Savannah Morning News photographer Richard Burkhart won the Photo of the Year award on Saturday at the Georgia Associated Press Managing Editors Awards ceremony, held in Atlanta.
The photo was taken by Burkhart following the May 2012 standoff at the Olde Pink House and subsequent manhunt. In addition to Photo of the Year, the picture also won first place in the Spot News Photo category.
The Morning News won a total of seven awards, competing in Division 3 against the largest circulation newspapers in Georgia.
Reporter Linda Sickler got the first place award in Feature Writing for her story on a 1909 murder at the Gribble boarding house and the ghosts said still to haunt Savannah today.
“It’s always good to see great work get noticed by others, and these were exceptionally tough categories to win,” said Susan Catron, executive editor for the Savannah Morning News/savannahnow.com. “The news team supports each other well and that commitment makes this level of work possible.”
OTHER AWARDS
Business coverage: Mary Carr Mayle, second place
Editorial Writing: Tom Barton, third place
Best Web Site: Savannahnow.com, third Place
Feature photo: Burkhart, third place
Current Morning News reporter Marcus E. Howard was honored with a third place prize in Business coverage in Division 1 for work he did at The Cherokee Tribune.