Trot Magazine took top honours at the 2010 American Horse Publications Conference in Lexington, Kentucky on Saturday night, winning the General Excellence Award for association magazines with a circulation under 15,000
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"Interesting cover photography really grabs the reader's attention," said the judges. "Intriguing layout and design -- I like the mix of art elements with stellar photography throughout. This magazine is a joy to read."
Trot also won in three other categories -- News Reporting (Breaking News Story), Feature Story (circulation 10,000 - 20,000), and Magazine Cover Page (circulation under 20,000).
"Well-sourced, informative, and authoritative," the judges said of Keith McCalmont's 'Finding Leadership,' the winning story in the news reporting category. "The writer goes beyond just reporting the facts, but explains what's at stake as well as what remains to be seen. He covers the issue from all angles."
"This is a very well-designed cover with an equally well-designed masthead," they noted of the winning November 2009 cover, shot by Pittsburgh photographer Ryan Sigesmund and designed by Paulina Persynska. "Great use of photography. The image leads you right into the page."
"This article is a well-balanced, well-organized report on an incendiary topic," the judges commented on Associate Editor Kim Fisher's winning feature 'Knock, Knock.' "Writer did an excellent job of putting animal rights groups into the proper context for horse people."
Trot was also the runner-up in the Open Editorial Action Photo category for an Xtreme Horsepower image snapped by Brian Acton. "Photo captures sense of motion through good use of blur," the judges commented.
The publication received third place notice for two items -- 'Outdated: Is Black Type Leaving Buyers in the Dark?,' designed by Paulina Persynska, in the Editorial Design category (circulation 10,000 - 20,000), and 'On The Hook,' written by Ed O'Leary, in the Service to the Reader category (circulation under 20,000).
"A stand-out among the rest. Very creative solution using just typography and good spatial relationships," said the judges of Persynska's design. "Great use of white space and negative space with the surprise addition of a hot pink accent. Very well done."
Finally, Trot was given honourable mention in three categories -- News Reporting (Related Feature Story) for Brittney Mayotte's 'The Curious Case of the Mistaken Mares,' Personal Column (circulation under 20,000) for Associate Editor Kim Fisher's 'The Third Sunday In June,' and Editorial (Print) for 'No Holds Barred,' the O'Brien Award winning piece by Andrew Cohen.
The General Excellence Award is presented to the publication that does an outstanding job each month at catering to its readership.