Sam Hall
Sam is the Director of Communications for the Georgia Department of Labor (GDOL), a position he has held since 1993. In that role, he manages the department’s media relations; manages, produces, and reports for Georgia JobTV; and produces and hosts a monthly radio program on department–related topics for the Georgia Radio Reading Service (GaRRS).
Sam was presented the 1996 Miller Merit Award by the Georgia Chapter of the International Association of Workforce Professionals (IAWP).
That same year, Sam received the organization’s International Award of Merit. Both awards recognized his work in managing the development and implementation of Georgia JobTV, the only television service of its kind in the nation, and in the launch and production of Success Track, a unique Emmy Award winning television series on employment and career development broadcast for seven years over Georgia Public Broadcasting (GPB). Sam received an Emmy nomination for his individual producing and reporting work for the series.
He served eight years as a member of the National Association of State Workforce Agencies (NASWA) Communications Committee, helping to formulate the manner in which the nation’s 50 state employment security agencies administer communications policies and services. Prior to joining the GDOL in 1993, Sam had a successful 15-year career in television journalism. At the time he joined the labor department, he was the weeknight news anchor, managing editor and producer for WRBL-TV in Columbus, Georgia, a position he had held since 1989.
Previously he was the weeknight news anchor for WSAV-TV in Savannah, anchor/reporter for WTVM-TV in Columbus, anchor/producer/reporter for KPLC-TV in Lake Charles, Louisiana, and news director/anchor for WDHN-TV in Dothan, Alabama.
Sam received 18 awards for journalism excellence in a variety of categories, including investigative, medical, public affairs, commentary and criticism, spot news, series, and documentary reporting.
He received several awards and recognitions for his coverage of Ft. Benning soldiers in Operation Desert Shield/Desert Storm in 1990-91. Among those are an Associated Press Award for Series Reporting, a special Certificate of Achievement by the 2nd Battalion, 18th Infantry, 197th
Infantry Brigade of Ft. Benniing and being named the Man of the Year in Columbus by the American Legion Auxiliary. The Georgia Association of Educators created a category in the organization’s annual School Bell Awards for journalism excellence to recognize his work. He has been presented several civic awards and was twice named to Outstanding Young Men of America.
Sam served two terms as president of the Georgia Associated Press Broadcasters Association and seven years on its board of directors. He was the charter president of the Wiregrass Chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists-Sigma Delta Chi, in Dothan, Alabama.
He is serving his third term on the Board of Directors for Goodwill Industries of the Southern Rivers and served on the Board of Directors for the Harris County Chapter of the American Cancer Society.
Sam holds BS degrees in business administration and broadcast journalism from Troy University.