2017 contest results for Magazines

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General Excellence

1. Staff, Reno Magazine
Great example of content, design and layout all working in harmony. Engaging and easy to navigate. Nice diversity in subject matter.
2. Megg Mueller, Jody Cory, Kippy Spilker, Eric Cachinero, Janet Geary, Adele Hoppe, Nevada Magazine
Nice job getting “off the Strip” and showcasing the whole state. Liked the special focus on outdoors.
3. Staff, edible Reno-Tahoe
Clean, simple, elegant layout. Fun features.

Best Feature Writing

1. Marsala Rypka, Luxury Las Vegas
Photographer Finds Life Purpose in Evocative Images
Unique story, well-written.
2. Eric Cachinero, Nevada Magazine
Atomic Nevada
Interesting, detailed. Well-written, Not all the stories met the criteria–particularly as it pertains to human interest.
3. Valerie Miller, Vegas Legal Magazine
From High School to High Court
Very interesting and deeply reported. The only thing I still wondered at the end was “why?”–why were these two women from the same school both so interested in and passionate about the law? I wish you would have gone into that. Otherwise, great story.

General comment: Not all the stories met the criteria — particularly as it pertains to human interest.

Best Nonstaff Story

1. Valerie Miller, Vegas Legal Magazine
From High School to High Courts
Excellent work. The friendship frames the deeper focus well and provides a nice way to examine the effect of a class of peers on Nevada politics.
2. Barbara Twitchell, edible Reno-Tahoe
The Indispensable Honey Bee
Well reported and addresses an important issue.
3. Marisa Finetti, Kirk Peterson, David magazine
They polished the glassware
Intriguing concept and a wonderful exercise in descriptive writing.

Best Explanatory Journalism

1. Curtis Vickers, Nevada Silver & Blue
Designing Solutions to Grand Challenges
Stimulating, fascinating and well composed. Loved every paragraph.
2. Eric Cachinero, Nevada Magazine
Atomic Nevada
Morbidly beautiful images and simple, elegant writing. My gut calls this a close second.
3. Heidi Bethel, edible Reno-Tahoe
Sierra High
Reader relevance is definitely there. Helps simplify a complicated scenario for the uninitiated.

Best Investigative Story

1. Chance Gowan, writer, Earl Stahl, Ph.D., writer, Dexter Oliver, writer, C.J. Hadley, publisher/editor, John Bardwell, art director, RANGE magazine
“Wolves, Killers at Your Door”
Great work covering a subject that is filled with controversy. A great look at a less romantic side of the wolf. You did a brilliant job bringing out a subject most people would like to avoid thinking about.
2. Rana Goodman, Dan Roberts, The Vegas Voice
Investigating the Private Guardianship Industry
Great reporting and coverage on a subject, I would guess a lot of people aren’t very familiar with. Thanks for your determined efforts to bring to light abuse of those most vulnerable in our society.
3. Eric Cachinero, Nevada Magazine
Ancient Nevada series
Great work. Very informative. A look back into the history of your area and knowing what came before. A great glimpse into the past.

Best Local Column

1. Sharon Honig-Bear, edible Reno-Tahoe
Edible Traditions
The eye-catching layout was highlighted by interesting narrative that gave brief history lessons and segued into the present day.
2. Barry Perryman, RANGE magazine
Tales From the Wasteland
3. Megg Mueller, Nevada Magazine
Cravings
Mouth-watering layout supported by descriptions and stories about the depicted dishes had the judge writing down addresses for future visits.

Best Entertainment Writing

1. Sandra Macias, edible Reno-Tahoe
Chef’s Table
2. Kiko Miyasato, Las Vegas Magazine
3. Lee Pitts, RANGE magazine

Best Critical Writing

1. Michael S. Coffman, Ph.D., RANGE magazine
2. Dave Skinner, RANGE magazine, Dave Skinner
3. Sandra Macias, edible Reno-Tahoe
Chef’s Table

Best Overall Design

1. Kippy Spilker, Jody Cory, Nevada Magazine
This is an incredibly well designed and thoughtful magazine. I love the consistency of good design, which is different from a consistent feeling magazine where everything starts to feel the same. The features throughout are engaging, visually compelling, and well planned. Great piece.
2. Leslie Frisbee, Lindsay Rholfson, Salvador Serrano, Luxury Las Vegas
The feel of the magazine matches the name. There is consistently well thought out design and layout. The advertising mixes well with content – specifically the themed issues and the advertisers targeted is tied nicely together, which provides an enhanced sense of cohesiveness to the entire magazine. The variety in content is also well done.
3. Melissa Petersen, edible Reno-Tahoe
Well designed magazine. The feel is different than every other magazine and is a little sophisticated (heavy cover, with an uncoated text interior – this tactile function serves the magazine well and is very modern). The layout is consistently well done and thought out. The mix of visual elements, text, and advertisements is also well managed.

General comment: Vegas has some top-notch magazines and as with the graphic design category, this one was full of stiff competition. I easily could have gone with other winners.

Best Cover Design

1. Brooke Bertuzzi, Beth Schwartz, Elevate NV
2. Wesley Gatbonton, Marvin Lucas, Joshua Nelson, Christopher DeVargas, Las Vegas Magazine
3. C.J. Hadley, publisher/editor, John Bardwell, art director, RANGE magazine

Best Graphic Designer

1. Bambi Edlund, edible Reno-Tahoe
The illustrations are all beautiful. The layout is smart and thoughtful and easy to read. While stylistically similar, they are all unique, fun to look at, and add a great dimension to the pieces.
2. Jody Cory, Nevada Magazine
I love the flow of all the layouts, the graphics play nicely, the colors (especially the red pops in the history men piece) are really great and add to the reading experience. There are strong visuals throughout.
3. Kippy Spilker, Nevada Magazine
The first page of each story starts out great – integration of photo elements really well, good layout. But I honestly get a little disappointed with the rest of each layout – block photos, while well placed, lack the creativity promised by the first page. Still, this is one of the better submissions by far. There’s a lot of stiff competition in this category.

General comment: All the design is extremely well done. Ultimately, I looked for the work that really showcased an eye for design, functionality, and delivering the message. Not just good layout. I believe those are two separate things entirely.

Best Feature Photo

1. Roxanne Knight, RANGE magazine
“Daddy’s Hands” (on the cover)
No need for captions or a story. The photo says it all.
2. Carl Pantuso, Nevada Magazine
Visions – Bristlecone
Excellent color, the contrast between Vegas and the country is outstanding.
3. Christopher DeVargas, Las Vegas Magazine
Frankie Moreno
This photo creates quite a mood with the use of technique.

Best Multiple Photo Essay

1. Jamie Kingham, edible Reno-Tahoe
Cattle, Crops, and Compost
2. Christopher DeVargas, Las Vegas Magazine
Yes, Chef
3. Asa Gilmore, Nevada Magazine
History Men – E Clampus Vitus

Best Portrait

1. Todd Klassy, RANGE magazine
Portrait of the West: Josh Granell
2. Candice Nyando, edible Reno-Tahoe
No Small Potatoes
3. Christopher DeVargas, Las Vegas Magazine
Mike Tyson

Best Illustrated Photo

1. Jessica Brandi Lifland, RANGE magazine
‘DW’ Groethe
2. Todd Klassy, RANGE magazine
Ty Rose
3. Candice Nyando, edible Reno-Tahoe
Small Batch Mezcal

Best Print Ad

1. Dianne Pontillas, Link
Paul Gerber Handyman
2. Ray Sarbacker, Crystal Sarbacker, The Vegas Voice
Journeys that Inspire Faith
3. Terri DeLaRosby, edible Reno-Tahoe
Tim Meevasin, personal chef

Best Ad Series

1. Mark Hayward, photographer, C.J. Hadley, publisher/editor, John Bardwell, art director, RANGE magazine
25th Anniversary Ads
2. Courtney Meredith, edible Reno-Tahoe
Czyz’s Appliance
3. Jody Cory, Adele Hoppe, Nevada Magazine
Safe Haven Wildlife Sanctuary

Best-In House Promotion

1. Kippy Spilker, Carrie Roussel, Nevada Magazine
January 2017 Direct Mail promotion
2. Danny Miller, Nevada Magazine
2016 Scavenger Hunt announcement
3. Kippy Spilker, Nevada Magazine
Historical Calendar marketing

Advertising General Excellence

1. Adele Hoppe, Nevada Magazine
2. Las Vegas Magazine Advertising Staff, Las Vegas Magazine
3. Jaci Goodman, Amanda Burden, edible Reno-Tahoe

Best Regular Department

1. Sandra Macias, Dave Preston, edible Reno-Tahoe
Chef’s Table
2. Eric Cachinero, Chic Difrancia, Bob Sagan, Nevada Magazine
History
3. Megg Mueller, Eric Cachinero, Richard Massey, Nevada Magazine
Wide Open

General comment: Beautiful entries. Stunning photography. Fun to read.

Best Profile/Interview

1. Carolyn Dufurrena, RANGE magazine
“Rough and Beautiful Places”
2. Sue Edmondson, edible Reno-Tahoe
Latina Flavor
3. Craig Rullman, RANGE magazine
The Anti-Millennial

Best Special Project

1. C.J. Hadley, publisher/editor, John Bardwell, art director, RANGE magazine
“Cowboys & Critters: Symbiosis in the American West”
RANGE magazine’s “Cowboys and Critters: Symbiosis in the American West” is the clear first place winner in Best Special Project. The writing is phenomenal, some humorous, but all factual and interesting. The photographs are some of the best I have seen capturing the “Old West” experience.
2. Jody Cory, Janet Geary, Carrie Roussel, Nevada Magazine
2017 Nevada Historical Calendar,
It is difficult to reproduce clearly historical photos, but this calendar does a great job. Superb photographic reproductions.
3. Jody Cory, Adele Hoppe, Nevada Magazine
2016 Nevada Rides Guide
Awarding this small publication may surprise you, but it is designed for a motorcycle rider to put it in his pocket. That consideration, knowing your target audience, has strong appeal for me. The piece itself is relevant, interesting to motorcyclists, and well produced.

Best Web Site

1. Austin Grantham, Peter Chen, Elevate NV
elevatenv.com
2. Staff, Las Vegas Magazine