Georgia Press Association honors Savannah Morning News for general excellence, in-depth reporting

The Georgia Press Association honored the work of Savannah Morning News reporters and editors at its 2023 awards banquet, June 9, at the Jekyll Island Club. Among the accolades, the Savannah Morning News received second place for General Excellence in the Division A category.

“Our journalists are committed daily to making the communities we serve better,” said Jill Nevels-Haun, Savannah Morning News executive editor and Coastal South Group editor. “Their work is being recognized as some of the best in our state. I am so proud of their accomplishments and excited to see those efforts applauded with these prestigious honors.”

And the award goes to...

Visual journalist Richard Burkhart swept the Best Photo Gallery category, winning first through third places. In conferring first place, the Better Newspaper Contest judges stated that Burkhart's work covering the hate crimes trial of the three men convicted of murdering Ahmaud Arbery, "capture[d] the story of this emotional day in its entirety."

Burkhart also won first prize in the News Photograph category and for Spot News Photo.

Gallery: Three men sentenced in murder of Ahmaud Arbery

Adam Van Brimmer received the Otis A. Brumby Trophy for column writing. Judges said that "Van Brimmer offers readers opinion that is thoroughly researched and argued. His columns are well-written and flow easily, leading readers through to the end with a decisive point. Great variety of subject matter."

Former Arts and Culture editor Zach Dennis received the top spot in Lifestyle Coverage. His longform obituary of John Duncan was named best in Feature Writing.

Late contributor Jane Fishman, who died in October 2022, won first place in Lifestyle/Feature Column.

Public safety and courts reporter Drew Favakeh was honored with first place in Investigative Reporting for his three-part series on the death of Lee Michael Creely in 2020 in the Chatham County Detention Center that "shines a light on how one man's missteps led to tragedy and how others' missteps made them part of the tragedy."

Part I Two internal investigations reveal Creely's death in Chatham County jail 'preventable'

Part II 'Odds were pretty much against him': Creely's turbulent childhood shaped by drug addiction

Part III: Lee Michael Creely's last hours marked by withdrawal, medical indifference in Chatham County jail

Investigative reporter Zoe Nicholson, who was named the Georgia Press Association's Emerging Journalist award in 2022, took first place in Business Writing for coverage of the Georgia Ports Authority's growth and expansion, and was hailed by Georgia Press judges for a "broad and effective exploration of an important business topic."

'Problems are solvable': West Savannah communities endure Georgia Ports' environmental impacts

More: In neighboring towns, Georgia Ports Authority brings growth and jobs, but what is the cost?

The Georgia Press Association also honored the Savannah Morning News with first place in Education Writing for the three-part series examining controversies around social and emotional learning and critical race theory in Savannah-Chatham Public Schools. In honoring the pieces, written by editor Amy Paige Condon and former reporter Raisa Habersham with assistance from former reporter Bianca Moorman, the judges wrote: "In-depth reporting was exceptional. Sourcing went well beyond the usual suspects such as school administrators, board members and politicians."

Part I: How misunderstanding of CRT, social emotional learning failed Savannah students, parents

Part II: Political climate, lack of transparency, missteps by SCCPSS lead to distrust of SEL, surveys

Part III: Adolescent mental health is in crisis. Schools are first line of support and need help.

Longtime sports reporter Dennis Knight was recognized for sports coverage that "showcased that the best game stories are about more than just the game itself."

Laura Nwogu and Habersham's series on food insecurity captured the top spot for Enterprise Story.

In the Breaking News field, reporter Latrice Williams captured the top honors for her coverage of the April 2022 tornado that ripped through Pembroke. General assignment reporter Nancy Guan took second place, and Fakahek third place in the same category. Guan also won third place in multimedia storytelling.

'I loved her more than life itself': Ellabell man remembers wife killed in Bryan County tornado

Sister newspapers ― the Athens Banner-Herald, the Augusta Chronicle, and the News and Farmer/The Jefferson Reporter ― also received numerous accolades in their respective divisions. For a complete run-down of all local newspapers honored by the Georgia Press Association, go to gapress.org.

This article originally appeared on Savannah Morning News: Georgia Press Association accolades for Savannah Morning News