JEKYLL ISLAND, Ga. — Augusta Good News won 18 awards including second place for General Excellence in Division F at the Georgia Press Association’s 138th annual convention at the Jekyll Island Club June 20.
Photographer Mike Adams won 11 awards, sweeping two categories— sports feature and sports — by winning first, second and third place. Publisher Charmain Z. Brackett received five awards while Ann Beth Strelec received one. The General Excellence Award went to the entire staff.
Adams’s photo from the Josey High School girls’ loss in the 2024 state championship game was the top sports feature photo with the judge commenting “The reaction just says heartbreak. The emotional expression in the image is top notch. Good catch.”
In the sports category, an out at the plate at an Augusta GreenJackets’ game won the top award.
“Great peak action capturing the tag, the helmet being dislodged from the head of the runner and the umpire right there to make the call,” the judge wrote.
Adams also won first in feature photo with a picture from the 2024 North Augusta tree lighting.
“I do like good silhouette. The shapes and color make this one a nice entry,” the judge wrote.
Christmas photos won another first place for Adams. A pictorial from the Augusta Christmas Parade took top honors in the photo essay category. See it here.
“Captures the spirit of event both technically and emotionally. Good grouping of photos that focus on the small to the large. Very well done,” the judge wrote.
And he also won best web photo for his closeup of a bee on flower.
Ann Beth Strelec, also known as the Naked Epicurean, won first place in lifestyle/feature column for her “Jingle and Mingle” holiday column. Read it here.
And publisher Charmain Z. Brackett won a first place in the photo gallery category with pictures from early Hurricane Helene cleanup. See the gallery here. Adams placed second in that category with coverage of the Rosa T. Beard Debutante Club 59th Cotillion.
“Hope shining through the devastation of Helene captured through your lens. The cross grabbed my attention however, the sidewalk chalk with piles of debris and parked cars was the most riveting of your images. Congratulations” was the judge’s comment for the first place win.
Brackett also won four third place awards in spot news photo, sports feature story; magazine human interest story for Inspiring: Women of Augusta and photo gallery.
The Inspiring: Women of Augusta story winner featured Audrey Monroe. See it below.
Adams also placed second in the feature photograph category.
Augusta Good News is an award-winning member of the Georgia Press Association, receiving a second place General Excellence in 2025. Sign up for our free weekly newsletter here.
Endless congratulations on your multiple awards!
You ability to capture humanistic good news exponentially inspires residents and visitors to believe in Augusta’s varied amenities. Your willingness to courageously seek out stories that cross the boundaries of work, gender, age, ethnicity, and interests means that anyone is likely to see themselves in a positive light. Thank you for these breakthrough stories that brought you acclaim. Keep publishing the good news that can reach far through the contemporary aid of the internet.
Thank you for your kind words. I truly want to represent all of Augusta as best as I can.
Congratulations on the three of you that were recognized for your hard work!! It is always an honor when others realize the effort put forth and give praise to deserving ones. Keep up the Good Work!!!
I continue to look forward to your weekly information.
Thank you for your kind words and support.
All are well-deserved awards. I truly appreciate recognizing and awarding good news. We just don’t get enough of that. Thank you.
Thank you!