The Eatonton Messenger was awarded for its news coverage in the Better Newspaper Contest, which is coordinated by the Georgia Press Association.
Mark Engel earned a firstplace award for Enterprise Story. His coverage focused on the effort to widen Highway 44 and safety issues at the Scott Road intersection.
The Messenger also placed first in Lifestyle Coverage among other newspapers its size in Georgia.
The sports section placed second along with the annual Lake Country high school football preview.
Former reporter Lauren Malek won two third-place awards, one for Photo Essay and another for Education Writing.
“We’re proud to win a variety of awards that show we work hard to cover all areas of living in Putnam County,” Manging Editor Josh 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:
• General Excellence: The Baldwin Bulletin, third place
• Page One: The Baldwin Bulletin, Josh Lurie, first place
• Enterprise Story: The Baldwin Bulletin, Timberly Spikes, third place
• Breaking News Writing: The Baldwin Bulletin, Matthew Brown, first place
• Feature Photo: The Baldwin Bulletin, Timberly Spikes, second place
• Layout & Design: The Baldwin Bulletin, Josh Lurie, first place
• Photo Essay: The Baldwin Bulletin, Lance McCurley, third place
• Sports Coverage Story: The Baldwin Bulletin, Lance McCurley, second place
• 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
• 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