Not often do we have an opportunity to discuss what we do here at Downtown Publications so I am taking time this month to highlight that the team that labors to bring you both at LAKE magazine and our monthly publication in the Birmingham/Bloomfield area, Downtown Newsmagazine has been recognized for its work in a competition sponsored by the Detroit chapter of the Professional Journalists Association.
The editorial team at Downtown Newsmagazine took six awards at the annual competition for work in 2023.
Cover Design: Chris Grammer, graphics and IT manager, took both the first and second place in this category. First place was for his May cover illustrating the topic of school safety, about which judges said the following: “Gun shot holes (as if through glass) was very powerful and appropriate for the subject.” His second place design award was for the September cover relative to lead particulate matter fallout from local airports owned and managed by Oakland County.
Education Reporting: News editor Lisa Brody took first place for her May story on school safety. Judges said the following: “An in-depth reporting of the reality of gun violence in schools and what districts are doing.”
Environment Reporting: Stay Gittleman took first place for her September longform on lead particulate matter fallout impacting local air quality from leaded-gas small airplanes at the three local airports in Oakland County. Judges had this to say about her work: “An extremely comprehensive, thoroughly researched look at an important issue.”
Feature Reporting: Stacy Gittleman took third place in this category for her April longform piece on the gangs operating in Oakland County.
General Column Writing: I took first place for commentary on the legislative push to expand the Elliott-Larsen Act protecting the LGBTQ+ community and columns on financial disclosure by state lawmakers and voting access in Michigan. Judges offered the following comment: “An interesting political column that puts Michigan’s present in the context of its past.”
We take pride in being recognized by peer group professionals – it tells us we are punching well above our weight class, as the expression goes. But the most important affirmation we get on a regular basis is the feedback received from local residents who respond to what we have produced.
Our selection of these topics is a direct result of the fact that we are avid readers and are able in many cases to anticipate important issues on an international and national basis in advance of them arriving on the home front in the local communities. Our longform storytelling involves considerable research and then collaboration with qualified sources throughout the state and nation.
We are especially excited to be bringing our editorial commitment to the lakefront residents in LAKE magazine.
Lake photo invitation: We are seeking possible photos to use for the front cover of LAKE magazine. Having lived for decades on three lakes in Oakland County, I know first hand that many of you probably capture with photos some memorable images of your waterway. It might be the perfect sunrise or sunset, a group of swans crossing in front of your shoreline, that lone Great Blue Heron which returns each year to roost at the end of your dock or the hotair balloon that appears above your lake. So we are reaching out to invite lakefront resident to send us their best shot. Your photo must be high resolution (at least 300 dpi) and large in size. Send a pdf of your best shot as an email attachment to: LAKEphotos@downtownpublications.com.
Include in the body of your email your name, the lake on which you reside and your local community. It would also be interesting for our readers if you can include a few words about your best shot. Also, tell us whether you shot the photo with a cell phone (brand) or a traditional camera (brand). We will try this for a couple of months and let you know how this is going.
If your photo is chosen, we will send you a check for $100.
David Hohendorf
Publisher
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