Parenting Media Association Awards Top Honors to CharlottesvilleFamily 

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va (April 2016) – CharlottesvilleFamily’s popular Bloom magazine won four awards of excellence at the Parenting Media Association’s annual convention on April 17, 2016. Parenting Media Association is an international trade association of regional parenting publications. CharlottesvilleFamily’s Bloom magazine received one gold and three silver awards in the editorial and design categories. The competition recognizes excellence in journalism, photography and design achieved by publishers, editors, writers and designers at member publications. Prof. Daryl Moen of the well-respected University of Missouri’s School of Journalism coordinated the annual contest. A panel of expert judges reviewed entries from many publications stretching around the globe from Seattle to Australia to choose the winners in each category.

“It is such a compliment to be honored. Our entire staff was very pleased with the recognition for both our design and editorial. It is such a pleasure to get to work with such talented people,” said Co-Publisher Robin Johnson-Bethke.

“We are in love with Charlottesville, our readers, our advertisers, our staff and the limitless great story ideas. Earning awards like these is for the entire CharlottesvilleFamily community, and we want to thank everyone who helps make it all happen,” added Co-Publisher Jennifer Bryerton.

CharlottesvilleFamily’s 2015 Awards include:
Gold: Calendar of Events, Editorial
Silver: Profile, Editorial
Silver: Special Section, Design
Silver: Brief/Short Stuff, Editorial

CharlottesvilleFamily’s gold award was for its Calendar of Events (Robin Johnson-Bethke, co-publisher, Jennifer Bryerton, co-publisher, Sarah Pastorek, senior editor, Mandy Reynolds, online editor). The judges praised, “This calendar is topical, rather than just by date, with enticing categories such as gathering apples, or ‘Discovering History’ for education events. The writing is clear and appealing.”

CharlottesvilleFamily also won three silver awards, one for design and two in editorial categories. The Profile story on “Local Mompreneurs,” (Robin Johnson-Bethke co-publisher, Jennifer Bryerton, co-publisher, Sarah Pastorek, senior editor, Emily Mohajeri Norris, interviewee, Robert Radifera, photographer) was described by the judges as, “A great story idea that’s well executed. Finding several mothers who’ve become entrepreneurs is a fascinating way to promote entrepreneurship and educate readers about business. This idea could be duplicated in communities throughout America, but can only be done by a writer in touch with the community.” Local mompreneurs Christy Wenzel, The Lollipop Shop, Julie Arbelaez, Peace Frogs Travel/Outfitters, Forrest Mitchell, Bounce-n-Play, and Kate Collier, Feast, were interviewed by fellow mompreneur Norris, co-founder of Tender Sapling with her husband, Scott, recognizing the special community in Charlottesville.

A second silver award was for design on the Special Section “Back to School” in the August 2015 issue (Robin Johnson-Bethke, creative director, Jennifer Bryerton, co-publisher, Erin Hughes, editorial designer). It was described as taking a topic that returns annually and giving it new life. “The design gives the topic of back-to-school preparation a new look, and it enhances the content with its placement and offers a strong continuation of the theme throughout. Good use of typography.”

CharlottesvilleFamily’s third silver award was for the editorial section on Briefs/Short Stuff “Community News” (Robin Johnson-Bethke, co-publisher, Jennifer Bryerton, co-publisher, Sarah Pastorek, senior editor). In the magazine’s continuous efforts to highlight and feature local community excellence, the judges agreed that “this collection of shorts provides varied, local content and engages readers with social aspects that bring in community voices. Headlines are clear and help draw in readers.”

About us… Ivy Publications is the parent company of CharlottesvilleFamily’s Bloom magazine, a monthly publication dedicated to serving families in Charlottesville-Albemarle with useful comprehensive community resources designed to help “Make Parenting Easier & Growing Up Fun.” Each month, over 40,000 visitors make use of their extensive web site and its companion print publications: 12 monthly issues, weekly e-newsletters, the CharlottesvilleFamily Ultimate Go-To Guide daytrip book and an annual Directory of Family Services complete the product line. Ivy Publications also publishes quarterly The Charlottesville Welcome Book to reach out to the thousands of newcomers and tourists visiting the Charlottesville-Albemarle region, Charlottesville Wine & Country Weddings annual publication, Charlottesville Wine & Country Living semi-annual boutique publication and the Healthy Living Directory, an annual publication. IvyPublications.com