About the AFP
Augusta Free Press
539 West Main Street, Waynesboro, Va. 22980
Monday-Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
(540) 949-6574
(866) 295-8799 fax
Services We Offer
Book Publishing
Copyediting
Grant Writing
Graphic Design - Brochures, newsletters, letterhead, etc.
Logo Design
Marketing/Advertising Design and Implementation
Podcasting
Press Releases
Website Design
About the AFP Website
The Augusta Free Press launched on July 2, 2002 - a service of what became Augusta Free Press Publishing, which is also the parent company of The New Dominion magazine, and a thriving book division that has published Mad About U: Four Decades of Basketball at University Hall, Judge Not, Where Was God? The World Trade Center Disaster seen through a Chaplain’s Eyes and Adventures in Warnerland: My political soap opera in Mark Warner’s Virginia.
The site serves as a portal into life in the Shenandoah Valley and Central Virginia - in a region encompassing Frederick County and the city of Winchester, Warren County, Shenandoah County, Page County, Rockingham County and the city of Harrisonburg, Augusta County and the cities of Staunton and Waynesboro, Rockbridge County and the cities of Buena Vista and Lexington, Nelson County, and Albemarle County and the city of Charlottesville.
Website Mission Statement
The Augusta Free Press is a community forum that aims to inform, educate and as appropriate instill vigorous and ethical debate on the issues of the day that matter to the people of the Shenandoah Valley and Central Virginia.
The Internet is a tool for fostering this kind of social enlightenment that our foremothers and forefathers could only have dreamed of having at their disposal - and we aim to ensure that it is used in this forum to those purposes for which our mutual betterment is the highest goal.
“The Augusta Free Press Show”
“The Augusta Free Press Show” podcasts are available daily on www.augustafreepress.com.
Local government and politics, economic news, goings-on around town - you get that daily on “The Augusta Free Press Show,” hosted by AFP editor Chris Graham.
Have an idea for a future show? Contact Chris Graham at freepress2@ntelos.net to suggest a topic.
Contributor Guidelines
- Submit articles and columns to Chris Graham, editor, at freepress2@ntelos.net.
- There is no word limit - either a minimum or maximum - on submissions. It is suggested that pieces that are longer than 2,500 words in length be reviewed by the author to ensure that it is necessary to tell a story or make a point to go beyond that word count. But that will be left to the discretion of the author.
- There is no limitation on frequency of submissions. Neither is there a requirement that submissions be made on any kind of recurring basis (i.e. once a week, once every two weeks, once a month).
- The editor will be responsible for any copyediting and proofreading. If you as author come across any errors that might have missed the editor’s usually keen eye, please let him know by e-mail that a correction needs to be made.
- All articles and columns are to appear under the byline of the author. At the author’s request, an e-mail address for the author can be published with the story to allow readers to comment directly.
Forum Guidelines
- Comments of a personal nature or of a nature that focuses on making personal attacks on the author of an article or column or a person offering a commentary to an article or column will be deleted from the site - and the person making the offending comment will be prohibited from participating in forums for 30 days.
- Regular commenters who want to become regular contributors of articles and columns are encouraged to do so - contact Chris Graham, editor, at freepress2@ntelos.net to express your interest to that end.
The Publishers
Chris Graham (freepress2@ntelos.net) is a 12-year veteran of print and Web media, radio and television.
He has covered two presidents - Bill Clinton and George W. Bush - in addition to conducting numerous one-on-one interviews with former Virginia governors George Allen, Jim Gilmore and Mark Warner, current governor Tim Kaine and a host of other newsmakers in Richmond and on Capitol Hill.
Chris is the owner and editor of The New Dominion and the host of “The Augusta Free Press Show” Internet podcast.
He is the chairman of the Waynesboro Democratic Committee.
He has as well published two books, Stop the Presses, a humor column collection, and Judge Not, a political thriller. He also co-authored with Patrick Hite Mad About U: Four Decades of Basketball at University Hall. That book was released in September 2006.
Chris is a veteran of The News Virginian, a Waynesboro-based daily newspaper, and The Charlottesville-Albemarle Observer and The Shenandoah Valley Observer, both weeklies.
He has won 10 Virginia Press Association awards for his reporting and writing.
Crystal Graham (freepress@ntelos.net) is a nine-year veteran of the news industry in Central Virginia and the Shenandoah Valley and a graduate of Virginia Tech with a degree in Communications.
She is the owner and publisher of AugustaFreePress.com and The New Dominion, a newsmagazine based in Waynesboro.
Until November 2004, she served as co-host and assistant producer of “Virginia Tonight,” a live news and public affairs program that aired every weeknight. Although the show was cancelled, a program that aired in 2004 on “The Passion of the Christ” was named a finalist for the national Telly Awards competition in March 2005.
In addition to television, Crystal also has an extensive background in print newspapers, having served as managing editor of The Shenandoah Valley Observer and The Charlottesville-Albemarle Observer. She began her career working as the lifestyles editor at The News Virginian in Waynesboro.
Crystal has won six Virginia Press Association awards for her design and writing work.
She is the vice president of Successful Women’s Alliance Network, and a member of the Waynesboro Exchange Club, Waynesboro Democratic Committee, Profit Club and the Augusta County chapter of Team Women, and she is also active in and a member of the Greater Augusta Regional Chamber of Commerce.
Crystal has volunteered with Big Brothers/Big Sisters, Book ‘Em Foundation, Boys and Girls Club, Court Appointed Special Advocates, Kiwanis Club of Waynesboro, Riverfest, Waynesboro Family YMCA, Vector Industries, Waynesboro Players and Wayne Theatre Alliance.
She also organized the Hokie Fundraiser in Waynesboro following the tragedy of April 16 which raised $1,000 for the Hokie Spirit Fund established by Virginia Tech. In 2008, she organized a remembrance ceremony to mark the one-year anniversary of the tragedy.
In 2007, she had her first book, Crystal Clear, published. It features a collection of columns she has written and is available at Amazon.com.
Mike Hodge (mikehodge@ntelos.net) is a seven-year veteran of advertising and marketing in Central Virginia and The Shenandoah Valley.
He is the owner of Red White & Blue Creative, a marketing/advertising and promotions company, and publisher of PIZZADS. He also does concert and radio promotions through Red White & Blue Talent Agency.
Mike also is working on two books - Churches of America, Vol. 1, a picture book of historic and interesting churches, and a biography of a Southern gospel-music legend.
He has worked in circulation with The News Virginian and in sales with The Charlottesville-Albemarle Observer, The Shenandoah Valley Observer and Clear Channel Radio.
Mike was previously in retail management for 13 years.
