Editor Kevin C. Hall, left, and Publisher Laurie Gay, center, receive the Public Service Journalism Award from Jim Zachary, CNHI’s director of newsroom standards and practices, at a ceremony Wednesday.

VALDOSTA — Former Valdosta Daily Times Editor Jim Zachary returned to South Georgia Wednesday to present the newspaper with the CNHI Public Service Journalism Award.

The award was announced in late February but was based on work published in 2023.

“The Public Service Journalism award for Division II went to the Valdosta Daily Times for unflinching reporting and editorializing on a scandal surrounding a school superintendent, whose illegal use of school bus fuel for his personal vehicles and duplicity in also submitting expense receipts from gas stations came to light because of the newspaper’s determined reporting and public records requests,” the judges said. “Acting on a tip, the paper caught the superintendent red-handed on video at the bus depot refueling his pickup along with an extra gas tank in the truck bed. The superintendent eventually resigned in the face of mounting public reaction to the paper’s coverage.”

One day after the newspaper was informed of its award, local law enforcement announced that the former school superintendent, Dr. Shawn Haralson, had been indicted on multiple charges of theft and unauthorized use of a financial card.

“We literally had to pull the story of our award off the front page to make room for the story of his indictment,” VDT Editor Kevin C. Hall said.

Hall accepted the trophy but acknowledged he had nothing to do with the investigation. Zachary was editor and Brittanye Blake the education reporter when the scandal came to light in March 2023. Zachary was promoted within CNHI later in the year, Blake left the newspaper for other opportunities in August and Hall started the first of September.

On Wednesday, Zachary emphasized the Public Service Journalism Award goes to the newspaper, not the individuals. He said it takes the entire staff — newsroom, advertising, circulation and production — to enable the reporters to produce important journalism for the community.

“We are really proud of the Valdosta Daily Times newsroom for producing journalism that matters,” Zachary said. “The coverage and newspaper editorials recognized by this award were all about exposing wrongdoing and bringing to light an abuse of power while keeping an eye on the public purse. As journalists, this is why we do what we do.”

This is the second year in a row the VDT has won the Public Service Award from CNHI. A series on deaths at Valdosta State Prison won last year.

“The Public Service Award is one of the top awards our company gives,” said Valdosta Times Publisher Laurie Gay. “It recognizes the impact that good journalism can have in a community. We’re very proud and honored and humbled by this award.”