won three first place awards and eight overall awards as it was recognized as among the best newspapers in its division at the Georgia Press Association’s (GPA) Annual Better Newspaper Contest Awards Banquet Friday night on Jekyll Island.
The Times earned first place honors for its front page, Publisher Sandy Chancey Head won first place for feature photograph and News Editor Jason Deal won first place for humorous column in this year’s contest.
The Times competes in Division D, which includes all of Georgia’s small market newspapers with circulation of 1-2,000 copies.
The Times front page entries included the October 29 and November 26 2026 editions, which showcased a variety of topics, including a “haint” at the local courthouse, the senseless murders of Virgil and Lester Chaney, and a special duck hunting trip for a disabled boy at Mossy Pond.
The judges commended the newspapers use of design elements with color and white space and “bold, easy-to-read headlines. Fantastic job.”
Head’s entry captured first place feature photograph with a candid shot of Adelise Leverett, and her grandmother, Charlane Leverett, at a Grandparents Day Breakfast at Patterson Elementary.
Judges praised Head’s photography skills in the photo.
“Engaging picture with great emotion and perfect framing,” the judges wrote.
Deal’s winning columns included “The Case of the Missing Nilla Wafers”, “One sock short of a pair” and “My recliner had a flat tire and tumped over”.
Staff Writer Greg O’Driscoll took the second place spot in humorous column with his pieces on battling algorithm-directed advertising, his “fat, lazy vacation” and a battered truck known as the Old Gray Mare.
Judges commented that Deal and O’Driscoll were very relatable with their column content.
“After reading the submissions ... hang in there, bud, hang in there. Everyone loves Nilla Wafers by the way,” judges commented about Deal’s columns. Of O’Driscoll’s columns, the judges said: “We all love our trucks ... and vacations. They may not be perfect, but they are important just the same.”
The Times also received second place in special issues with its regional football/fall sports tab featuring the Pierce County Bears, the Brantley County Herons and the Ware County Gators.
Judges were impressed with the overall look of the section.
“Well thought out. Lots of great coverage and use of team colors, etc.,” the judges commented.
The Times was also recognized as one of the top three newspapers in Georgia in its division, receiving third place in general excellence. It was the second year in a row, the newspaper was recognized as being among the best in the state. The general excellence award is based on overall evaluation of the newspaper, including quality of news coverage, editorial, photographs and layout and design. Last year the newspaper was first in the general excellence category.
Two other top three awards were also presented to the newspaper. One was for multi-media journalism for The Times’ weekly digital media program Good Morning Blackshear, hosted by Allie Peagler. The other was a third place win for headline writing.
Awards were presented in 44 categories among 73 newspapers statewide. A total of 2,273 entries were received in this year's contest.
Judging for this year’s Better Newspaper Contest was done by members of the Ohio and Louisiana Press Associations.
