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.
The GA-based retailer, known for its kids apparel, is hit by raised product costs and higher tariffs imposed by the Trump administration.
The husband of DFCS Director Candice Broce is accused of driving under the influence and fleeing a crash with kids in the vehicle.
The names of a man fatally shot by Cherokee deputies, and his mother, whose decomposed body was found in their home, were released.
Officers investigated a bomb threat at the Georgia State Capitol, where troopers and K9 officers swept the state building.
A set of parents is facing charges after authorities say their 5-month-old infant suffered more than 30 broken bones in Douglas County.
Marietta Police say they are seeking the whereabouts of an accused shooter who should be considered armed and dangerous.
Here's where the best public elementary schools are in Georgia.
A 77-year-old Georgia woman missing for four days has been found dead, police say.
A vehicle crashed into an utility pole, leading to a partial road closure in East Cobb. See alternative routes.
A woman celebrating her birthday was caught in the crossfire during an East Atlanta gas station shooting, police say.
The woman was attempting to remove the man's swastika armband when he was accused of attacking her outside a bar, media reports say.
Georgia leaders react after nearly 1.4 million residents are set to lose their EBT benefits due to the ongoing government shutdown.
A man died when officers found the decayed remains of his mom, a popular singer was arrested, and three people were injured in a shooting.
The shooting injured a 19-year-old man, an 18-year-old man and a 17-year-old boy, Atlanta Police say.
Officers were conducting a welfare check when three people were found dead in an apparent murder-suicide, police say.
A 26-year-old man died in a police shooting, and his mother was found decayed in an Acworth home, authorities say.
Sammie, a 38-year-old mainstream vocalist, still hit the ONE Musicfest stage after being arrested in Atlanta, media reports say.
Officers were investigating a stolen U-Haul truck when gunfire erupted, killing the truck's driver, police say.
While forecasters monitor Hurricane Melissa, they predict storms could threaten Georgia beaches and bring gusty winds to the state.
Mass Shooting Plot Thwarted | GA Student Dies | Halloween Storm | Waste Container Death | Hit-And-Runs Kill 2 | Teen Shoots At Officers
