Ledger-Enquirer wins 5 awards from Georgia Press Association
The Ledger-Enquirer won five awards in the Georgia Press Association 2026 Better Newspaper Contest.
Journalists were honored for content published during 2025. The GPA announced the winners June 12 at its annual convention on Jekyll Island.
L-E reporter Kala Hunter won first place in multimedia journalism among weeklies, a category for which the L-E qualifies because its printed product comes out two days per week instead of daily.
Hunter also won third place for community service journalism, a category comprising all Georgia newspapers, regardless of their circulation size.
The rest of the L-E’s awards this year came in Division B, the second-largest of the five circulation divisions.
L-E reporter Brittany McGee won first place for enterprise stories. Hunter and Margaret Walker, a reporter at fellow McClatchy Media Company newspaper The Telegraph in Macon, won second place in this category.
L-E reporter Jordyn Paul-Slater won third place in business writing.
Here are more details about the L-E’s awards:
Kala Hunter
Hunter’s award for multimedia journalism is based on these seven Instagram posts with a story and a video:
Why LaGrange residents are concerned about incoming data center Project Pegasus
E. coli levels in Mill Creek have been high for years. Phenix City doesn’t know why
How Georgia became the ‘wild west’ of data centers. Is transparency on the horizon?
GOP ‘scared to death’ by Dem turnout as Kemp rallies for ‘important’ PSC election
PSC candidate visits Columbus as early voting kicks off. What issues matter to Columbus voters?
A data center pushed her from ‘forever home.’ Now she’s fighting another one in LaGrange
The costs of crypto mining in Georgia. Will it be regulated along with new data center rules?
Hunter’s awards for community service journalism and enterprise stories are based on these two stories:
Hundreds pleaded for less fossil fuels in Georgia Power’s energy plans. Why no change?
Was more clean energy attainable in past Georgia Power plans? Energy experts explain
Brittany McGee
McGee’s award for enterprise stories is based on these three stories:
‘Untouchables’ & pressure to mislead are in Columbus finance investigation report
Concerns about a ‘cover-up.’ Inside the Columbus finance investigation
‘Do your due diligence.’ Columbus finance probe’s final events, lasting impact
Jordyn Paul-Slater
Paul-Slater’s award for business writing is based on her entry of these three stories:
International employer bringing over 500 ‘high-paying’ jobs to Columbus
Major employer will invest $12.5 million to create 480 new jobs in Columbus
Inside $223 million deal bringing 524 jobs to Columbus. Who gets what from whom?
“I’m glad the Georgia Press Association again recognized what the L-E’s readers know: We have a super staff of journalists who consistently produce excellent content about Columbus and the Chattahoochee Valley,” wrote Ledger-Enquirer editor Mark Rice. “Brittany, Jordyn and Kala deserve those awards. But our goal isn’t defined by the results of an annual contest; it’s pursuing — every workday — information and insight that help you know more about your community.
“You can help us continue to deliver journalism that matters to you by giving us a holler whenever you have a breaking news tip, feature story idea, investigation suggestion or compelling question. Please email us at newsroom@ledger-enquirer.com or call 706-576-6272.”
