The Baldwin Bulletin was awarded General Excellence in the Better Newspaper Contest, which is coordinated by the Georgia Press Association. The third-place honor means The Bulletin was judged to be one of the best newspapers its size in Georgia.
Managing Editor Josh Lurie earned first-place awards for Page One and Layout and Design.
Matthew Brown earned a firstplace award for Breaking News Writing for his coverage of the trial of Donnie Rowe.
Timberly Spikes placed second for Feature Photo and third for Enterprise Story.
Lance McCurley won awards for Sports Coverage Story for his coverage of UGA football. He placed second for Sports Coverage Story and third place for Photo Essay.
“We’re proud to win a variety of awards that show we work hard to cover all areas of living in Baldwin County,” Lurie said. “We compete with a lot of other good newspapers, including others under the Smith Communications umbrella, so each award is significant.”
Smith Communications Inc. President and CEO A. Mark Smith said, “I am proud of our staff’s awards. The Georgia Press Association awards are against some of the finest newspapers and magazines in the country. We are fortunate to have a great group of talented people on our team.”
Other awards for Smith Communications publications:
• Sports Coverage Story: The Jones County News, Brad Harrison, first place
• Sports Feature Story: The Jones County News, Brad Harrison, third place
• Layout and Design: The Jones County News, Josh Lurie, first place
• Feature Writing: The Jones County News, Debbie Lurie-Smith, second place
• Business Writing: The Jones County News, Debbie Lurie-Smith, second place
• Religion Writing: The Jones County News, Alaina Minshew, third place
• Serious Column: Lake Oconee News, T. Michael Stone, second place
• Feature Photo: Lake Oconee News, Leigh Lofgren, second place
• Feature Photo: Lake Oconee News, Leila Scoggins, third place
• Page One: Lake Oconee News, Josh Lurie, third place
• Education Writing: Lake Oconee News, Mark Engel, second place
• Sports Feature Story: Lake Oconee News, Phillip B. Hubbard, first place
• Sports Feature Story: Lake Oconee News, Lance McCurley, second place
• Feature Writing: Lake Oconee News, Mark Engel, third place
• Enterprise Story: The Eatonton Messenger, Mark Engel, first place
• Lifestyle Coverage: The Eatonton Messenger, first place
• Special Section: The Eatonton Messenger, second place
• Photo Essay: The Eatonton Messenger, Lauren Malek, third place
• Education Writing: The Eatonton Messenger, Lauren Malek, third place
• Sports Section: The Eatonton Messenger, second place
• Magazine Human Interest Feature: Lakelife Magazine, Debbie Lurie-Smith, first place
• Best Magazine Single Photo: Lakelife Magazine, Terry Massey, second place
• Best Magazine Original Writing: Lakelife Magazine, Lynn Hobbs, first place
• Best Magazine Themed Issue: Lakelife Magazine, first and second place
• Best Magazine In-house Photography: Lakelife Magazine, Leigh Lofgren, first place
• Magazine Human Interest Feature: Lakelife Magazine, Hang Segars, second place
Advertising awards
• The Eatonton Messenger – Choice One Dental, Greensboro Family Dentistry, Athens BMW, Coldwell Banker Lake Oconee Realty, Easter Sunrise Service
• The Jones County News – Lions Club Fair, Macon & Robins Bed & Mattress, Loosier Furniture, Veterans Day Special Section
• The Baldwin Bulletin – Choice One Dental, Lake Sinclair Map Pad, Coldwell Banker Lake Oconee Realty, Lake Country Football Preview
• Lake Oconee News – Lake Oconee Map Pad