In a great weekend for local journalism, the Greensboro Watchman and its sister paper, the Perry County Herald, both received recognition at the annual Alabama Media Awards, held in Orange Beach. The awards celebrated the best in Alabama journalism, highlighting the outstanding work of local media outlets in serving their communities.
The Greensboro Watchman took home the coveted First Place prize for Best Headline in Division D for its headline “Snowball Chance in Hale?” The winning headline crowned a 2022 news story about the unlikely possibility of a snowstorm for Hale County. It was hailed for its wit and clever play on words, effectively capturing readers’ attention and succinctly conveying the improbable weather forecast.
Meanwhile, the Perry County Herald was recognized for its diligent and robust series of coverage on Marion’s city government over 2022, securing Second Place awards in two significant Division D categories – First Amendment/Freedom of Information and Best Public Service. The awards covered the Herald’s work to access and publish public documents about city business, including a proposal by the town’s mayor to grant a raise to the city clerk without a public vote of the council.
The accolades affirmed the Herald’s commitment to transparency and accountability, and its role as a guardian of the public interest.
“This recognition underlines our dedication to providing high-quality journalism for our communities,” said John Allan Clark, publisher of both papers. “We strive to ensure our reporting remains relevant, compelling, and true to our public service mission. These awards are a testament to that commitment, and we are incredibly proud of our teams.”
The Watchman was not the only Hale County newspaper to bring home a firstplace award. The Watchman’s neighbor to the north, The Moundville Times, also took home a first-place award this year, for Best Use of Social Media. The Watchman congratluates Editor Travis Vaughn and Publisher Tommy McGraw of the Times, as well as all the other winners in this year’s AMA awards.
