Soundings magazine won a record 12 awards of excellence for marine journalism from Boating Writers International in a ceremony during the Miami International Boat Show in February.
The awards were presented for editorial features and columns published in the magazine during 2005. Winning stories covered an array of topics, from Hurricane Katrina, to navigation of the ICW, to tips for docking a boat, to the misadventure of an 80-year-old boater who survived an accident that left him in the water for 18 hours.
Although Soundings has won many BWI awards over the past 13 years the awards have been presented, 12 in one year is a record for the 44-year-old magazine. It was also a record for BWI awards in 2005. No other boating magazine won as many awards this year as Soundings.
“It’s a great honor,” said Soundings editor William Sisson. “A lot of hard work went into those stories, and all the others we did, but a lot of fun went into them too. We try to take our readers’ view of each story topic … putting the reader into the action and the adventure of this great sport of boating. We like to write what boating is really about for real boaters.”
Soundings also won more first-place awards than any other magazine, with four firsts, two seconds, two thirds and four certificates of merit.
Click below to read the award-winning Soundings stories:
About Boating Writers International
BWI is a non-profit professional organization consisting of writers, broadcasters, editors, photographers, public relations specialists and others in the communications profession associated with the boating industry. Members include active marine journalists across the United States, in Canada and Europe, supporting marine manufacturers and service entities, and associates in communication roles.
The BWI contest covers 14 categories: Boating Columns; Boating Lifestyles; Boating Profiles; Boating Destination; Engine Care; Electronics; Ethics & Environment; Fishing; Consumer Issues, News & Analysis; The Business of Boating; Seamanship, Rescue & Safety; Technical Writing; Boat Tests; and Gear/Electronics.
Presentations in the 14 contest categories represent $14,000 in awards for first ($500), second ($300) and third ($200) place scorers. Each recipient also gets a recognition plaque noting their “Excellence in creating compelling stories about the boating lifestyle through entertaining, educational and inspiring journalism.”
In its 13th year, the BWI contest attracted record participation, with 212 individuals entering 636 stories. A total of 93 prizes were awarded, including 42 major awards (first, second, and third place), and 51 certificates of merit. Soundings’ sister publication, Soundings Trade Only, the leading trade magazine covering the boating industry, also won four awards in the ceremony, more than any other business magazine.
