Amanda is a 10-time award-winning journalist who has been in the field for more than a decade. A graduate of Valdosta State University, where she was a features editor for the campus newspaper, Amanda has since moved on to embark on a career that has led her to winning top state awards through the Georgia Press Association.
She has been a lifestyles editor for The Valdosta Daily Times and a magazine editor for The Daily Times' monthly publication, Valdosta Scene, overseeing a small staff and being third-in-command in the newsroom. While at the Daily Times, she revamped the company's magazine, acted as a link between the community and readers and took on hard-hitting assignments that garnered her multiple accolades while remaining committed to community journalism.
Her leadership then took her to The Griffin Daily News, where she was a managing editor and department head who worked closely with the publisher and marketing manager. While there, she brought new light to the newspaper and its bimonthly magazine, Southern Crescent Living. She established new weekly departments for the newspaper while correlating opportunities for advertising and editorial to come together and share space on the pages.
Her awards include: two for Investigating Reporting (first and third place), Feature Photo (second place), three for Lifestyle Coverage (first and second places), Best Magazine Overall Design (first place), Magazine Cover Design (third place), Magazine Product (second place) and Religion Writing (third place).
The Associated Press has run 13 of her stories through its weekend wire, and she has had multiple stories to circulate both nationally and internationally in several print and digital publications. National Public Radio Atlanta (WABE) has interviewed Amanda about her work.
She has interviewed Adrian Peterson, Gov. Brian Kemp, Georgia First Lady Marty Kemp, Super Bowl Champ Malcolm Mitchell, Elizabeth Smart, two Harlem Globetrotters, Pam Tebow, Misty Copeland and the late Burt Reynolds. She has also photographed Shaquille O'Neal, Flo Rida and other public figures.
Amanda has a passion for storytelling and enjoys being a voice for the local community. While her work ranges from crime to business to education news, her heart lies in features journalism as it offers the chance to meet diverse people and share their stories in a way that matters. The readers and those she interviews will always come first for Amanda.
A $25,000 reward is being offered in connection with the conviction of the man accused in the 2009 killing of a 62-year-old grandmother.
Georgia is the 38th most expensive state to own a bigger breed dog. Here's how the costs break down.
Florida is the 29th most expensive state to own a bigger breed dog. Here's how the costs break down.
Few humans and dozens of chickens have been sickened by West Nile virus in Florida. See what to know.
The CDC recently reported a slight increase of West Nile virus in GA. See which counties have been affected and how to prevent the virus.
These venomous spiders can grow up to eight inches long, and have been spreading north since being first spotted in Georgia back in 2014.
Police on Monday identified the Marietta man killed in a shooting at Bentley Road and said the accused shooter was arrested.
One 17-year-old suspect has been arrested in connection with an armed robbery in Gwinnett County, while a second suspect remains at large.
A man, allegedly armed with a knife, refused to leave a burning home after Gwinnett County officers arrived at the scene.
Ryan Wesley Routh, the 58-year-old man accused of aiming a rifle at Donald Trump in Florida, faces a combined maximum of 20 years in prison.
An Illinois eatery was named in the top 20 cheeseburger restaurants in the U.S. by a panel of Yelp reviewers.
Three Florida eateries were named in the top 20 best cheeseburger restaurants in the U.S. by a panel of Yelp reviewers.
Prosecutors declined to charge Lt. Gov. Burt Jones after he allegedly acted as a fake elector in the 2020 presidential race, reports say.
The deadline to have the federally approved driver's license, which will allow you to fly within the United States, is coming up.
The deadline to have the federally approved driver's license, which will allow you to fly within the United States, is coming up.
GA ranked 11th for change in the number of unemployment claims. See where the Peach State stands overall.
Public safety officials identified the man killed in a shooting in downtown Alpharetta and said the accused shooter has been arrested.
Some parts of Georgia were under a flood watch Friday as the Peach State and the Southeast continue to feel impacts of Hurricane Francine.
A charge against one of former President Donald Trump's co-defendants was also dismissed in Fulton County, media reports say.
"I grieve and cry with you ... I will personally never forgive myself," Colt Gray's mom reportedly wrote in an apology letter to Apalachee.
