Click here to see 2008 Prizes
2007 WINNERS ANNOUNCED
If the measure of a man is the company he keeps, the measure of a writer may be the trophies he wins.
Or, in the case of the NATJA journalism awards, the prizes he wins.
A nine-member panel of officers and trustees from the Garden State Journalists Association (formerly the Working Press Association of New Jersey) sifted more than 500 entries before naming the four Grand Prize/Overall Excellence winners- Travel Editor Jill Schensul from The Record, United Hemispheres Magazine (series), Nancy Novogrod from Travel & Leisure, and Eva Lesiak from John Wiley & Sons (Frommers) and The Greater Phoenix Convention & Visitors Bureau for Overall Excellence in the 2007 NATJA competition. All nine said their assignment was excruciating because the quality of entries was so good.
Articles, books, broadcast tapes, press releases, and press kits were submitted in 38 categories, including four designated for destination travel (newspaper articles about domestic destinations, newspaper articles about international destinations, magazine articles about domestic destinations, and magazine articles about international destinations) and 11 for Public Relations/CVBs/Publication Categories.
Journalist winners vied for 47 first prizes, most of them complimentary three-night stays donated by leading hotels and resorts All selected Winners, Runner-Up and Honorable Mention participants in all categories will receive NATJA Award Certificates.
In keeping with established custom, judges distributed prizes after winners listed their Top 10 prize preferences.
Ties were broken by giving preference to NATJA members and multiple winners (the competition is open to all journalists worldwide, although NATJA members in good standing pay half the $50 entry fee).
The 16th annual competition produced entries from virtually every top travel magazine, newspaper, internet site, and publisher. Airline magazines were well-represented, with United's Hemispheres one of four grand prize winners.
The complete list of winners:
(4) Grand Prizes
1. "Space Cadets," by Travel Editor Jill Schensul of The Record, Hackensack, NJ.
2. *"Three Perfect Days," series in Hemispheres Magazine (inflight magazine of United Airlines, Randy Johnson, editor). A. In Island of Kauai of Hawaii, by Rita Ariyoshi with photos by Todd Pearson; B. In Rome, Italy, by Tom Mueller with photos by Andrea Pistolesi; and In Hong Kong, written by Robin Lynam with photos by Dave Lauridsen.
3. *Nancy Novogrod, Travel+Leisure, "100 Greatest Trips" (book).
4. *MTV Road Trips USA, submitted by Eva Lesiak, John Wiley & Sons/Frommers (travel guidebook).
Journalist/Photographer Categories
Newspaper, Magazine, Internet, Video
Destination Travel: Domestic (Newspaper)
First Place- Tom Uhlenbrock, St. Louis Post-Dispatch, "North to
Alaska.
First Place- Peter Johansen, Ottawa Citizen, "American Idyll."
Runner Up- Lisa Elia, The Palm Beach Post, "Beacons Renaissance."
Honorable Mention- Brian Chasnoff, San Antonio Express-News, "Meditations on Home New Orleans Two Years After the Storm."
Honorable Mention- Ellen Creager, Detroit Free Press, "My Kind of Cheap (Chicago Is)."
Honorable Mention- Christine Tibbetts, The Tifton Gazette,"Missouri: A new way to look at the start of the Civil War.".
Destination Travel: Domestic (Magazine)
First Place- Dave G. Houser, Destination, "Unlocking Key West."
First Place- John Paul Newport, T+L Golf, "Golf in the (Northeast) Kingdom."
First Place- Kay Grant, Valley Life Quarterly, "LAs Two Getty Museums."
Runner Up- Andrea Richards, Hemispheres, "Ticket to Ride."
Honorable Mention- Rita Anyoshi, "Three Perfect Days Kauai," United Hemispheres.
Destination Travel: International (Newspaper)
First Place- Ellen Creager, Detroit Free Press, "Oh. Holyland."
First Place- George Burden, The Medical Post, "48-hour Flirtation with Lisbon."
First Place- Karisa King, San Antonio Express-News, "Conquering Kilimanjaro."(photography by Lisa Krantz)
Runner Up- Paul Bennett, The Vancouver Sun, "Four-Wheeling On Groovy Red Dirt."
Honorable Mention- Dave G. Houser, Arkansas Democrat, "Red Soil, Blue Plants."
Honorable Mention- Sherri Telenko, The Globe & Mail, "A Pilgrimage to a Proud Capital."
Destination Travel: International (Magazine)
First Place-David Noyes, Lifestyle+Travel, "The New Silk Road."
First Place-Margie Goldsmith, Distinction Magazine, "Up the Hill in Morocco."
Runner Up- Jeff Greenwald, Virtuoso Life, "Deep in Paradise.
Runner Up- Amanda Ross, enRoute, "Beijing."
Honorable Mention-Christopher Paul Baker, Caribbean Travel &Life,"Cuba: Lost and Found."
Honorable Mention-Christopher Taylor, American Way, "Beyond Bali."
Bylined Column (Print)
First Place-Keith Bellows, National Geographic Traveler, "Traveling by Design."
Runner Up- Carol Perehudoff, The Toronto Star, "Zen and the Art of Making Friends with Strangers."
Runner Up- Jill Schensul, The Record, "The Truth, Justice, Legroom."
Runner Up- Keith Bellows, National Geographic Traveler, "The World in 60 Minutes."
Honorable Mention- Kayte Deioma, Grunion Gazette, "Big Apple Offers Plenty of Family Friendly Activities."
Honorable Mention-Linda Fasteson, Explore, The Sun Chronicle, "Imperial London: The Best of Britannia."
Local Lifestyle
First Place- "Barbados, The Longevity Plan," for Islands Magazine by Elaine Glusac.
First Place- "How to Marry a Viking," by Cleo Paskal for Canadian Geographic Travel.
First Place- "The Garage That Does Million Dollar Tuneups," written by Peter Johansen for The Toronto Star.
Runner Up- "Shell Game" by Amy Rosen for enRoute magazine (submitted by Ilana Weitzman of Spafax Canada).
Honorable Mention- "Thailands Miracle Grain for All Seasons," written by Carol Perehudoff for The Toronto Star.
Leisure Activity
First Place- "Butterflying in Southern Texas and Lower Rio Grande Valley" for Escape Travel page of The New York Times by Elaine Glusac.
Runner Up- "Mush Puppies," four days of dog sledding, written for AAA Living by Jennifer Wilson.
Honorable Mention- "White Creatures of the North" polar bears, whales for Daily Herald of Arlington Heights, Illinois by Travel Editor Kathy Rodeghier.
Honorable Mention- "Girlfriends Getaways" for Valley Life Quarterly by Kay Grant.
Honorable Mention- "Reds, Whites and Greens," Rex Pickett writes about fine wines and good golf venues for Travel & Leisure Golf.
Series
First Place- "The Other Gulf Coast," La Pesca, etc., a 12-day, 1,900- mile exploration by car in Mexico by Travel Editor Tracy L. Barnett for San Antonio Express-News and freelance photographer Altug Sami Icilensu.
First Place- "Northern Isles Adventure" series in Explore Magazine by Linda Fasteson with photos by Roger Fasteson.
Runner Up- "Women Traveling Alone" written for World Hum by writers roundtable: Catherine Watson, Terry Ward, Liz Sinclair and Stephanie Elizondo Griest.
Honorable Mention- Christine Tibbetts, "Montana Series," The Tifton Gazette.
Sports in Conjunction with Travel
First Place- "Camping on the White Continent," Glen Petrie, The Globe and Mail
First Place- "Three Peaks Challenge," Jonathan Green, Hemispheres.
Runner Up- "An Enchanted Place," Thomas Dunne, Travel+Leisure.
Honorable Mention- "Jupiter's Great Red Spot," Jackie Hutcherson, St. Louis Post-Dispatch.
Resorts
First Place- "A Spa Built for Two," Tim Leffel, Travel World International Magazine.
First Place- "Indian Safari," Christopher Petkanas, Travel and Leisure.
Runner Up- "The Lake Effect," Amity K. Moore, AAA Living.
Runner Up- "Keltic Charm," George Burden, The Medical Post.
Honorable Mention- "Kosher Side of Buenos Aires," Nancy Wigston, The Vancouver Sun.
Cruises
First Place- "Royal Waves," Bob Morris, Virtuoso Life.
First Place- "Mediterranean See Cruise," Jackie Hutcherson, St. Louis Post-Dispatch.
Runner Up- "South Seas Adventure," Michael DeFreitas, World of Cruising magazine.
Runner Up- "Lewis & Clark Missed the Boat," Ann Terry Hill, Travel World.
Personality Profile
First Place- "Insulin Was Born in London," Amy Rosen, National Post.
First Place- "Princess Dianas London," Barbara Wayman, Home & Away magazine.
Runner Up- "Working Undercover," Kay Grant, New Mexico magazine.
Runner Up- "The Sabra Who Cooks Cajun," Howard Hian, San Diego Jewish Journal.
Historical Travel
First Place-Carol Perehudoff, "Wild and Wonderful Experiences" Toronto Star
Runner Up- Peter Delevett, "The Distance from Dachau to Darfur." www.worldhum.com
Honorable Mention- Tracy Barnett, "A Hard Peace Won," San Antonio Express-News
Honorable Mention-Randy Johnson, "Protected by the Past," Hemispheres
Honorable Mention-Taras Grescoe, "Shanghai Redux," Hemispheres
Honorable Mention- Keith Bellows, "London Calling," National Geographic Traveler.
Senior Travel
First Place-Pam Hobbs, "Shadowing the Queen of Crime," Good Times Magazine.
Runner Up- Kate Pocock, "The Grand Escape." New Outlook Magazine.
Runner Up- Dave G. Hauser, "Yuma," Where to Retire Magazine.
Family Travel
First Place- Caitlin Flanagan, Travel+Leisure, "How Do You Dude?"
First Place- Kate Pocock, Family Outlook Magazine, "Meanwhile Back at the Ranch."
Runner Up- Kimberly Brown Seely, Virtuoso Life, "Taking the Plunge."
Runner Up- David Plotz, Travel+Leisure, "How to do D.C."
Honorable Mention- Tiffany Figueiredo, Virtuoso Life ,"Hawaii Reigns."
Honorable Mention- Michael Schuman, Miami Herald, "10 Cool Kids Museums."
Honorable Mention-George Burden, The Medical Post, "Marking a Milestone in Montreal."
Culinary Travel
First Place- John Seabrook, "Sicily, Old and New,"
Travel+Leisure, Nancy Novogrod, editor.
First Place- Brad Johnson, "Basque in Glory," Modern Luxury Magazine.
First Place-John Mariani, "The Other Italy," Virtuoso Life.
Runner Up- Alan Richman, "The Best Chef in the World," enRoute.
Runner Up- Jonathan Siskin, "Thirty Hours Aboard the Orient Express," The Epoch Times (Travel Section).
Runner Up- Larry Olmstead, "Dining Through the Ages," American Way.
Honorable Mention- Linda Kavanagh, "Luxury, Red Rocks, Jeeps, Cuisine and Wine: Genuine Hospitality in Sedona," Food and Beverage International.
Honorable Mention- Jim Gullo, "Vintage Return," Virtuoso Life.
Best Travel Article Written For Internet
First Place- Peter Rose, "Autumn in the Alps," SoGoNow.com
First Place- Amy Rosen, "How to Build an Igloo," Perceptive Travel Magazine.
Runner Up- Jacqueline Harmon Butler, "Sardine Heaven Feast of St. Anthony," CEOtraveler.com; goNomad.com
Runner Up- Kate Pocock, "Hot Time in a Hammam," traveltowellness.com
Best Travel Broadcast
First Place-Cruisin California - Solvang by Bryan Scofield.
Runner Up- Cruisin Big Bear by Bryan Scofield.
Best Internet Travel Video/Channel
No winners
Best Travel Book
First Place-Howard Cohen, Menasha Ridge Press
"Adventures With Purpose," Richard Bangs.
First Place- Nancy Novogrod, Travel+Leisure, "Worlds Greatest Hotels, Resorts & Spas."
Runner Up- Sean OReilly (nominator), Travelers Tales, Division of Solas House, Inc., "The Best Travel Writing, 2007."
Runner Up- Sheila Leary (nominator), University of Wisconsin Press "Honorable Bandit," Brian Bouldrey, author.
Honorable Mention- J. M. Pasquesi, Synergy Press, "Rome With Kids: An Insiders Guide."
Best Travel Guide
First Place- Pauline Frommers London; Submitted by Eva Lesiak, John Wiley & Sons/Frommers.
Runner Up- Open Roads Best of Southern California. Submitted by Elizabeth Borsting, tripwriter@yahoo.com
Honorable Mention- "Pauline Frommer's Paris" by Margie Rynn published by John Wiley & Sons
Honorable Mention- Don Philpott; Florida: The Keys, dp@mediawiseus.com
Business & Trade Press
General Trade Story
First Place-Anne Burke, "The Cutting Edge." Travel Age West
First Place- Arnie Weissmann, "Marketing Dubai," Travel Weekly
Runner Up- Kenneth Shapiro and Ana Figueroa, "Theres No Place Like Home," TravelAge West
Honorable Mention- Linda Pernice Kavanaugh, "Modern Design in New England," New England Hotel
Tips & Advice
First Place- Sarah Pascarella, "Top 10 Safety Trips for Solo Travelers," SmarterTravel.com
Runner Up- Nancy Schretter, "Wrap it Up 10 Tips for Saving Money on Holiday Vacation Travel," Family Travel Network
Honorable Mention- Ellen Creager, "Avoid Auction Anguish," Detroit Free Press
Photography
Overall Excellence
First Place- Gail Mooney, "Nutcracker," NYC Ballet Magazine.
First Place- Stuart Dee, "Carnival," Skyward (Japan Airlines Inflight Magazine.)
Runner Up- Frederic LaGrange, "Patagonia Inside Out," Modern Media.
Honorable Mention- Gail Mooney, "Westlake," (Hangzchow, China), Modern Media.
Best Cover Photo
First Place-Douglas Peebles, Spirit of Aloha (Aloha Airlines magazine.)
Runner Up- Dave G. Houser, Trailblazer
Honorable Mention- Kourosh Keshiri, enRoute.
Landscape, Sunset, Mountain or Ocean View
First Place-David Noyes, "Where the Desert Meets the Mountains," Lifestyle & Travel.
Runner Up- Curtis Gillespie, "Oz and Effect," enRoute.
Honorable Mention- David G. Houser, "Go West," Mens Folio.
Architecture and/or Facility
First Place-Christian Blok, "Desert Oasis," Home Spa.
Runner Up- Robert Lemermeyer, "Beijing," enRoute.
Overall Excellence: Doug MacKenzie, Greater Phoenix CVB, for The Greater Phoenix press kit within which is what looks like a ballpoint pen with a laser pointer on its end. If you unscrew the pens mid-section, you find a 512-megabyte USB flash drive that contains the latest media kit, including full-color photos, press releases, links, a PDF of its Arts & Culture brochure and a myriad of other options.
Public Relations & Advertising
Press Release
First Place-Pamela Johnston, Vegas.Com, "Tales from the Vegas.com Call Center."
Runner Up- Doug MacKenzie, Greater Phoenix CVB, "Bowled Over."
Honorable Mention-Sarah Evans, Hawkins International PR, "Ten Terrific Places to Take the Plunge."
Brochure, Program, Books, Newsletter
First Place- Niki in the Garden, Art Catalogue, Chicago Office of Tourism, submitted by Joyce Roeton Scrivner.
First Place- Park City Vacation Planner, Park City Chamber of Commerce & Visitors Bureau, Utah, submitted by Craig McCarthy.
Runner Up- Utah Travel Guide, Utah Office of Tourism, submitted by Clayton Scrivner.
Runner Up- Kay Powell, Pigeon Forge Department of Tourism, TN, Pigeon Forge Destination Planning Guide.
Honorable Mention- Aurora Area Getaway Guide, Aurora Area CVB, Illinois, submitted by Laurie DiBerardino.
Honorable Mention- Ulster County, A Playground for All Seasons, Ulster County Tourism, Kingston, NY, submitted by Richard Remsnyder.
Best Overall Press Kit
First Place- Heather Bryant, Seattle CVB, Seattle Press Kit
First Place- Judith A. Bijlani,, Laguna Beach Visitors Press Kit.
Runner Up- Sarah Evans, Hawkins International PR, Jumby Bay Press Kit.
Runner Up- Margo Grant, San Mateo CVB
Honorable Mention- Regena Bearden, Memphis CVB "50 Years of Soul."
Honorable Mention- Phil Werz, Cherokee Travel & Tourism, Cherokee Press Kit.The Goss Agency.
Best CVB/Tourist Bureau Web Site
First Place- Mexico Tourism Board, Burson-Marsteller, Miami, Florida, for the Mexico Tourist Board, "Transforming Chichen-Itza from Virtual Wonder to World Wonder."
Runner Up- Margie Grant for the San Mateo County CVB, "WWW.VisitSanMateo County.com"
Runner Up-Dan Pittman, Pittman & Associates, Inc., www.Travelcostamesa.com
Honorable Mention-Tosha Daugherty, Bloomington CVB, "visitbloomington.com"
Editorial Excellence
Best Newspaper Travel Section
First Place- The Record, Hackensack, NJ, "Antartica: Exploring The Bottom of the World," Jill Schensul.
Runner Up- St. Louis Post Dispatch, MO, Explore, "Come Down to Curaco," Jackie Hutherson.
Honorable Mention- Daily Herald, Arlington, IL, Going Places, "Dreaming of Irish Castles," Kathy Rodeghier.
Best Travel Magazine
First Place- Travel+Leisure, Sept. 2007, Nancy Novogrod, editor.
First Place-National Geographic Traveler, Oct. 2007, Keith Bellows, editor
First Place- Virtuoso Life, Sept./Oct. 2007, Elaine Srnka, editor.
Runner Up- Pure Canada, April 2007, Dominique Ritter, editor-in-chief
Runner Up- Virtuoso Life, May/June 2007, Elaine Srnka, editor.
Runner Up-Travel+Leisure, June 2007, Nancy Novogrod, editor.
Runner Up-Travel+Leisure Golf, Sept. 2007, John Atwood, editor.
Honorable Mention- enRoute (Air Canada),August 2007
Ilana Weitzman, editor.
Best Online Travel Magazine
First Place- Carole Herdegen, TravelQuest with Carole Herdegen, www.travelsite.com
Runner Up- Poppy Wilkinson, editor-in-chief, Air Canada's onAir.
Honorable Mention- Michael Yessis, World Hum.Com
Best Domestic Newspaper Article
First Place-Tracy Louthain, Director of Public Relations, Beaches of South Walton, for Beaches of South Waltons Autumn Tides event highlighted in Atlanta Journal-Constitution under byline of Paula Crouch Thrasherbr>
Best Domestic Magazine Article
First Place- "Best Little City in America Austin, Texas," by Carl Hoffman, National Geographic Traveler, submitted by Keith Bellows.
Runner Up- "American Tuscany," by Andrew Nelson, National Geographic Traveler, submitted by Keith Bellows.
Honorable Mention- "Brooklyn Bound," by Peter Jon Lindberg, Travel+Leisure, submitted by Nancy Novogrod.
Best International Newspaper Article
(No winners)
Best International Magazine Article
First Place- James Cusick, Travel+Leisure Golf, "Lochs Landings."
Runner Up- Guy Trebay. Travel+Leisure, "Story of Oman."
Runner Up- P. F. Kluge, National Geographic Traveler, "Americas Best Kept Secret."
Runner Up- Leslie Woit, United Hemispheres, "Ticket to Tibet."
Honorable Mention- Gary Shteyngart, Travel+Leisure, "Brazils Untamed Heart."
