Congratulations to the winners and finalists of the 43rd Annual IRMA Awards, which where announced May 7, 2023 at IRMACON2023 in Portland, Oregon.
Read the full list of the 43rd Annual IRMA Awards Winners and Runners Up
| Public Issues | |||
| Gold | The State of Maine v. Parole | Down East | Will Grunewald |
| Silver | New Deal Reckoning | New Mexico Magazine | Kate Nelson |
| Bronze | for Uvalde | Texas Highways | ire’ne lara silva |
| Merit | Friendly Fires | Cottage Life | Ray Ford |
| Historic Feature 34,999 or less circulation | |||
| Gold | The Standoff | Adirondack Life | Adam Federman |
| Silver | Haunted Louisiana | Louisiana Life | Cheré Coen |
| Bronze | The Girl Detective Who Haunts Potter County | Mountain Home | Judith Sornberger |
| Historic Feature 35,000 or more circulation | |||
| Gold | We’re Still Here | Texas Highways | John Nova Lomax |
| Silver | Standing On Faith | New Mexico Magazine | Kate Nelson |
| Bronze | 1972: The Year That Changed Maine | Down East | Murray Carpenter, Brian Kevin, Kathryn Miles, Adrienne Perron, Mary Pols, David Shribman |
| Nature and Environment 34,999 or less circulation | |||
| Gold | Atchafalaya Basin | Louisiana Life | Kevin Rabalais |
| Silver | A Light Bulb Moment | Adirondack Life | Paul Greenberg |
| Bronze | Sanctuary Under Threat | Yukon, North of Ordinary | Karen McColl |
| Nature and Environment 35,000 or more circulation | |||
| Gold | A Ripple in Still Water | Texas Highways | Ian Dille |
| Silver | Flying Into the Face of Danger | Arizona Highways | Matt Jaffe |
| Bronze | The Memory of Seeds | New Mexico Magazine | Elizabeth Miller |
| Merit | Wild Night Out | Cottage Life | Chris Earley |
| Travel Feature | |||
| Gold | Parashant: It’s Easier Said Than Done | Arizona Highways | Noah Austin |
| Silver | Reinventing Cowtown | Texas Highways | Sarah Hepola |
| Bronze | As Adirondack As It Gets | Adirondack Life | Lisa Bramen |
| Bronze | Zuni Standard Time | New Mexico Magazine | Molly Boyle |
| Art and Culture Feature | |||
| Gold | I’ll Be Home for Christmas | Texas Highways | Luis Rendon |
| Silver | Music Makers | Acadiana Profile | Kevin Rabalais |
| Bronze | Spirits of the Past | New Mexico Magazine | Kate Nelson |
| Merit | An Artist in the Canyon of Death | Arizona Highways | Morgen Sjogren |
| Merit | On The Hunt | Louisiana Life | Kevin Rabalais |
| Merit | Fragile Pleasures | Mountain Home | Terence Lane |
| Recreation Feature | |||
| Gold | Literary Lovers Travel Guide | Louisiana Life | Cheré Coen |
| Silver | A Fish Tale | Adirondack Life | Paul Greenberg |
| Bronze | Don’t do it for the ‘gram | Cottage Life | Caroline Barlott |
| Merit | Embracing the Brazos | Texas Highways | Joe Nick Patoski |
| General Feature 34,999 or less circulation | |||
| Gold | Tommy Comes Home | Mountain Home | David O’Reilly |
| Silver | What the Fire Didn’t Destroy | Delaware Beach Life | Jessica Gordon |
| Bronze | La Nouvelle Louisiane | Louisiana Life | Misty Milioto |
| Merit | Climbing High to Drill Deep | Yukon, North of Ordinary | Alison Criscitiello |
| Merit | Leap of Taste | Oklahoma Today | Greg Elwell |
| General Feature 35,000 or more circulation | |||
| Gold | The Last Time Anyone Says Your Name | Texas Highways | Michael J. Mooney |
| Silver | The Tale of a Donkey | Arizona Highways | Matt Jaffe |
| Bronze | Off the Map | Cottage Life | Liann Bobechko |
| Merit | Railyards Renaissance | New Mexico Magazine | Kate Nelson |
| Profile 34,999 or less circulation | |||
| Gold | The Town That Generosity Built | Adirondack Life | Annie Stoltie |
| Silver | Milton’s Country King | Delaware Beach Life | Bill Newcott |
| Bronze | 48 Years and Counting | Arizona Wildlife Views | Elaine Pittman |
| Merit | Pine Creek Jon | Mountain Home | Lilace Mellin Guignard |
| Profile 35,000 or more circulation | |||
| Gold | One Man’s Treasure | Texas Highways | Michael Mooney |
| Silver | The Queen of Baie Fine | Cottage Life | Jim Moodie |
| Bronze | Celebrating the Visions | Arizona Highways | Matt Jaffe |
| Merit | Back to the Indigenous Future | New Mexico Magazine | Molly Boyle |
| Hed & Dek | |||
| Gold | Hocus Pocus | Texas Highways | Matt Joyce |
| Silver | The Tale of a Donkey | Arizona Highways | Robert Stieve |
| Bronze | A Warm Welcome | Downhome | Linda Browne |
| Merit | Hot Take | Cottage Life | Liann Bobechko |
| Merit | Grape Expectations | Louisiana Life | Kevin Rabalais |
| Reader Service | |||
| Gold | The Usual Suspects | Cottage Life | Jackie Davis |
| Silver | Small Town Mom and Pops | Texas Highways | Michael Hoinski, Wes Ferguson, June Naylor, ire’na lara silva, W.K. Stratton, Sallie Lewis, Ali Khan, Clayton Maxwell, John Nova Lomax, E. Ryan Ellis |
| Bronze | Cheap Eats | Acadiana Profile | Eric Cormier |
| Merit | The Roots of Rustic | Adirondack Life | Niki Kourofsky |
| Merit | Food Worth the Drive 2022 | Oklahoma Today | Nathan Gunter, Greg Elwell, Karlie Ybarra, Megan Rossman, Ben Luschen |
| Essay | |||
| Gold | Deep Like the River | Texas Highways | Roberto José Andrade Franco |
| Silver | Rewriting the Next Chapter | Cottage Life | Roy MacGregor |
| Bronze | A Cuentista’s Magic | New Mexico Magazine | Levi Romero |
| Merit | The Grandmother of All Ponderosas | Arizona Highways | Annette McGivney |
| Column | |||
| Gold | Editor’s Letter | Arizona Highways | Robert Stieve |
| Silver | Welcome | Oklahoma Today | Nathan Gunter |
| Bronze | From the Executive Editor’s Desk | Louisiana Life | Errol Laborde |
| Bronze | Short Carries | Adirondack Life | Annie Stoltie |
| Merit | Editor’s Note | Cottage Life | Michelle Kelly |
| Department | |||
| Gold | Waterfront | Cottage Life | Jackie Davis, Taylor Kristan |
| Silver | Open Road | Texas Highways | Kameron Dunn, Lauren Hough, Elizabeth Bruenig, Jason Stout, Hokyoung Kim, Jan Feindt, Mark Mahorsky, Christopher Linnen, Michael Hoinski, Julia Jones, Emily Stone |
| Bronze | Louisiana Made | Louisiana Life | Jeffrey Roedel, Danley Romero, Sarah George, Melanie Spencer |
| Merit | Destinations | New Mexico Magazine | Molly Boyle, Kate Nelson, Jen Judge, Tira Howard |
| Food Feature | |||
| Gold | The Golden Age of Maine Pizza Is Now | Down East | Will Grunewald, Brian Kevin, Adrienne Perron, Joe Ricchio, Joel Crabtree, Mike O’Leary |
| Silver | Hot Take | Cottage Life | David Zimmer, Jackie Davis, Jarett Sitter, Bradley Reinhardt, Liann Bobechko |
| Bronze | Burger Kings | New Mexico Magazine | Molly Boyle, Douglas Merriam, Danilo Agutoli, John McCauley |
| Merit | Cheap Eats | Acadiana Profile | Eric Cormier, Joseph Vidrine, S. E. George, Sarah George, Melanie Spencer |
| Merit | The Mexican Food Capital of the World and Elsewhere | Arizona Highways | Lawrence Cheek, Steven Meckler, Keith Whitney, Creative Director, Jeff Kida, Photo Editor, Robert Stieve |
| Special Focus | |||
| Gold | The Border Issue – June 2022 | Texas Highways | Emily Stone, Michael Hoinski, Julia Jones, Mark Mahorsky, Ashley Burch, Christopher Linnen, Brandon Jakobeit |
| Silver | Cottage Life – Entertaining | Cottage Life | Cottage Life staff and contributors |
| Bronze | Arizona’s State Parks | Arizona Highways | Robert Stieve, Kelly Vaughn, Noah Austin, Ameema Ahmed, Keith Whitney, Creative Director, Lisa Altomare, Art Director, Jeff Kida, Photo Editor |
| Merit | Being Native Being Kansan | KANSAS! Magazine | Andrea Etzel, Nathan Pettengill, Kalli Jo Smith, Rhonda LeValdo, Jared Nally, Shelly Bryant |
| Merit | The Food Issue | Acadiana Profile | Melanie Spencer, Sarah George |
| Merit | Conservation Issue | Louisiana Life | Melanie Spencer, Sarah George |
| Home and Garden | |||
| Gold | The Queen of Baie Fine | Cottage Life | Jim Moodie, Peter Baumgarten, Bradley Reinhardt, Jackie Davis |
| Silver | 28th Annual Building & Interior Design Awards | The Bermudian | Annabel Cooper, Linda Weinraub |
| Bronze | Communal Tables | Acadiana Profile | Marie Elizabeth Oliver, Haylei Smith, Melanie Spencer, Sarah George |
| Editorial Package | |||
| Gold | Years in the Making | Cottage Life | Alysha Vandertogt, Taylor Kristan |
| Silver | Small Towns | Texas Highways | Stacey Swann, Jennifer Stewart, Clayton Maxwell, Kathryn Jones, Anthony Head, Michael Hoinski, Wes Ferguson, June Naylor, ire’na lara silva, W.K. Stratton, Sallie Lewis, Ali Khan, John Nova Lomax, E. Ryan Ellis |
| Bronze | Innovation in Focus | Avenue | Tsering Asha, Kendall Bistretzan, Ximena Gonzalez, Danyael Halprin, MIchelle McIvor, Michaela Ream, Christina Frangou, Jared Sych, Gust of Wind Studio, Chantal Bennett, Steve Collins, Shelley Arnusch |
| Merit | Inspire a Kid | Wyoming Wildlife | Wyoming Wildlife magazine staff, Patrick Owen |
| Writer of the Year | |||
| Gold | Matt Jaffe | Arizona Highways | |
| Silver | Bill Newcott | Delaware Beach Life | |
| Bronze | Kevin Rabalais | Louisiana Life | |
| Single Photo | |||
| Gold | Northern Arizona | Arizona Highways | Bernhard Michaelis |
| Silver | Bull House | Oklahoma Today | David Joshua Jennings |
| Bronze | Caves | Texas Highways | Erich Schlegel |
| Merit | Natural Builders | Adirondack Life | Jeff Nadler |
| Photo Series 34,999 or less circulation | |||
| Gold | 7 Scenes You Don’t See Every Day | Yukon, North of Ordinary | Peter Mather, Devon Berquist, Beat Glanzmann, Manu Keggenhoff, Mark Kelly, GBP Creative, Robert Postma, |
| Silver | Call of the Wild | Adirondack Life | Pamela Underhill Karaz |
| Bronze | Music Makers | Acadiana Profile | Kevin Rabalais |
| Bronze | On The Hunt | Louisiana Life | Kevin Rabalais |
| Merit | The Rites of Spring | Oklahoma Today | David Joshua Jennings |
| Photo Series 35,000 or more circulation | |||
| Gold | Natural Attraction | Texas Highways | E. Dan Klepper |
| Silver | The Really Great Outdoors | Cottage Life | Kamil Bialous |
| Bronze | Shima’s Legacy | Arizona Highways | John Burcham |
| Portrait Photo | ||||
| Gold | One Man’s Treasure | Texas Highways | Nathan Lindstrom | |
| Silver | Ramona Button | Arizona Highways | David Zickl | |
| Bronze | The Auntie Way | New Mexico Magazine | Ungelbah Davils-Shivers | |
| Portrait Series | |||
| Gold | The Next Generation | KANSAS! Magazine | Nick Krug |
| Silver | Louisianians of the Year | Louisiana Life | Danley Romero |
| Illustration | |||
| Gold | Chickens in the City | Avenue | Jarett Sitter |
| Silver | Open Road – June 2022 | Texas Highways | Adolfo Valle |
| Bronze | Brighty | Arizona Highways | Adam McCauley |
| Merit | The Coming of the Tempest | Cottage Life | Steven P. Hughes |
| Cover 34,999 or less circulation | |||
| Gold | On The Hunt | Louisiana Life | Kevin Rabalais, Sarah George, Melanie Spencer |
| Silver | Let It Snow | Adirondack Life | Pamela Underhill, Mark Mahorsky |
| Bronze | Light Recipes | Acadiana Profile | Eugenia Uhl, Sarah George, Melanie Spencer |
| Bronze | Have you seen it? | Yukon, North of Ordinary | Manu Keggenhoff |
| Merit | Summer 2022 | The Bermudian | Jacob Moniz, Linda Weinraub |
| Merit | Marvel at Comic History in the Making | Mountain Home | Gwen Button |
| Cover 35,000 or more circulation | |||
| Gold | Visual Wonders | Texas Highways | E. Dan Klepper, Mark Mahorsky |
| Silver | Cottage Life | Cottage Life | Bradley Reinhardt, Michelle Kelly |
| Bronze | Show Time | Avenue | Jared Sych, Steve Collins, Shelley Arnusch |
| Art Direction of a Single Story 34,999 or less circulation | |||
| Gold | Very Superstitious! | The Bermudian | Linda Weinraub |
| Silver | Serpentarium | Adirondack Life | Mark Mahorsky |
| Bronze | Best of Dining | Acadiana Profile | Sarah George |
| Art Direction of a Single Story 35,000 or more circulation | |||
| Gold | I’ll Be Home for Christmas | Texas Highways | Ashley Burch |
| Silver | Burger Kings | New Mexico Magazine | John McCauley |
| Bronze | Choose Your Own Adventure | Cottage Life | Taylor Kristan |
| Overall Art Direction 34,999 or less circulation | |||
| Gold | Louisiana Life | Sarah George | |
| Silver | Acadiana Profile | Sarah George | |
| Bronze | Oklahoma Today | Steven Walker | |
| Bronze | Adirondack Life | Mark Mahorsky | |
| Overall Art Direction 35,000 or more circulation | |||
| Gold | Texas Highways | Mark Mahorsky, Ashley Birch, Christopher Linnen, Brandon Jakobeit | |
| Silver | New Mexico Magazine | John McCauley | |
| Bronze | Cottage Life | Bradley Reinhardt | |
| Photographer of the Year | |||
| Gold | Dave Shafer | Texas Highways | |
| Silver | Claire Curran | Arizona Highways | |
| Bronze | Steven St. John | New Mexico Magazine | |
| Bronze | George Andrejko | Arizona Wildlife Views | |
| Magazine of the Year 34,999 or less circulation | |||
| Gold | Adirondack Life | Annie Stoltie, Niki Kourofsky, Lisa Bramen, Mark Mahorsky | |
| FINALIST | Louisiana Life | Melanie Spencer, Sarah George | |
| FINALIST | Acadiana Profile | Melanie Spencer, Sarah George | |
| FINALIST | KANSAS! Magazine | Andrea Etzel, Nathan Pettengill, Kalli Jo Smith, Shelly Bryant | |
| Magazine of the Year 35,000 or more circulation | |||
| Gold | Down East | Brian Kevin, Will Grunewald, Adrienne Perron, Sarah Stebbins, Mike O’Leary | |
| FINALIST | Texas Highways | Emily Stone, Michael Hoinski, Julia Jones, Danielle Lopez, Matt Joyce, Mark Mahorsky, Ashley Burch, Christopher Linnen, Brandon Jakobeit | |
| FINALIST | New Mexico Magazine | Steve Gleydura, John McCauley, Kate Nelson, Molly Boyle | |
| Newsletter | |||||||
| Gold | New Mexico Magazine Newsletter | New Mexico Magazine | Ofelia Martinez, Steve Gleydura | ||||
| Silver | Dockside | Cottage Life | Marie Waine, Megan McPhaden | ||||
| Bronze | The Scenic Route | Texas Highways | Natalie Moore, Tyson Bird, Sarah Thurmond | ||||
| Podcast | |||
| Gold | The Cottage Life Podcast | Cottage Life | Michelle Kelly, Catherine Jheon |
| Silver | Yukon, North of Ordinary, The Podcast | Yukon, North of Ordinary | Karen McColl, Manu Keggenhoff |
| Bronze | Louisiana Insider | Louisiana Life | Kelly Massicot, Errol Laborde |
| Digital: Special Feature or Website | |||
| Gold | TexasHighways.com State Symbols | Texas Highways | John Lumpkin, Julia Jones, Tyson Bird, Ashley Burch |
| Silver | ArizonaHighways.com | Arizona Highways | Robert Stieve, Kelly Vaughn, Noah Austin, Ameema Ahmed, Victoria Snow |
| Bronze | TheBermudian.com | The Bermudian | The Bermudian staff and contributors |
| Bronze | LouisianaLife.com | Louisiana Life | Kelly Massicot |
| Merit | NorthofOrdinary.com | Yukon, North of Ordinary | Karen McColl, Manu Keggenhoff |
IRMA Volunteer of the Year 2023: Michelle Kelly, Cottage Life.
Congratulations to all the winners and finalists.
Thank you to the judges of the 43rd IRMA Awards.
Design Judges:
Writing Judges:
Huck Beard
Lisa Cook
Jacquie Moore
Adrian Doran
Jill Foran
Charles Salzberg
Taryn Dufault
Mike Ganley
Graham Scott
David Halloran
Doug Garr
Kim Shiffman
Todd Johnson
Jessica Giles
Nikki Simpson
Bob Newman
Vanessa Grant
Kat Tancock
Earl Nottingham
Cory Haller
Lisa Whittington-Hill
David Radabaugh
Kim Latreille
Kyle Wyatt
Paige Weir
Anthony Licata