Extra! Extra!
I began my journalism career in college by accident. I worked in college as the web design for the college paper and one night the entire staff was fired except for three people – and I wrote my first news piece and designed my first newspaper. After college, I worked at three of the top newspapers in Georgia, winning awards not only for my writing but design and photography, too .
Over that time I wrote news, breaking news, business, features, sports, and especially entertainment stories. I also interviewed some of the biggest names in music.Â
The Written Word
These are just a few links to some of my favorite pieces of that 15 year period, although most of my college work is no longer online.
- Georgia fan Jason Aldean excited about concert at Sanford Stadium
- More about the artists playing at Sanford Stadium
- Aldean opening act Thomas Rhett will play show at Georgia Theatre after Sanford Stadium
- Jason Aldean, Luke Bryan and friends rock Sanford Stadium
- Bryan brings ‘Farm Tour’ back to town
- DVD of Jason Aldean concert at Sanford set for October release
- Backstreet takes Valdosta
- Backstreet’s Back
- Hancock: ‘Night Train to Georgia’ DVD lets fans relive Sanford Stadium concert
- Luke Bryan brings ‘Farm Tour’ back to Athens tonight
- Luke Bryan’s farm awareness tour comes to Valdosta
- Big names and tours coming to the area for summer shows
- ‘Somethin’ Bout’ Kip Moore helps star sell out Georgia Theatre
- Athens area talent hit it big in the country music industry in 2012
- Tickets for Aldean’s Sanford Stadium Show sell out within an hour
- Country singer Luke Bryan brings Farm Tour to Athens
- Former UGA Bulldog Josh Murray and ‘Bachelorette’ finance Andi Dorfman call it quits
- Georgia artists shine at CMA Awards; Luke Bryan wins Entertainer of the Year
- 10 reasons to see Luke Bryan at the 2014 Farm Tour
- Garth Brooks comes back to Atlanta for first of seven shows
- Montgomery Gentry goes back to their roots for Georgia Theatre show Saturday
- Fangirling: Q&A with “I Heart Nick Carter” star Lauren Kitt Carter
- Country singer Kenny Chesney performs two-hour free show at Georgia Theatre
- Country superstar Kenny Chesney performs tonight at Georgia Theatre
- Florida Georgia Line to headline Georgia-Florida concert event Oct. 31
- Brooks announces two more Atlanta shows; tix go on sale Saturday
- Josh Murray gets the final rose, wins ‘The Bachelorette’
- Josh Murray prepares for life with ‘Bachelorette’ fiancee
- Luke Bryan announces Farm Tour dates; to play Athens area Oct. 9
- Josh Murray is in ‘The Bachelorette’ finale, but what can you expect?
- Former UGA quarterback Aaron Murray to appear on ‘The Bachelorette’ next Monday
- Tickets for country singer Kip Moore at Classic Center go on sale Friday
- ‘Bachelorette’ turns Josh Murray into ‘Magic Mike’
- Brantley Gilbert to perform at Georgia Theatre for special show
- Does Josh Murray make it to the final round of ‘Bachelorette’?
- Brantley Gilbert will visit Athens, Jefferson for album release events
- Blog: Sources report Josh Murray is in the final four on ‘The Bachelorette’
- Big names and tours coming to the area for summer shows
- Actor Scott Wilson talks to audience at Cine about ‘In Cold Blood’, ‘The Walking Dead’
- ACM Preview: Georgia country artists dominating the charts
- Blog: CMT’s “Party Down South” will film season two in Athens
- 5 Questions: Getting to know country singer, reality TV star and Georgia peach Sarah Davidson
- Get lost at sea with your favorite celebrity: Music and fan cruises become the new ‘it’ vacation for fandoms alike
- Chasing a country dream
- Valdostan strikes it big in music industry
- Review: ‘The Interview’ is satire at its best
- Fangirling: Backstreet’s Back with a movie to be released in January
- Fangirling: My Christmas is ruined, thanks North Korea
- Fangirling: Top 5 Christmas songs that every fangirl download
- Fangirling: The Backstreet Boys cruise isn’t just a cruise – it’s a family reunion
- Fangirling: How to prepare for a Backstreet Boys (or celebrity) cruise
- Fangirling: Nick Carter, Jordan Knight invite the world to their Atlanta concert with webcast
- Fangirling: How many times is too many to see artists in concert?
- Fangirling: ‘Scandal’ is back and Luke Bryan is coming to Athens next week
- Fangirling: When Garth Brooks wants a photo with you, you say yes
- Fangirling: Nick & Knight opens tour in Nashville while Atlanta prepares for Garth Brooks
- Fangirling: Q&A with “I Heart Nick Carter” star Lauren Kitt Carter
- Album Review: Nick Carter, Jordan Knight shine on “Nick & Knight” debut
- Fangirling: Nick Carter, Jordan Knight release music video, new song from upcoming album ‘Nick & Knight’
- Fangirling: Though others had to wait, this fangirl got her Garth Brooks tix
- Fangirling: Garth Brooks announces Atlanta tour date
- Fangirling: Monday is the day for ‘Bachelorette’ fans
- Fangirling: Athens gets a shoutout on ‘The Bachelorette’ and is Garth Brooks going on tour?
- Fangirling: ‘Bachelorette’ Andi visits the Murray family
- Fangirling: Will ‘Bachelorette’ Andi be jealous of Aaron Murray?
- Fangirling: Josh Murray makes things a little tense on ‘Bachelorette’
- Music Reviews: Colt Ford shines on upcoming CD, ‘Thanks For Listening’
- Fangirling: Mission completed: I have collected selfies with all five of the Backstreet Boys
- Fangirling: VH1 is going Backstreet with ‘I Heart Nick Carter’
- Fangirling: Josh Murray goes all Boyz II Men
- Fangirling: My top 5 best live concert DVDs – from Journey to Backstreet Boys
- Music Review: Old school Rascal Flatts is back with ‘Rewind’
- Fangirling: ‘Josh Murray’ was a trending topic on Twitter Monday night
- Fangirling: Murray makes ‘Bachelorette’ watchable
- Fangirling: A Backstreet Boy and New Kid collaborates with Nick And Knight
- Review: Cole Swindell performs for sold-out crowd at Georgia Theatre
- Fangirling: Happy 21st anniversary Backstreet Boys
- Fangirling: Goodbye ‘How I Met Your Mother’
- CD Review: Sarah Davidson delivers on first EP
- Review: Luke Bryan puts the ‘spring’ back in country music
- ‘Fangirling: How I met Honey Boo Boo
- Local country stars party on the farm
- Lady Antebellum ‘owns the night’ at Wild Adventures
- Atkins shakes Wild Adventures
- REO Speedwagon, Styx rock Wild Adventures
- Lynard Skynard opens 2010 concert season
- Rockin’ with Bret Michaels
- Foreigner turns up the heat at Wild Adventures
- Former Red & Black editor learned much after staff’s August walkout
- Red & Black publisher, student journalist involved in scuffle
- Red & Black publisher apologizes to student journalist by letter
- Red & Black student staffers walk out
- Student staffers of Red & Black protest changes with walk out (with video)
- Engaged: Former UGA quarterback Aaron Murray puts a ring on it
- Student staffers of Red & Black protest changes with walk out (with video)
- Four Oglethorpe Avenue Elementary students, teacher hospitalized on trip to Tybee Island
- Fay Davis named Ms. Senior Athens 2013
- Food and wine lovers come together for a good cause at 20th annual A Taste of Athens
- Athens annual Wine Weekend to take place Feb 1-3 at The Classic Center
- Five Clarke Co. schools recognized by Ga. Dept. of Education
- Statham’s Broad Street becomes ‘Halloweentown’ once a year
- Caregivers of cancer patients highlighted in new book
- Cancer patient taking it one day at a time
- Sandy Creek Nature Center dedicates new expansion
- Charter member list among items found in church’s receptacle
- Local celebrity dog helps other dogs in need
- Sunday alcohol sales begin today
- New Caterpillar plant construction on schedule
- Fallen officer monument dedication ceremony planned today in Bogart
- Grandmother finds strength from granddaughter after both are diagnosed with breast cancer
- Listening to her body saved one cancer patient’s life
- UGA grad co-authors design book for surviving and thriving in small spaces
- A 100 years later, the Athens-Clarke County Library is the same, just bigger with more technology
- Community lights candles to remember Buddy Christian
- Tips on how to survive Black Friday shopping
- Balloon released in Athens for suicide awareness found 100 miles away in S.C.
- Madison County family moves into new Habitat house
- Book brings attention to VSU journalism professor
- Native Valdostan’s ‘second job’ is saving animals
- Twenty-one-year-old pastor takes pulpit
- Quitman’s first mayor reflects on town’s growth
- Man adjusts to life after accident
- Daycare owner has years of experience working with little ones
- Women live out their teenage dreams
- Vietnam veteran finds another mission in the ministry
- Just Peachy: Morven peach industry ‘really good’
- Funeral director works for the families
- Music is in Michael Barr’s blood
- Romance in bloom: Valentine’s Day keeps florists busy
- Graduate student knows VSU inside-out
- Putting the Man in Manicure
- At Random: Frank and Deloris Thomas
- Paranormal activity
- The Face(book) of a New Business Generation
- At Random: Tracy Woodard-Meyers
- Petit Le Mans brings racing action to area
- Column: Can Junior snap his 138-race winless streak?
- Column: Biffle leads Sprint Cup points race, others close behind
- Wrestling with Devil Dogs
- NASCAR in 2011: The good, the bad and the ugly
- Parks and Rec: Soccer facility still a hot topic
- Racing toward a dream
- Column: Reasons why Danica shouldn’t come to NASCAR full-time
- Column: Dear Brett Favre: please stay retired
- Column: The Good, the bad and ugly of NASCAR in 2009
And here are a few layouts that I designed (along with the ones on the left).
This one a first place AP award.
Professional Awards
Georgia College Press Association:
- 2008
- 1st Place – Best Entertainment – Feature Writing
- Lead college paper to win 10 awards in one single year, including:
- 2nd Place: Best Website (I designed it)
- 2nd Place: Best Campus Community Service – News
- 3rd Place: Improvement
- 1st Place: General Advertising
- 2nd Place: Layout and Design
- 3rd Place: General Excellence
Georgia Associated Press
- 2009 – 1st Place Graphic Design (Winnersville Classic)
- 2011 – 2nd Place – Sports Column (NASCAR)
Georgia Press Association
- 2011
- 3rd Place: – Sports Column (NASCAR)
- 2012
- 3rd Place – Sports Column
- 2014
- 2nd Place: Online Photo Gallery (Jason Aldean concert)
- 2016
- 1st Place: Layout & Design (The Cherokee Ledger-News)
- 1st Place: Page One Design (Marietta Daily Journal)
- 2017
- 2nd Place: Layout & Design (The Cherokee Tribune)
- 2018Â
- 3rd Place – Page One Design (The Cherokee Tribune)
- 3rd Place – Layout & Design (The Marietta Daily Journal)
Artists I’ve Interviewed and/or Worked With
- Garth Brooks
- Jason Aldean
- Thomas Rhett
- Luke Bryan
- Florida Georgia Line
- Backstreet Boys
- Brantley Gilbert
- Scott Wilson
- Boyz II Men
- Lady A
- Wynonna
- Montgomery Gentry
- Brooke Hogan
- Tyler Hilton
- Lauren Kitt-Carter
- Nikki DeLoach
- Colt Ford
- Bubba Sparxxx
- Keith Urban
- Toby Mac
- Reba McEntire
- Charlie Daniels
- Ryan Caberra
- Kenny Chesney
- Mark Wills
- Rodney Atkins
- Vince Gill
- Amy Grant
- REO Speedwagon
- STYXX
- Clint Black
- Rodney Atkins