Haynes, Crow join staff of Albany Herald

ALBANY — Two news reporters have joined the staff of The Albany Herald.

Jada Haynes, a graduate of Albany High School and Georgia State University, and Gypsy Crow, a Baker County native who earned a bachelor of science degree at Full Sail University, both will be beginning their newspaper careers at The Herald.

“We feel extremely fortunate to add two such bright young reporters to our staff,” interim Herald Editor Carlton Fletcher said. “When I had the opportunity to interview both Gypsy and Jada, I was blown away by each. Trying to decide between the two was agonizing, but, fortunately, we have been able to bring both onboard.

“I believe as they learn the ropes of this business, both Jada and Gypsy will bring a fresh new perspective to news reporting in The Herald’s coverage area, and that’s only going to make the newspaper better. Both reporters will start covering general assignments until they get their feet wet. But I am confident both will adapt quickly and will become vital components of this newsgathering organization.”

Haynes, who utilized the Dougherty County School System’s dual (high school/college) enrollment program to complete two years of college while attending Albany High, earned her bachelor of arts degree in journalism with a minor in ethics at Georgia State. While at the Atlanta university, two of the stories she wrote for the school’s The Signal newspaper were published in “USA Today College.”

“I’ve always had my nose in a book,” Haynes said. “During my early days, it reached a point where I considered my local librarians a few of my friends. This trait eventually broadened into an appreciation of information and research. Against all odds, I emerged from my formative years with that quality intact.

“When I was in high school, my primary concern was college admittance. Most teenagers I knew, myself included, were told to attend college, but only with the omission of critical information. Student loans, debt, in-state versus out-of-state tuition, application fees, and other pieces of the puzzling world of higher education were either left out or brushed aside. It was only by chance that some close friends of mine were about to get involved in a dual enrollment program and invited me along for the ride. I haven’t looked back since.”

Crow moved to Atlanta to work in the film industry and with several classmates produced an independent film. She moved back to Baker County to take care of her mom.

“The country life (in Baker County) helped me grow a big imagination that was fostered by a mother who was adamant about education and creative expression,” the aspiring novelist said. “I’ve studied languages and different cultures around the world and hope that my time here will give me more experiences to never stop growing. I don’t ever want to stop learning.”