The True Citizen keeps on winning
At GPA conference
From Staff Reports

True Citizen columnist Steve Rice and associate editor Elizabeth Billips are pictured with GPA president Burgett Mooney after receiving their awards.

The True Citizen staff earned a stack of awards at the 121st Georgia Press Association (GPA) Annual Convention, including two first place honors.

More than 100 daily and weekly newspapers competed in GPA's Better Newspaper Contest, which is judged by out-of-state journalists.

"The best of newspaper journalism" were recognized Friday night in Savannah.

For the third year in a row, associate editor Elizabeth Billips won first place for feature writing.

Her winning entry consisted of three stories, including the judges' favorite, "To save a village," which detailed a heartbreaking medical mission to Africa taken by local pediatrician Dr. Shelley Griffin and his wife, Jan.

Billips also received third place awards for both investigative reporting and hard news writing.

"Elizabeth Billips clearly knows how to go after a story," one judge wrote, noting her "gift of brevity." "She seems close to her sources and challenges her community with tough news."

Staff writer Diana Royal is pictured with publisher Roy F. Chalker Jr. and fellowwinner and columnist Marshall Singletary.

The GPA also awarded first place to Father Steve Rice for his bi-weekly column.

Father Rice beat out nearly 30 journalists who competed in the humorous column category.

A "chuckle from the start - a smile all the way through," one judge commented. "The funny guy comes through."

The Rev. Marshall Singletary helped The True Citizen sweep the humorous column competition with his second place win.

The judges called Rev. Singletary's column "clever and cute" and noted the newspaper's dominance in the category. "Two funny men at the same newspaper? Hmmm …"

Staff writer Diana Royal took a third place win in feature writing for her three-part series, "Second Chances."

The series, which won the judges over, provided an intimate look at participants in Burke County's DUI /Drug and Family Violence courts.

"Diana has a great understanding of the program and the participants in it, and that was captured in her stories," State Court Judge Jerry Daniel said. "We're lucky to have someone so gifted working at our small town newspaper."

The True Citizen also received two second place staff awards - one for community service and the other for the newspaper's website.

The Community Service Award, along with the W.G. Sutlive Trophy, was presented to staff for coverage and support of the Old Fella Animal Rescue.

The entry was anchored by Billips' feature story, "Falling for Old Fella," and included multiple news stories, editorials and community service advertisements.

"Everyone loves a good dog story," the judges wrote, "especially one with a happy ending."