Champion takes top press association award for fifth consecutive year

For the fifth consecutive year The Champion in its division won first place in General Excellence, the highest award in Georgia Press Association’s Better Newspaper Contest.

The Champion also garnered eight first-place awards in this year’s press association competition. They are: News Editor Andrew Cauthen for Hard News Writing and for Serious Column, Chief Operating Officer John Hewitt for Feature Writing, Sports Editor Carla Parker for Sports Writing, Graphic Designer Travis Hudgons for Best Photo Gallery on a Newspaper Website and Photo Essay and Managing Editor Kathy Mitchell for Business Coverage. The Champion also won first place for Lifestyle Coverage; Gale Horton Gay is the lifestyle editor.

Second Place in Sports Writing, went to former News Editor Robert Naddra, who died a few days after last year’s convention. The presenter paused at the announcement of his award to pay tribute to Naddra’s career as a journalist.

Other awards won by The Champion at this year’s Georgia Press Association convention, held June 6-8 at the Jekyll Island Club, are:

Religion Coverage, Third Place

Business Coverage, Kathy Mitchell, Second Place

Education Coverage, Daniel Beauregard, Second Place

Photo Essay, Daniel Beauregard, Third Place

Spot News Photo, Andrew Cauthen, Third Place

Sports Photo, Travis Hudgons, Second Place

Sports Photo, Travis Hudgons, Third Place

Editorial Page, Second Place

Editorial Writing, Kathy Mitchell, Second Place

Serious Column, Kathy Mitchell, Second Place

Investigative Reporting, Andrew Cauthen, Second Place

Page One, Kemesha Hunt, Third Place

Layout & Design, Kemesha Hunt, Third Place

Local News Coverage, Third Place