Virginia Business wins 18 Va. Press Association awards

Virginia Business won 18 awards in the Virginia Press Association’s 2022 News & Advertising Contest, taking a Best in Show prize for illustration and sweeping the News Writing Portfolio category, the state organization announced Saturday.

The annual contest recognizes excellence in design, writing, photography, illustrations and advertising in participating publications across Virginia for the previous calendar year. This year’s contest was judged by the Tennessee Press Association. A banquet honoring the winners was held at the Hilton Richmond Hotel & Spa/Short Pump in Henrico County, marking the first time the event was held in person since 2019, before the pandemic.

Freelance illustrator Doug Fuchs was awarded a Best in Show plaque for his illustration of the Port of Virginia’s statewide infrastructure for the 2022 Virginia Maritime Guide, while Virginia Business Deputy Editor Kate Andrews, Assistant Editor Katherine Schulte and Associate Editor Robyn Sidersky took 1st, 2nd and 3rd place prizes, respectively, in the News Writing Portfolio category. Virginia Business Art Director Joel Smith won six awards for advertising design, and was a co-winner of two other awards.

The magazine won five first-place awards in the following categories:

• Column or Commentary Writing — Editor and Chief Content Officer Richard Foster won for his columns “Breaking Rank,” about the state’s latest ranking in CNBC’s America’s Top States for Business list; “A ‘quiet’ place?” about the quiet quitting phenomenon; and “Getting meta,” about tech companies’ efforts to build the online metaverse.
• News Writing Portfolio — Judges lauded Andrews, saying she “does an excellent job of offering context, humanity and accessible narrative to the variety of stories in her portfolio from restaurants refusing patrons to [a] mass shooting to a complex credit [unions] story.”
• Illustration — Fuchs won for his Port of Virginia illustration from the 2022 Virginia Maritime Guide.
• Digital Advertising — Art Director Joel Smith won for a digital ad for Letts Consult’s State of the Woman 2022 Executive Women’s Conference.
• Education, Churches and Organizations advertising — Smith won for his design of a full-page magazine ad for Letts Consult’s State of the Woman 2022 conference.

Virginia Business also took seven second-place awards:

• Business and Financial Writing — Schulte won for her November 2022 cover story about why Virginia lags behind other Southern states in landing big economic development deals. Judges said, “This story does a great job of acknowledging a win for Virginia manufacturing but putting it in a regional perspective. And rather than just focusing on what Virginia lacks, the story offers reasons for ‘why’ and solutions in the form of examining how other states have been successful. Local news too often ignores what’s happening outside its coverage area, even if what’s happening elsewhere can help tell a more relevant story to readers. This story balances data, local sources, anecdotes and expert voices to tell a full story that pushes this business storyline forward.”
• News Writing Portfolio — Schulte won for a package of stories, including coverage of staffing problems at nursing homes; state efforts to lure more semiconductor manufacturers; and health care professionals struggling with stress and burnout.
• Front Cover — Smith, Andrews, freelance photographer James Lee and the late freelance illustrator Kevin McFadin won for their work on Virginia Business’ May, July and October 2022 covers.
• Special Sections or Special Editions — Andrews, Foster and Smith won for the 2022 Virginia Maritime Guide, an annual standalone issue devoted to Virginia’s maritime ecosystem, including ports, shipping and logistics. Judges praised its “great writing and a solid design that leaves the reader feeling informed and aware. Solid entry points and guidance lets it provide the professional, business feel it is aiming for in concept.”
• Digital Advertising — Smith won for an ad for Venture Richmond.
• Lifestyles Advertising — Smith won for an advertising spread promoting downtown Richmond products and businesses.
• Professional Services Advertising — Smith’s ad for the Virginia Economic Developers Association took second place, with judges saying “Good job! Love the design.”

The magazine also won six third-place awards in these categories:

• General News Writing — Sidersky won third place for her June 2022 story about Virginia companies aiding Ukrainian relief efforts.
• Headline Writing — Andrews took third place, with entries such as “Glove affair,” about a medical glove manufacturing factory breaking ground in Southwest Virginia, and “Big bird,” about a $300 million Tysons Foods chicken food products manufacturing plant in Pittsylvania County.
• News Writing Portfolio — Sidersky took third place for work including her August 2022 cover story about placemaking and a March 2022 real estate story about companies delaying decisions about office space in light of post-pandemic remote and hybrid work.
• Illustrations — “Catchy. Clean.” That’s how judges described freelance illustrator Sammy Newman’s Lego-themed spread illustrating the magazine’s November 2022 cover story.
• Informational Graphics — Newman also won for a Lego-themed chart from the November 2022 issue, with judges saying, “This graphic using a Legos theme is just fun.”
• Education, Churches and Organizations advertising — Smith won for a magazine ad promoting Virginia Business’ annual Political Roundtable event.

Virginia Business competed in the specialty publications category, which also included Richmond magazine, Ashburn Magazine and the Washington Business Journal. Richmond magazine won the VPA’s grand sweepstakes award for the specialty publications category.