Woo Hoo! baystateparent

Readers, The team at bsp (pictured here: Carrie Wattu, editor; Paula Monette Ethier, creative director; Stephanie Pearl, sales and business development manager) is really pumped for our spring and summer issues because we went to our annual conference (Parenting Publications of America) in North Carolina last weekend.

bsp got a BIG pat on the back from the judges of the editorial and design competition for some of the things that we are doing right in our magazine. Plus, we attended conferences and critiques to learn how we can push ourselves to do better.

Please join us in thanking bsp's writers, designers, photographers, sales team, advertisers, and many more contributors for their hard work.

Our awards are detailed below. This makes 24 for 2009 from PPA,Suburban Newspapers of America, and New England Newspaper and Press Association,
Carrie

baystateparent: Winner of 7 Editorial Awards and 7 Design Awards
> > In our circulation category, only Maryland Family won more awards than baystateparent in editorial.
> > No one won more than baystateparent in design!
> >
> > Bronze Winner for Headlines
> > Bronze: Bay State Parent; Carrie Wattu, editor
> >
> > Silver Winner for Humor
> > Silver: Bay State Parent; “Under My Roof,” Jim Keogh, writer; Carrie
> > Wattu, editor
> >
> > Silver Winner for News Feature
> > Silver: Bay State Parent; Carrie Wattu, editor; Julia Quinn-Szcesuil,
> > writer
> >
> > Silver and Gold Winner for Special Series
> > Silver: Bay State Parent; “Finally Forever,” Robyn Silverman, writer;
> > Carrie Wattu, editor
> > Gold: Bay State Parent; “Moms Who Rock,” Carrie Wattu, editor
> >
> > Silver Winner for Special Section within a Publication
> > Silver: Bay State Parent; “Think Pink: Annual Breast Cancer Issue,”
> > Carrie Wattu, editor; Paula Monette Ethier, creative director; Trish
> > Reskie; Julia Quinn-Szcesuil; Laura Richards; Amy Cooper Rodriguez,
> > writers
> >
> > Bronze for Overall Writing
> > Bronze: Bay State Parent; Carrie Wattu, editor
> >
> >
> > Design
> >
> > Silver and Gold Winner for Front Cover/Newsprint/ Original Photo
> > Silver: Bay State Parent; “August 2009 front cover,” Paula Monette
> > Ethier, creative director;
> > Allison Cottrill, photographer
> > Gold: Bay State Parent; “December 2009 cover,” Paula Monette Ethier,
> > creative director;
> > Portrait Simple Studio
> >
> > Gold Winner for Interior Illustration
> > Gold: Bay State Parent; Paula Monette Ethier, creative director;
> > Santos Vega, illustrator
> >
> > Gold Winner for Interior Photography (Original)
> > Gold: Bay State Parent; Robea Patrowicz, photographer
> >
> > Bronze Winner for Table of Contents
> > Bronze: Bay State Parent; Paula Monette Ethier, creative director
> >
> > Gold Winner for Feature Layout Black & White
> > No bronze or silver awards
> > Gold: Bay State Parent; Paula Monette Ethier, creative director;
> > Cassie Heart, illustrator
> >
> > Bronze Winner for Special Section
> > Bronze: Bay State Parent, “Adoption Guide,” Paula Monette Ethier,
> > creative director;
> > Lizzeth Huerta Priego, illustrator
> >

Jazzed!

Paula Monette Ethier, Creative Director
Gareth Charter, Publisher
Carrie Wattu, Editor

baystateparent just returned from a parenting publications conference in New Orleans with regional parenting magazines from all over the United States.
In addition to networking and exchanging ideas and resources, baystateparent competed with other publications in various design and editorial categories for the year 2008 and were judged by professionals from the University of Missouri’s School of Journalism. We're proud to announce...

baystateparent Wins 11 National Design and Editorial Awards

from Parenting Publications of America



Winners of the 11 awards for baystateparent were Paula Monette Ethier, creative director; Steven King, voted as New England’s photographer of the year by the New England Press Association, Paula Swift, award-winning photographer; Carrie Wattu, editor



5 EDITORIAL AWARDS

1 BRONZE for cover writing by Carrie Wattu

1 SILVER for Carrie Wattu’s headlines

3 GOLD for Carrie Wattu’s editor’s note, travel story on NYC and profile on Monica Jorge

6 DESIGN AWARDS

3 BRONZE: Paula Ethier and Steven King’s January 2008 cover; Paula Ethier and Steve King’s “Moms Without Limbs,” and Paula Monette Ethier’s Adoption Guide November 2008.

1 SILVER: Back –to-School color layout August 2008 by Paula Ethier

2 GOLD: Paula Ethier and Paula Swifts’s October 2008 Think Pink Cover and Paula Ethier and Steve King’s Coming of Age Fashions, May 2008.



Cover Writing

Bronze: Bay State Parent; Carrie Wattu, editor

The writer of the cover lines uses an effective style that separates this magazine from others – she highlights each topic with a larger typeface and writes the rest of the cover line to make both sizes work together. Great work.

Column: Publisher’s/Editor’s Note

Gold: Bay State Parent; Carrie Wattu, editor

Both of these columns overflow with a strong writer’s voice. The strong phrasing compels readers to stick around from the lede to the end. In one of the columns, the writer takes us straight into the life of a mother who lost all four limbs to a rare infection. Excellent legwork gathering quotes and the details that show readers how the mother’s spirit remains strong, despite her physical condition.



Headlines

Silver: Bay State Parent; Carrie Wattu, editor

Consistently solid headlines with a clear reflection of the story content, including “The Buzz on Energy Drinks” and “Worried about your anxious kid?” Readable headlines draw attention to stories without being a distraction.

Travel Feature

Gold: Bay State Parent; “Plan an unforgettable mother-daughter trip to New York City”; Carrie Wattu, editor

It’s hard to write about a place like New York City and generate new excitement and interest. But this author took on that challenge by creating an engaging and visual personal narrative that included visual details, keen description, and helpful information. Even if you’ve been a hundred times, you’ll want to go again.

Profiles

Gold: Bay State Parent, “Mom Without Limbs/Without Limits”; Carrie Wattu, editor; Steven King, photographer; Paula Ethier, creative director

This is a heartwarming, remarkable story about a woman who literally gave up her arms and legs for her children following C-section complications. Wattu dramatically describes Monica Jorge’s ordeal, as well as the day-to-day challenges she faces as a parent with disabilities. Fascinating subject matter, well-written story.


Front Cover/Newsprint: Original Photo

Bronze: Bay State Parent; “January 2008”; Paula Monette Ethier, Steven King

The boy’s face and the cover design make this entry a winner. His face stands out because of the dark clothing and background. The text is balanced around the edges, on his dark jacket. Colors are subdued, but harmonious.

Gold: Bay State Parent; “October 2008”; Paula Monette Ethier, Paula Swift

The clean, simple photograph will draw attention, and the triangle formed with the hands will keep viewers’ eyes in the photograph. The theme of the issue is clear because of the pink clothing and typography.
Interior Photography (Original)

Bronze: Bay State Parent; “Mom Without Limbs/Without Limits”; Paula Monette Ethier

The large, intimate portraits of the parents with their child sets the tone immediately. This is followed by two smaller, natural moments. This story could be sad, but the images and layout lift the mood and show the joy and love in the family.

Gold: Bay State Parent; “Coming of Age Fashions”; Paula Monette Ethier, Steven King

This is an original story idea with a fresh photographic execution. The illustrations are playful, tasteful and technically well done. They are played well and have ample white space. The use of simple props helps create a fun, youthful mood. Kudos to this team!





Feature Layout/Color

Silver: Bay State Parent; “Brrrrrring… Woke Up, Got out of Bed”; Paula Monette Ethier

This was a fun design done the old-fashioned way – build the props yourself instead of going for clip art and Photoshop. The end result is images you just can’t capture quite as well digitally. A fun rhyme and a comic-panel theme make this an enjoyable design.

Special Section

Bronze: Bay State Parent; “Annual Adoption Guide”; Paula Monette Ethier

This guide has essential information for parents considering adoption and those who have are foster parents or who have adopted children. The information is presented clearly and display type enhances the stories.

Please visit parentingpublications.org for more information.

Bay State Parent Magazine was Designated a 2008 Parents' Choice Approved Award Winner

Bay State Parent magazine was designated a "2008 Parents' Choice Approved" award winner in a national magazine contest, sponsored by the Parents Choice Foundation last week.
The non-profit Parents' Choice Foundation honors magazines that are entertaining, edifying, and that pass on accurate information to parents and/or children.

The judges wrote: "Regular features in this free Massachusetts regional parenting publication include Family Calendar of Events, Fun, Educational Activities, Family Health, and Adoption Insights. Articles are written for parents, by parents and professionals. Supported by family friendly advertisers."

Submitted for the award was an editorial statement and the August, September, October, & November 2007 issues. Entry required a submission of four consecutive issues.
Writers who contributed an article to one or more of the winning issues:
Alyson Aiello, Dr. Kerri Augusto, Amy Benoit, Robin Burke, Rose Cafasso, Leslie Castillo, Michelle Xiarhos Curran, Antoinette Donovan, Lynn Jolicoeur, Jennifer Lefferts, Kate M. Jackson, Jane Mackay, Sue Lovejoy, Jennifer Luccarelli, Sarah MacDonald, Marguerite Paolino, Susan Scully Petroni, Elizabeth C. Regan, Donna Roberson, Dr. Robyn Silverman, Susan Spencer, Tim Sullivan, Carrie Wattu, & Donna White.
Thanks for helping us win yet another national award!

Other 2008 winners that received the same designation include: "Sports Illustrated for Kids, Sesame Street Magazine, Highlights magazine," and a few others.
Previous winners have included Adoptive Families, Family Fun and Ranger Rick magazines.

In the 2008 Parents' Choice Magazine Awards numerous families and teachers pour over many publications, page-by-page, carefully considering the content and appraising the appeal of the publications. Deliberations and final selections were conducted by an esteemed panel of judges.
The magazine awards have been given out annually since 1995. The foundation, established in 1978, also reviews books, toys, music, television, software, video games, Web sites, and magazines for children and/or families of all achievements and backgrounds.

Bay State Parent wins 16 National Awards!

Bay State Parent magazine won 16 awards at the national Parenting Publications of America (PPA) Conference this past weekend in Little Rock, Arkansas.
The magazine won more PPA awards than another parenting publication in Massachusetts, including a bronze award for best parenting publication in the medium circulation category.
The judges wrote: "This publication is full of nicely reported and written local stories full of local real people and experts. The design is consistent and organized, and it is easy to navigate through the publication."
I'm extremely proud that we took first and second place for best special section within a publication for our Think Pink Guide and our Dreams Do Come True 12th Annual Arts Guide, respectively.
And I was thrilled to hear what the judges had to say about the magazine's reporting: "The sheer volume of content in this magazine is impressive, but its writers and editors also take the time to make every page, story and listing exude authority and provide useful information. Monthly themes give each issue a personality all its own."
Thus far in 2008, the magazine has won 26 national and regional awards.
In fact, Bay State Parent has won more than 100 awards since changing our name to Bay State Parent from Today's Parent four years ago. We truly are Massachusetts' Premier Magazine for Families.

Below is a rundown of our 16 awards & what the judges had to say (I'd apologize for the length of this blog entry, but I'm NOT sorry we did so well.) I'm very proud to be editor of Bay State Parent and extremely proud of our entire staff and all the freelance writers & photographers of the work they do to produce a high-quality publication month in and month out!

DESIGN AWARDS:

* Original Cover Photo on Newsprint
Silver: October 2007 - photography by Patrick O'Connor, designed by creative director Paula Monette Ethier
Judges: "The photograph of the woman, obviously a cancer survivor, and the child fits the lead story perfectly. The smiles and the hug are endearing. The colors also fit the subject matter. This is tastefully executed."

* Original Interior Photography
Gold: “Timely Fashions,” August 2007 back-to-school fashion spread. Photographed by Nancy MacDonald and designed by Paula Monette Ethier
Judges: "This is a creative and unique way to illustrate a back to school fashion story. The images are fun, quirky and anachronistic. They are given tremendous display space both in size and quantity. "

* Best Special Section Within a Publication
Gold: "12th Annual Arts Guide, September 2007" Paula Monette Ethier
Judges: "A fabulous guide that is sure to attract more than just parents. The stories are interesting and entertaining. The guide has lovely photography and a classic design style. Surely it’s a must-read for every parent and child. "

EDITORIAL AWARDS:

* Cover Lines

Gold: Cover lines written by editor Susan Scully Petroni (Submitted issues: April & August 2007)

Judges: "There's so much to like about these covers, including the large number of well-written cover blurbs. The August cover has a line for "Goldilocks Parents," and the April line: "Shut up about your perfect kid" sealed the deal for this magazine to win first place. The publication doesn't take itself too seriously, and that allows the editors to have more freedom with humor."

*Calendar of Events
Silver: Calendar editor Carrie Wattu & editor Susan Scully Petroni (Submitted issues: April & October 2007)

Judges: "In addition to thorough listings, this calendar includes several useful side lists, such as editor's picks, free museum dates, weekly story hours, and events just for moms."

* Child Development & Parenting Issues Column

Gold: Pondering Parenting by Kerri Augusto (Submitted columns: January & April 2007)

Judges: "The writer uses and effective personal examples to instantly connect with readers, lures them in with her compassionate interpretations of behavior and then provides sound, authoritative advice."

* Family Fun Column
Gold: Day Trip Destination (Submitted columns: August & December 2007)
Writers: Carrie Wattu & Rose Cafasso

Judges: "This column offers honest, interesting and well-written assessments of unique venues in the Baystate area. Just reading about the writers' experiences is entertaining enough. Families that decide to follow through with their own visits know exactly what to expect."

* Humor Column
Silver: Pondering Parenting by Kerri Augusto (Submitted columns: July & October 2007)
Judges: "Is it possible to write with authority while at the same time tendering information in a humorous and interesting way? The answer is a definite "yes" when reading this author's columns, whose voice is simultaneously credible and whimsical."

* Profile
Silver: Meet The Real-Life Emily Elizabeth (September 2007)
Writer: Elizabeth C. Regan
Judges: "This article is a story within a story. Clifford, The Big Red Dog, is a favorite of many people, but very few people know the story behind the scenes. The writer does a good job of profiling the real-life Emily and demonstrating what it was like for her to live with a fictional character."

* Service Feature
Silver: Talking To Your Child About A Loved One’s Breast Cancer (October 2007)
Writer: Carrie Wattu
Judges: "Talking to children about illness, particularly when the illness is potentially life-threatening, requires all the communication skills a parent can muster. Wattu offers a wealth of information for building those skills and handling this difficult task. Clearly organized and comprehensive. "

* Special Series
Silver: Fitting In While Standing Out (September, October, & November 2007)
Writer: Dr. Robyn Silverman’s Parenting 1-2-3
Judges: "Timely and informative, these columns contain the ideal mix of fact and narrative."

* Special Series
Bronze: The Truth About Miscarriage (March & April 2007)
Writer: Marguerite Paolino
Judges: "Informative, yet entertaining. A strong voice throughout helps carry the reader through the piece."

* Special Section Within A Publication
Gold: Think Pink Guide (October 2007)
Writers: Susan Scully Petroni, Michelle Xiarhos Curran, Carrie Wattu, Jane Mackay, Jennifer Lefferts, Alyson Aiello, & Elizabeth C. Regan,
Judges: "This section presents an interesting and unusual approach to a parenting guide. A concentration of articles about breast cancer and its effect on not just the health victims but also on their children offers a refreshing change of pace from how to prevent Internet stalking. More importantly, the articles give concise and understanding advice on how to help children cope and understand the change in the family’s situation. "

* Special Section Within A Publication
Silver: Dream Do Come True 12th Annual Arts Guide (September 2007)
Writers: Susan Scully Petroni, Michelle Xiarhos Curran, Robin Burke, Carrie Wattu, Leslie Castillo, Sue Lovejoy & Elizabeth C. Regan
Judges: "What fun – a look at performing arts through the eyes of moms, dads and teens who want to have some fun and provide some entertainment. The articles are interesting and strike the right tone between information and entertainment."

* Overall Reporting
Bronze: (Submitted issues: March, September, & October 2007 )
Writers: Susan Scully Petroni, Alyson Aiello, Kerri Augusto, Amy Benoit, Robin Burke, Rosemary Cafasso, Lindsay Crone, Michelle Xiarhos Curran, Antoinette Donovan, Jon Grayzel, Marta Kowalczyk, Jennifer Lefferts, Sue Lovejoy, Jane Mackay, Maria Marien, Marguerite Paolino, Elizabeth C. Regan, Robyn Silverman, Donna White
Judges: "The sheer volume of content in this magazine is impressive, but its writers and editors also take the time to make every page, story and listing exude authority and provide useful information. Monthly themes give each issue a personality all its own."

* Overall General Excellence
Bronze: (Submitted issues: September, October, & November 2007)
Writers: Susan Scully Petroni, Alyson Aiello, Kerri Augusto, Amy Benoit, Robin Burke, Rosemary Cafasso, Lindsay Crone, Michelle Xiarhos Curran, Antoinette Donovan, Jon Grayzel, Kate M Jackson, Jennifer Lefferts, Sue Lovejoy, Jennifer Lucarelli, Sarah MacDonald, Jane Mackay, Marguerite Paolino, Elizabeth C. Regan, Donna Roberson, Robyn Silverman, & Donna White
Designers & Photographers: Paula Monette Ethier, Stephanie Renaud, Brittany Durgin, Jimmy Leblanc, Chrissa Marcos, Portrait Simple Studios, Patrick O’Connor, & Nancy MacDonald,
Judges: "This publication is full of nicely reported and written local stories full of local real people and experts. The design is consistent and organized, and it is easy to navigate through the publication. "

Parenting Publications of America (PPA) gave out more than 400 awards to 78 parenting publications in the United States, Canada, & Australia.
PPA's Editorial & Design Awards Competition recognizes excellence in journalism, photography, and design achieved by publishers, editors, writers, and designers at member publications. Professor Daryl Moen of the University of Missouri's School of Journalism coordinated the annual contest. A panel of judges reviewed 1,249 entries this year (up 5% from last year) to choose the winners in each category. All judges have had significant professional journalism experience.
"The strong increase in the number of entries reflects a publishing niche which continues to prosper," said Professor Moen. "Writing entries, ranging from feature writing to the columns, remains the core strength of the contest. In addition, much of the design is becoming more professional and sophisticated. For the magazines, editors and designers are doing a much better job matching the words to strong visuals and selling the content."

Bay State Parent Wins 8 Awards!

Bay State Parent magazine won 8 awards from the New England Press Association at its banquet on Saturday night. The magazine also was one of three finalists for the George A. Speers Newspaper of the Year award in the monthly circulation category, but lost to Vermont Woman magazine. The magazine earned 4 first place, 3 second place, and 1 third place awards.

*Photographer Steven King won first place for personality photo. His was the only award given in the monthly category. Submitted was the cover photograph of the 4th Annual Adoption Guide (2006). The judges wrote: "Striking image that is beautifully lit. The softness of the light helps convey the gentleness of the girl, while her face and eyes captivate the viewer. Her hands feel active and this brings life to the image. Really a lovely photograph."
.
* Freelance writer Kate M. Jackson's human interest feature on 9/11 widows (Sept 2006 issue) earned first place for best feature story for a month publication. The judges wrote: Jackson does an excellent job of balancing narrative voice, vivid details and harvest themes to tell this story about personal loss and healing for these widows of Sept. 11. She successfully leads into the story by revisiting how their lives abruptly changes on Sept. 11, and captures the strength of these women through their daily routines as mothers.
.
* The magazine also earned second place in that category for freelance writer Lynn Jolicoeur's feature on a camp for children who are HIV-positive, founded by the founder of Jordan's Furniture and his wife (April 2007 issue). The judges wrote: "The writer's magic shows in the way she uses Ivy's compelling story of abandonment to lead to a story about a fun, safe camp that embraces HIV-positive kids. Also, adding some of the thank-you letters from campers helped illustrate and give voice to the personal bond the kids have with this camp and the people who founded it."
.
* The magazine's special report on sex offenders and online predators (October 2006 issue)earned a second place award for general news story for a monthly publication. Awarded were Sarah MacDonald, Marguerite Paolino and Susan Scully Petroni. Read the special report at: http://www.baystateparent.com/news/2006/1001/Articles/
.
In the advertising category, Bay State Parent magazine won 4 awards.
*The magazine earned first place for a black & white local ad, designed by graphic designer Stephanie Renaud, for a charitable organization (http://www.coachgift.org/. The judges wrote: "This ad does a terrific job of conveying why a gift should be made to the charity it is advertising. Effective headline, minimal copy, great photo. Any parent with a child in sports will be drawn to this ad."
.
* The magazine also took second place in the local ad black & white category with a house ad for the magazine's spring furniture & home decor guide. The judges wrote: "Good call to action for thsi ad for thepublication's special section. Clean copy, concise, useful information and an attention-grabbing photo that matches the headline perfectly. The ad was designed by creative director Paula Monette Ethier with copy by editor Susan Scully Petroni.
.
* In the best local color ad category, Bay State Parent won first and third place. The first place ad was a help wanted ad for advertising representatives for our growing magazine. Designed by Paula Monette Ethier, the judges wrote: "Very clean reproduction and quality of color. Great benefit headline. Feature visual upper left and leading as it should be. Good use of color. Interesting and a pleasing ad."
.
**Bay State Parent's sister publication The Landmark, won 5 NEPA awards. Both publications are part of the Holden Landmark Corp. Editorial cartoonist Don Landgren Jr. swept the weekly 2 newspaper category with first, second, & third place awards. Editor Jim Keough won a first place award for feature writing and a third place award for humor columnist in the weekly circulation division.
.
This year's NEPA Contest featured more than 6,000 entries submitted by daily, weekly, and monthly publications published between July 2006 and July 2007. The entries were judged by the American Press Insitute.
The New England Press Association has more than 525 member newspapers with a total circulation of 5.9 million and 9.8 million readers in the six-state region. The annual convention in Boston draws more than 1,000 newspaper professionals.

Bay State Parent magazine Named Best Parenting Publication, again!

Bay State Parent magazine was named best parenting publication in North America by Suburban Newspaper of America (www.suburban-news.org)
This is the third time the magazine has earned this honor -- 2007, 2006, & 2004.
Submitted into the editorial contest was the March 2007 issue, which featured a special report on childhood obesity, a report on the state of breastfeeding in Massachusetts, and the magazine's 7th Annual Baby Guide.
The judges wrote: "Good job in covering parenting issues that are current."
Writers who contributed to the issue included: Kerri Augusto, Amy Benoit, Robin Burke, Rosemary Cafasso, Lindsay Crone, Marta Kowalczyk, Jennifer Lefferts, Sue Lovejoy, Jane Mackay, Maria Marien, Marguerite Paolino, Susan Scully Petroni, Dr. Robyn Silverman, & calendar editor Carrie Wattu.

The magazine also earned second place nationally for best special section for the 4th Annual Adoption Guide (November 2006).
In this category, the magazine competed with weekly and daily newspapers with a circulation of more than 35,000.
Writers for the guide included: Marguerite Paolino, Sarah MacDonald, Amy Rodgers-Dryfoos, Peter Gibbs, and Barbara Ford.
Some of the judges comments included: "Excellent variety of issues and features, including a rare look in sections like this of a controversial issue Page 52. Well done and valuable section."
(By the way, I NEED to thank the Adoption Community of New England for its help in identifying some of the topics for this adoption guide. )

The American Press Institute judged the entries for the SNA editorial contest.
SNA is a newspaper organization representing more than 2,000 publication in North America.
Publisher Gareth Charter will accept the awards at the SNA Spring Publisher's Conference in February.

(Added API judges comments on 2/6/08)

American Graphic Design Awards

Bay State Parent magazine received three 2007 American Graphic Design Awards.
The magazine won for a self-promotion camp advertisement that appeared in the January & February 2006 issues. It also won for two sales promotion pieces - one on announcements and one on adoption.
The winning entries were created by Creative Director Paula Monette Ethier.
The three decade old competition is presented by Graphic Design USA. It honors outstanding new work of all kinds: print and collateral, advertising and sales promotion, packaging and pointof purchase, Internet and interactive design, broadcast and motion graphics, corporate identity, and logos.
Winners receive an embossed certificate of excellence for each piece selected and become eligible for reproduction in Graphic Design USA's Awards Annual, a 300-page edition book published in December.

Bay State Parent Named One of North America's Best

Bay State Parent magazine was named one of the best parenting publications in North America by Suburban Newspapers of America (SNA). The magazine earned third place for “Best Parenting Publication” in SNA’s 2007 Advertising & Promotions Contest. Entries came from both the United States and Canada. Columbus Parent magazine in Ohio took first place and Country Kids in Ohio took second place. Magazines were judged on advertising, editorial contest, layout, and promotions, as well as a letter submitted by editor Susan Scully Petroni on why the magazine is a success in he community and how it is distributed. Bay State Parent magazine, part of the Holden Landmark Corp, submitted its November 2006 issue. Inside that issue was the 4th Annual Adoption Guide. Bay State Parent magazine was named best parenting publication in North America in 2004 & 2006 by SNA.
This year, the magazine has won 30 awards.
Bay State Parent has won 76 national and regional awards in the last three years. We truly are Massachusetts' Premier Magazine for Families.

Bay State Parent Wins 2007 Sword of Hope Award

Bay State Parent magazine won honored with a 2007 Sword of Hope Media Award from The American Cancer Society, New England Division last night. Freelance Writer Trish Reske of Westborough was the winner of the award in the freelance category. Her April 2006 article on women, who had battled cancer and then gave birth to a child entitled Conceiving after the Inconceivable was submitted into the bi-annual competition by Editor Susan Scully Petroni. Reske, her husband David, and Petroni attended the awards dinner held last night, May 16 at Harvard University’s Faculty Club in Cambridge. The 2007 Sword of Hope award covers print and broadcast journalism published or broadcast during 2005 and 2006. The 15 award winners represent 13 news organizations based in Massachusetts, Maine, and Connecticut.
“Reske wrote a very emotional and uplifting article for Bay State Parent,” said Petroni. “She deserves to be honored for her writing and for the hope she gave many of our readers who have or are battling cancer.” Read the award-winning article online at: www.baystateparent.com/news/2006/0401/Articles/024.html
The judges for the 2007 American Cancer Society Sword of Hope Awards were: Ann LoLordo, deputy editorial page editor at The Baltimore Sun; Garland Waller, associate professor of television at Boston University; David Galletly, vice president at WAMC/ Northeast Pubic Radio, Albany, New York; and K. Viswanath, PhD, associate professor at Harvard School of Public Health, and a researcher at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in Boston.
This is the second time Bay State Parent magazine has been honored with this award. Freelance writer Stacy Juba won in 2005, for an article on skin cancer facts.
Thus far this year, the magazine has won 29 awards. In fact, Bay State Parent has won 75 awards since changing our name to Bay State Parent from Today's Parent three years ago. We truly are Massachusetts' Premier Magazine for Families.
Established in 1974, the American Cancer Society’s Sword of Hope Awards pay tribute to the essential role of the news media in raising public awareness of cancer, deepening the understanding of cancer, and ultimately saving lives.
Other 2007 award winners were:
* In the Daily Newspaper, circulation over 50,000, category, Irene Sege of the Boston Globe won for “Wednesdays with Perry and Jay,” a feature story following breast cancer survivor Perry Colmore as she provided emotional support to newly diagnosed breast cancer patients.
* In the Daily Newspaper, circulation under 50,000, category, the Fairfield Citizen-News won the award for an article entitled “Two-Time Cancer Survivor Urges Young Mothers Not to Wait to Get a Mammogram” by Michele Hermann.
* In the Weekly Newspaper category, Boston’s Bay State Banner tied with The Forecaster of Falmouth, Maine. In the Bay State Banner, Karen Miller’s “Be Healthy” section won, along with Mo Mehlsak’s story about colon cancer prevention and detection in The Forecaster.
* In the Radio category, WBUR-FM, Boston, won for Allan Coukell’s piece entitled “New Lung Cancer Test,” tied with WNPR-FM in Hartford, with “The Mystery of Breast Cancer,” produced by John Dankosky, George Goodrich, and Evette Cooke.
* In the Magazine/Periodical category, The Women’s Times of Great Barrington, won for their “Guide to Breast Cancer Resources.”
* WFXT Fox 25 in Boston won in the Television News/Feature Story category for “Fenway First Pitch” by Butch Stearns.
* The Local Cable Access award went to Community Vision 21 in Newtown, Connecticut, for the Charter Communications program “In Your Community,” produced by Dave King.
* In the Continuing Overall Effort category, there was a tie between WCSH6 in Portland, Maine, for their “Buddy to Buddy” program, and the Connecticut Post for Meg Barone’s series of cancer articles.
* A special Judges’ Award was given to the Sunday Republican of Springfield, for “Where Hope Dwells” by Ronni Gordon.

Honored with 20 National Awards!

Bay State Parent magazine won 20 awards at the national Parenting Publications of America (PPA) Conference this past weekend in Nashville, Tenn.
Thus far this year, the magazine has won 28 awards. In fact, Bay State Parent has won 74 awards since changing our name to Bay State Parent from Today's Parent three years ago. We truly are Massachusetts' Premier Magazine for Families.
As always I am thrilled that we were honored by our peers, but what is most important is how loved we are by our readers, who passionately call, e-mail, and write to me often. Thanks so much for your input.
I'm most proud of our first place awards for overall reporting and investigative reporting, since I come from a newspaper background. The judges wrote: "From special reports to annual guides, The Bay State Parent offers superior coverage of its community along with a wide mix of timely articles. It represents the best kind of work a medium-size monthly can offer."
We swept the special section category with gold, silver, and bronze awards (Last year, we took gold and silver in the same category.) We must be doing something right with our guides & special reports!
Our March 2006 & November 2006 covers took first and second place respectively.
We compete in the medium circulation division - 30,001 to 50,000.

Below is a rundown of our 20 awards & what the judges had to say (I'd apologize for the length of this blog entry, but I'm NOT sorry we did so well.)
I'm very proud to be editor of Bay State Parent and extremely proud of our entire staff and all the freelance writers & photographers (including Portrait Simple Studios, who won three awards for us) of the work they do to produce a high-quality publication month in and month out!

DESIGN AWARDS:
Front Cover: Newsprint with Original Photo:
Gold: March 2006 issue - Puddle Jumpers (Photographer: Portrait Simple Studios)(www.portraitsimple.com)
Judges comments: Terrific color coordination makes this cover pop. Cute subject and popsicle colors blend perfectly. And the type works well without obscuring the image.
Silver: November 2006 - 4th Annual Adoption Guide (Photographer: Steven King)
Judges: This endearing portrait doesn’t need any adornment to draw readers into the cover. The subtle lighting and colors focus attention on the subject.

Interior Illustration
Silver: Camp illustration by Steve Haske
Judges: Haske visually tells the story of camp burnout with a creative illustration that has camp activities weighing on a young camper’s brain. The expression of the camper emphasizes the idea of the story and helps entice the reader.

Original Interior Photography
Silver: Puddle Jumpers - March 2006 (Photographers: Portrait Simple & Nancy MacDonald)
Judges: The photographer, designer and editors invested space, wit, style and, most importantly, a sense of fun, all of which are on display by both the young models and the generous layout. In this world, rain equals joy, not gloom. A great example of taking a standard fashion assignment and turning it on its head.
Gold: Rebuilding Families after 9/11 - September 2006 (Photographer: Portrait Simple Studios)
Judges: These pictures speak volumes of a mother’s ability to pull together and move forward a family that faced unbearable tragedy. Those faces and the joy they now share overshadow the horror described in the accompanying story. Instead, the pictures and full story offer inspiration to all.

Feature Layout - Black & White
Silver: Designed by Paula Monette Ethier - Coping With the Baby Blues.
Judges: This layout works thanks to its simplicity and grace. The designer very artfully conveys the content with a portrait and only minimal display type, but what a portrait it is. The entire story is conveyed through emotion, and the type works just enough to help make the connection.

Best Special Section - Design
Silver: Designer Paula Monette Ethier - Baby Guide - March 2006
Judges: The strength of this section lies in the photography. Stock images are played well – they illustrate the point, they're not just there to break up the grey. The cutouts on the fashion spread give the pages a real 3-D feel, and the generous use of images with the feature on the Pampers model really drive home why this one little girl was selected. Overall, a great example of how to make the most of your photography.

EDITORIAL AWARDS
Cover Lines
Bronze: Submitted was June & October 2006 covers written by editor Susan Scully Petroni
Judges: Bay State Parent cover-line writers manage to fill lots of information in a little space. These lines also promote stories that we see every year in a refreshing way.

Family Matters Column
Bronze: Family Health columns written by doctors Robert Lindeman & Mark Vining
Judges: Informative, yet entertaining. A strong voice throughout helps carry the reader through the piece.

Family Fun Column
Gold: Day Trip Destination columns written by Stacy Juba and Susan Spencer
Judges: Each of the writers excels at combining a good topic, lots of "how to do it" info and a conversational style. Great anecdotes and structure easily lead the reader through the adventure – and, indeed, these pieces do capture that sense of excitement.

Humor Column
Silver: Pondering Parenting columns by Kerri Augusto
Judges: These columns aren't just funny and well written, they contain parenting advice from a licensed clinical psychologist. The combination is appealing and make for good value to readers.

Travel Feature
Silver: Camping with six children on Cape Cod written by James Lang and Matt Robert
Judges: The title becomes even more intriguing when the opening paragraph reveals that this adventure is fathers and kids only. The combination of humanity and utility makes this feature both enjoyable and helpful.

Profile
Silver: "Rebuilding Families After 9/11" written by Kate M. Jackson
Judges: Excellent attention to detail and good use of quotes make this profile of two 9/11 widows worthy of note. The story is a good read, from the scene-setting lead to the conclusion that revisits it. A focus on how these women have moved forward make this story relevant to all readers, not just those who lost someone on 9/11.

Investigative Reporting
Gold: Special Report: Protecting Our Children (October 2006) written by Sarah MacDonald, Marguerite Paolino & Susan Scully Petroni
Judges: This package of articles offers an exhaustive look at troubles with sex offenders and online predators. The stories are filled with rich detail about local incidents that will no doubt strike a nerve with readers.

Service Feature
Silver: Embracing Your Child's Culture written by Rosemary Cafasso
Judges: This article about celebrating an adopted child's cultural heritage presented a topic not often seen, and it did so in an interesting and informative way. The writer made good use of regional experts but also found a local family to use as an example for the recommendations offered by the experts. An 8-point sidebar of how-to’s gave specific recommendations.

Feature Writing
Gold: Rebuilding Families After 9/11 written by Kate M. Jackson
Judges: A story of surviving a horrible tragedy that doesn't stoop to being maudlin. Instead this is a tale of widows reaching out to other widows of terrorism in Afghanistan. It's an absorbing read with a window of hope.

Special Sections
**Gold: 4th Annual Adoption Guide - Nov. 2006
Judges: This comprehensive guide for adoption does not shy away from the tough issues. You'll find not only local stories about traditional parents but also stories about single people wanting to adopt and others about same-sex couples. A courageous undertaking.
Writers were: Marguerite Paolino, Amy Rodgers-Dryfoos, Peter Gibbs, Carrie Wattu, Barbara Ford, Sarah MacDonald, & Susan Scully Petroni
**Silver: Special Report: Protecting Our Children - Oct. 2006
Judges: In this Internet age, what parent isn't worried about online predators? Strong reporting and writing about local communities help this section stand out. Excellent.
Writers were: Sarah MacDonald, Marguerite Paolino, & Susan Scully Petroni
**Bronze: 7th Annual Day Trips & Weekend Getaway Guide - July 2006
Judges: Family vacations for Massachusetts folks don't have to break the bank when they can take fun and adventurous day trips and one-night sleepovers. This guide tells you where to go and what to see if you're on a budget. It's full of great information.
Writers were: James Lang, Matt Robert, Sarah MacDonald, Carrie Wattu, Amy Benoit, & Susan Scully Petroni

Overall Reporting
Gold: Judges: From special reports to annual guides, The Bay State Parent offers superior coverage of its community along with a wide mix of timely articles. It represents the best kind of work a medium-size monthly can offer.
Writers for the submitted issues of August, October & November 2006 included: Carrie Wattu, Kerri Augusto, Amy Benoit, Elizabeth Eidlitz, Peter Gibbs, Heidi Hynes, Robert Lindeman, Sue Lovejoy, Sarah MacDonald, Marguerite Paolino, Amy Rodgers-Dryfoos, Roderick Robinson, Robyn Silverman, Susan Spencer, Debbie Swanson, Donna White, Joanna Zarkadas & Susan Scully Petroni

Parenting Publications of America (PPA) gave out more than 350 Editorial and Design Competition awards to 80 parenting publications. PPA's Editorial and Design Awards Competition recognizes excellence in journalism, photography and design achieved by publishers, editors, writers and designers at member publications. Prof. Daryl Moen of the University of Missouri's School of Journalism coordinated the annual contest. A panel of judges reviewed 1,184 entries this year (up from last year) to choose the winners in each category. All judges have had significant professional experience.

Bay State Parent Wins 8 New England Press Association Awards!

Bay State Parent magazine was named one of the best monthly publications in New England last night at the annual New England Press Association Convention at the Park Plaza Hotel in Boston.
For the second year in a row, the magazine earned second place for General Excellence in the monthly division.
The American Press Institute judges wrote: "Bay State Parent looks and has lots of content that's of interest to parents. It provides a good forum for the exchange of ideas and the calendar is handy and clear. A good all around effort."
Submitted in this category was the August 2005 and May 2006 issues.
The magazine captured top honors in the Advertising General Excellence category.
The judges wrote: "The newspaper has a very clean, friendly look. Even though the newspaper is a tab, it does not seem cluttered or compact. The colorful, large and cropped photos give the paper a modern and inviting look. Most of the ads are well organized and appealing. Modular ad size organizes the pages well."
Submitted in this category was the March & May 2006 issues.
In all, we won 8 New England Press Association awards, more than any other monthly publication in New England.
The magazine took home 3 first place, 2 second place, and 3 third place awards.
* Freelance writer Stacy Juba's special report on How Safe is Your Child on the School Bus? won first place for General News Story in the monthly division.
The judges wrote: "This exhaustively reported special report explores the important issue of school bus safety and efforts in the Massachusetts Legislature to address the issue. The vast array of facts makes a compelling argument for improvements."
Stacy's report appeared in the August 2005 issue. Read it at this link: http://www.baystateparent.com/news/2005/0801/Articles/
* Bay State Parent magazine swept the local, color advertisement category with three house ads, all conceptualized and designed by Creative Director Paula Monette Ethier, with ad copy by the editor.
The first place ad promoted the magazine's 29 awards won last spring. The judges wrote: "Good use of white space and dominate graphics. Excellent photography and cropping made this ad stand out."
The second place ad announced the magazine's first cover model search contest. The judges wrote: "This ad does a good job of creating a compelling reason for the reader to take action. I liked the arrangement of past magazine covers to illustrate the benefit of participating in the model search. This ad did what well-written ads should."
The third place ad promoted the magazine's camp guides. The judges wrote: "Very good house ad: compelling, dominant graphic, well-written benefit statements and a clear call to action."
* The magazine took third place for Personality Photo for its November 2005 cover. The photographer was Portrait Simple studios. The judges wrote: "Too often, overly controlled situations - perfect lighting, posing and props - produce slick commercial images. But in this case, the personality of the subject breaks through the staging and connects with the camera." Take a peek at the award-winning photograph at this link: http://www.baystateparent.com/news/2005/1101/Front_Page/
* Ad designer Stephanie Renaud took third place honors for a full-page, local black & white ad she designed for a Central Massachusetts gymnastics academy. The judges wrote: "Great ad for cheer and dance tryouts! The photography shows this activity to be fun, challenging, and rewarding. The layout uses white space well (no overuse of type or photos), the reverse stars for the offerings and then the non-reverse stars for the business name. This helps overall readership. Nice job!"
Finally, our sister publication The Landmark newspaper won two NEPA awards. Reporter Alicia Bessette took third place for a spot news story on an animal barn fire and Jim Keogh won second place for human interest article about a teenage suicide.
This year's NEPA Contest featured more than 6,000 entries submitted by daily, weekly, and monthly newspapers published between July 2005 and July 2006.
The New England Press Association has more than 525 member newspapers with a total circulation of 5.9 million and 9.8 million readers in the six-state region. The annual convention in Boston draws more than 1,000 newspaper professionals.