MetroFamily Magazine was honored with a record 17 editorial, design and multimedia awards at the national Parenting Media Association conference and awards banquet in Chicago on Nov. 3, 2023, including a first-time General Excellence silver award for MetroFamily Magazine, the top award bestowed. Content from family publications around the country is reviewed and judged by a panel from the University of Missouri’s School of Journalism.
We’re incredibly proud of the staff members and freelancers who help make MetroFamily Magazine an award-winning publication, all under the direction and inspiration of our publisher and CEO Sarah Taylor. Thank you to our readers for inspiring the work we are fortunate to do every day!
General Excellence Awards
Silver, MetroFamily Magazine
Staff: Sarah Taylor, Erin Page, Lindsay Cuomo, Emiley Bainbridge, Stacy Noakes
Judges’ comments: “This publication provides a mix of information that is needed to navigate modern parenthood, whether that’s understanding gender discussions or choosing a school. With an abundance of guides and profiles of local parents, the magazine feels authentic and useful to its audience.”
Silver, Website
Staff: Lindsay Cuomo, Emiley Bainbridge, Sarah Taylor, Kirsten Holder
Judges’ comments: “Pumpkin patches, farm fun, and fall camps are among the highlight stories and information parents find when they visit this website. The material includes both events as well as local news readers need to know. The images shared within the site also enable families to see themselves as important members of the community.”
Gold Awards
Editorial Column: Family Matters, Family Mental Wellness series
Writers: Erin Page, Pam McKeown
Judges’ comments: “Oklahoma, like many states, has high rates of substance use, and these columns address how families can deal with this life-changing issue. First, it confronts reality – alcohol still tops the list as an abused substance and families should talk about its use. Another column looks at what resources are available to moms who use substances like opioids, and how they can connect to support services after they give birth. Both columns offer help without judgment.”
Editorial Column: Family Fun
Writers: Lindsay Cuomo, Discover OKC on a Family Scavenger Hunt; Christina Mushi-Brunt, Family Wellness Challenge
Editor: Erin Page
Designer: Stacy Noakes
Judges’ comments: “This column provides a fresh look at the places and institutions that have been community staples and offers families different ways to connect to one another and the broader community. It relies on the staple of family favorites, but also invites people to see anew places that could be easily overlooked.”
Editorial Travel Feature: 5 Lesser-Known Oklahoma State Parks Worth Exploring
Writer & photographer: Debbie Murnan
Editor: Erin Page
Judges’ comments: “This is a charming piece with a thoroughly engaging premise — visiting every state park in Oklahoma in the space of one year. The writing is lively with plenty of details and lots of personality, and the writer provides all the tools needed to replicate the journey, adding up to a terrific example of smart travel journalism.”
Editorial Profile: The Antithesis of Violence: Love and Nice – Henry Rice’s Story
Writer: Erin Page
Judges’ comments: “This profile tackles an important issue. The story both explains the subject’s evolving perspective and lets the reader see the person behind the issue.”
Digital, Podcast: Raising OKC Kids, The Current State of Foster Care in Oklahoma
Co-hosts: Kirsten Holder & Erin Page
Judges’ comments: “The podcast does a good job of featuring two guests with first-hand expertise on the latest developments in foster care in Oklahoma. The audio is clear and easy to understand, and it contains valuable insights and resources for prospective and current foster parents in the state.”
Digital, E-newsletter
Staff: Emiley Bainbridge, Lindsay Cuomo, Erin Page, Kirsten Holder
Judges’ comments: “A simple design with bold emphasis on key content makes this newsletter a user-friendly resource for parents looking for the information they need. The ‘less is more’ approach also places a heavier task on the newsletter to provide the most relevant content, which it succeeds in doing, be it an idea for a family activity or information on key issues facing parents and kids.”
Silver Awards
Editorial: Letter from the Editor
Writer: Erin Page
Judges’ comments: “The columns in this entry allowed the writer to share some vulnerability about her identity as a parent and a professional, which many parents struggle with. The column about imposter syndrome was interestingly filtered through the lens of her daughter’s perspective, a viewpoint that was refreshingly earnest in the way of children. The column about resetting expectations around production levels provided a payoff for the reader when the idea of putting in B+ work came back around regarding parenting advice. Both columns helpfully explored universal ideas of parenting.”
Editorial: Non-Traditional Story Form, More Magic, Less Stuff
Designer: Stacy Noakes
Writer: Erin Page
Judges’ comments: “This wide-ranging roundup of experiential gift ideas includes good suggestions, which are organized by interest area and type of recipient. The text descriptions include lots of helpful details. Photos of the activities also assist in the storytelling.”
Design: Front cover, original photo, March/April 2023
Photographer: Bridget Pipkin, Foto Arts Photography
Designer: Stacy Noakes
Cover Kid: Rex Robinson
Venue: Oklahoma Contemporary
Editor: Erin Page
Publisher: Sarah Taylor
Judges’ comments: “The message is clear, and the child appears delighted to be playing the DJ role. The photograph is beautifully lit, well-composed and technically excellent. Typography pulls from the colors in the photograph, and the LP theme is used for the lead tease background.”
Design: Table of Contents, May/June 2023
Designer: Stacy Noakes
Editor: Erin Page
Publisher: Sarah Taylor
Judges’ comments: “The grouping of bright, captivating images pulls readers into the page, while the orderly list of stories on the right is easy to scan thanks to clean alignment and effective typography. Enlarged numbers nicely tie the photos to their related story teases. The overall look feels contemporary and well put together.”
Design: One-page Design, 5 Ways to Get Active this Winter
Designer: Stacy Noakes
Writer: Erin Page
Judges’ comments: “Covering five activities on one page is no easy task. The design and grid separates the content nicely, the graphics provide pops of visual interest, and the color palette and fonts help bring it all together to produce an extremely interesting page design.”
Digital: Blog, Weekend Warrior
Staff: Kirsten Holder, Erin Page, Lindsay Cuomo, Emiley Bainbridge
Judges’ comments: “Multiple writers contribute to this jam-packed weekly column, which adds a diversity of voices. They are organized by topics with multiple listings of activities included. All listings are aimed at busy families, with a focus on mostly weekend activities. For extra fun there are a few oddities, such as a pigeon museum and a cat café. Concise information for each item is included.”
Digital: Use of social media
Staff: Emiley Bainbridge, Erin Page
Contributors: Skye Latimer, Simi John
Judges’ comments: “Leaning into Instagram Reels and TikToks, this organization listens to its audience. By including music and emojis, this social media team plays into the algorithm while balancing voice and tone. The partnership with influencers provides an authentic way to promote what all parents are looking to know – family events and entertainment.”
Bronze Awards
Editorial: Q&A Interview: Redefining Student Success – Why parents should encourage children to be B+ students in 2023
Writer: Erin Page
Judges’ comments: “The strong lede gets readers’ attention with its counterintuitive proposal for parents. The interview does an effective job of explaining the rationale behind encouraging children to be ‘B+ students’ and is solidly grounded in the interviewee’s personal and professional experience.”
Editorial: Service Feature: Talking to Kids about Gender Diversity
Writer: Dr. Ronneal Mathews
Editor: Erin Page
Judges’ comments: “Organized as a series of questions, this piece is a wonderful resource for parents. With the help of an expert, it explores basic terms, then gives parents advice about how to react in real-life situations they might encounter. Along with a list of resources to learn more, it’s a useful and timely reference.”
