A version of the following article appeared in the August 3, 2026, edition of The Charlotte Ledger, an e-newsletter with local business-y news and insights for Charlotte, N.C.
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🏆🏆🏆 Profile-writing, arts critiques cited as ‘the very best journalism’ in 12 Southern states
We’re pleased to tell you that several of The Charlotte Ledger’s regular writers have won awards honoring the best journalism in the Southeastern U.S.
(L to R) Lindsey Banks, Carroll Walton and Lawrence Toppman won awards for their writing in The Charlotte Ledger in a contest open to journalists in 12 Southern states. (Ledger file photos)
Our assistant editor, Lindsey Banks, along with regular contributors Carroll Walton and Lawrence Toppman, won “Green Eyeshade Awards” for work that appeared in The Ledger in 2025:
Lindsey and Carroll won second-place in the “profile writing” category – Lindsey for her inspiring story of a 69-year-old immigrant veteran who found purpose in turning an east Charlotte laundromat into a community hub; and Carroll for her moving piece about how decluttering helped prepare a south Charlotte family for an unimaginable loss. The other winners in the category were reporters at The Miami Herald and the talented Théoden Janes of The Charlotte Observer.
Toppman won third-place in the “criticism and review” category for his pieces objecting to the seemingly obligatory standing ovations at Charlotte arts venues and for a review of a slapstick take on “A Christmas Carol” by the Warehouse Studio Theater in Cornelius called “Scrooge in Rouge.” The other winners in that category were from the Atlanta Journal-Constitution and the Associated Press.
Other Charlotte-area winners were former Charlotte magazine editor Greg Lacour’s work in The Assembly covering ICE’s presence in Charlotte, The Charlotte Observer’s in-depth look at data centers and four awards for WTVI PBS Charlotte’s news magazine show “Carolina Impact.”
The Green Eyeshade Awards, in their 76th year, are run by the Society of Professional Journalists and recognize “the very best journalism” across 12 Southern states. The odd name refers to the visors worn by old-time newspaper workers.
The Ledger traditionally enters only a few journalism contests, focusing on national and Southern regional awards rather than statewide ones. In our business, readers are the ultimate judges of the work we do, and building a successful local media company through smart, honest and thoughtful journalism is rewarding in itself. Still, we're grateful to be recognized by our peers for publishing work they consider to be first-rate.