most significant first impression with readers.

The Courier Herald’s entry was anchored by what will go down as its most memorable front of the year (and likely many to come) from a photo-dominated Sept. 28 edition documenting the wrath of Hurricane Helene, whose massive headline didn’t mince words. 

“This entry wins on the strength of the ‘Hell…ene’ headline and page treatment alone,” the judge wrote. “So many designers fail to let big headlines and dominant photos carry the day. This designer did not. The design here is simple, but oftentimes simple is effective when it comes to news. Well done.” 

The bundle of submissions also included a subsequent Oct. 1 edition that delved further into the community’s process of “Picking up the pieces” from the storm, and a colorful title page from the previous January featuring a collage of hard and human-interest stories and feature photos. 

Manley was also awarded second place in education writing for his coverage unpacking the variety of issues involved on either side of the saga that unfolded around a contentious 25 percent tax increase by the Dublin City Board of Education which drew a great deal of public outcry and ultimately led to a push for school consolidation. 

Sports editor Clay Reynolds received second place in the sports feature writing category, with a group of entries focused on the revival of dirt track racing at Dublin-441 Speedway, recruitment efforts of the Emerald City Football Officials Association amid a regional and nationwide referee shortage and the “End of an Aaron” at Trinity Christian School with the departure of Aaron George, its longtime athletic director and soccer coach, for a new career opportunity. 

Contributing photographer Danny Scarboro also scored second place in the sports action photo category for his dynamic shot, published April 2, capturing a fist pump by East Laurens forward Madison Cheek as her shot found the back of the net in a senior-night soccer match against Dublin. 

Each of the successful entries represented some of the paper’s best and most significant work from the year. 

“We are grateful for the recognition, but even more grateful for the support from our readers, as we record the history of our community,” Porter said.  

It was just as strong a contest for multiple other publications in the Georgia Trust for Local News who were also in on the weekend’s editorial accolades. 

Brieanna Smith, editor of the Houston Home Journal, took third in the humorous column category for Division A. 

Two veteran scribes representing the Manchester-based Star-Mercury Vindicator also scored high marks from judges. “Did You Know … ?”, Jack Bagley’s weekly collection of trivial curios, was runner-up in the lifestyle/feature column category for Division D, and publisher John Kuykendall received the Joe Parham trophy for best humorous column in Division E. 

The Albany Herald racked up the trust’s largest haul of awards, including a third place in the overall accounting of General Excellence for Division B. 

“That’s a tribute to all the people who work at the newspaper,” editor Carlton Fletcher said. “Like in any job, there are times when it seems the only feedback we get is of the negative variety. Earning recognition in this manner reaffirms for us why we chose this profession.”

Its sports editor, Joe Whitfield, received both second- and third-place honors for sports feature photos, and added a second place award in sports feature writing. 

Staff writer Lucile Lannigan, in addition to a second place in feature writing and firsts for enterprise story and business writing, was one of two recipients of the GPA’s Emerging Young Journalist Award, which highlights rising stars in the news business who are younger than 30 years of age and hold less than five years of professional reporting experience. 

“I nominated Lucy for this award because I, frankly, have never seen a young journalist more eager and willing to seek out not only compelling and timely articles, but also the people who are most impacted by the stories she writes,” Fletcher told the GPA. “She goes where the stories are, no matter the location, and she shows no fear in interviewing high-profile individuals or the less noticeable common folk who do not typically seek attention. Lucy is fearless in her search, and she frequently puts ‘getting the story’ above her own personal interests.” 

Lannigan, who is in only her third year with the Herald, and the Telegraph’s Jesse Fraga were selected for the prestigious honor. 

“It’s an honor to be recognized by my peers in this way,” Lannigan said. “Not only is my work being recognized, but this means overlooked issues and stories in southwest Georgians are getting recognition as well.” 

“I feel lucky to get to do this work and always want to emphasize the importance of local journalism and of supporting your local newspaper, especially now,” she continued. “Strong newspapers build strong, informed and empowered communities.”