Journalist. Editor.
A Trusted Voice.

Susan Percy is an award-winning Metro Atlanta-based journalist and columnist, who has covered Georgia business, politics, and government. She was executive editor and editor of Georgia Trend Magazine from 2001 through 2013 and a regular contributor for another 11 years.

Learn More

"I’m fortunate that I’ve had a long, interesting, and varied career, doing work that I care about. It hasn’t always been easy, but I have loved just about every minute of it."

View Bio

Highlights

Chosen for their impact, insight, or personal significance, each item offers a glimpse into the moments and stories that have defined her work and voice as a journalist.

Georgia Trend

The Apostle of Democracy

When Jimmy Carter was inaugurated in 1971 as Georgia’s 76th governor, he famously announced, “I say to you quite frankly that the time for racial discrimination is over. No poor, rural, weak or Black person should ever again have to bear the additional burden of being deprived of the opportunity of an education, a job or simple justice.”

Photo courtesy of
The Carter Center
Read More >

Interviews & Profiles

Over the course of her career, Susan Percy has interviewed a wide range of influential figures—from elected officials and business leaders to artists, educators, and advocates shaping life in Georgia and beyond. Her conversations go beyond headlines, offering thoughtful, well-researched questions and space for reflection.

View All Interviews >

From the archives

Drawn from Susan Percy’s personal collection, this section features scanned articles originally published in print outlets that are no longer available online. Each scan is presented as it first appeared—part of a living archive that honors both the journalism and the era it captured.

View the Archived Items >
America West Magazine

Manuel’s Tavern

October 0994
Read More
From the Archives
Schoolbook: A Journal of Education

Empty Nester Blues

January 1999
Read More
From the Archives
Atlanta Magazine

Second Time Around

October 1988
Read More

Digital Articles

This collection features Susan Percy’s published work that remains accessible online, spanning topics from politics and public policy to culture, health, and leadership. Each article reflects her clear-eyed reporting and thoughtful analysis, offering a window into the issues and individuals shaping Georgia and the region.

View All Digital Articles >
Business Casual

More Water Wars

August 29, 2018

The summer’s U.S. Supreme Court ruling in the long-running water war between Georgia and neighboring Florida – with Alabama occasionally holding Florida’s coat – didn’t resolve anything. It merely kicked the can down the road in a cloud of legalese.

Read More
Business Casual

Turning Up the HEat

March 1, 2013

So it’s getting a little warm in the kitchen of public office-holding? Well, it’s supposed to. When democracy works well, the energy generates heat and light. When it doesn’t work so well, you get a surplus of hot air.

Read More
Business Casual

Georgia, Georgia

June 2, 2019

A few years ago, when I was helping move my daughter into her freshman dormitory in our nation’s capital and busily unloading boxes from the car, a man who had just alighted from his New Jersey-tagged vehicle with a yippy little dog wandered over, nodded hello, looked at my license plate and said astutely, “Oh, you’re from down there in Georgia.”

Read More
Business Casual

Where Are the Grownups?

August 31, 2019

The first time I was ever completely alone with my now-grown daughter was in the hospital where she was born. When she began to cry, the thing that popped immediately into my head was a hope that some responsible adult would show up and take care of things.

Read More

Awards & Recognition

Over the course of her career, Susan Percy has been honored by peers and professional organizations for her journalism, commentary, and contributions to the field. These awards reflect her commitment to clear-eyed reporting, fearless commentary, and a deep respect for the role of journalism in public life. From national press associations to regional honors, each recognition marks a chapter in her legacy.

View Awards & Recognition >
2015

Best Body of Work, Single Writer

Alliance of Area Business Publications (AABP)
2013

Commentary Award (Finalist)

Atlanta Press Club
2015

Best Magazine Feature-Writing

Society of Professional Journalists (SPJ) – Green Eyeshade Awards
2016

Best Bylined Commentary

Alliance of Area Business Publications (AABP)
2016

Best Small Magazine Feature Story

Alliance of Area Business Publications (AABP)
2015

Best of Magazine Division

Society of Professional Journalists (SPJ) – Green Eyeshade Awards
2022

Green Eyeshade Gold Award

Society of Professional Journalists (SPJ) – Green Eyeshade Awards
2008

Best Humorous Column

Society of Professional Journalists (SPJ) – Green Eyeshade Awards
2023

Grady Fellowship Induction

University of Georgia, Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communication