Tag: McCommons Award

Grady Salutes energized by Dean’s Medalist Caroline Edwards and new Athena Studios

Posted on by Sarah Freeman

It was an evening for recognizing former faculty members who made an impact, envisioning the future of production and film at Athena Studios and saluting bravery in defending the U.S. Capitol, as nearly 170 Grady College alumni, faculty, students and friends celebrated honorees at the 2023 Grady Salutes: A Celebration of Achievement, Leadership and Commitment.

The dinner gala took place April 28 thanks to a special arrangement at the new Athena Studios, a 14,000-square-foot creator space that the College shares with Georgia Film Academy for the purpose of teaching production classes to students in Entertainment and Media Studies and the MFA in Film, Television and Digital Media. The studio space is donated to Grady College for five years by Joel Harber, developer of the studio complex, who was also in attendance.

Perhaps the highlight of the evening the presentation of the Dean’s Medal for Leadership Excellence to Private First Class Officer Caroline Edwards (ABJ ’12). Edwards was the first police officer injured during the attack on the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. She testified to the Jan. 6 House Select Committee on June 9, 2022, where millions of television viewers were riveted by her bravery and calm under pressure.

“Her fearlessness, her courage and her devotion to duty embody the best of us,” Charles N. Davis, dean of Grady College, said in his introductory remarks.

She accepted her award to a rousing standing ovation.

“Bringing an unthinkable story to life, giving words to those who cannot speak for themselves and telling the truth, despite personal costs, is what Democracy’s Next Generation is all about,” Edwards said, tying together her testimony with the motto above the front door of Grady College. “It is what we are called to do every day as journalism majors, despite what career we end up in.”

  • Maura Friedman at the lectern
    Maura Friedman accepts her John E. Drewry Young Alumni Award. (Photo: Sarah E. Freeman)
Set against the backdrop of house scene used for class productions, honorees accepted their awards. Those receiving awards included Alumni Award recipients:

Fellowship inductees included:

Gentzler, as the Lifetime Achievement recipient, was also inducted into the Fellowship.

Brian PJ Cronin of The Highlands Current also accepted the McCommons Award for Distinguished Community Journalism, recognizing his work including a multi-story series on food insecurity, titled “Hunger in the Highlands.”

Susan Percy at the lectern as Dean Davis looks on.
Susan Percy shares comments after her Fellowship induction. (Photo: Jackson Schroeder)

Each recipient shared brief personal narratives about how their education directed their professional life.

Friedman thanked those who bought a Georgia Lottery ticket and helped fund her education.

“I am very seriously a testament to loan-free, public, quality education and that is a cause and need of support across Georgia,” said Friedman, a senior photo editor at National Geographic.

Many honorees recognized faculty who encouraged them and gave them confidence while they were students. Emeritus professors Bill Lee and David Hazinski, who were in the audience, were mentioned several times, along with Bill Martin.

Hicks, who is a writer, executive producer and showrunner for “The Upshaws” on Netflix, talked about discovering her writing talent while a student at the College. She recalled a conversation with the late Barry Sherman after she turned in a project where she wrote the first 30 minutes of a film.

“’Did you write this?’” Hicks recalled Sherman asking her. “’Because, this is what you should be doing.’ I will forever be grateful for that moment in his office because he led me down this path. The foundation I got from this school has shaped who I am.”

Travis, an investigative reporter at Fox 5, talked about the lasting impact of his education.

“I thank Grady,” Travis said at the end of his acceptance speech. “As all the people who have walked up on this stage tonight can attest, you made our dreams come true. You really are the dream factory.”

Caroline Edwards accepts the Dean’s Medal for Leadership Excellence from Dean Charles Davis

See the UGAGrady Flickr album for the entire set of pictures.

 

Brian PJ Cronin receives McCommons Award for Distinguished Community Journalism

Posted on by Jackson Schroeder
Brian PJ Cronin, center, stands on stage at Grady Salutes with his wife, Beth, Gay and Pete McCommons (left) and Kathy Prescott and Grady Thrasher (right).
Brian PJ Cronin, center, stands on stage at Grady Salutes with his wife, Beth, Gay and Pete McCommons (left) and Kathy Prescott and Grady Thrasher (right). (Photo: Jackson Schroeder)

Brian PJ Cronin of The Highlands Current has been named the recipient of the 2021 Rollin M. “Pete” McCommons Award for Distinguished Community Journalism. The award, which was presented during the Grady Salutes gala on Friday, April 28, 2023, recognizes Cronin for his multi-part series on food insecurity, titled “Hunger in the Highlands.”

“The selection committee outdid themselves this year by choosing Brian PJ Cronin,” said Pete McCommons, whom the award is named after. “Mr. Cronin not only took a deep dive into the reasons for hunger amid plenty, but he also plunged into the world of those attempting to combat hunger and tells us through their words what is working and what needs to be done to make it work better.”

The McCommons Award, established by Grady Thrasher and Kathy Prescott to honor Pete McCommons, publisher and editor of Flagpole Magazine in Athens, annually recognizes impactful coverage on issues that affect a community. Nominations are now open for the 2022 award, and can be submitted on the McCommons Award for Distinguished Community Journalism webpage.

Although The Highlands Current’s coverage area, which includes Cold Spring, Beacon and Philipstown, New York, is generally affluent, Cronin saw that there was an overwhelming need for food assistance. He then mapped this out in his reporting.

“It’s gratifying to bestow the McCommons award on a journalist who reported on a subject that I know Pete cares deeply about,” Charles N. Davis, dean of Grady College, said. “This work highlights hunger, an issue that we can and must solve together as a society, and does its best work by identifying a problem but also identifying potential solutions.”

In his reporting, Cronin took an in-depth look at numerous aspects of food insecurity, including housing, transportation, agriculture, inequality, education and more. His series ended with a resource guide for residents. 

Brian Cronin stands with his award.
Cronin was recognized for his series on food insecurity, titled “Hunger in the Highlands.” (Photo: Jackson Schroeder)

“We were impressed by the depth and richness of this reporting, and especially the time and resources he was given to carry out this project,” explained Kyser Lough, the chair of the McCommons Award Committee and an assistant professor in Grady’s Department of Journalism.

“He used well-rounded sourcing to find the relevant data and people necessary to build a deeper narrative,” Lough added, “which allowed him to thoroughly present the topic and then start exploring what people were doing about it. His work highlights the need for in-depth coverage like this that can fully explore the nuance and context of a community topic, and the importance of community news outlets.”

In his acceptance speech, Cronin emphasized the importance of local, independent journalism, reinforcing its pivotal role in communities. 

“It’s up to small, local, independent news organizations with boots on the ground and knowledge of their communities to keep their communities from crumbling,” said Cronin. “It’s up to us, because no one else is going to do it for us.” 

Jon Peters, the head of the Department of Journalism, shares this sentiment. 

“Community journalism is as important as ever, and Brian’s work is a powerful reminder of it — and an exemplar of telling stories that matter to your town and neighborhood,” said Peters. “He learned of a major problem, he thoroughly investigated and reported it, and he shared a variety of public resources and possible solutions. That’s exceptionally valuable and a credit to Brian’s vision as a reporter. I’m thrilled we’re honoring him.”

The Rollin M. “Pete” McCommons Award for Distinguished Community Journalism, sponsored by the Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communication, goes to small- or niche-market media outlets that have produced single or packaged stories on issues affecting their community and can offer how these stories may have impacted their community. These media outlets can create bonds with its citizens, increase diversity, offer greater depth and context, and find ways to capture local priorities, concerns and perspectives.

Larry Hobbs receives 2020 McCommons Award for Distinguished Community Journalism

Posted on by Jackson Schroeder

Larry Hobbs, a feature writer and reporter at The Brunswick News (Brunswick, Georgia) has been named the recipient of the 2020 Rollin M. “Pete” McCommons Award for Distinguished Community Journalism.

This award, presented during Grady Salutes on Friday, April 29, recognizes Hobbs for his initial and subsequent reporting on the murder of Ahmaud Arbery. 

“I am thrilled that Larry Hobbs is this year’s recipient of the local journalism award endowed in my name by Grady Thrasher and Kathy Prescott,” said Pete McCommons, the publisher and editor of Flagpole Magazine in Athens. “Larry is a great example of the local reporter who doggedly follows a difficult story in spite of all the other assignments that compete for his time and attention.”

A Lower Alabama native and 1984 graduate of Troy University, Hobbs spent the bulk of his early career working for Florida newspapers, including the Palm Beach Daily News and the Palm Beach Post, among others. He started writing for The Brunswick News in 2014, roughly six years before the Ahmaud Arbery shooting. 

“Larry Hobbs and his colleagues at The Brunswick News did what journalists do: they heard of a potential misjustice, they investigated it, they demanded accountability from those in charge, and they ultimately saw one of Brunswick’s, and Georgia’s, most horrific acts to its conclusion. They performed journalism, at its finest,” said Charles Davis, dean of Grady College. 

Larry Hobbs accepts the 2020 Pete McCommons Award for Distinguished Community Journalism on the stage next to Charles Davis, dean of Grady College.
Larry Hobbs (left) accepts the 2020 Pete McCommons Award for Distinguished Community Journalism on the stage next to Charles Davis (right), dean of Grady College. (Photo: Sarah E. Freeman)

Each year, the McCommons Award, sponsored by Grady College, honors outstanding leadership, innovation and entrepreneurism in community journalism. It highlights the substantial contributions of community journalism to civic life and inspires students to pursue careers in community journalism.

In this case, Hobbs began reporting on the Amhaud Arbery shooting the day Arbery died. Hobbs’ relentless reporting was picked up by national media organizations, including Time, CNN and Poynter, among others, and depicted as a catalyst for the Amhaud Arbery trial. 

“Larry’s reporting was important in many ways, and we are glad to have this opportunity to honor him for the work he did,” explained Kyser Lough, the chair of the McCommons Award Committee and an assistant professor in Grady’s Department of Journalism.

“Even before this award, I have been using Larry’s reporting on the murder of Ahmaud Arbery in my classes as an example of the importance of local, community journalism, and I know other journalism professors have been too,” Lough added. “While this year the award went to a reporter in our home state, it’s important to remember that this is a national award and we accept nominations from across the country.”

Larry Hobbs (right) stands nest to Kyser Lough (left), the chair of the McCommons Award Committee and an assistant professor in Grady’s Department of Journalism.
Larry Hobbs (right) stands next to Kyser Lough (left), the chair of the McCommons Award Committee and an assistant professor in Grady’s Department of Journalism. (Photo: Sarah E. Freeman)

In Hobbs’ comments accepting the award, he gave credit to his team at The Brunswick News for fueling their publication. He also made a point that he doesn’t consider himself or his colleagues heroes — just people “doing their jobs.”

“Truth more often thrives in communities where newspapers abide,” Hobbs continued. “Those in positions of public trust are held accountable when newspapers simply do their jobs. When an ugly truth hid behind the senseless killing of Ahmaud Arbery, The Brunswick News did its job. We covered this sad story relentlessly from the day it occurred right up until justice was served in both state and federal courts. We owed that to our community, and to Ahmaud and to his family.”

This sentiment was also expressed by Janice Hume, the head of the Department of Journalism, while introducing Hobbs. 

“It was Mr. Hobbs’ attention to detail and dogged reporting that brought the story of Ahmaud Arbery’s murder first to local and then national attention,” said Hume. “Without the work of a local journalist who understood and cared about his community, there would have been no justice for Mr. Arbery’s family. Local journalism matters, and Mr. Hobbs’ work is a fine example of why. We are grateful for his service to the Brunswick community and beyond.” 

More details and a form to nominate a community journalist for a future McCommons Award can be found on the McCommons Award for Distinguished Community Journalism webpage.

Gagliano receives 2019 McCommons Award for Distinguished Community Journalism

Posted on by Sarah Freeman

Katie Gagliano, a breaking news and education reporter for The Acadiana Advocate (Lafayette, Louisiana), has been named the recipient of the 2019 Rollin M. “Pete” McCommons Award for Distinguished Community Journalism.

The award is presented by the Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communication and was given to Gagliano in a ceremony at Grady College on Oct. 22, 2019.

Gagliano received the honor based on her coverage of a series of church arsons in the Louisiana communities of St. Landry Parish in April 2019.

Gagliano and McCommons participated in a short question and answer session following the award presentation.

Gagliano, who is a 2018 graduate of the LSU Manship School of Mass Communication, had worked at the paper for two weeks when the arsons occurred.

In her acceptance speech, Gagliano said her length of tenure at the paper was a lesson in itself. “It really shows, for students especially, you don’t have to live in a community forever to have an impact there or to care about people you are reporting on and serving.”

A committee of Grady College students and faculty from the Department of Journalism reviewed the nominations and selected Gagliano as the recipient.

The nomination for Gagliano’s coverage in The Acadiana Advocate described: “Katie’s consistent coverage of this series of events of an arsonist burning down three black churches in Louisiana showcases how a community can rally together to support one another. Her coverage spoke to national journalists, who also encouraged folks to donate. Through viral tweets and politician visits, this community was able to raise $2.1 million in under a week to go toward the rebuilding of these churches.”

Gagliano was interviewed by several news organizations about her coverage, including NPR.

In Gagliano’s comments following the acceptance of the award, she said that her work in community journalism is about the people in the community and keeping them at the heart of the journalism. “We are the ones who are still there when the sensationalism has ended,” Gagilano said. “We are the ones who are going to keep telling the stories for these people.”

The inaugural McCommons Award was presented to its namesake, Pete McCommons, editor of the Flagpole Magazine in 2018.

The McCommons Award honors outstanding leadership, innovation and entrepreneurism in community journalism. Supported by an endowment, the annual award was created to recognize professional journalists, students or faculty who produce community journalism of consequence. The award highlights the substantial contributions of community journalism to civic life and inspires students to pursue careers in community journalism.

Links to a few of Gagliano’s features from
The Acadiana Advocate about the church arsons can be found here:

More details and a form to nominate a community journalist for a future McCommons Award can be found on the McCommons Award for Distinguished Community Journalism webpage.