About Us
Part of any community’s identity is the publications dedicated to telling its stories. Seaside Social News is proud to join the extended family of resources along the Mississippi Gulf Coast geared to telling the stories of the people who live here and of the places that make it home.
Seaside Social News takes a fun, soft and delightful approach to delivering positive news and information to our readers.
In each online edition, we profile interesting people and places in our communities. We connect you with causes that matter. We talk with musicians, entrepreneurs, city and county leaders, administrators, teachers, students and others. We spotlight local businesses and organizations. We also take tons of photographs of folks attending area parties and special meetings and functions to help illustrate the best of who and what makes our beloved towns and cities special with pictures featuring our neighbors, friends, co-workers, and who knows, maybe even you.
We also publish wedding and anniversary announcements. It truly makes the occasion memorable.
Sometimes in the world of reporting and publishing, we get bogged down in the drudgery of the everyday news, but Seaside Social News allows us the opportunity to explore the fun and colorful side of the area.
And there is no limit to the boundaries of exploration in Seaside Social News as we aim to reach coastal Mississippians of all ages and backgrounds.
If you are having a party or special event, give us a call. If you know a cool and/or interesting person, business, organization or effort our community should know about, drop us a line.
Our first edition made its debut in July 2019. It was a sampling of what you could expect in the future. Plenty of photos of people enjoying themselves at parties, a profile of Mississippi Press Association Hall of Famer Randy Ponder, a resident of Bay St. Louis, and much more.
Send an email to amanda@seasidesocialnews.com to schedule a party/event shoot. We’ll see you there!
Our Mission
Seaside Social News stays committed to capturing the essence of Mississippi Gulf Coast communities. We’re a positive online soft news source spotlighting our region’s diverse people and culture. Combining the crafts of photography and storytelling, we will bring the best of the Gulf Coast home to our readers.
Our Content
Spotlights: Intimate stories spotlighting those
people and places who help make the Mississippi
Gulf Coast a special place to live and work.
Nonprofits: In partnership with the Gulf Coast HUB
for Volunteers & Nonprofits, our publication
proudly highlights community projects and
initiatives led by individuals and organizations
operating in the nonprofit sector.
Events: Photo albums and stories dedicated to connecting
people to the good causes of our Mississippi Gulf
Coast communities and the individuals, businesses
and organizations behind them.
Shoutouts: Featuring coastal restaurants, shops, and more!
Stay posted with us as we highlight the next local business for Seaside Shoutouts.
Our Team
Amanda Compton-Ortiz holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Journalism from the University of Mississippi. She relocated from North Mississippi to Long Beach In October 2016. Amanda has worked for nearly 20 years in journalism, leading and reporting for various community news publications throughout the state. She has received several awards for her editorial contributions from the Mississippi Press Association and won Second Place among 224 universities competing across the United States and Canada for Reach, a personally created magazine for women.
Mississippi College’s university news coordinator, Andy Kanengiser, spent three decades as a newspaper reporter. For much of his career, the New Jersey native worked at “The Clarion-Ledger.” Andy also serves as the advisor to the “Mississippi Collegian,” MC’s student newspaper. Pearl residents, he and his wife, Sunuia, stay busy with their five adult children and 10 grandkids! An avid table tennis player, Andy captured gold and silver medals at the Mississippi Senior Olympics, (and State Games). He’s in his 13th season sponsoring the MC team, national collegiate champs in 2015 and No. 2 in 2019.
The U.S. Gulf Coast from Brownsville, Texas, to Tampa, Fla., and the U.S. East Coast from Miami to Norfolk, Va., have been the home and workplace for Fred Weller for the last 48 years. A strong entrepreneurial spirit has driven Fred to sharpen his skills at growing various businesses from start up to mature enterprise. Fred anticipates his new role as business adviser to Seaside Social News to be a continuation of an already successful career.
Years of living along the Gulf Coast with a penchant for capturing photographs of smiling faces and beautiful places has brought Susan Weller to Seaside Social News. “This tenure will enhance my opportunities to capture and promote the exciting venues and activities generated by our lovely Gulf Coast and the people who live and celebrate life’s joys.”
Cassandra Foreman is a U.S. Air Force veteran whose creative spirit and love for imagery has presented her with some incredible opportunities both personally and professionally. From a young age, she was always involved in the arts in some way, whether it was music, drama, drawing or taking pictures. Growing up in Washington and Alaska, there was no shortage of picturesque opportunities. And in her teenage years, she discovered her passion for photography. Today, Cassandra resides in D’Iberville, Miss., and enjoys “turning moments into memories” while capturing the beauty in the world around her. She has, in recent years, focused her photography skills and extraordinary attention to detail on helping others seize life’s precious moments. Overall, Cassandra enjoys being a part of the creative process from start to finish. She loves working with others and bringing ideas to life.