Here are the winners of this year’s Georgia Association of Broadcasters GABBY Awards, awarded on September 26, 2026. The GABBY Awards are presented annually by the Georgia Association of Broadcasters to professionals in Georgia radio, television, and digital broadcasting. Stations and individual broadcasters submit their work, and judges (who are broadcasting professionals not based in the state) evaluate the entries. All awards are GABBY awards unless otherwise noted. Some awards are special awards of merit for special broadcasting honors. All winners listed below are from the Atlanta/Athens market.
Best Breaking News Coverage
Large Market Radio: Maria Boynton/Audacy Atlanta
Large Market TV: WSB-TV
Best Community Service Project
Large Market Radio: Danie B, Beestroh Manteca, Greg Street, Lil Bankhead, Tori Ogakwu & Elisabeth Omilami (Hosea Helps)/Audacy Atlanta
Large Market TV: Marian Pittman, Joe Cowan, Condace Pressley & Sean Garcia/WSB-TV
Best Feature Story
Large Market TV: Linda Stouffer, Brian Ferguson/WSB-TV
Large Market TV: Donald Fountain/CBS News Atlanta (Merit Award)
Large Market Radio: Lisa Rayam, Lily Oppenheimer/ WABE
Large Market Radio: Jonathan O’Brien/WSB Radio (Merit Award)
Best Hard News Reporting
Large Market Radio: Marisa Mecke/WABE
Medium Market Radio: William Daughtry /WDUN
Large Market TV: Mark Winne , Jesse Pope/WSB-TV
Best Investigative Reporting Series
Large Market TV: Andy Pierrotti, Luke Carter, Lindsey Basye, Derek McClanahan & Tim Darnell/WANF
Large Market TV: Dacelys Martinez, Ana Lourdes Herrera, Jensser Morales & Patricia Soto/WUVG (Merit Award)
Best Mental Health Awareness Coverage
Large Market Radio: Jess Mador/WABE
Large Market TV:Ciara Cummings, Luke Carter, Lindsey Basye & Tim Darnell/WANF
Best Meteorologist
Large Market TV: Jennifer Valdez/WANF
Best News Anchor
Large Market TV: Jennifer Bellamy/WXIA
Best Newscast
Large Market Radio: Maria Boynton /Audacy Atlanta (Merit Award)
Large Market Radio: WSB News Team/ WSB Radio
Large Market TV: WSB-TV News Staff
Best On-Air Personality or Team
Large Market Radio: Tad Lemire, Kara Wilson & Drex Rener/B98.5
Best Online Breaking News Coverage
Large Market Digital: Jason Braverman, Jordan Barela, Josh White, Ellie Parker & Tim Darnell/WANF
Best Online Produced Story
Large Market Digital: Molly Samuel & WABE Staff/WABE
Best Podcast Series
Large Market Digital: Wes Carroll, Shawn Cruzen, Joey Williams & Graham Hobson/Georgia News Network
Best Program (Non-News or Sports)
Large Market Radio: Maria Boynton/Audacy Atlanta
Large Market TV: WSB-TV
Large Market TV: Cara Kneer, Deborah Raptis, Taylor Drake, Tiffany Pittman & Paul Sacco/WXIA (Merit Award)
Best Reporter
Large Market Radio: Georgia News Network
Large Market TV: Brenan Keefe/WANF
Best Severe Weather Coverage
Large Market Radio: WSB News Team /WSB Radio
Large Market TV: WSB-TV News Team/WSB-TV (Merit Award)
Large Market TV:Danielle Moss, Chris Holcomb, Melissa Nord & Nicole Burgess/WXIA-TV
Best Sports Anchor
Large Market TV: Maria Martin/WXIA
Best Sports Play-by-Play
Large Market Radio: Ben Ingram, Darren O’Day & Jonathan Chadwick /680 The Fan
Best Sports Program
Large Market Radio: Nick Cellini, Chris Dimino & Matt Edgar/680 The Fan
Large Market TV: Baillie Burmaster, Joey Rogers, Lee Smith, Connor Hines, Avery Braxton & Kinsey Lee/WANF
Best Station Produced Commercial
Large Market Radio: Vito Gorinas, Maiya Moran, Dom Rados & Steve Romak/Cumulus Media – Atlanta
Large Market TV: David Tallarico, Josh Dillard, Mike Von Ruden, Peter Lancaster, Kris Wilkins & Trent Conquest/WANF
Best Station Promo
Large Market Radio: Rob Jenners /680 The Fan
Large Market TV:Josh Morey, Michael Von Ruden, Josh Dillard, Trent Conquest & Brittney White/WANF
Large Market TV: Sean Garcia & Jason Hopkins/WSB TV (Merit Award)
Best Student-Run Program
College/University: Sydney Palmer, Kathryn Young, Sophia Stafford & Professor Ralitsa Vassileva/Grady Newsource
Best Videographer
Large Market TV: Name not posted/CBS News Atlanta
Station of the Year
Large Market TV: Atlanta News First – WANF
Large Market Radio: News & Talk WAOK – Audacy Atlanta
Student-Run Station of the Year
College/University: CAU-TV Student Staff & Volunteers /CAU TV 23
Congratulations to all winners!
