News

The Georgia Court of Appeals ruled March 13 that a lower-court decision favoring the City of Sandy Springs in an Open Records lawsuit was premature.

The ruling is a setback for Sandy Springs and its practice of tailoring police reports released to the public to include nothing but the barest of data.

Appen Media Group announced Feb. 14 that Sarah Coyne will join its staff as a reporter. Coyne will immediately begin covering local government and business in North Fulton. She will report to Carl Appen, director of content and development, and will be based in Alpharetta.

Decaturish.com, a trusted source for hyperlocal news in Decatur and surrounding communities, will launch a new publication, Decaturish Ink. The newspaper will provide readers with high-quality, in-depth journalism in a professionally designed print and digital format.

With the same commitment to transparency and thoughtful reporting, Decaturish Ink will elevate community storytelling by featuring long-form articles, profiles of local leaders, arts and culture highlights and engaging opinion pieces.

The City Council's unanimous vote ensures these placements for the future. By designating an official legal organ, the city will secure cost savings while providing residents clear, reliable access to public notices.

WABE and Appen Media Group/Decaturish recently signed a new partnership agreement that will mean more collaboration between the two organizations. 

The two companies are also discussing a multimedia collaboration to be determined. 

Appen Media Group announced July 17 that Jon Wilcox will join its staff as a reporter. Wilcox will cover local government and business in Alpharetta and Forsyth County. He will report to Carl Appen, director of content and development, and he will be based in Alpharetta. 

Appen Media Group, publishers of the Herald and Crier newspapers, announced July 1 it has purchased the digital news company Decaturish from longtime owner and founder Dan Whisenhunt.

The Alpharetta-based company will keep on Whisenhunt and assistant editor Zoe Seiler to continue their coverage of DeKalb County along with the Decaturish core of freelance writers and photographers. Debbie Inglis will stay in her advertising and marketing role with the company.

The Georgia Press Association honored winners of the 2024 Freedom of Information Award and Better Newspaper Contest June 7 for outstanding achievements in journalism. 

The association also recognized winners of the Better Newspaper Advertising Contest during its 137th annual convention at Jekyll Island Club.

Competing in Division F, Appen Media received first place in the General Excellence category, coming out ahead of Big Canoe’s Smoke Signals and the Augusta Press. 

Appen Media Group’s penultimate Listening Tour stop June 20 at July Moon Bakery and Café drew about a dozen attendees equipped with story ideas and questions for newsroom staff.

The series, with monthly stops in each of the company’s seven coverage areas, allows the public to provide tips and suggestions on how to strengthen reporting. So far, staff have made rounds in Dunwoody, Roswell, Johns Creek, Forsyth County and Milton to gain valuable insight from residents. 

The newsroom at Appen Media Group stopped at Six Bridges Brewing in Milton May 16 to listen to residents about how to improve local coverage.

This was the fifth stop in the company’s “Listening Tour,” a seven-month series touching base in each of Appen Media’s coverage areas. So far, staff have made rounds in Dunwoody, Roswell, Johns Creek and Forsyth County in an effort to gain valuable insight from residents on how to strengthen reporting.

The newsroom at Appen Media set up shop at Cherry Street Brewing in Vickery Village April 18 to learn more about what’s on the minds of Forsyth County residents.

The event at the buzzing microbrewery and restaurant was the fourth stop on the newsroom’s “Listening Tour,” a seven-month series visiting each hub in Appen Media’s coverage areas.

About two dozen people attended Appen Press Club’s second stop on its 2024 “Listening Tour” Feb. 15 at From the Earth Brewery Company.

Members of Appen Media’s newsroom made themselves available to the public to listen to feedback from readers and talk about what they would like to see more of in their local newspaper.

Hundreds of award-winners filled the Forsyth Conference Center at Lanier Technical College Oct. 26 for their turn to walk down the red carpet and receive their honors at Appen Media Group’s 2023 Best of North Atlanta Awards Gala.

The black-tie gala celebrates the honorees of the Best of North Atlanta contest, chosen by the public.

Appen Media Group announced Sept. 18 that Hayden Sumlin will join its staff as a reporter. Sumlin will cover local governments and businesses in Dunwoody, Sandy Springs and Roswell. He will report to Carl Appen, director of content and development, and he will be based in Alpharetta.

Appen Media staff won multiple division titles in the Georgia Press Association’s 2023 Better Newspaper Contest at the Jekyll Island Club Hotel June 9.

The 136th annual competition recognizes state journalists for outstanding achievement in newspaper reporting. Appen Media staff won second place in general excellence and page one, lifestyle and local news coverage in the F Division for weekly papers with a circulation of 15,000 or greater.

Around 50 people attended a “Meet the Press” event hosted by Appen Media at July Moon Bakery Feb. 22. Residents, communication professionals and newsmakers gathered to hear from Appen staff for their first public event of 2023.

With a keen eye for the absurd, columnist Mike Tasos comes aboard Appen Media with more than a decade of experience getting personal with readers.

Appen Media Group announced Jan. 12 that North Georgia journalist Alexander Popp has been selected to spearhead coverage of the Perimeter area for the Dunwoody and Sandy Springs Crier newspapers.

Appen Media Group announced Jan. 11 that Shelby Israel will join its staff as a reporter. Israel will cover local government and public safety in Forsyth County and the City of Alpharetta. She will report to Carl Appen, director of content and development, and be based in Alpharetta.

Appen Media Group announced Nov. 15 that Delaney Tarr will join its staff as a reporter. Tarr will cover Roswell government and local news. She will report to Carl Appen, director of content and development, and be based in Alpharetta.

“It’s a great day when we can add someone like Delaney to our team,” Appen said. “She has multi-media chops and a fair, inquisitive approach to reporting. I’m excited to see the impact she’ll have, and drive, in our community.”

Originally from South Florida, Tarr recently graduated from the University of Georgia’s journalism program. In her time at UGA, Tarr worked for the local newspaper, the Red & Black, as well as student-run news station Grady Newsource. Tarr covered politics, culture and food across outlets and platforms.