Record Number of Media Impressions Generated by 2005 Southam Awards for Excellence in Sailing Communications

Record Number of Media Impressions Generated by 2005 Southam Awards for Excellence in Sailing Communications

MIAMI, Feb. 16 /PRNewswire/ -- Winners of the annual 2005 John Southam Awards for Excellence in Communications were announced by Chief Judge Sally Helme at the Miami International Boat Show and Strictly Sail media breakfast today.

The Southam Awards, in its 13th year, had a record-breaking number of media impressions totaling 76,200,417. Of the 163 entries, which included a broad mix of print, broadcast, books and online/internet media, the judging panel awarded six cash prizes totaling $10,000, plus named one special commendation.

The $5000 Grand Prize award and crystal sailboat was won by Joyce Harvey in the Newspapers over 100,000 Circulation category for her article, "Families Can Learn to Sail on Any Budget." Harvey, a freelance journalist, is a former contest applicant. She packaged the story with a sailing photo and sent it to hundreds of newspapers. As of December 2005, more than 67 newspapers across the U.S. had published the piece, reaching nearly 2.5 million readers in print.

$1000 category winners included J.J. and Peter Isler for the Magazine category for a piece entitled, "Sail Away," which ran in Cooking Light with a 1.7 million circulation; Bill Sargent for the Newspapers Under 100,000 category for his article, "Small Boat Day: An Intro to Sailing," which ran in Florida Today, with a circulation of 80,000; John Glynn for the Column category, for "On the Water," which runs regularly in the Greenwich Times newspaper, with circulation of 15,000; The Boston Sailing Center in the Online/Websites category, for its website entry, bostonsailingcenter.com; and John Vigor in the Expanded Outlets category for his book, "Things I Wish I Had Known Before I Started Sailing," published by Sheridan House.

The judges also recognized Gary Jobson of Jobson Sailing Films in partnership with Sunsail Sailing Vacations, for a Special Commendation Award for the documentary-style DVD production entitled, "Paradise Found: Sailing the BVI."

"Since our introduction of this award in 1992 to the media, the overall quality, diversity and breadth of coverage of sailing continues to improve. Judging was very difficult due to many outstanding submissions we received," said Helme.

The winning entries will be posted on the http://www.southamaward.com/ website on February 17. For more information, please contact Southam Contest Administrator Patti Velsor at Kenton Smith Advertising & Public Relations, Inc., telephone: 407-856-6680 or email patti@kentonsmithadv.com .

Source: Sail America

CONTACT: Patti Velsor, +1-407-856-6680, or patti@kentonsmithadv.com, for
Sail America

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

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