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.
Two GA men, as well as current and former NBA players and coaches, are accused in sports betting and mafia-linked rigged poker game schemes.
See the new average cost-of-living adjustment for nearly 2 million of Georgia's retirees and disabled beneficiaries.
See the new average cost-of-living adjustment for more than 5 million of Florida's retirees and disabled beneficiaries.
A major storm could hit Georgia, currently in a drought, and dampen Halloween plans. See the latest forecast.
Loan forgiveness will be processed for those eligible in certain repayment plans. See what to know in Florida.
Loan forgiveness will be processed for those eligible in certain repayment plans. See what to know in Georgia.
The 18-year-old university freshman was from central Georgia, officials said.
The traffic stop of a suspected stolen vehicle led to a deadly police shooting, Smyrna Police say.
Georgia Lottery roundup: Millions of dollars were recently won, including a $1 million prize with a $1,000,000 Triple Match scratch-off.
A recent survey asked just over 3,000 respondents where residents of their state prefer to get their true “fall fix.” Here's what GA said.
See all that's happening in Georgia, including a cook-off, various holiday markets and a true-crime murder mystery dinner show.
Holiday shopping is almost here, but several retailers and chains have closed over the past year in Florida.
Holiday shopping is almost here, but several retailers and chains have closed over the past year in Georgia.
SWAT found the teenage boy hiding in a wood line near a vacant property in Atlanta, police say.
Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier, along with former NBA coaches and players, was indicted in a massive sports betting scheme, the feds say.
A worker found a 'possible device' at the United States Postal Service facility, prompting a bomb threat investigation.
A 5-year-old girl's mother will not face criminal charges after she fell 49 feet into the ocean from a Disney cruise ship, authorities said.
The man said he had been shot, though police found no visible injuries. When he didn't follow commands, he was tased and later died.
A man was found lying on the roadway and was later pronounced dead at a hospital, DeKalb County Police say.
An Army veteran's family says jail staff let the unresponsive man lie on the floor for more than three hours after he overdosed on fentanyl.
