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.
Cherokee authorities say the DNA of a man, who is a current registered sex offender, linked to two sexual assault cases from 1986.
Showers are expected to arrive ahead of a cold front days before a weekend thunderstorm could roll into Georgia.
The teenage girl from Gwinnett had been in the custody of the Tennessee Department of Children’s Services under an alias, police say.
Gov. Brian Kemp says he has ordered 1,100 state DPS officers to train under ICE for identifying and apprehending undocumented immigrants.
The family of the Lewis brothers reportedly rejected the notion the twins died in an apparent murder-suicide atop Bell Mountain in Georgia.
The company is set to "wind down" its U.S. operations as it moves through the Chapter 11 bankruptcy process, representatives said.
The 40-year-old man, who was accused of killing another man who had been reported missing, was arrested at a Flat Shoals Road motel.
The National Weather Service confirmed the twister landed in Paulding County, remaining on the ground for about 12 minutes.
The funding for an MLB team in Orlando comes after the Tampa Bay Rays declined to build a new stadium in St. Pete.
Cold Case Verdict | City Staffer Killed | Deadly Blaze | Attack On Flight Attendant | Alleged Mail Thieves Arrested | Drug Conviction
Additionally, three nearby homes were damaged after the initial fire Friday at Fairlane Trail in Forsyth County.
Weather officials told Patch chances remain for most of Georgia to face severe storms that could threaten the state this weekend.
Pi Day in Georgia is being observed with pizza and pie deals across the state. Find out which restaurants are offering deals.
Nearly 28 grams were found in an Acworth woman's home and in the defendant’s personal belongings, prosecutors said.
Police say they are not able to retrieve the remains of a missing girl who was killed and dismembered in St. Pete, a report says.
A FL coach was arrested on bestiality and child porn charges after being accused of uploading videos of the sexual acts on Kik, reports say.
President Donald Trump threatened tariffs on wine and other alcoholic products in an escalating trade war. See what to know in Florida.
President Donald Trump threatened the tariffs in an escalating trade war. See what to know in Georgia.
A major Michigan city landed in the top 60 on WalletHub's latest St. Patrick's Day ranking.
A major California city landed in the top 10 on WalletHub's latest St. Patrick's Day ranking.