Local Family Life Community Magazine and Website Win National Awards 

Top Design, Writing and Content

Win over National Competition

Local Family Life Magazine and website was honored with five more national awards from the Parenting Publications of America, an  association for regional parenting and family magazines. In total, the magazine received five new web, design and editorial awards in the annual competition, adding to the two awards received in 2007, and six awards in 2008.

"We're thrilled!" says founder Sharon Gowan. "There were over 1000 entries in various categories. It's great to have a truly local magazine, as well as local writers, designers and photographers, be recognized on a national stage for the quality of their work and our service to the local community."

"Competing against the best makes us better," says Gowan. "Last year we won the coveted Gold General Excellence Award for Websites in our first ever entry to the website competition — so we won best in the nation! This year we received a Bronze and Silver in Website competition. We came away with some great ideas to make the magazine and web better. We've already added some new features like a fantastic new calendar, better site navigation, and more."

Here's what the national judges had to say!

Silver Award: Website Design :  "The Family Life Web site has a streamlined appearance, yet contained a wealth of directories and additional information of use to parents. Web designers have clearly thought about naming conventions for their labels."

Bronze Award: Website Content :  "The Family Life [website] makes good use of reader generated content in the photo galleries. Good directories of local events, businesses and services, including reader's choice favorites. Nice to have a search function for the archived articles"

Silver Award: Front Cover Illustration :  "Plan a Party!" Cover "The tone of the literal illustration is consistent with the color palette and the words that tie together: Plan a Party! The balloon gracefully slides under the folio type with the flag to tie it all together."

Silver Award: Special Section Within a Publication : June Special Section "If readers of this magazine can't find something fun to do with their children, it's their own fault for not using this guide [of] close-to-home activities. The highlight is the Bits & Pieces suggestions of gifts from kids to dad for Father's Day."

Silver Award: Special Series Editorial Writing : "Get More Smiles Per Gallon" Article "A seemingly exhaustive look at summer events and activities is brightly and accessibly written. An asset for families."

Regional parenting and family magazines from across the United States, Australia and Canada must meet the highest caliber of journalism as a condition of membership in Parenting Publications of America. These publications then choose their very best work throughout the year to enter in the competition.

Family Life Magazine is a purely local success story of providing 'All the best for families,' including important local news stories, community resource guides, and annual events in addition to publishing Sonoma Family Life Magazine and Mendo Lake Family Life Magazine, and their respective websites: www.sonomafamilylife.com and www.mendolakefamilylife.com.