Janie Harris
Editor-in-Chief, News Editor

The staff of the Roar: Print Edition joined 28 other Georgia colleges and universities at the Georgia College Press Association Conference in Athens this past weekend. Here, the staff of the Roar: Print Edition won eight awards.

“GCPA is always so much fun. It is interesting to learn new strategies and ways to design and write,” said Features Editor Lauren Bartlett.

The Roar: Print Edition won second place for Best Campus Community Service—News, third place for Layout and Design, second place for General Photography, third place for Best Campus Community Service—Editorial, third place for Best Campus Community Service—Features and second place for Best Entertainment Feature. Also, Bartlett won second place for Best Feature Story, and Athens writer Amanda Dukes won first place for Best Editorial.

“It was so great to receive an award from GCPA for best feature story, but the best part was being able to honor Neilie Chambers, whom I wrote the story about,” said Bartlett. “She allowed me to share her journey, and I was honored to do that for her.”

According to its website, the Georgia College Press Association is an organization dedicated to assisting the improvement of college journalism in Georgia, creating a flow of information and ideas between the colleges. At the conference, journalism and communications students are given the opportunity to discuss common issues of college newspapers and to network with newspaper professionals.

“While attending GCPA, I was able to meet and converse with professionals in the field of journalism, which I found to be helpful and informative,” said Living and Athens Editor Cammie Bagley.

The professionals attending and presenting included the Former Editor-in-Chief of Atlanta Magazine and Editorial Adviser for The Red & Black Rebecca Burns, Education Chair of the National Press Photographers Association Mark E. Johnson, Digital Producer at the Atlanta Journal Constitution Cailin O’Brien, Editor of the Valdosta Daily Times Jim Zachary, Communication Lawyer and Judge Hollie Manheimer, Reporter at the Atlanta Journal Constitution Doug Roberson, Designer at the Gainesville Times and the Covington News Sabastian Wee and the Managing Editor of the Valdosta Daily Times.

“They provided us with valuable information on certain aspects of journalism using their personal experiences and success stories,” said Bagley.

The staff members of the Roar: Print Edition were able to attend workshops and critiques from these professionals as well as other college-paper advisors. Bagley said that the professionals encouraged questions and helped her grow as a journalist.

“I am already looking forward to next year,” said Bartlett.

The staff said they hope to return next year and bring home even more awards.