1 week Ago
In a year marked by dedication and storytelling excellence, The Berkeley Independent and The Gazette earned eight awards in the 2024 South Carolina Press Association newspaper contest — a testament to the newsroom's ongoing commitment to delivering high-quality local journalism. The Gazette, now part of The Berkeley Independent, earned three accolades, including two first-place honors. Reporter Matt Bise was awarded first place in feature photography, while longtime sports editor Rob Gantt captured first place in sports feature photography.
The Gazette staff also secured second place in general excellence for the second year in a row. The Berkeley Independent staff brought home five awards. Bise received second place in both news feature writing and lifestyle feature writing, and third place in enterprise reporting.
Freelance photographer Charlie Bryant earned second place in sports feature photography, while the entire newsroom was honored with second place in general excellence. “These awards are a testament to the hard work, passion and talent of our team,” said Brandon Roberts, editor and publisher of The Berkeley Independent. “We’re proud to serve our readers with award-winning reporting and photos that resonate with the residents of Berkeley County.
” Roberts highlighted the efforts of Bise and Gantt. “These awards reflect the depth of talent we have in our newsroom, especially from journalists like Matt Bise and Rob Gantt,” he said. “Matt is a gifted storyteller.
Rob is a powerhouse in this region. His photography and reporting consistently bring out the heart of high school athletics in Berkeley County.” Roberts also expressed gratitude to the community and readers.
“These honors wouldn’t be possible without the continued support of our readers,” he said. “It’s clear that local news still matters – and we’re just getting started. This kind of recognition doesn’t happen by accident.
It results from hard work, local knowledge and a passion for community journalism. We’re proud of our team and thankful to our readers for allowing us to do this important work.”.
