The Auburn University Journalism Advisory Council is holding its annual award ceremony on April 19, AU Hotel and Dixon Conference Center to honor outstanding journalists from the state of Alabama.
The council issues five awards and this year, three of the recipients are associated with Auburn.
Roy Bain is the Auburn Journalism Awards Chairman.
"By putting on the ceremony, we are trying to celebrate Alabama Journalism," Bain said.
Bain also said that to be a recipient you need to be nominated and that four of the five awards must go to individuals who have Alabama roots.
Guy Rhodes, publisher and editor of the Tuskegee News, is receiving the Distinguished Alabama Community Journalist Award.
"For me, winning the award represents not just me, but a lot of the people I have worked with," Rhodes said. "It is a great honor for me to receive it."
Rhodes, 1969 Auburn graduate, said he has always been interested in Journalism. Rhodes was the sports editor and business manager of The Plainsman during his time at Auburn.
He worked and wrote for the Montgomery Advertiser, the Columbus Ledger-Enquirer and the Opelika-Auburn News. In 1990 he became the editor of the Tuskegee News where he has been for 18 years.
"Journalism is one of those things that once I got into it, it was hard for me to turn it loose," Rhodes said. "What I like about it so much is getting to know people from all walks of life."
Ed Williams, professor in the department of Communication and Journalism, is receiving the Distinguished Special Achievement in Journalism Award.
"I think it is one of the most significant awards I have received," Williams said.
Williams has been teaching Journalism at Auburn for 30 years and became interested in it when he worked for his high school paper.
"I can't imagine doing anything else," Williams said. "I thought I wanted to be a community newspaper editor and I did do that, but when I came to Auburn to teach Journalism I never wanted to leave."
Williams was the faculty advisor for The Plainsman for 23 years and felt that he could have a bigger impact on Journalism on a college campus than in a newsroom.
Williams said his favorite part about teaching was watching students learn in the classroom and then put it into practice in their own writing.
"I thought that I would like teaching, but I had no idea I would enjoy it as much as I have," Williams said. "Auburn is a special place," Williams said. "I love it and it will always be my home."
Williams is retiring after this semester.
Ace Atkins, 1994 Auburn graduate, is receiving the Distinguished AU Alumnus in Journalistic Achievement Award.
Atkins, whose father Billy was the quarterback for the 1957 national championship team, attended Auburn through a football scholarship. When Atkins was in school, he said he studied to write for television and movies.
After an internship in Los Angeles, Atkins came back and figured out that Journalism would become his training in becoming a professional writer. Atkins then took a job as a full time news reporter in Tampa, Fla.
"I loved everything about being a journalist and a reporter," Atkins said. "Nothing gave me more pride and joy."
After his job as a reporter, Atkins began writing crime novels in 2001.
"I love Auburn and I love being associated with Auburn," Atkins said. "It is an honor to come back and receive the award for my work as a journalist."
Do you like this story? The Plainsman doesn't accept money from tuition or student fees, and we don't charge a subscription fee. But you can donate to support The Plainsman.
