Southam Awards Program Generates Record High Submissions, Presents Greatest Number of Cash Prizes in Contest History

Southam Awards Program Generates Record High Submissions, Presents Greatest Number of Cash Prizes in Contest History

MIAMI, Feb. 17 /PRNewswire/ -- A record-breaking 201 journalists from 34 states participated in the John Southam Awards for Excellence in Sailing Communications this year, generating 109,000,000 media impressions in sailing coverage, more than double that of last year's entrants.

In its twelfth year, the Southam Awards are named in honor of John Southam, former publisher of Cruising World and Sailing World magazines, who played a significant role in the growth of Sail America, the U.S. industry trade association. In addition to the $5,000 grand prize -- the largest single media prize for journalists covering sailing outside the industry -- the judges selected seven additional $1,000 category winners, also the highest in competition history, for a total of $12,000 in cash prizes. Winners were announced during the 2005 Miami International Boat Show Press Breakfast today.

Winning the $5,000 Cash Grand Prize and Crystal Cup originally submitted in the Columnist category is Cherie Sogsti, a freelance journalist whose weekly sailing column, "Whatever Floats Your Boat," appears in The Current, part of The Orange County Register and is also posted simultaneously online.

The seven $1,000 category winners are:

Newspapers


* Newspapers Over 100,000 (circulation) -- Skip Kaltenheuser, freelance writer, for his article "Sailing Away Doesn't Have to Cost so Much as to Sink You Financially"

* Newspapers Under 100,000 (circulation) -- Mike Dunbar, Associate Editor of The Modesto Bee, Modesto, CA, for his feature story "Gone with the Wind: Anchors aweigh and hoist yer jib matey -- let's go sailing."

Magazine

* Cindy Christian Rogers, The History Channel Magazine, with a feature story entitled "Tall Ships"

Electronic/Broadcast Media

* Solo Commentator Gary Jobson and Producer Geoff Mason's collaboration on NBC Olympic sailing coverage

Expanded Outlets

* Web sites -- Anthony Sandberg of Berkeley, CA and Sea Dog Designs for the sailing website http://www.ocscsailing.com/

* Books -- Thomas Froncek's book, "A Splendid Madness -- A Man. A Boat. A Love Story"

Southam judges may award special category recognition for sailing coverage that is adventure-lifestyle oriented. For 2004, judges designated a $1000 prize in the Adventure category to Rich Wilson for his multi-media coverage of the Trans Atlantic Race.

"Clearly, we are very pleased by the continued growth and recognition of the Southam Awards," said Helme. "Sail America has continued to further develop and promote awareness of the Southam Awards as an integral part of our marketing initiatives. We believe the contest has helped to spur coverage of sailing, with a 204% increase in the number of submissions over the past five years alone, generating more than 550,000,000 highly valued media impressions."

For more information about the Southam Awards, or for information on the 2005 contest, http://visit/ www.southamaward.com .

Contact: Wanda Kenton Smith
Kenton Smith Advertising & PR
Telephone: (407) 856-6680
wanda@kentonsmithadv.com


Source: John Southam Awards Contest

CONTACT: Wanda Kenton Smith, Kenton Smith Advertising & PR,
+1-407-856-6680, or wanda@kentonsmithadv.com, for John Southam Awards
Contest

Web site: http://visit/ www.southamaward.com


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