AJ Willingham

Atlanta

Senior Culture Writer at CNN

Senior Reporter and Writer, A.M. ATL at The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Emmy/NABJ award-winning writer. Sr. Reporter @AJC, fmrly @CNN. Professional menace. Music, art, history, lit, sports, nature etc. Episcopalian. Mayo is gross.

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Articles

A.M. ATL: A secretive security deal

1 day ago | ajc.com | AJ Willingham

Morning, y’all! Macon’s makin’ moves: Mercer University will host the Los Angeles Football Club at their newly-renovated soccer pitch and athletic facilities while the team prepares for the FIFA Club World Cup later this month in Atlanta. The end goal? To be the practice home for a national team for the big games in 2026. Fingers crossed! Let’s get to it.
A.M. ATL: Inside ATL air traffic control

2 days ago | ajc.com | AJ Willingham

Morning, y’all! Crafting clubs are very in right now. Think macaroni pictures, but for adults. Painting night, anyone? Maybe a little crochet tutorial? Don’t be shy. Our hands were made for more than typing on keyboards. Let’s get to it. WHAT’S UP AT ATL AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL Credit: John Spink/AJCGiven the number of recent air travel scares and tragedies, it’s only natural to wonder how things are going in Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport’s own crow’s nest.
A.M. ATL: Your summer schedule

3 days ago | ajc.com | AJ Willingham

Morning, y’all. Happy Monday, happy June, happy summer break, happy Pride. Also, happy wallet: Those Georgia tax refund checks of up to $500 should be coming soon, the state says. More info here. Let’s get to it. YOUR SUMMER CALENDAR UPDATECredit: Paul AbellPull up your Google Cal or that Hunky Hometown Firefighter Calendar they were selling for charity (which of course, you had to buy).
Sweet Tea: That small town groove

6 days ago | ajc.com | AJ Willingham

We’ve all seen the TikTok trend where men call the homies to wish them goodnight. It’s honestly so sweet and normalizes the kind of loving friendship men deserve but are sometimes discouraged from expressing. Tell your friends goodnight! Just not every night. No one needs that. New around here? Welcome to Sweet Tea by the AJC, a new newsletter celebrating fascinating, positive stories around the South. Sign up to get Sweet Tea in your inbox every Saturday.
AJC Peachtree Road Race Updates: Why are you doing this?

6 days ago | ajc.com | AJ Willingham

Hello, Peachtree racers! “Why in the world am I doing this?” I bet that thought has popped up at least once during a run. It’s a fair question with endless answers: For fun. For tradition. To try something different. To get healthier. To show yourself you can. Your reasons are your own. Keep them close so you can remind yourself as the miles get long, the weather gets hot and the race gets ever closer. RACE COUNTDOWN: 34 DAYS Credit: Ben Gray/AJCOooh, just about a month. Getting excited yet?
A.M. ATL: Return to office battle

1 week ago | ajc.com | AJ Willingham

Morning, y’all! Burnout is real. Ask me how I know. I love these tips from Atlanta businesswomen on how to keep your soul from feeling like an overused dishcloth after all the work is done. My favorite? Make a daily practice of listing things you’re grateful for. It seems too simple, and a little cheesy, but it works. Again: Ask me how I know. Let’s get to it.
Sweet Tea: Cheers to new beginnings

1 week ago | ajc.com | AJ Willingham

Welcome to the first edition of Sweet Tea by the AJC, a celebration of fascinating stories from around the South. I’m AJ Willingham, and I’ve been covering positive, inspiring content for more than a decade. I’m so excited to build this community with you. I want Sweet Tea to be a place where you feel seen, where we meet diverse voices and connect with one another about what makes the South great. Think of it like a really good brunch with friends.
Braves Report: The age of Acuña

1 week ago | ajc.com | AJ Willingham

Hey, it’s AJ Willingham the Nationals fan in for Tyler again. It’s his birthday, so he deserves a day off. His other present? The long-awaited return of one Ronald José Acuña Blanco Jr. to the Braves lineup. THE RETURN OF NUMBER 13Credit: Daniel Varnado/AJCCredit: Daniel Varnado/AJCIt’s been almost a year since we saw Ronald Acuña in action, before he tore his ACL on the base paths against the Pittsburgh Pirates. He’s back in the lineup today, and it’s not a moment too soon.
We need more positive vibes in the South

1 week ago | macon.com | AJ Willingham

NOTE: AJ Willingham is the host of the AJC's morning newsletter, A.M. ATL, and the voice of the AJC's newest newsletter. Sweet Tea by the AJC is a fresh newsletter focusing on fascinating, empowering and diverse stories and voices around the South. More than a treat, we want this newsletter to be a place to revive your soul. Positive stories are a necessary part of our media intake. More than that, they're a reminder that we aren't islands.
We need more positive vibes in the South

1 week ago | ajc.com | AJ Willingham

Credit: Phil Robibero NOTE: AJ Willingham is the host of the AJC’s morning newsletter, A.M. ATL, and the voice of the AJC’s newest newsletter. Sweet Tea by the AJC is a fresh newsletter focusing on fascinating, empowering and diverse stories and voices around the South. More than a treat, we want this newsletter to be a place to revive your soul. Positive stories are a necessary part of our media intake. More than that, they’re a reminder that we aren’t islands.