We outdid ourselves – literally – in Parenting Publications of America’s (PPA’s) 2009 Editorial and Design Excellence Competition. We managed to snag a total of seven awards – two more than last year – including three Gold prizes. The awards were announced this weekend at PPA’s annual convention.
PPA is a national trade association of regional parenting publications with over 120 member publications across the country. PPA’s annual Editorial and Design Awards Competition – which recognizes excellence in journalism by publishers, editors, writers and designers at member publications – is truly the gold standard for magazines like Metro Parent. If regional parenting publications had Oscars, these would be them.
So we’re beyond tickled with our showing this year! Along with the three Gold awards – for general feature, service feature and humor writing (our “Going Places with Ramona” column), we won awards for two articles appearing in our annual Education & Enrichment Guide as well as a General Excellence award for our “Your Baby & You” supplement. And we earned a Bronze in the top editorial category (Overall Writing).
Keep reading for a list of all of our awards this year.
2009 PPA Awards for Metro Parent
Column: Humor
Gold: Metro Parent (OR); Melissa Favara, writer; Marie Sherlock, editor
Strong writing and attention to detail makes this a lively read. Writer uses a strong voice and offers a wonderful mix of rollicking humor and emotional insight into the writer’s life. This is a column that forms relationships with readers.
Service Feature
Gold: Metro Parent (OR); “Raising a Reader”; Anne Laufe, writer; Marie Sherlock, editor
A clearly written, comprehensive, age group by age group examination of how to develop children’s love of reading. The views of parents and librarians are used to good effect here, as are the first-person perspectives of the writer.
General Feature Writing
Gold: Metro Parent (OR); “The Search for Balance”; Anne Laufe, writer; Marie Sherlock, editor
Instead of relying on experts, this story about balancing family and a job brings to life the voices — and expertise —of mothers to inform others from a variety of perspectives. The integration of relevant state and federal policies, along with a global perspective, provide added value.
Overall Writing
Bronze: Metro Parent (OR); Marie Sherlock, writer/editor; Melissa Favara, Anne Laufe, Emily Puro, Teresa Carson
Throughout this publication, the writing is very good. Readers value the stories and voices of people like themselves, and that’s what they find here. There is lots of humanity, multiple real examples to illustrate general points, and touches of humor.
Ancillary Feature Writing
Bronze: Metro Parent (OR); “Education and Enrichment Guide 2008-2009”; “The High Cost of College”; Teresa Carson, writer; Marie Sherlock, editor
A healthy dose of reality along with some good reporting debunks many myths about college costs, while providing parents with some solid options about how to get their kid through school. Interviews with local experts providing tips for college provides valuable information to parents and students.
Silver: Metro Parent (OR); “Education and Enrichment Guide 2008-2009”; “Many Schools of Thought”; Emily Puro, writer; Marie Sherlock, editor
Thorough reporting, good interviews and solid writing make this primer on educational philosophies invaluable for parents who are flummoxed with the array of teaching methods, schools and ideas regarding how to educate children. The writer takes the time to not only explain each philosophy, but provide examples and interviews, which makes it that much more valuable.
Ancillary General Excellence
Bronze: Metro Parent (OR); “Your Baby and You”; Anne Laufe, Emily Puro, Kendra Jacobson, Marie Sherlock, writers; Susan Bard, design; Marie Sherlock, editor
Informative and fun publication that imparts lots of good wisdom (a support group for dads) to practical knowledge outlining the benefits of a birth doulas. Lots of local flavor sprinkled with nice photos and graphics.
March 3rd, 2009 | Category: Metro Parent
